Influence of the natural aluminium oxide layer on ... - ALU-WEB.DE

option for <strong>the</strong> future.
As Gerhardi wanted to use its building’s
full size <strong>of</strong> 120 metres for <strong>the</strong> line, <strong>the</strong> length
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> run-out-system is considerable. The
60-metre pr<strong>of</strong>iles are stacked and <strong>the</strong>n sewed
to customized size from 2,000 mm upwards.
Press, stacker and saw are followed by a fully
automatic assembly line which guarantees that
no worker touches <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iles until reaching
<strong>the</strong> packing unit.
The building concept over two floors prescribes
a stringent material flow. Oven storage,
packaging and processing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iles are
effected on <strong>the</strong> upper floor.
All <strong>the</strong>se requirements were laid down in a
specification sheet. The Gerhardi project team
travelled a lot, visited various extrusion companies
and as many suppliers as possible. The
managing director and his team went through
all <strong>of</strong> Europe to get to know <strong>the</strong> relevant companies,
to talk to <strong>the</strong>m and to see reference
lines.
Whom did Gerhardi choose?
After an intensive analysis <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong>fers as to
economic aspects, but also as to <strong>the</strong> product
availability and <strong>the</strong> vertical range <strong>of</strong> manufacture,
Gerhardi decided to buy an extrusion
line made by <strong>the</strong> Spanish company GIA Clecim.
The core business for GIA is <strong>the</strong> manufacturing
<strong>of</strong> extrusion plants and 95% <strong>of</strong> jobs
are turnkey projects. The strategies <strong>of</strong> nonsubcontracting
lets GIA get <strong>the</strong> highest quality
for such equipment. GIA holds a manufacturing
ratio <strong>of</strong> 80%, which means that all equipment
is manufactured, assembled and tested
in its facilities.
For Gerhardi <strong>the</strong> most important criteria
in favour <strong>of</strong> GIA were <strong>the</strong>
following:
• Under an economic
point <strong>of</strong> view <strong>the</strong> GIA
Clecim <strong>of</strong>fer was persuading
in comparison
to all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r suppliers
• Gerhardi got a good
impression <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> technical
aspects <strong>of</strong> a GIA press
– especially <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> solid
machine construction,
<strong>the</strong> extremely effective
and good hydraulic system,
<strong>the</strong> interaction in a
completely coordinated
system
• All from a single
source – GIA is <strong>the</strong> only
producer <strong>of</strong> complete extrusion
systems from <strong>the</strong>
billet store over <strong>the</strong> billet heating to <strong>the</strong> press,
<strong>the</strong> saw and <strong>the</strong> assembling device
• GIA has an enormous in-house production
depth. All mechanical parts are manufactured
by <strong>the</strong> company itself and even <strong>the</strong> hydraulic
system is developed in Albacete and produced
by GIA
• GIA is a family enterprise like Gerhardi and
<strong>the</strong> customer negotiates with <strong>the</strong> owner himself
• GIA very much wanted to install a reference
extrusion line in Germany so that Gerhardi
could take it for granted that <strong>the</strong> Spanish
partner would make considerable efforts in
this project.
How was <strong>the</strong> installation
process effected?
33 MN GIA extrusion press for Gerhardi
After signing <strong>the</strong> contract both parties formed
project teams who communicated directly
with each o<strong>the</strong>r. GIA employed a German
speaking coordinator for <strong>the</strong> German market,
so that <strong>the</strong> communication could take place
in German. Innumerable plans were exchanged.
In interaction between architects,
construction companies and o<strong>the</strong>r project
partners <strong>the</strong> prerequisites for <strong>the</strong> installation
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> extrusion line were created. Various
journeys from Germany to Spain and vice
versa were necessary to realize <strong>the</strong> planned
targets.
After <strong>the</strong> preparing activities <strong>the</strong> actual installation
was effected by a competent team <strong>of</strong>
technical assemblers and s<strong>of</strong>tware engineers.
Highlights <strong>of</strong> this phase were certainly <strong>the</strong> socalled
marriage, <strong>the</strong> merging <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first part
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> press with <strong>the</strong> building, and <strong>the</strong> first
warm billet.
Summary
EXTRUSION
The installation <strong>of</strong> a technologically sophisticated
extrusion line is always a great challenge
– especially if it is a European line like in <strong>the</strong>
case <strong>of</strong> Gerhardi, where <strong>the</strong> devices came primarily
from Spain, but also from <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands,
from Italy and Germany.
Gerhardi – after a careful choice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
suppliers – was very satisfied that all partners
were eager to constructively accompany <strong>the</strong>
investment. All companies involved learnt a
lot in <strong>the</strong> project – like <strong>the</strong> adequate estimation
<strong>of</strong> a permanent dialogue, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> quality
<strong>of</strong> exchanged information, <strong>the</strong> presence and
otivation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> own team within <strong>the</strong> planning
and installation process and <strong>the</strong> anticipatory
understanding for <strong>the</strong> partner’s different
mentality. Gerhardi is aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> special
challenge <strong>of</strong> a European extrusion line, but
is at <strong>the</strong> same time convinced to have placed
with <strong>the</strong> GIA Clecim press <strong>the</strong> right investment
following its philosophy ‘Common future
in Pr<strong>of</strong>ile’. ‘Common’ not only with customers
and employees, but also, as it was laid
down in <strong>the</strong> corporate presentation many
years ago, also with <strong>the</strong> suppliers.
Especially with <strong>the</strong> Spanish partners Gerhardi
developed a business relationship, which
also lead to common private activities. Visits
<strong>of</strong> Mr Gaspar Roldan or his fa<strong>the</strong>r Gaspar
Fernandez were remarkable events as well as
visits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Gerhardi owners in Spain.
Gerhardi and GIA – this is not only a partnership
resulting from <strong>the</strong> purchase <strong>of</strong> an
extrusion press for intelligent Gerhardi <strong>aluminium</strong>
pr<strong>of</strong>iles, but also a European friendship.
�
ALUMINIUM · EAC CONGRESS 2011 37