The extrusion solution ProfilGruppen

THE EXTRUSION SOLUTION

Innovative Swedish aluminium extrusion and component creator ProfilGruppen is appreciated across Europe for its concept to completion service. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to sales manager Johan Anicic and design engineering manager Andreas Helmersson to see how this is being achieved.

With 350 employees and its head office in Åseda, Sweden, where the company was first established 30 years ago, aluminium extrusion and component creator ProfilGruppen brings its innovative solutions to customers in a number of industries across Europe. The company’s skills lie in the development, manufacture and marketing of custom-made aluminium extrusions and components, with the majority of its clients in the automotive, electronics, interior design and industry and construction sectors.

Sales manager Johan Anicic told Industry Europe how ProfilGruppen continues to build its excellent reputation for quality and flexibility. He said, “We don’t make any of our own products, or offer standardised products. We create customer-specific solutions for each project in order to guarantee that we are delivering the best product for the job. Our technical knowhow is such that we can perfectly advise and develop an aluminium solution that utilises the material capabilities of aluminium to our clients’ best advantage.”

ProfilGruppen believes that the extensive capabilities of aluminium over steel and other metals means that functionality can be

built in from the outset. Design engineering manager Andreas Helmersson explained, “It’s our extrusion and material knowledge that help to set ProfilGruppen apart from the competition. We build in the advanced functionality of aluminium right from the initial concept and design phase, so by offering features that cannot be delivered with steel, we are certainly making the most of our aluminium knowledge. For example, instead of using welding equipment to create pockets or have to add on screws as you would with steel, we can make the extruded aluminium do this directly when actually making the initial product. This saves time and money, as well as providing a very strong yet flexible product.”

Always adding value

Focused on working with new and existing applications where using aluminium can add value, ProfilGruppen is committed to working closely with its clients. By helping customers to choose or design their product and being present right from the initial concept stage, the ProfilGruppen team is able to ensure that the aluminium extrusions or components are more efficient in terms of production too. The company can also assist in supporting its customers in changing from using steel and other materials to using aluminium by managing the production process at every stage.

Mr Helmersson pointed out a further practical benefit of using aluminium: “We are

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continually looking at ways in which we can add value to our customers’ products using our aluminium experience, so the fact that our extensive knowledge of machining and processing aluminium products and treating the aluminium surface so that it is stronger and provides a better environmental protection for exterior applications is a key benefit.”

ProfilGruppen’s workforce is composed of technical and engineering specialists alongside creative designers and product-specific sales people. The company’s long-term commitment to working with its customers right from the very concept stage of its projects highlights the importance of maintaining a team of which all members have a strong knowledge of aluminium.

Mr Anicic added, “As all of our extrusions and components are built specifically for the customer in response to their exact demands for each project, it is crucial that our teams – across all areas of the business – know how best to advise our customers at each stage.”

Investing in skills

Working with extruded aluminium is a skilled craft, with experts needed to effectively use the state-of-the-art equipment housed at ProfilGruppen’s production site. In order to maximise the impressive talents of its workforce, the

company regularly invests in both machinery and the various support functions. Mr Anicic said, “One of our main ongoing areas of investment is to increase productivity wherever possible, particularly as we frequently invest in machinery so we want to make sure that each piece of equipment – and each person – is being utilised to the best of their capabilities. To stay cost-competitive, we ensure that all our customer-specific products are produced as quickly as possible while still retaining the high quality standards we’re known for.”

As different alloys of aluminium are required for various stages of the extrusion production processes, including cooling and transportation, ProfilGruppen has also invested in its capacity in order to handle these different alloys as effectively as possible. Improving processes is also a part of its ongoing investment programme, with Mr Helmersson pointing out that the popular ‘lean production’ philosophy is implemented across ProfilGruppen in order to be more efficient at every stage of the production process as well as the delivery of products.

As a relatively small player in the European extrusion market, ProfilGruppen is proud to stay close to its high-quality, customer-specific production values, with a tight-knit workforce that passes on its expertise to the customer wherever possible. Working alongside customers as a value partner from design to final product is a unique differentiator for ProfilGruppen, and certainly one which is appreciated.

Mr Anicic concluded, “Even though we are a small Swedish company, we serve a great many global customers who all appreciate our ability to listen carefully and act quickly, to deliver strong, flexible products that meet their exact requirements. We know our customers need material support and specific know-how of aluminium behaviour and functionality, and we are committed to fulfilling that need.” n