Air-apparent Wolf Anlagen-Technik

AIR APPARENT

Leading European plant engineering company Wolf Anlagen-Technik GmbH & Co KG has gradually expanded to become the valued automotive partner it is today, using the considerably varied capabilities of air to deliver solutions across the industry. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to director Siegfied Vogl-Wolf to find out more.

Founded as a small handicraft business in Geisenfeld, Germany by Anton Wolf in 1950, Wolf Anlagen-Technik initially focused on the development and construction of hops kilns, as it was based in the world’s largest hop-growing region. The connection between hops and the automotive industry may not seem immediately obvious, but it was with the expertise gained from developing innovative automated hops picking and drying machines that the Wolf family identified other potentially lucrative applications for its pioneering air technology.

Director Siegfried Vogl-Wolf told Industry Europe, “That is why we use the motto ‘Spirit of Air’; all our solutions use air in different ways, from hop picking machines to air conditioning units and paint booths. We know how to utilise the incredible capabilities of air, from blowing, extracting, filtering and moistening to everything in between.”

Still a proudly family-owned and managed business, Wolf Anlagen-Technik today is run by Mr Vogl-Wolf alongside fellow director Erich G. Deml and Viktor Richtsfeld. Mr Vogl-Wolf added, “Since the company was started in 1950 we have always been dedicated to market-orientated development and been totally forward-looking. It’s a strategy that has certainly proved successful as we have consistently been able to deliver a complete solution to our customers from one hand; research and development, planning, design, manufacturing, installation, customer service...we have carefully grown from a small handicraft business to a profitable medium-sized enterprise.”

A big family

With nearly 300 employees, primarily from the local region, Wolf Anlagen-Technik maintains its team spirit by offering excellent training and personal development opportunities. Mr Vogl-Wolf noted, “The interplay of innovative ideas, continuous product development, advanced manufacturing and production technology and, not least, the long-term commitment and loyalty of our employees has ensured our success to date.”

The hard work and experience of its team is well supported by Wolf Anlagen-Technik’s extensive production facilities. Operating the most modern CNC manufacturing and processing machinery in conjunction with a CAD-bending cell, the company’s 25,000m2 production site sits on a total area of 93,000m2 .

The production capabilities of Wolf Anlagen-Technik are all centred on the technical possibilities of air, so its industries and services are quite varied. Mr Vogl-Wolf said, “We have been continually investing in new technology, so over the years we’ve incorporated groundbreaking new features such as automatic evaporating systems and highly effective heat recovery systems which have paved the way for our well-known user-friendly and energy-saving work. Our portfolio includes modern painting and drying technology, the production of air heaters and hot air generators for industrial use, almost fullymechanical hop harvesting and industrial equipment for heating and ventilation of large areas.” Latest project

In terms of its automotive activities, Wolf Anlagen-Technik works with a number of high profile clients, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW. Its products here include spray paint booths for cars, commercial vehicles and machinery, universal working bays and complete industrial painting plants with robotic technology. One of Wolf Anlagen-Technik’s latest projects has seen it chosen as the partner for car dealership Berolina who, with eight sites, is one of VW’s biggest dealers. Wolf Anlagen-Technik has recieved an extensive order including two large spray booths, 12 preparation bays and eight car lifts, as well as ventilation equipment and installation for a paint mixing room.

The phrase ‘fully automatic yet individual’ is employed by Wolf Anlagen-Technik on its website to illustrate its ability to deliver solutions that maximise its experience while being tailored to each customer’s needs. Mr Vogl-Wolf explained: “Utilising our automation capabilities intelligently is one of the fundamental ingredients for the success of Wolf. We work closely with our customers to understand their specific requirements and goals for the product and only then do we work with our portfolio to create a custom solution.”

Innovation is very much at the heart of Wolf Anlagen-Technik, with the company’s three divisions – Surface Engineering, HEVAC and Agricultural Engineering – all making the most of the focus on and investment in future-focused technology. Mr Vogl-Wolf noted, “Wolf stands for innovation, top quality, intelligent technology and reliable service. We are setting new trends and developing visions for a more comfortable life for people both at work and in their free time. Since 1994 we have been ISO 9001 accredited and we are very strict with all our internal processes. Our ongoing aim is to deliver quality-optimised production across our operation and I’m pleased to say we consistently achieve this.” n