TPi September 2013

products & developments

A global network for local markets In 1950, Friedrich Wilhelm Hempel founded FW Hempel & Co Erze und Metalle in Germany. His son, Friedrich- Wilhelm Hempel, expanded and diversified the business away from pure trading into distribution and production. More than sixty years later, the third generation of Hempels are paving the company’s path throughout the world. director, export and projects, HSM has a perfect network to fulfil customers’ needs: “With 140 employees in seven countries, including Hempel Wire, we know the market and what is going on, this means we can offer our customers the best value for money.”

to the stock information regardless of where the stock is physically located.

André Hempel believes it is important to be able to support customers throughout the entire process of a project: “We are able to guide our customer through the whole process of buying. This often starts with material consulting. We work together with partners who have well equipped laboratories for high temperature and wet corrosion testing. If the customer is not sure which alloy will withstand his application we can perform corrosion tests for him.” Hempel is also able to help customers during downtime. “We even had a situation where the customer picked up his material by helicopter. We were the only one with the necessary material in stock and were flexible enough to prepare it for pick-up within hours.” The Hempel Special Metals service package includes laser, water jet, and plasma cutting, as well as shearing, sawing, chamfering and marking. Hempel Special Metals GmbH – Germany www.hempel-metals.com

HSM offers a broad range of products from stocks, including nickel alloys, titanium and stainless steels. In 2011, the company added zirconium to its product range. Because HSM operates on a global level it is important that communication lines are kept short. André Hempel explained, “Working from different countries cannot affect our customers’ projects. Everything has to be dealt with in the shortest time possible. One of our strengths is our delivery time so this has to be kept up to standard.” The company’s product range is split over several countries, eg flat products in Germany, long products in the UK, and medical in Switzerland. However, this does not mean that customers have to deal with different offices. All the stock information is organised on one IT system, and sales people have access

Christian and André Hempel still concentrate on the group’s core business and continue the course of expansion in the world of metals, alloys, semi-products, and recycling of metals. André Hempel believes that the company’s continuity and growth is partly due to being family managed and staying independent: “It’s easier with a family run business. There is a high level of personal responsibility and involvement; a decision is taken and implemented faster.” An important part of the Hempel group is Hempel Special Metals (HSM), which focuses on the international distribution of high-performance materials. “Global logistics in special corrosion and heat resistance materials for local needs, that is exactly what Hempel Special Metals is.” According to Dirk Aberle, sales

5mn parts made with the lights out Yorkshire, UK-based Olicana Products Ltd, a tube bending specialist, has recently completed the production of its five millionth tubular steel bath leg using an unmanned robotised manufacturing cell supplied by Unison Ltd.

Olicana purchased the automated 5-axis tube bending cell eight years ago.

The process includes automated loading of the cut lengths of tube into the 5-axis tube bending machine, and robot removal and placing of the complex bent tube into an all-electric press that punches holes into the product in different planes. A robot then moves the finished product from the press and places it onto the collection rails ready for packing and distribution.

Olicana Products Ltd – UK www.olicana.com

Olicana’s 5-axis cell robot

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September 2013 Tube Products International