TPi November 2016

business & market news

ASMAG signs contract for two innovative production lines ASMAG GmbH, based in Austria, is a specialist in machinery for the production of metals. It has recently signed a contract with the Italian Berna Ernesto SpA of Lumezzane, Brescia, for the turnkey supply of two complete fully automated production lines. The plants will produce hollow bars and profiles in various brass alloys. The agreement was signed in Gmunden, Austria, by Andrea Berna, CEO, and Johann Vielhaber, CEO of ASMAG. This was the successful result of several technical meetings in which all requirements of Berna were carefully evaluated to identify and outline the best technological and layout solutions. The philosophy of Berna, orientated to unconditionally guaranteed product quality and customer satisfaction, was the main theme of the talks and led the engineers of Scharnstein to their project choices. The technological encounter, knowledge and sharing of experience was further enhanced by mutual visits of delegations in the respective premises at Lumezzane and Scharnstein. The scope of supply includes drawbench, straightening lines for rounds and profiles, cut-to-length station, chamfering, straightness control unit and testing table, automatic bundling and packing, erection and commissioning services. Considering the qualitative targets firmly established by the management of Berna, strong attention to material handling and extensive adoption of in-line instrumentation were also foreseen by the Austrian engineers. This will ensure the physical and aesthetic properties of the finished brass bars. ASMAG is a manufacturer of integrated lines for the production of cold drawn metals (ferrous and non-ferrous). Its markets are mainly Europe, USA and Russia. Founded in 1984 by the engineer Johann Vielhaber, it has grown since then in the factory of Scharnstein, and with the acquisition of SEUTHE, Germany, in 2010 and OCN, Italy, in 2015. The ASMAG group now totals more than 200 employees. Following the purchase of the assets of OCN, a new ASMAG branch office has also been established in Tavagnacco (UD), Italy, whose first important result has been this project with Berna. With this contract, ASMAG states that it confirms its growing leadership in high-technology cold drawing machinery around the world.

Road map for European plastics industry The new president of the European Plastics Distributors Association (EPDA), Lari Hahtonen, set out his vision for the plastics industry in his inaugural speech to delegates attending the industry’s annual conference in Hamburg, Germany. At the event Mr Hahtonen, who was vice-president and takes over from outgoing president David Ladyman, stressed the importance for Europe’s plastics manufacturers to react quickly to the challenges posed by new developments in technology that are shaping the industrial environment. Mr Hahtonen, who has been in the plastics industry for more than a decade and works for his family business (Aikolon Oy in Finland), said, “I wish to thank David for all his great work as president of the EPDA; he will be a hard act to follow. Plastic is fantastic and we must remain at the forefront of innovation and customer-centric solutions for manufacturers.” European Plastics Distributors Association – UK info@epda.com www.epda.com

ASMAG GmbH – Austria sales@asmag.at www.asmag.at

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November 2016 Tube Products International