AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT

For its new project in Michigan (USA), the Chinese automotive wheel manufacturer CITIC Dicastal has decided on StrikoMelter melting furnaces built by StrikoWestofen Asia (Taicang). The highly global orientation of the Gummersbach subsidiary had a crucial role to play in this decision: the interaction of modern technology from Germany, efficient production in China and reliable on-site service in the USA was a convincing proposition for the leading manufacturer worldwide of aluminium wheels. With this large-scale contract, StrikoWestofen was able to assert itself against the Japanese, Chinese and American competition. It means that StrikoWestofen systems manufactured in China will be taken into operation in the USA for the first time in 2016.

International call for tenders: in its search for modern thermal process technology, the Chinese wheel manufacturer CITIC Dicastal made high technical demands on the bidders. The leading manufacturer worldwide of aluminium wheels was in search of especially energy-efficient melting systems with low metal loss for a new project in Michigan (USA). Here StrikoWestofen Asia (Taicang) was able to assert itself against the Japanese, Chinese and American competition.

Melting and recycling efficiently

CITIC Dicastal Wheel Manufacturing supplies companies from the automotive sector such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Ford and Toyota, making it one of the leading suppliers of cast aluminium components worldwide. Since as early as 2013, the company has based production at its site in Ningbo (Zhèjiāng Province) on the reliable performance of six StrikoMelter melting furnaces built by StrikoWestofen Asia. In the current call for tenders, too, the high-quality systems and the comprehensive range of services offered by the Asian subsidiary of StrikoWestofen (Gummersbach) were a convincing proposition for the Chinese supplier: the three new StrikoMelter which CITIC Dicastal is ordering for the USA provide the option of chip recycling. “The main factors influencing the decision were the efficient use of energy, the minimal metal loss and the extremely low emission values,” explains Rainer Erdmann, Managing Director of StrikoWestofen Asia. The high system availability convinced the wheel manufacturer too. Also, the option of independently recycling aluminium chips additionally provides for maximum metal yield and a highly economical mode of operation.

Global all-round service

However, the international orientation of the StrikoWestofen Group also had a special role to play in the investment decision of CITIC Dicastal. The optimum cooperation between the various locations – StrikoWestofen (Germany), StrikoWestofen Asia (China) and StrikoDynarad (Michigan, USA) – combines the best from three continents: modern technology from Germany, efficient production in China and reliable installation and on-site service in the USA. Thanks to the company’s local presence in Michigan, Dicastal permanently benefits from the extended service and spare parts program in OEM quality offered by StrikoWestofen. Original spare parts and the company’s own technicians are available at short notice at all times. The new StrikoMelter are to be delivered in summer 2016. “Then StrikoWestofen furnace systems manufactured in China will be put to work in the USA for the first time,” Erdmann adds. This intercontinental cooperation of one manufacturer therefore has an especially pioneering role for the entire automotive supply industry.