Where process-performance and precision meet

WHERE PROCESSPERFORMANCE AND PRECISION MEET

SHB is a leading European foundry that specialises in casting high quality, complex steel components. Philip Yorke talked to Alexander Grosshaeuser, the company’s managing director, about its strategy to produce heavier and more complex castings and its move into new market sectors.

SHB Stahl-und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf is part of the Swiss DIHAG Group, which is one of the largest foundry groups in Europe and one that produces superior castings for a wide range of industrial applications and markets.

SHB was founded in 1894 and began as a local steel dealer in Leipzig, Germany. However, it wasn’t until the turn of the century that the company began producing its first high quality steel castings in Bösdorf. In 1984 the foundry relocated to the today location in to take advantage of the boom in coal mining, which was a major consumer of heavy steel components for the mining industry.

The SHB Stahl-und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf foundry complex is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and covers more than 55,000 square metres. Today the company employs over 250 people and in 2012 recordes sales of over €42 million.

Optimising the solidification process

SHB uses specially developed software to simulate its casting operations which enable it to fully optimise its entire solidification process, even before the initial casting

sample is made. This makes it possible for the company to advise its customers on the best design and composition considerations possible, that will in turn help to optimise its manufacturing processes and achieve a cost-effective outcome.

The built-in flexibility and cutting edge technology that is readily available at the Leipzig foundry provides customers with process reliability in combination with the latest plant and engineering technology. This allows SHB to produce both large and small production runs as well as individual pieces. In terms of the environment and economics, SHB’s cast steel production processes are resource-conserving. Today the company’s primary aim is to supply its customers with top quality steel products at a competitive price, backed up by guaranteed product reliability and fast response times.

Strong demand from rail, mining and energy sectors

SHB Stahl is a dynamic company that is able to gear its production to meet the challenging demands of any fast changing marketplace. Traditionally the mining and construction sectors have been the com-

pany’s main customers, however today it’s the rail, mining and energy markets that are seeing the strongest growth. In the valves and heavy duty vehicle markets for example, SHB Stahl produces a wide range of products that include hand-made moulded parts, machine moulded parts as well special steel casting components.

Grosshaeuser said, “In order to maintain our position as a premier supplier of precision steel components we continue to invest heavily in new plant and technology. In 2008 we invested over €11 million in new furnaces and smelting equipment and since then we have invested step by step in new technology and advanced testing facilities.”

“Whilst our traditional customers, such as those involved in excavation and mining, still represent a significant contribution to our turnover, we see the energy and railway sectors as being the main drivers for growth in the longer term. Compared to our main competitors we are a little larger than they are but our focus is much more on the production of higher complexity products for the mining, oil and rail sectors. Stationary engines, such as very large industrial generators are also featuring more regularly in our order books. Today we are producing more than 10,000 tons of precision castings per year, which can weigh anything from just 20kg to over 5.5 tons.”

Grosshaueser added, “At SHB we have a full complement of casting facilities including two 8 ton electric arc furnaces, two moulding lines, one of which is fully automatic and the other semi-automatic, as well as several state-of-the-art heat treatment furnaces. To supply the demand of fully machined products we offer a well-appointed machine shop to our customers. When it comes to customer service and relations, we like to develop long-term partnerships with our customers to help them to optimise their businesses and their competitive edge.”

Investment and renewal

SHB’s growth is based on the one hand on a programme of continuous investment in new technology, and on the other a commitment to innovation and dedicated services to its customers. As part of the DIHAG Group, SHB’s steel products complement the wide range of materials and services offered by the group. For the benefit of its customers, the company is able to exploit synergetic opportunities in terms of materials and energy procurement and to co-ordinate its efforts with regards to other areas such as sales and technology.

The company’s commitment to optimising its manufacturing processes and customer related services, added to its many years of experience in the manufacture of cast steel products, has earned SHB Stahl- und Hartgusswerk Bösdorf GmbH an enviable reputation in the steel industry. Together with its customers, the company strives to achieve success in world markets, which will ensure growth and profit for both parties. It is SHB’s strong customer focus that is the basis for the above average growth of the company. n