Own & Operate - ALD Vacuum Technologies

ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbHALD Own & Operate GmbHWilhelm-Rohn-Straße 3563450 HanauGermanyRichard SeemannPhone: +49 06181 307-3270Email: richard.seemann@ald-vt.deJörg MolzPhone: +49 06181 307-3438Email: joerg.molz@ald-vt.deALD Thermal Treatment Inc.2656 24th StreetPort Huron, MI 48060USARobert PetersPhone: +1 810 357-0685Email: rpeters@aldtt.netMichael PodePhone: +1 810 357-0680Email: mpode@aldtt.netVACUHEAT GmbHHohensteinerstrasse 11-1309212 Limbach-OberfrohnaGermanyDr. Bert ReinholdPhone: +49 3722 402220Email: b.reinhold@vacuheat.netALD Thermal Treatment, Inc. SC1101 Carolina Pines DriveBlythewood, SC 29016USAJim KassanPhone: +1 803 233-0660E-Mail: jkassan@aldtt.netALD Tratamientos Thermicos S.A. de C.V.Blvd. Omega No. 2270Parque Industrial Santa MariaC.P. 25901 Ramos Arizpe, Coah.MexicoEduardo AnzalduaPhone: +52 844 8669775Email: eanzaldua@aldtt-mexico.comOwn & OperateVacuum Heat Treatment First Hand

2 3Own & Operate: Vacuum Heat Treatment First HandPlant Engineering and Service – asynenergistic production combinationThe “New Technology” developed by ALDVacuum Technologies GmbH in the early 1990’sfor vacuum carburizing and high pressure gasquenching of casehardening steels was firstused in the automobile industry and its subsuppliers.Soon it became evident that this technologywas not easily accepted despite its advantagescompared to conventional atmosphericprocesses.The operating companies of ALD Own &Operate GmbH and ALD Vacuum TechnologiesGmbH benefit from this symbiosis, where thedemands for process optimization and plantimprovement are conveyed from the workshopto the parent company, leading to continuousfurther development of technologies.The Own & Operate companies benefit fromthis “closed loop” relationship while ALDVacuum Technologies GmbH always receivesfirst-hand information about the market’sdemands, thus maintaining the technologicaladvantage.VACUHEAT GmbHLimbach-Oberfrohna (Germany)The plant in Columbia, South Carolina, wasfounded in 2001 as the first subsidiary in theUSA. There, especially parts for fuel injectionsystems are heat treated for the Americanmarket. However, also users from the aviationindustry and special transmission manufacturingare part of the client base.ALD Tratamentos Thermicos S.A. de C.VRamos Arizpe (Mexico)ALD Own & Operate – service andcompetence in new technologyALD Own & Operate is the leading heattreatment specialist for vacuum carburizing andhigh pressure gas quenching, world-wide. Bythe year 2009, the following number of plantswill be installed in the above mentioned sites:A major problem for the industry’s experiencedspecialists were the physical conditions of the“New Technology” and the fact that some of themechanisms were mounted differently.Therefore, ALD decided to offer particularservices to heat treat parts using theseprocesses, in addition to selling plants.At first, this was especially welcomed by wellknownmanufacturers in the field of dieselinjection systems, which rapidly led to firstinstallations.ALD turned their original considerations in viewof service into a strategy which is now called“Own & Operate”.In addition to the conventional sale of plants,this strategy aims at heat treating parts for thecustomer in selected projects, using processesdeveloped by ALD.Therefore, the customer benefits directly fromthe know-how in view of process technology,thus leading to improved productivity, betterproducts and reduced costs.Also, the Own & Operate customer overcomeshis inhibitions to introduce a new processtechnology and at the same time avoids theneeded investment in their own facility.Production ExperienceOperatingCompanyALD Service CentersProductionKnow-howOptimized ProcessesPlant ImprovementSystem Provider(OEM, TIER 1)CustomerALD Own & Operate – a new commercialheat treater?Of course, an Own & Operate company couldbe regarded as a commercial heat treater.Surely, companies do exist in the field ofcommercial heat treatment who specialized invarious processes and provide their customerswith these services.Generally, conventional commercial heattreaters have a heterogeneous and largecustomer potential. This is not where ALD OwnNew Ideas andChallengesQuality ImprovementOptimized SystemsProcess OptimizationEngineeringPlants &ProcessesALD Vacuum TechnologiesCost OptimizationVacuumProcessTechnology anddevelopmentProcessKnowledgeEngineeringKnow-how& Operate GmbH’s strategy sets in. Primarily,our interest lies in the process development tooffer special solutions to a customer whoseproduction volume holds adequate potential.ALD Thermal Treatment Inc.Port Huron, MI (USA)In addition to selling plants to the customer wealso offer service jobs, always in conjunctionwith our process technologies, using ourfurnace systems. Own & Operate’s strategy alsoaims at products in the beginning of their lifecycle and show potential for growth.Therefore, in our opinion, the following basicrequirements must be met in order for us toprovide a successful Own & Operateinstallation:■ applicability of our process technologies totreat the customer’s parts■ advantages for the customer, such as qualityimprovement, cost reduction etc. by the useof ALD’s process technologies■ adequate production volume and growthpotential which justify the installation of a(generally) new workshop for a certaincustomer■ medium- and long-term contractualagreements to heat treat the customer´spartsIf advantages arise for both parties – ourcustomers and ALD Own & Operate (win-winsituation)- nothing stands in the way of arespective cooperation. ALD Own & Operateplans the project, makes the investment and ifnecessary, builds a new factory where the heattreatment jobs for the customer can be carriedout.It goes without saying that such a factory, onceit is built, will also open their doors to othercustomers, provided their parts can be heattreated using the installed plants and processes.What does ALD Own & Operate offeringtoday?After ALD had established the strategicapproach by the late 1990’s, the first plantstarted to operate in 1999. Meanwhile, ALDOwn & Operate GmbH operates in 4 locations inGermany, the United States and Mexico. Theexpansion of these sites is continuously pursuedby concluding additional large contracts as wellas expanding to other countries and regions.VACUHEAT GmbH – the first center inGermanyIn 1999, the first project in Limbach-Oberfrohna(Chemnitz), Germany was put into operation.VACUHEAT GmbH was established along withthe Heat Group. Today, it is a 100 % subsidiaryof ALD Own & Operate GmbH. There, primarilycomponents for fuel injection systems are heattreated for our customers. In the meantime,however, other processes have also beenestablished there, especially high temperaturebrazing of heat exchangers.ALD Thermal Treatment USA and MexicoALD Thermal Treatment USA with its head officein Columbia operates in 2 locations.In 2005 the plant in Port Huron, Michigan,began to operate. That installation was basedon a long-term supply contract signed with GMPowertrain for the heat treatment of parts fornew 6-speed automatic transmissions.The highly developed ALD technology toquench parts in gas flow and therefore reducedistortion had a positive effect on the signing ofthis contract.As a follow-up project to the order from GMPowertrain which was awarded to Port Huron,an additional plant was established in RamosArizpe, Mexico, which started production in2008. ALD heat treats various modern 6-speedautomatic transmissions for GM.■ 10 DualTherm plants■ 12 ModulTherm plants with 65 treatmentchambers■ 2 continuous plants for plasma carburizing■ vacuum brazing furnaceThese plants offer process potential for heattreatment, vacuum and high pressure gasquenching of case hardening steels, low-alloyedsteels, high-alloyed tool steels as well as forbrazing processes.ALD Thermal Treatment Inc.Columbia, SC (USA)