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Screws and metal components for cars
SCREWS AND METAL
COMPONENTS FOR CARS
Finnveden Polska SA, of Bielsko-Biala, Poland, is a leading producer of screws and metal structures for the car and commercial vehicle markets. It also constitutes an important part of Finnveden Group, a renonwed Swedish partner to the international automotive industry, writes Piotr Sadowski.
Finnveden, with headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, is an engineering group with strong positions in a number of market segments. It is a leading supplier to the car and commercial vehicle markets, developing and manufacturing customerspecific components and systems, based on metallic materials. The group has five production units, three of which are in Sweden (Forsheda, Hultsfred and Olofström) and two in Poland, in Bielsko-Biała. In addition, it has assembly units in Sweden, Belgium and the UK. The origins of its presence in Poland, however, go back as far as 1998, when Swedish company Bulten AB acquired part of Bielska Fabryka Wyrobów Śrubowych (the Bielsko-Biala Screw Products Factory).
In the group
The roots of the original factory date to the late 19th century. The manufacturer consisted of two companies: ‘Bartelmuss & Suchy’ and ‘Theodore Pollak & Son’. The first one was founded in 1880 with the aim of producing screws, washers, rivets and accessories for textile industry. ‘Theodore Pollak & Son’ began its activity in the 1909 manufacturing wire goods, drawn wire, nuts, rivets, iron bolts and screws, metal plugs and materials for the railway industry.
This initial division defined the company’s further history. After World War II it became a state-owned factory consisting of two units from what earlier were the old Bartelmuss and Pollak factories. In the 1960s a development and modernisation of the company was started and important investments were made. As a result, it has become a leading company in the screw business in Poland.
Changes in the political system in Poland and the transformation from a planned socialist economy fully controlled by the State to a free
market took place in 1989. In consequence, state-owned companies went through the process of privatisation. Bielska Fabryka Wyrobow Srubowych was transformed into a joint-stock company owned by the State Treasury. This transformation was followed by a further privatisation process. As a result, the production was again split into two parts: the Automotive Division and the Standard Division. In 1998, the Automotive Division was purchased by Bulten AB, a leading supplier of fastening systems, mainly to the European automotive industry. Thus the two long industrial traditions have merged, as Bulten was founded in 1873.
In 2000, Bulten AB was acquired by another Swedish Company, Finnveden. Founded in 1982 Finnveden’s aim was to develop and safeguard the trade and industry in the local business area.
During the late 1990s a new strategic direction was set. Finnveden AB was to become a global supplier to the international automotive industry. In November 2004, a public cash offer was made to the shareholders in Finnveden AB by Nordic Capital, a Swedish private equity company. Three months later the offer was finalised. With new owners, Finnveden continued to establish a presence in new geographical markets.
Currently, Finnveden’s core operations are divided into two business areas named: Bulten and Metal Structures. Bulten traditionally develops and manufactures a wide range of fasteners for the automotive industry, from standard products to leading-edge fasteners. The offering also includes technical development, materials and production know-how and logistics. Customer-specific special fasteners also make up a large part of the product range.
Metal Structures develops and produces optimised multi-material interior and exterior structures for car and truck applications. The offering is based on extensive materials and process know-how, along with unique knowledge of the effects on the application of using several different materials.
Screws and castings
Both parts of the Finnveden activity are present in Poland. As part of the Bulten division the Polish operation is the leading producer of screws in Poland. The range of items depends on the needs and expectations of customers. What is specific for the company is that it is able to manufacture screws on the basis of a customer’s engineering drawing. The company delivers screws that fasten components, such as airbags, safety belts and other safety equipment items to such automotive companies as Audi, Autoliv, Bosch, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Opel, Scania, Toyota, TRW, Volkswagen, Volvo and others.
From the beginning of our operations, manufacturing the highest quality products while preserving the minimal cost levels has been our priority. This premise, combined with many years of experience and a base of proven suppliers, results in a decisive competitive advantage on the market. This has been recognised and appreciated by many clients, leaders in their sectors. The technologically advanced production processes, effi cient machines, and a modern production facility come as the effect of more than 20 years of experience, which is at your command!
Takoni sp. z o.o. • ul. Bestwińska 103a, 43-346 Bielsko - Biała Tel.: +48 33 484-24-00 • Fax: +48 33 484-24-11 • www.takoni.com.pl We have been building plants and individual machines for metal treatment for over thirty years. Saving energy and water along with the control of harmful emissions into the atmosphere have always been priorities in our design processes. Our hallmarks are product design based on the specific needs of our customers, accurate realisation of their unique vision, the use of top quality materials and high operational reliability.
Our customers include some of the leading European and worldwide companies.
Tel. +39 0362.99.77.77 E-mail: info@ilvet.net Fax +39 0362.99.77.07 www.ilvet.net
„MAN FOR QUALITY – QUALITY FOR MAN” STALMAX - Jeż Stanisław, Jeż Robert - Spółka Jawna Piątkowiec 55 B, 39-308 Wadowice Górne, Poland tel. +48 14 666-11-11, fax +48 14 666-11-12, e-mail: stalmax@stalmax.eu, www.stalmax.eu
TAKONI
We specialise in manufacturing technical rubber products of any shape and application. We are a reliable supplier for the automotive industry, household appliance sector, agriculture, medicine, construction, mining, water supply and sanitary fittings sector, amongst others. We also provide technical consulting services for the selection of appropriate materials, production tool design and use of the final product.
Our many years of experience, flexibility, focus on quality and punctuality give us a decisive competitive advantage not only on the domestic market, but on foreign markets too. Our operations abroad are conducted by our commerce and technology offices. Our largest branch in Laholm, Sweden is involved not only in commercial and technical operations, but also provides a complex logistical infrastructure.
It works with some of the industry’s leading suppliers and greatly values the cooperation, as it contributes to its own successes.
The Metal Structures division operation in Bielsko-Biala relies on state-of-the-art technology of the magnesium casting house. It manufactures different vehicles parts for Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar. However, sometimes even this latest technology is not enough for achieving the exceptional quality of the final product that is required by clients. This is why the company performs hand-grinding when finishing the roof elements cast in Bielsko-Biała especially for Jaguar vehicles.
Efficient cooling system
A modern and efficient technological cooling system is one of the key elements for the effective operation of a production facility. Termster Ltd, based in Krakow, a company with which Finnveden established a cooperation in 2005, has developed such a cooling system for the factory in Bielsko. Termster designed and installed the fully automated cooling system with a capacity of about 1250kW and with intermediate refrigerant circuit. The cooling system uses two separate modern chillers with glycol coolers, two plate heat exchangers and complete hydraulic and control equipment. The installation was designed to carry out technological cooling in the pressure foundry and also covers the need for ventilation.
A few months later, Termster developed the refrigeration system at the compressor station. It uses a chiller with a capacity of about 150kW with integrated winter freecooling. In 2013 Termster expanded the foundry’s technological cooling system by installing another chiller with a capacity of approximately 500kW, a cooling tower and an automation system that integrates all the sections of the cooling system. In designing and carrying out the first stage of the installation in 2005, Termster predicted the need for future expansion and made provision for the appropriate connections. Thanks to this the development went smoothly, without the need to shut down the cooling system and halt production.
Long-term partnership
Stalmax is a producer of special products and coatings, and is happy to have been a respected partner to FINNVEDEN BULTEN for many years. Stalmax is well known in Poland as a producer of screws and fasteners, mainly for the automotive and carpentry branches. They are characterised by their high geometric accuracy and unique properties.
The primary aim of Stalmax’s strategy is to foresee and fulfil the expectations of its clients in terms of quality, timely deliveries, reliable and trustworthy partnerships and competitive prices.
Well-adjusted traditions
Finnveden Polska employs around a third of all the group’s employees around the world and reaches significant levels of annual sales, close to €30 million. The majority of the production is sold abroad.
In Finnveden Polska not only are the industrial traditions merged, but what is also present is the Swedish socially responsible corporate model. The company invests in its people as it realises that this translates into overall business success. n
