Pressetexte
Taking the heat in the exotic world of industrial ceramics
Machines with high operating temperatures require a means of measuring heat, fluid, gas and electricity flows for the ability to switch between modes of operation. Such applications demand the sensors and corrode components made of normal metals.
In order to measure and control machines, sensors and switches need to be enclosed in a material that is resistant to corrosive chemical attack or the danger of melting caused by high temperatures. Components enclosed in a variety of ceramic materials are protected from the extreme conditions. One of Europe´s market leaders with experience in the industry stretching back over a century, is Sembach GmbH & Co. KG.
Sembach operates in the field of automotive component manufacture, household appliances, mechanical and medical engineering. To gauge just how advanced Sembach is in the field of ceramic technology, one should consider that this company has to design an make its own equipment – nobody else in the world has their level of pioneering expertise. Sembach works in concert with companies all over the world, producing components for them made of Steatite, Cordierite, Alumina, Zirconia and further special or high performance materials. These are used as heat and electrical insulators, dental prostheses, household appliance insulators and lambda sensors for car exhaust feedback. Sembach also makes ceramic heat exchangers for harsh environments that recover energy for reuse, inert laboratory vessels and components for new hybrid-car hydrogen-fuel cells. “We develop all our products to our customers´ specifications,” says Christian Montel, Sembach´s product manager. Everything we produce is custom-made under contract.”
Sembach was founded in 1904 by the present owner´s grandfather, Oskar Sembach. Ownership has been handed down through the generations. Sembach is 100% family owned. Martin Sembach has been owner and manager of the company since 1995. Over 300 highly trained technicians are constantly undergoing training to keep p with latest developments in what is considered one of the most ferile areas of scientific research. A streamlined management team oversees the company, all engineers themselves. Sembach turned over 20 million EUR in 2006 and is considered to be one of the leading companies in the field, worldwide.
“You can find our products protecting heat regulations in ovens and kitchen hobs, washing dryers, heating systems for machine engineering, components for engine exhaust regulators and components for car motor fuel injections systems,” says Mr. Montel.
“Anything that goes hot and needs a regulating sensor, needs ceramics. All the products we manufacture are pressed, extruded or injection-moulded into custom-made forms. Ceramic material does not deform under pressure or temperature, it insulates against temperature, it is resistant against aggressive chemicals and is a great electrical insulator.
All products are designed to suit the target environment. There are many factors that have to be taken into consideration when designing a ceramic component. “It is always a trade-off between sophistication and cost together with durability, heat resistance, chemical resistance and so on,“ he explains. “We advice the customer about product specifications.”
35% of turnover comes from the automotive industry and 25% is from the `white goods´ industry. 25% is from the power industry and 15% from manufacturers of medical technology. 50% of income comes from exports to the USA an Europe as a whole. Sembach exhibits regularly at Hannover´s industry exhibition. Most contracts begin life either trough Internet e-mail enquiries or referrals from Bundesverband der Keramischen Industrie (Germany´s Federal Association of the Ceramic Industry).
“Ours is a very specialised business and caring for the customer is paramount,” says Mr. Montel. “We have over a century of experience and we have grown with our customers. They give us more business because they like what we have done for them in the past. Our customers respect our expertise in the business so we can advise them as to the best solution and tell them what is possible. We have a very streamlined management structure, which allows us to make quick accurate decisions in a very short time frame. We work as a team and our staff have a great depth of experience in the field of ceramic component manufacture. We make our own machines because nobody else can do it as well as we can. We have our own machine engineering workshops and tool making facilities to construct our own custom-made tools, machines and devices, and we also make our own prototypes.”
Sembach is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001/5000 and DIN EN ISO 14001:2005, USO TS16949 certification is under way.
Sembach has its own training programme to ensure that its next generation of engineers are up to the company´s high standards.
“The company´s manufacturing centre has grown organically over the last century and our site reflects that,” he says in conclusion. “This has its limitations so we are planning to build a new purpose-built production site in the east. Ceramics is a very promising industry and we expect for grow even stronger as the century unfolds.”
European Busines Journal
