Posts Tagged 'Thermoforming'

Community means communication

January 16, 2012 by Cathal Wilson

It’s always a pleasure to spend a little time with freshly completed pieces of work; a new oven system for a thermoforming client; a new process or way of organising an aspect of production; a new conference paper or company presentation.

In today’s world, however, time on such pleasures is increasingly short lived.
Having just riffled through the pages of the fifth issue of our HeatWorks magazine I am aware that new issues and contributions are already needing attention for the next issue – due out in March 2012.

Success breeds success – ditto for good communication. For example, the next issue of HeatWorks magazine will have plenty more to say on the science and impact of infrared heat upon the human body; what heating comfort means and how to most effectively apply.

With Ceramicx exhibiting at the triennial US plastics exhibition in Orlando Florida, April 1-5, we shall once again be reporting on the evolving markets for IR heating in the reviving US manufacturing economy.

Two weeks later Ceramicx is exhibiting at Chinaplas 2012 in Shanghai: We shall therefore be using HeatWorks magazine to communicate about our work there and in the upcoming market of China. We shall have more IR case studies to come from our friends and associates in Germany; on best manufacturing practice in Ireland, as well as updates from our own manufacturing plant, new products and new processes.

With all that in mind – and knowing how time flies – I wanted to sound just a quick note here in sincere appreciation of our the partners, customers and stakeholders who – in this completed package of HeatWorks magazine  – have helped us build the infrared heating message – as well as the business itself.

If you – our readers – have an interest in any aspect of Infrared Heating we extend an open invitation to you to join in this community of interest and to join in this work of communication. Our door is always open to you.

Copies of the latest HeatWorks magazine – fifth edition – are available directly from the company  – just order the latest from Ceramicx direct and get yourself on the mailing list.

Posted in Heatworks, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, IR development, Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

We make it here

December 6, 2011 by Frank Wilson

Readers of this blog will have surely noticed our fondness here at Ceramicx for good things arriving in threes.

‘Machinery, manpower and materials’ has lately given us another handy three-fold reckoner for our manufacturing needs. And our new Hurco CNC lathe arrived – last month to join our machining centre – and it has again given us a definite boost in the first named category.

From the get-go the Ceramicx strategy and philosophy has been, wherever possible, to keep hold of our destiny and to manufacture everything in-house.

Consequently Ceramicx continues to supply complete infrared heating systems; domestic and industrial.  Not only are we designing, manufacturing and supplying world-class ceramic elements, quartz tubes and other components, we are also investing and upskilling in all the requisite machining and engineering for all bespoke infrared heating applications.

Our new Hurco machine is indeed a substantial investment. Investments are as much about capability as about jobs on the slate this week and the new Hurco has been sourced with the mid to long term future also in mind.

The new machine will be involved in making a large variety of componentry; platens and heat systems for plastics thermoforming machines; rigs for plastics-to-metal bonding; surrounds and reflectors for use in domestic heating, components for terminal blocks and many other applications.

And thanks to the skills of Ceramicx designers and engineers, many new kinds of infrared heaters and infrared heating products have been created this year – where none existed before. The new Hurco will further enhance these capabilities in the months to come.

I therefore urge all of our customers and associates to talk to us about all the detail of their infrared heating needs; including bespoke and custom fabrication; new product ideas; research and development and other ideas.

Infrared heating is an advancing and increasingly popular solution. At Ceramicx we can make it all here – it’s as simple and beneficial as that.

Posted in Infrared Heater Manufacturer, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Solutions, Infrared Heating Technology, Plastics Thermoforming, Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe remains vital

November 4, 2011 by Cathal Wilson

Our Autumn season of exhibitions continues: No sooner have our Friedr Freek friends in Germany finished telling the world about Ceramicx and infrared heating in plastics manufacture than yet another market opens up.

Last week our partners in Turkey, Ser Rezistans, had a very successful participation in the 21st International Istanbul Plastic Industries Fair. Plasteurasia is fast becoming the gateway event to the important Turkish market and beyond. International participation continues to grow, as do a number of Turkey’s leading OEM markets; in automotive, construction, white goods and high-volume packaging.

Ceramicx products on show at last week's Plasteurasia exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey

Hasan Duman of the company tells us that the high level of business at Plasteurasia includes much interest about Ceramicx Infrared capabilities and products. Ser Rezistans inquiries also included orders from makers of two thermoforming machinery companies who need machines building for new clients.

 

By any standard, Turkish manufacturing is clearly buoyant. Annual Turkish plastics industry growth is generally reckoned to be about thirteen percent and the flavour of this year’s Plasteurasia was very much about the country further selling its features and benefits into the international market places. (We feature more in depth material on the Turkish market in our current issue of HeatWorks magazine – just contact us direct for your copy.)

In truth, and very much despite the current EU shenanigans – there is currently much vitality in many parts of Europe – especially on the outer fringes and within the Central European manufacturing renaissance.

A new technology business like Ceramicx is always looking to couple our infrared heating expertise to that new manufacturing growth and vitality wherever we find it. And fortunately, we are continuing to succeed in searching out new territories.

On that note we now look due south to Barcelona, Spain. Later in the month that country’s trade exhibition, Equiplast, Nov 14-18, is set to be partnered by a brand new event and conference – Eurotec – led by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

Last year’s SPE President, Ken Braney – previously featured in our HeatWorks Magazine – spearheaded this move and we wish Ken and all his team all the best for this bold new venture.

Europe – a patchwork of cultures and opportunities – continues to be of central importance to business and the world economy. Ceramicx for one remains committed to finding and partnering all the positives within that changing picture.

Posted in ceramic heaters, infrared heaters, Infrared Heating, Infrared Heating Experts, PlastEurasia, Plastics Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strength of place – know it and use it

October 21, 2011 by Frank Wilson

In these days of uncertain global economics those of us in business and in manufacturing surely owe it to each another to keep our feet firmly on the ground and to search out and communicate all the positives wherever they can be found.

Fakuma

View of the Messe entrance to Fakuma 2011

In my view the Fakuma exhibition in Friederichshafen, Germany this week provides some timely material in this vein: Fakuma is the annual domestic trade fair for Germany’s plastics manufacturing industries. From Day One, visitor attendance was high; buyer interest was keen and most machinery based exhibitors reported another year of record sales growth.

In part, of course, this may be due to worldwide manufacturing industry restocking and recovering from the credit crunch of 2008/09. Regardless of that, however, the recent facts are impressive. Euromap, the organisation which represents plastics machinery companies and which is dominated by German-speaking producers, now reports that European plastics machinery production volumes increased by 27.3% to 9.78 billion Euros in 2010 – and are also set for 10% further growth in 2011. Germany is by far the world’s biggest exporter of plastics machinery to all the nations of the world with a healthy 23.7% of global market share – nearly double that of its nearest rival, Japan.

The Friedr Freek stand at Fakuma

Ceramicx – helped in Germany by our good friends at Friedr Freek – is doing its bit to support and stay with this expansion in plastics machinery. We continue to aim to increase our share of the market; specifically by supplying quality infrared heating systems for thermoforming, blow moulding and other parts of the plastics sector.

Selection of Ceramicx components at Fakuma 2011

And since Ceramicx business is truly worldwide, we find much to applaud and appreciate in the way that Germany engineering companies continue to create new markets; reaching further into Eastern Europe for example and Russia. It all makes quite a contrast to the main headlines in Western Europe where political leaders fumble with the Euro and fiddle with the money supply.

 

Aside from reaffirming some business confidence and intelligence, this week’s Fakuma reminds me of three things:
a) always moderate your diet of mainstream media with some first-hand news from somewhere real.
b) some good business is always happening somewhere
b) never underestimate the particular powers of place

On that last point – and here you might see me signing off here with a small commercial – Ceramicx believes that our own West Cork location continues to offer manufacturers a truly positive environment for creativity, technology and manufacturing. Several trends point to a continuing investment and growth in manufacturing technology here – and not least from ourselves.

Our latest HeatWorks magazine contains articles on these opportunities in detail. Please don’t hesitate to contact myself directly to chat about any ins and outs at first hand. Many thanks again.

Posted in ceramicx, Fakuma 2011, Frankly Speaking, Freidr Freek, Infrared Heating, Thermoforming | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The people factor?

October 14, 2011 by Frank Wilson

I read something entertaining recently about ‘your best company salesman….He may not be a closer on many or any deals – but he never leaves his post. He’s always available on a 365; 24/7 basis. He’s always very well turned out – has great visibility and profile at all times and manages to get to the most far-flung locations with great effectiveness and minimal cost.’

Who could that be? The riddle about this paragon refers to the company website of course. At Ceramicx we believe it to be true and we therefore back our top sales resource to the full with ongoing investment and quality support.

Great competence in one area such as this pushes the envelope; raises the bar and asks questions of other parts of the business. And rather than levelling down, there is a tendency for other areas to rise to the challenge – in production; in service and in people skills.

This has certainly been happening for Weco International, our US friends and distributors. The current autumn edition of Heat Works magazine contains the full story of our partnership developments stateside.

In a nutshell – and against a background of US industrial uncertainty – Weco has this year managed to expand both its sales activities and to further grow its US territories through the forging of skilful partnerships in the infrared heating industry.

How has it done this? According to owner Brett Wehner, through some powerful core principles and through working with and through the right people. The Weco manifesto is based upon Persistence – Determination – Integrity – and via these guiding lights the company has this year opened up fresh markets in the New England states and also – looking Southward -  in Tennessee.

This is a remarkable achievement: What it tells me is that in an era of unlimited information and seemingly endless online time there are, in addition,  some special challenges and rewards for those that are able to raise their person-to-person game in the way that Brett and his team have managed.

It is essential of course that your best sales guy stays at his post 24/7 in the manner already described. But creativity; deal making; relationships; innovation – all these other things have been greatly liberated in recent years. Pay equal attention to these factors and business success can be greatly assured.

Posted in ceramicx, Heatworks, Infrared, Infrared Heating Experts, Infrared Heating Solutions, Infrared Heating Technology, Plastics Thermoforming, Thermoforming, Weco International | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment