CPT International 02/2018

NEWS
BENNINGER GUSS
Cooperation for foundry business announced
Ferrum AG, Rupperswil, Switzerland,
world market leader in the can seaming
industry and focused niche provider of
separation technologies, has decided
to withdraw from manufacturing iron
cast parts. „During the last few years
our iron casting business has contributed
less than 10 % to our group’s annual
sales but has continuously caused
concerns. The Swiss market for iron cast
parts has been declining for many years
and structural adjustments are overdue
since a long time. Ferrum has been trying
to play an active role in this consolidation
but was not successful in doing
so. In order to be able to concentrate our
efforts on the growth opportunities in
our two core businesses, we have decided
to close our foundry in Schafisheim
and to cooperate with Benninger Guss
AG for our foundry business“, states
Beat Bühlmann, President of the Board
of Directors of Ferrum AG.
„Numerous employees have received
offers to work for Benninger Guss AG and
several staff have the opportunity to continue
working for Ferrum AG”, says Andreas
Kunzmann, CEO of Ferrum AG. A
number of employees may benefit our
from early retirement plan. “Nevertheless
we deeply regret that today we needed to
lay off 12 workers. We support them financially
and will help them looking for
new jobs”, assures Andreas Kunzmann.
Ferrum’s foundry will continue to operate
in Schafisheim until the end of August
2018. This allows clients to properly
plan their iron cast orders. For a smooth
transfer of client’s iron cast business Ferrum
AG has signed a cooperation agreement
with Benninger Guss AG from
Uzwil, Switzerland. During the coming
months, clients will have the opportunity
to take advantage of a secured knowhow
transfer. Benninger Guss AG will in
cooperation with Ferrum AG offer interested
clients specifically customized
transfer solutions. Clients will be able to
enjoy a seamless transition of iron cast
part manufacturing as well as services.
Manfred Ladurner, long-standing Head
of Ferrum’s foundry, says: „With Benninger
Guss AG we found an ideal partner.
Benninger Guss AG is known as
Switzerland’s leading cast iron producer.
With their highly-skilled engineering
specialists, their profound material and
manufacturing know-how as well as
their state-of-the-art production facilities
including an industrial sand casting
3-D printer, Benninger Guss AG is a perfect
new home for our customers. Eric
von Ballmoos, CEO of Benninger Guss
AG since many years, is an industry expert
and will assure that our clients will
be profiting from a simple and smooth
conversion.”
Benninger Guss AG has been operating
as a successful family-owned business
since 1873. Currently Benninger
Guss AG employs more than 100 staff
and operates cutting-edge facilities.
Benninger Guss AG serves its European
clientele with highest quality iron casting
and is specialized on small and medium
batch production. Charles Peter,
entrepreneur and President of the
Board of Directors of Benninger Guss
AG, says: „We have for many years enjoyed
a friendly and close relationship
with Ferrum AG. We will ensure that
their clients will at Benninger Guss AG
experience the same high-quality services
as before.”
www.benningerguss.ch
ELKEM
Metal treatment specialist buys alloy producer
Elkem ASA has acquired the UK company
TM Technology Ltd and its production
of the foundry alloy Tenbloc.
Tenbloc is used for in the mold inoculation
of ductile and grey iron. Elkem
ASA is based in Norway, and is one of
the world’s leading companies for environmentally
responsible production of
materials. Elkem manufactures a wide
range of inoculants, MgFeSi alloys and
preconditioners for the production of
cast iron.
The company is a specialist in metal
treatment solutions to the cast iron industry
and a supplier of high quality ferrosilicon
to the steel industry. This acquisition
will strengthen Elkem’s position in
this market and the ability to provide
customers a wider range of specialized
products.
“Our customers need different solutions
for their metal treatment processes.
At Elkem we want to support our customers‘
success with reliable premium products
and by sharing our experience in process
improvement. With Tenbloc in our
portfolio Elkem is able to extend the offering
and meet customer demands even
better.” says Roland Hennigfeld, Global
Sales and Marketing Director in Elkem.
The TM Technology Ltd plant is located
in Dronfield UK, and will be rebranded
as Elkem Dronfield Ltd. The acquisition
was completed on 16 March 2018.
www.elkem.com
Elkem ASA has acquired the UK company
TM Technology Ltd. and its production of
the foundry alloy Tenbloc (Photo: Elkem).
42 Casting Plant & Technology 2 / 2018