BIW Compact 1-2012 Englisch

1/2012 INNOVATION AT A GLANCE EDITORIAL Dear friends of BIW, The customer magazine BIW COMPACT appears three times a year and provides you with information about the latest developments in our company, about organisational changes and changes in personnel, but predominately about new products and trends in cable protection systems, silicone extrusions and mouldings, in fibreglass insulation hoses, seals and textile-reinforced high pressure hoses. Theincreasingdynamicofthemarketstogetherwithourhigh degree of flexibility produce interesting innovations, which we would like to introduce to you. You can be sure to receive high quality, future-oriented products from us at all times. This edition focuses on our 40-year company anniversary and our move to the new production premises for the manufacture of silicone injection moulding. We also introduce you to a newly developed cable protection hose and provide you with impressions of our management workshop. It was again based on the philosophy of KAIZEN – the continuous improvement of processes due to involvement of all employees, their expertise and their many great and small ideas. Pleasant reading Flexibility, opportunities, innovations 01 40 YEARS BIW – A TRUE SUCCESS STORY Today, BIW looks back on 40 years of experience in the manufacture of products made of silicone rubber. With a celebration we would foremost like to thank our now more than 300 employees. Werner Stoffels, the senior director, founded the company in 1971 together with his partner Gerd Oberhoff and began specialising in the processing of silicone in 1972. He is about to celebrate his 80. Birthday and still assists the young developers in the BIW Technology Centre with his immense experience. The application of technical textiles, predominately for cable protection sys- tems in the motor vehicle construction, developed parallel to the processing of silicone. Today, the automotive sector is the strongest segment of BIW next to household appliances and electrical in- dustry or heating and energy technology. The company, which is managed by Ralf Stoffels and his partner Dr. Markus Wiethoff in the second generation, has become market leader by processing more than 3,000 tons of silicone and has a solid foundation due to its broad portfolio. Thus, today‘s range also includes the development of seals, textile-reinforced hoses and profiles for medical technology, the pharmaceutical industry and aviation. BIW is represented in the latest generation of airplanes, i.e. the Airbus, as well as in modern dialysis machines. We consider our success factors to be our comprehen- sive service, customer specific solutions and a great level of flexibility. All areas of our management are certified according to international standards and we continue to satisfy the increasing requirement of our international clients quickly and reliably. Challenge our team in production, development and customer service with enquiries and tasks. Experience 40 years of competence! flexibility opportunities innovations Ralf Stoffels Dr. Markus Wiethoff — RALF STOFFELS Compact When it comes to competence When it comes to competence