Valeo Group is a French industrial group specializing in the design, development, production, and sale of automotive parts, systems, and modules. As one of the world’s leading automotive parts suppliers, Valeo provides comprehensive solutions to all major car manufacturers globally.

As a key base in northern China, Valeo’s Changchun division is a modern automotive parts manufacturing facility that integrates R&D, production, and sales. It focuses on producing essential components such as automotive air conditioning, engine cooling modules, and active grille shutters. The company demonstrates strong market competitiveness and development potential through its advanced technology and efficient management.

Changchun, the cradle of China’s automotive industry, bears the legacy and ambitions of the country’s automotive manufacturing sector. This land has witnessed the thriving development of China’s automotive industry and fostered the rise of both domestic and international automotive and parts manufacturing companies, creating a complete industrial chain.

Recently, we had the privilege of visiting this iconic automotive city and Valeo’s Changchun division, where we explored the company’s expertise and forward-thinking approach in automotive manufacturing with Equipment Manager Mr. Wei Xuedong.

01 Two-Platen Machines More Space and Higher Efficiency

Haitian Two-platen Machines in Operation

On Valeo’s production line, Haitian two-platen machines play a vital role. With stringent requirements for automotive parts, Valeo not only pursues precision but also values production efficiency. Injection molding machines are crucial to the production process, and Mr. Wei Xuedong’s professional insight and careful approach are evident when selecting equipment. He highlighted the importance of plasticizing screw components and control precision as the core of injection molding machines. Haitian machines have won Valeo’s trust with their outstanding performance and consistent quality.

Inside the workshop, multiple Haitian injection molding machines are operating at full capacity. The two-platen machines, known for their compact design and high production efficiency, maximize productivity in limited spaces. They precisely shape each automotive part, significantly improving production efficiency while maintaining high product quality, embodying Valeo’s commitment to excellence.

02 Multi-componentInjection Molding Machines A Powerful Tool for Precision Manufacturing

Haitian’s Multi-component Injection Molding Solution

Last year, Valeo introduced Haitian’s multi-component injection molding solution, enabling the production of complex, multifunctional automotive parts such as multi-colored, multi-material interior components. This customized solution offers Valeo greater flexibility to meet changing market demands.

Wei shared, “The Haitian equipment we are currently using meets all of our requirements. Its CMK values, in some instances, exceed 3, with an average of about 2.2.” Haitian machines not only meet Valeo’s operational needs but also provide exceptional quality assurance with their high CMK values.

03 Excellence in Service Builds Trust

What impresses Valeo most is Haitian’s after-sales service. When comparing with other brands in the industry, Mr. Wei gave Haitian the highest praise: “What I appreciate most is Haitian’s after-sales team—they are highly efficient, and their service is undoubtedly the best!” Haitian’s team responds quickly and effectively, resolving technical issues and ensuring smooth production. This level of satisfaction is no coincidence; it is the result of Haitian’s ongoing pursuit of quality improvement and service optimization over the years.

As the sun set over the bustling workshop, our visitcame to an end. The collaboration between Haitianand Valeo represents the perfect blend of technologyand customer needs as well as the harmonious resonance ofinnovation and stability.In the ever-evolvingautomotive industry, Haitian injection molding ma.chines have earned Valeo’s trust and support withtheir reliable product quality and excellent after-sales service.

As technology continues to advance and our partner.ship deepens, Haitian and Valeo will jointly usher inautomotive manufacturing, driving progress in theindustry with outstanding products and services.

Currently, the wheels of history are spinning fast. From the era of fossil energy towards the era of new, sustainable energy, with a new round of industrial transformation accelerating its evolution. As a leading domestic supplier of automotive exterior parts, Yanfeng Plastic Omnium (YFPO) keenly seizes the changes in development, empowering E-Mobility with advanced technology and continuously shaping new momentum and advantages.

Recently, we had the privilege to visit YFPO’s Hefei factory and discuss the new opportunities and formats in the automotive industry with Injection Molding Manager, Xu Maohong. The story between YFPO and Haitian began in 2009. Currently, the Hefei factory has six operational Haitian injection molding machines, covering a clamping force range of 2,400 to 3,300 tons, providing a complete set of solutions for the injection molding of automotive bumpers. Mr. Xu told us that initially choosing Haitian was an attempt, as Haitian is one of the better domestic independent brands. It outperforms foreign equipment in terms of response time and availability. In terms of after-sales service, with multiple service points, a phone call can result in on-site problem-solving within a few hours.

At the same time, the reliability of Haitian machines is also very impressive and can meet the requirements of current products. The user interface and software development are more user-friendly and conform to Chinese usage habits. Over the years, Haitian has been steadily improving and its technology has been catching up with the technical level of some high-end oreign equipment. From the first device in 2009 to present, there has been continuous progress.

After over a decade of use, Haitian equipment has gradually gained popularity, bringing ultimate product and user experiences, and supporting the production upgrade of YFPO’s Hefei factory.

Amidst Challenges: Grasping New Momentum, Seizing New Opportunities.

In recent years, the automotive market has gradually been taken over by new energy, and the rapid development of new energy vehicles is accelerating industrial transformation. In return, market and customers have raised higher standards for automotive components, posing greater challenges to the manufacturing side.

Compared to traditional combustion vehicles, it has appeared that new energy vehicle models are more diverse and undergo rapid updates, requiring small production volumes for multiple projects and continuous development. In the past, the development cycle for a conventional vehicle project was 24 months, but emerging new players in the automotive sector now demand this be compressed to 16 months or even shorter. This presents a significant challenge for many automotive manufacturers. Apart from providing the equipment itself, Haitian can also offer a complete set of peripheral automation solutions, flexibly connecting downstream processes, which can serve YFPO more effectively, provide added value, and help to save development time.

Moreover, young consumers pay greater attention to the stylish design of vehicle in- and exteriors, with designs constantly evolving. The bumper, as a key element of the overall vehicle appearance, must meet higher aesthetic standards, seamlessly integrate with the body, and contribute to the overall decorative effect. With leading manufacturing techniques, Haitian assists YFPO’s Hefei plant in achieving utmost precision in details, catering to different consumers’ ultimate expectations for vehicle exteriors.

US FARATHANE is a world-famous auto parts manufacturer, whose products are widely used in cars, consumer electronics, imaging equipment as well as various other industrial products. The company has production bases in Shanghai, Changchun and Taicang, with rich international customer resources, and provides many automotive enterprises with molding solutions for key parts such as battery packs and safety parts.

In recent years, the e-mobility industry has flourished and became a hot spot in the market. It has also driven the rapid development of a large number of upstream and downstream partners, among which USF is one of the best. We have discussed with Mr. Zhang, the deputy director of USF in Taicang, the development of the e-mobility industry.

Walking into the workshop of USF, the Haitian machines are running with highly coordinated automated systems. The market share in e-mobility has been increasing, and the improvement of quality and efficiency is due to this series of automation achievements.

In Mr. Zhang’s words, the initial idea of USF is always be at the forefront of the industry, and the company has long integrated automation into its blood. Highly automated manufacturing boosts higher requirements for the production process, precision, and injection molding machinery.  千赢国际官网首页入口网址是多少 fully meets the needs of the complicated conditions of USF, maintaining a good foundation for long-term cooperation between the two parties.

To match the lightweight orientation, USF has continuously explored the latest injection molding technology and upgraded its equipment, e.g. by implementing a multi-component solution with a clamping force of 1,600 tons from Haitian. The solution includes a horizontal rotation injection molding machine with dual injection components face to face. He told us that the use of Haitian multi-component machinery has doubled efficiency. Originally, each mold needs a machine, but now one machine can install two molds. The whole production process becomes accurate, smooth, high-quality, and efficient. It has broken the traditional way of single production in the past, saving half of the production time and the floor area, supporting the goal of efficiency.

The multi-component injection molding technology is an important process in the field of the e-mobilty industry. With the full support of the Haitian technical team, after several debugging and program optimization, the production cycle has been reduced from more than 70 seconds to about 48 seconds, reaching the international advanced level, and helping USF to gain milestone achievements.

For a long time, domestic multi-component injection molding machinery has been highly dependent on imports. However, after years of operation, 千赢国际官网首页入口网址是多少 has convinced USF that the domestic machinery can provide high reliability and stability as well.

As a pioneer in the e-mobility industry, USF will continue to promote upgrading and realize the “smart factory”.

We expect more innovative technologies and advanced equipment to be applied, especially in the e-mobility industry. In the future, Haitian will continue to dig deeper, create a complete set of solutions that meets the needs of the industry, and work with customers to establish a new ecosystem for the prosperity of the industry.

HMC chooses ZHAFIR from Beginning

HMC (NINGBO HENGSHUAI CO.,LTD.) is a leading manufacturer of automotive micro-motors and automotive components. HMC has established long-term strategic partnerships with many global automotive manufacturers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, GM, Honda, and Hyundai. The vision is to be the trusted partner and leader in innovative solutions for automotive manufacturers worldwide. Commitment to quality and customer satisfaction are the catalysts to achieving this vision.

From a trial from the beginning, HMC and Zhafir kicked off the collaboration in 2010. As an initial customer of Zhafir, the bilateral relationship has gone through 12 years. In the workshop of HMC, the first generation of the VE Series is still running efficiently at full load. So far, this workhorse has been working for 12 years.

the workshop of HMC

With 12 years of experience, HMC has deepened its trust in ZHAFIR. But what encouraged HMC to be the first one to try the new technology that has been presented by Zhafir at that time?

Xu Erning，Vice President

Xu said,  “At that moment, we had compared many manufacturers of electric injection molding machines. In the end Zhafir gained our trust. Apart from that, as a local company in Ningbo, for us to have such excellent production in our hometown, why should we focus on other brands?” Therefore, HMC purchased the machines from Zhafir’s first generation. With the stability, precision, and convenience in actual implementation, Zhafir has inspired HMC. “The bigger highlight is its energy consumption. The energy consumption from electric technology is low and it solves the problem of peak power consumption every summer, providing us more advantages.”

The biggest benchmark for any operation is time. Over the past 12 years, Zhafir’s high efficiency, which has not changed over time, has been the reason why HMC keeps purchasing, and fueling HMC to gain long-term value in the e-automobile industry, too.

The rapid development of the automotive industry requires more and more precision. According to Mr. Xu, most of the products are functional parts, which cannot be defective when assembled into cars. The challenges of consistency and stability must be fully given. Therefore, equipment and molds are the keys to processing.

With the specialization and the high qualification rate, HMC regards Zhafir as a system partner. “The characteristics of Zhafir equipment, accuracy and speed, are critical to our company’s parts and components. During the processing, we benefit from the advantages of Zhafir in terms of product size, efficiency and stability. With its help, HMC has achieved a nice qualification rate and ppm can reach double digits. Even when we deliver the products to the customer, it can reach a single digit. Meanwhile, energy consumption is reduced, and the product quality is stable, so Zhafir machines are our preferred equipment. “

Refining on production and technology, HMC has become a qualified supplier in the automotive industry and has won many honors such as “excellent supplier” and “progressive supplier” of OEMs. The road of cooperation between HMC and Zhafir has expanded and deepened.

In the future, Zhaifr will continue to provide the most competitive products and solutions for global customers and partners with quality and efficiency over time, explore more ways for quality and efficiency, bring new drive for industrial transformation, and shape opportunities.

Hardcoat Technologies applies “Technology to the Point” for challenging automotive lamps molding projects with success.

Founded in 2014 by CEO and President Nick Steffens, Hardcoat Technologies is a Tier-2-supplier of automotive lighting components located in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. The company specializes in the challenging process of injection molding polycarbonate lenses for head lamps, driving lamps and fog lamps, which are thermal hard coated for weatherability and scratch resistance. Hard- coat Tech’s products also include Light Pipes and Carriers for the Automotive Industry. Customers in the automotive, ATV and industrial markets include SL Tennessee, Truck-Lite, Rebo Lighting and Electronics, and Hicks Plastics/Myotech.

The company’s products end up in vehicles such as the GMC Sierra truck, Ram truck, Buick Enclave SUV, Chevrolet Malibu sedan and the Ford F-150 truck. In its start-up phase, the company grew 300 percent from 2017 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2022, it grew another 200 percent. The company’s growth drove a 23,500-square-foot (2,183 square meter) addition which opened in 2022, next to their original facility. By 2022, Hardcoat Technologies has purchased 10 molding machines from Absolute Haitian, the exclusive distributor of Haitian and Zhafir molding machines in the U.S. and Canada. Their inventory includes seven MA II and MA III servo-hydraulic ma- chines – the workhorse for the company – along with two ZE electric machines and one JU III two- platen machine. “We specify smaller injection drives on larger machines to accommodate the unique features of our molds and shorten the residence time of material in the barrel,” noted Steffens.

“Automotive head lamps must deliver high-impact resistance, weatherability and scratch resistance. Many said we could not produce highly cosmetic polycarbonate lenses in standard Haitian machines with general purposes screws. We have been working with polycarbonate material for 25 years,” said Steffens. “With robust processes, reliable molding machines and a consistent maintenance program, we do it, achieving less than 2% scrap rates.” (The company also runs acrylic and PC material using a ZE 4500 with a hardened screw to manufacture light pipes for LED lighting in high-end vehicles.)

“The price point of the Haitian machines makes them very attractive,” said Steffens. “We are able to offer our customers the latest in thermal cure silicone Hardcoat technology but keep our pricing to them competitive.”

“We manufacture all our own Hardcoating application equipment and tooling in-house. We purchased a 1500 Laser for fabrication and 3D printers for prototyping. Instead of 2 to 6 weeks, we can have proto- typing completed in hours,” Steffens noted.

“Many said we could not produce highly cosmetic polycarbonate lenses on standard machines with general purposes screws. But we did.”

Nick Steffens, CEO and President of Hardcoat Technologies

The company’s Knoxville location positions Hardcoat Technologies to collaborate with automotive sup- pliers in the southern U.S. “With Tier 1 suppliers to GM and Nissan in Tennessee, BMW in South Carolina, Mercedes and KIA/Hyundai throughout Georgia and Alabama, we are well-situated to continue our growth,” said Steffens. Automotive is a hard market to break into but Steffens had relationships built from 17-plus years of commercial development responsibility before he started Hardcoat Technologies. “We are driven by making parts quickly and providing value to our customers. We bring experience and technical know-how. Haitian brings molding machine expertise and Absolute Haitian delivers the sales, service and parts support we demand. This has been the path to making our business a success,” Steffens concluded.

Facts & Figures:

Founded: 2014
ISO 9001 Certified
Cleanroom coating environment for in-house developed hard-coating process
10+2 injection molding machines:
ZE 3600/1400, ZE 4500/1400, JU III 4500/1730, MA II 3200/1700, MA II 5300/4500, MA II 6000/4500, MA III 3800/1700, MA III 3800/1700, MA III 6000/2250,  MA III 6000/2250

Solution for Technology and Performance Enhancement: About the Successful Cooperation between Haitian and Dongfeng Nissan.

Dongfeng Nissan is a joint venture between Japanese automaker Nissan and China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation, a leading group in the construction of trucks, buses and passenger cars, as well as in the manufacture of engines and automotive components. With annual sales figures of more than 1 million vehicles, Dongfeng Nissan is a major player in the automotive industry in the People’s Republic of China.

Since Haitian began intensive cooperation with this manufacturer in 2009, ten automatic production cells with injection molding machines of 33,000 kN clamping force each have already been installed at the Guangzhou, Xiangyang, Zhenzhou and Wuhan plants. The latest plant in Wuhan-Yunfeng plays a prominent role and poses great challenges to its business partners due to the highest standards and strictest specifications at Dongfeng Nissan.

Turnkey solution for the highest demands

To ensure smooth operations from the very be- ginning, Haitian established a special team specifically for the Yunfeng project, consisting of senior executives from the application, engineering, manufacturing, customer service, marketing and other departments. In joint efforts, they overcame all challenges and accomplished their task even in the most severe pandemic phase. Despite many difficulties, the project goal was achieved on time.

This unwavering commitment with the goal of successful delivery was highly recognized by Dongfeng Nissan. During the final summary and appreciation conference of the Wuhan-Yunfeng project in August 2022, Haitian was awarded the “Excellent Project Manager” and “Excellent Supplier” awards.

Haitian will continue to cooperate and develop with Dongfeng Nissan in a targeted manner in the future. Last but not least, to seize the strategic opportunity to accompany and promote the development of the domestic automotive industry through high-quality solutions with more precise machines, faster cycles and higher energy efficiency.

With the development from a means of transport to a symbol of prestige and status, the requirements in automotive engineering have changed fundamentally. Not only have the number and size of components increased, but more and more functionalities are calling for increasingly complex geometries, more material combinations, and more demanding properties. Energy efficiency benefits (or lightweight construction) and even greater driving pleasure are particularly high on the agenda.

Consequently, the quality and performance requirements for plastic injection molding have also increased significantly. Haitian has implemented a comprehensive customer solution for Dong- feng-Nissan: A Turnkey Solution that leads to technology and performance enhancement and serves the market needs to the point.

Visit at HELLA Slovakia Front-Lighting, sro

HELLA is one of the largest suppliers to the automotive industry. The MDAX Group supplies almost all of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers with premium products and is one of the innovation leaders in the vehicle lighting segment. We visited Hella Kočovce and talked to technicians Jozef Šimun and René Jurkovský about the first electric machine at Hella worldwide – the Zhafir Zeres Series in their factory.

The company HELLA has grown with products for vehicle lighting. The portfolio includes headlights, combination rearlights, interior lights and reaches all the way to lighting electronics. Product development focuses on light-based driver assistance systems and LEDs. In addition, the company has established itself worldwide as a competent solution provider of comprehensive lighting and vehicle electronics – according to the claim “Technology with vision”.

Today, the Group has 125 locations around the globe, employs around 39,000 people, including around 7,700 in research and development, and generated sales of around EUR 7 billion in fiscal year 2018/19. EUR 5.8 billion of these were generated in the Lighting and Electronics Divisions alone.

Premium quality for premium brands

First-class product quality to the highest standards means everything to the automotive specialists, it is the benchmark for all thinking and acting and enjoys the highest priority. “Zero defects” is the motto, simply because of our responsibility to our customers. In order to implement this high standard in all plants, Hella has established an integrated quality management concept throughout the Group, which is based on internationally recognised quality standards and is continuously being further developed.

Traditional with innovative spirit

“Not to stand still in development, to work out ideas and bring them into series production is what drives us every day” is the motto of this innovation leader. On the production level, the law of series production was to stick to the familiar ground; here, without exception, the company has so far relied on the services of European brands. That has changed. Haitian is the first non-European injection moulding machine manufacturer – although with German-Chinese roots as far as the development of the electric Zhafir series is concerned – that was able to convince those
responsible at Hella of the performance, efficiency and quality work of its series. The decision in favour of Haitian respectively Zhafir was made at Hella Kočovce, in western Slovakia.

“At the beginning it was not easy to show that Haitian builds reliable machines,” explains Filip Mizia, technical sales manager at Mapro, sales and service partner of 千赢国际官网首页入口网址是多少 in Slovakia. “It took a little patience to show the operators how to use our machines. But now they can work with our machines without any problems, and we can say that they are very satisfied, both in terms of after sales support and technical support”.

With the plants in Bratislava, Banovce and Koovce, Hella has three locations in Slovakia which produce different components for automotive lights independently of each other. The group employs a total of 2,100 people there, producing day and night – 24/7 in four shifts. Jozef Šimun, Production Manager: “I think it is particularly important for Hella to have a high specification in the machine equipment, with many options. Every time I talk to the people in charge, they are more satisfied with the Zeres than with the European machines. More satisfied, both in terms of parameterisation and handling”.

In the meantime, also the first Haitian machine has been integrated in the Kočovce factory. A Jupiter series with 450 t clamping force was installed for a 6-month trial period. It proved its performance long before the end of this test phase.

In conversation:

Mr. Šimun, Mr. Jurkovský, how important is energy as a cost factor for Hella?
“It is certainly not the first priority, quality definitely comes first, but of course it is one of the more important points, because we at HELLA also want to save energy. In the end, it depends on the price.”

Is that the reason why you switch to electrical machines and what do you expect from them?
“We expect the maintenance of electric machines to be more economical than other machines. This will certainly be even better the more electrical machines we have in the workshop. Apart from that, hydraulic machines are much louder than electric ones. And the price and the performance are very convincing.”

What is your personal opinion about the drive technology of the future, is it electric, hydraulic or hybrid?
“I think the best solution is electric machines. They are cleaner, the performance is very good and they are remarkably quiet. But I think the most important thing is the price.

Interview with Zeno Cipriani, Owner of Dakota Group

The Dakota Group is one of the leading companies in the production and sale of construction products. The group has been on an expansion course for about 25 years. Always in focus: progress and innovations for more productivity.

As early as the 1990s, the company was expanding, initially on the domestic market. Subsidiaries in Spain, Portugal and Romania followed. Today, the Dakota Group supplies more than 4,000 customers worldwide. The product portfolio includes drainage and grating systems, drainage systems, dock levellers and much more. Products for the automotive, packaging and the pharmaceutical industry complement the portfolio.

Dakota’s management believes that they have been created for major tasks. By continuously investing in both new technologies and qualified employees, Dakota aims to provide a powerful infrastructure for the challenges of the future. The owner sees energy-efficient, automated and highly productive manufacturing systems as the key to success.

Mr. Cipriani, you have been a Haitian customer since 1998. Which criteria were decisive for you at that time?

“The overall concept convinced us, and it still convinces us today. All Dakota products are made with Haitian and Zhafir machines.”

Which series do you own?

“The Zeres, Venus and Jupiter. Most of them are from the Zeres Series.”

What products does Jupiter manufacture?

“We are currently producing a Smart Catch-Pit, a robust hollow body made of PP. We produce it on a Jupiter with 650 tons. The product varies in sizes from 200 x 200 mm to 550 x 550 mm.”

To what extent do you use automation in your production?

We use central systems for material feeding and drying, as well as internal and external centralized containers for the warehouse. In total, we have about 40 Hilectro robots, six-axis robots, assembly machines, automatic packaging and storage machines”.

Do you also use recycled material?

“We have been focusing on the recovery and reuse of plastic waste generated during production for a very long time. At the same time, we are systematically working on reducing microplastics.”

What do you think which drive will shape the future?

“Certainly the electric one, especially since the electric machine reduces energy consumption and guarantees higher energy efficiency. Apart from that, we have been using self-produced energy for some time, through our photovoltaic systems in production and logistics. Solar energy can also reduce energy costs”.

Do you already integrate digital concepts into production?

“In fact, we can say that Dakota has been a smart factory for 15 years. We have been using the 4.0 concept since 2005. Each injection machine is connected to the central server. All data and processes are registered by the main computer and all information is exchanged between the branch, office and production. These activities are a must for 24/7 operation and a modern factory.”

Mr. Cipriani (left) and Mr. Stella (right) from Dakota, together with Mr. Bonfadini from IMG – Sales and service partner of Haitian & Zhafir: “We are fans from the very beginning”

A smart catch-pit produced on a Jupiter 6,500 kN made of PP

Haitian Jupiter II Series:”LOTS OF POTENTIAL TO GROW”

Central equipment purchasing, uniform standards: Eurostyle Systems is at its new plant in Slovakia again with a stringent decision-making culture – and the Jupiter II Series.

Top quality through flexible production is the clear benefit, despite enormously strong competitive environment. The plant in Slovakia Bánovce nad Bebravou is the youngest daughter of Eurostyle Systems. The group has currently 11 plants and 4 tech centers, annually producing about 100 million automotive components (quality level 9 PPM) and has an annual turnover of 260 million euros. Decisions of project procurement and respect of equipment purchases are made at the headquarters in France. Haitian machines play a “surprisingly” good role in building the new plant, explained by Plant Manager Jozef Odskoc and Production Manager Peter Kmetko.

To date, Liptovsky Mykulas was the only Eurostyle site in Slovakia. The plant specializes in vehicle interior, for example, manufacturing door panels or consoles, but also grille or strainer for the exterior area. Its clients include both suppliers such as Faurecia, Lear or MöllerGroup and carmakers such as PSA, VW, Audi and TPCA. In 2012, approximately 70 employees provided a turnover of 6 million euros. Due to the continued good order situation, the headquarters decided to build a second site in Slovakia to respond even faster and more extensively to customer requests.

Location in strong automotive region

By the end of 2015, the Eurostyle Systems Bánovce s.r.o. was registered, headquartered in the strong automotive area of Horná Nitra. Within 50 km there are more than 200 plastics processors located, making it an extremely confident choice of location. When asked about the possible lack of specialists, Eurostyle Systems responds (still) relaxed: “It  is  true, especially in this region, there are plenties of automotive and too few qualified professionals. An experienced technician knows his worth and  doesn’t infrequently drive wages up. So far, however, we were lucky to find the right people,” says Jozef Odskoc. “Maybe it is because we clearly focus on employee satisfaction.” The company is located on the site as a financially sound, future-oriented employer with great potential. Peter Kmetko states, “We begin precisely at first. Who now goes on board, will later be a part of the core team. In addition, we see people as people and not as personnel numbers. This convinced many.“

At the moment, the complete factory is in the installation and testing phase and has 30 employees. All machines and molds are “examined thoroughly” so that they can begin mass production in September. By this time they are planning to be comprised of about 60 employees. Currently, the machinery is composed of 10 machines, 6 of which are Haitian Jupiter II  Series with two-platen technology. Another JU6500II plus has recently been ordered. Overall, the clamping force range at Eurostyle is 900-9,000 kN and the Jupiter II plus machines with 5,500, 6,500 and 9,000 kN occupy the larger clamping forces. They were ordered to produce interior components for the new C3 model from Citroen – the initial project for the Eurostyle Team, as a T1 supplier for cockpit, spars and other parts.

“Before I started at Eurostyle, I did not know Haitian at all. But I know appropriate competitive products. The Jupiter II machines are still producing test parts, and I cannot therefore be conclusively assessed, but so far they provide remarkably great results, “says Peter Kmetko, Production manager and technical head of Eurostyle Systems Bánovce s.r.o. “The setup of the Jupiter is surprisingly very good. Especially the servo-hydraulic drive which promises good energy values.” At the moment they focus on standard injection molding applications with downstream assembly and use the method of vibration welding (see info box**). They pro- cess mainly standard polymers such as PP, PA PC ABS or POM.

A uniform standard in all plants

The planned annual consumption of raw materials is around 1,000 tons. Projects are assigned to certain sites and how the appropriate machinery looks is basically decided by the Technical & Development Center in France. “This approach creates a uniform standard in all plants and ensures that projects can be freely assigned depending on skills and capacities. And because the projects in France are being developed so that colleagues have the best view, who can do what best,” explains Jozef Odskoc, and added: “There are a few new projects in France in pipeline. With our setup we have a lot of potential to grow and we want to be well prepared. Therefore, there are already concrete plans for expansion of the current 3,000 sqm to 6,000 sqm of production space.“

Flexibility as an essential strategy

According to the requested opinion about the value of increased flexibility – keyword “Technology to the point”, the Production Manager demonstrates to us a few handles that cannot be handled by a robot in his opinion. “An unmanned production would be unthinkable in these types of applications, because some sensitive processing steps must be performed manually. Flexibility for us is an essential strategy. The Jupiter II together with the Sepro Automation form a very reliable unit. The cooperation with the Haitian Service Partner Mapro was explicitly part of the factory tour as ‘highly praised flexibly and professionally”.

Haitian Jupiter II Series: SAVING ENERGY WITH TWO SENSES

Since its founding in 1988, TK Systems GmbH has established itself as a supplier of technical plastic parts.

The middle-market company manufactures high-quality injection molding products of all kinds in the small to medium-sized parts sector. The machine fleet includes two Haitian Mars II and three Haitian Jupiter II two-platen technology machines. Customers in the electrical, furniture, automobile, construction, and swimming pool industries are among those supplied. We visited the company in Vlotho in North Rhine Westphalia and spoke with Swen Sinn, Business Manager of TK Systems.

Mr. Sinn, TK Systems is part of what is probably the strongest cluster of processing companies in Germany. What is your biggest trump card?

“Very clearly it is flexibility – and I mean that in all ways. We produce parts starting from pilot production right through to large quantities. We manufacture and deliver prototypes on very short notice. In our operation everything is available, from development over mold construction and manufacture, through to QS and delivery. The structure of our areas of expertise is closely interconnected. This is what gives us our internal flexibility and this is what makes us strong.”

In what segments are you chiefly active?

“We have the good fortune of being set up very flexibly in this regard also. We are 20% injection molders by contract and 80% a kind of outsourced plastics manufacturer for those of our customers who do not have an injection molding facility of their own. And of course we also work for the automobile industry, producing bumper parts, trim, and ventilation grilles, and other small parts for interiors. In this respect we are a traditional OEM.”

Then you are the famous “extended workbench”…

“Yes, for example for a customer in Bad Salzuflen who manufactures flat roof drains; we welded these with bitumen to then deliver the complete packaging unit. TK Systems is involved right from the start – development of the parts, mold construction, the injection-molding process, quality assurance, and the accessories. In my opinion, this service goes beyond that of a traditional contract injection molding company. And here we also want to demonstrate where we clearly stand out from the rest. Soon we’ll be able to offer downstream processing and assembly in our new assembly shop, which we are currently building. This comprises another 700 m² for warehousing and assembly to add to the existing 1200 m². So I think that we have a pretty powerful set-up”.

“Yes, it was a matter of course and one of our best decisions. I trained to be a process mechanic for plastic and rubber and took over the injection-molding factory of one of our suppliers in 1994. At that time my brother had also been working at a processor’s as industrial manager. Two years later I brought him over. We know and trust each other on a completely different level. And that makes double sense [the brothers’ last name, Sinn, means ‘sense’ in German], in the truest sense of the word!

What do you do differently or better, even, than other processors? 

“Actually, not a whole lot. We do our job with the requisite seriousness and with the greatest ease possible.”

With such tough competition, can you really allow yourselves to have a relaxed attitude? How can we picture that?

“This is probably one of our greatest strengths. For example, we handle price negotiations with our partners basically according to the motto “live and let live”. We rely on long-term and trusting partnerships, an honest sense of being in it together. This includes the bank, the tax consultant, the lawyer and of course also the machine suppliers. When we are delighted with the service and we get good support, we remain loyal and faithful. This is also perhaps the reason why we have now bought five machines from 千赢国际官网首页入口网址是多少 within one year.”

“Yes, exactly. We began with a Jupiter II and a six-digit investment sum. Many might say that a certain amount of courage was needed for that, particularly since prior to August 2015 I hadn’t seen anything by Haitian. I discovered that the old story about “low-cost” 千赢国际官网首页入口网址是多少 is just not true. Still, on average the company does produce ten times more machines than manufacturers here. We simply gave it a try and were 100% satisfied with the machine; another four followed in short order. Apart from a few teething troubles – which everybody has, by the way – they’re purring like kittens. And just as quietly as well. Factor in the energy costs. The measurement data supplied by Mr. Tiedemann have all been confirmed. Overall we have been able to register savings of around 40 per cent. That’s quite an amount!”

“Our sales concept is “word-of-mouth propaganda”. We are rather well-known for a company of our size and we seem to enjoy a good reputation. But we also know our limits. And here too we are very honest when the quality demands are too high or if the price simply doesn’t match. Another rather crucial point is whether the famous ‘chemistry’ is right.”

With such strong competition, isn’t it extremely difficult to achieve good positioning? 

“The competition in our company size range is actually not so great. 30 to 40 % of them immediately drop out because although they have certificates on their walls they don’t live up to them. We have been ISO 9001 certified since 2004 and we adhere to this strictly in our processes, including in EDP. This includes for example defined test cycles with extensive documentation and sample retention. We then offer traceability and measurements if the customer wishes. I may be so bold as to say that you’ll find very few companies of the same size who are equally as well equipped as we are. We have not allowed ourselves to become restricted by our certification in terms of our flexibility but instead have adapted the certification to our company, incorporating all work steps into this certification. So this means that we didn’t have to make any substantial changes at all; instead, we were able to keep on working the same way and it was all documented”.

What goals do you have for TK Systems!?

“Our goal is to make our company into a little jewelry box – next with 10 to 12 machines. After two big crises in 2004 and 2009, it’s been difficult up to now because that put a big damper on us too. The recovery since 2011 finally gave us – slowly but steadily – a breathing space. Since that time all our revenue has been immediately invested. This has proven so effective that we are even undertaking new construction. We have our own mold construction facility that does its own maintenance and prepares molds for production. Maintenance records are improved, mold stocks are more structured – simply more space, more cleanliness, and more order.”

Are you pursuing any particular entrepreneurial vision?

“It’s important that we stay flexible. We want to position ourselves as cost-attractive, reliable, and innovative with an aspiration for state-of-the-art production. We have just received from the company Plasma a new drying unit with a dew point meter. A new compressor is also planned for the start of 2018. Plus we have all of our state-of-the-art peripherals around the whole machine fleet. This is what I mean by a jewelry box – small, fine, and completely sound”

Did you already previously have contacts or communications with China?

“Yes, for as many as ten or twelve years. Due to molds, parts, designs, everything you can think of. Also during vacations.”

Do you have any prejudices at all against Chinese machines?

“No, none whatsoever.”

Why in your opinion are there so many reservations in your group of colleagues?

“That I don’t know. Funnily enough, after seeing the machines at our place, they all ordered such machines too.”

“That was a very spontaneous decision and was my first visit to Ebermannsdorf. Greatly impressed; I wouldn’t have expected a set-up on such a scale. This confirms for me once again that my gut feeling at that time was correct.”