OPTIMISATION AT EVERY STAGE OF PRODUCTION Walzengiesserei Coswig GmbH is a leading European foundry that specialises in steel rolling, hand moulding and machining for a diverse range of industries and applications. Philip Yorke talked to Marko Schulter, the company’s sales director, about its major investments in new plant and further expansion in the world’s fastest growing markets.
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oswig foundry was founded in Germany in 1892 and through consistent investment in new plant and technology has grown to become a pre-eminent, European mill foundry. In 1996 the company was acquired by the DIHAG Group, which further leveraged its competitive edge and added to its overall R&D capabilities. Today, based upon its comprehensive and sophisticated manufacturing capabilities, the company can offer a high level of flexibility, which in turn allows it to react quickly to the changing needs of the market and its customers. Optimisation of all Coswig’s stateof-the-art production processes has been the key to its on going success. Outstanding mould quality is supported by a variety of
mechanical and metallographic tests at the company’s own measurement, analysis and simulation programme facilities near Dresden. Coswig foundry’s diverse range of products cover all customer-specific requirements for specialised products such as high quality steel rolls and rings, pistons and plungers and hand-moulded castings for an infinite range of industrial applications.
Innovation and quality driving sales Throughout its long and successful history the company has made innovation, quality and customer service its key priorities. In order to maintain the high standards that are synonymous with Coswig, it continues to invest heavily in the latest machinery and technology.
Schulter said, “We are a privately owned company which gives us a competitive edge when it comes to providing customer service and flexibility. We operate a continuous programme of improvement in order to stay at the top of our profession. In 2009 we invested more than €30 million in the foundry to increase manufacturing capacity and this was achieved with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. This investment boosted our production to over 60,000 tonnes per year, which virtually doubled our turnover. Most of our products are in the middle to big range of castings with more than 30 per cent of our orders requiring products in the 50 tonnes and upwards range. “At Coswig we operate two different divisions. The first is dedicated to the steel