Steering new technologies forward

The Backer Group is a global leader in the development and manufacture of advanced electronic heating components for industry. Philip Yorke looks at how the company has stayed at the forefront of its sector through innovation and the ability to deliver highly efficient element technologies.

The Backer Group was founded in Sweden in 1949 by Christian Backer, and is headquartered in Sosdala, Sweden. From here it manages its 28 manufacturing sites and global sales and service networks covering Europe, Asia and North and South America. The company has grown consistently since its inception, and in 1989 this success came to the notice of the International NIBE Group, who acquired the company in order to expand its product range and to take advantage of Backer’s expertise in areas such as resisters, open coil elements and thick film elements.

Today the group continues to expand despite the difficult economic climate and in 2010 recorded sales of more than SEK 1.7 billion. Developing new technologies for emerging industrial sectors such as high-speed rail and wind power has helped to keep the company ahead of the field, with particularly strong growth coming from the Chinese and South American markets. This expediential growth reflects the success of the strategic decision by Backer to invest in the acquisition of new plant in China in 2005 and in Mexico in 2008.

Customised products for optimal efficiency

The continuing success of the Backer Group can be attributed to three simple business values: innovation, quality and dedicated customer services. Furthermore, although the

company operates on a global basis, it has a strong local presence wherever it operates and is committed to strengthening its customers’ competitiveness at all levels. This is achieved through the development of cuttingedge products designed specifically to meet their individual requirements. Backer operates one of the world’s most advanced R&D centres at Sosdala, which was purpose-built in 2005 and offers the latest humidity chambers, as well as special cameras for heat transfer control and sound proof rooms and test facilities. This state-of-the-art complex allows the company to develop the most advanced and efficient heating solutions for its customers in such areas as electronic regulation, element technologies, resistors, heating cables and heat control steering units.

In addition, the company provides active support for its clients in the development of new products. As an innovative and preferred business partner, Backer’s clients do not need to carry out costly introductory trials when a new product is on the drawing board, but can simply rely on Backer to undertake all new product testing procedures for them. New products and innovation driving sales

The Backer Group delivers its heating component products to a wide range of industries, including the manufacturers of industrial ovens, white goods, electrical goods and to energy providers such as Siemens and ABB who require different kinds of heating components in order to deliver energy. Among its extensive portfolio of blue chip clients are companies such as Atlas Copco, Alstom, Electrolux, ABB and Baltic cable. In the white goods sector the Backer Group

includes Fagor and Antonio Merloni among its key customers.

Today the company’s range of products for heating and temperature control continues to serve a broad range of industrial sectors, such as automotive, rail, food preparation and refrigeration. And in addition to producing advanced band heaters, cabinet heaters, cable sets and cartridge heaters, the company has recently added heating cables to its portfolio of customised products.

New products are regularly being developed and launched by Backer. One of the latest to be announced is its Electronic Terminal Box: K31E. This is an advanced and highly efficient unit that offers electronic settings for all desired temperatures and hystereses with a precise control via NTC. The display on the box shows the current temperature and with its flashing light, the operating status of all heating elements. The new terminal also offers the possibility of remote, external control either via a thermostat placed in the nearby surroundings, or via a central control unit. In addition, there is the possibility to add specific operating alternatives and a delayed on/off switch feature. This state-of-the-art terminal box is also equipped with an integrated frost guard which can be activated whenever it is required.

Yet another product recently launched by Backer is its latest compact cabinet and anti-condensation heater. This has been specifically developed for climate control and prevention of condensation and freezing, both for indoor and outdoor applications.

The compact dimensions of this unique cabinet heater does not mean that it is compromised on providing maximum power for a wide range of applications. These include use in petrol pumps, engines/drives, offshore and shipping applications, airports, energy, surveillance cameras, process industries, aerospace and for equipment utilised in an Arctic environment.

Customer and environmental focus

The Backer Group has always been committed to offering its customers complete satisfaction and to minimise any environmental impact of its production processes. Since 1992 these goals have been endorsed by the ISO 9001 quality certification and more recently, the ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental protection.

These certificates were recently updated to the new international standard ISO 9001:2008. All companies in the Backer Group have long established quality control systems in place and some of its subsidiaries have supplementary certifications relating to the needs of the automotive industry.

In its own everyday work routines, Backer takes protective and preventative measures to ensure that its operations do not endanger either human health or the environment, and are committed to a programme of continuous improvement to reduce consumption and pollution. The company’s excellent record on health and safety is a testament to its commitment to this important area of its operations. n