Ever since it formed, Sonderhoff USA has steadily promoted the previously little known FIP (foam in-place) technology in the US, which is the process of fully automatic application of liquid seals to produce housing gaskets. Its pro-active market work has built up strong trust in the Sonderhoff product range. Sonderhoff USA presently supplies major suppliers in the automotive, electronics and packaging industries with FERMAPOR® K31 foam seals and the FERMADUR® potting compounds for sealing door modules, headlamps, brake lights, filters, drum packaging, electrical enclosures and switch cabinets. Adding to these are further applications in the printing industry, for household appliances, and for lighting.
Machine, material and service from one source
An enormous advantage for the customer is that Sonderhoff USA is a system supplier. Sonderhoff is not only the specialist for liquid seals; the company also sells its own mixing and dosing machinery for this technology. The mixing and dosing systems and automation solutions of Sonderhoff Engineering are tailor-made to the customer’s respective manufacturing concepts and the sealing material to be worked. Flexibility, modular design, easy operation and high repeat accuracy are essential features of the two-, three-, or four-component Sonderhoff dispensing systems. The advantages of FIP technology for the customer are consistent product quality and significant time and cost savings. According to Sonderhoff USA, more than 70 mixing and dosing systems have been put into operation in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
System supplier Sonderhoff USA is valued for individual service
Holger Hülsken, President and CEO of Sonderhoff USA Corp. says: “Our experienced service staff can offer our customers on-site support, training and assistance. Our experience and speed set us apart from the rest. These qualities are crucial for being successful in North America.” After-Sales Service is an especially important factor in the NAFTA region, Holger Hülsken emphasizes. Sonderhoff’s Service Department is available to take emergency calls 24/7.
Contract manufacturing as an extension of the customer’s operations
Sonderhoff USA offers US customers the additional service of contract manufacturing for foam gasket, gluing and potting applications on the parts of the OEMs and their suppliers. This service ranges from prototypes, to pilot runs and small batches, to full-scale series production. Customers can therefore benefit from the advantages of the FIP process without making a large investment. Sonderhoff USA helps customers calculate when it is more economical to invest in a mixing and dosing system and when it makes more sense to subcontract the part manufacturing for sealing, gluing and potting to Sonderhoff.
Seals made in USA are the basis for new business
Sonderhoff USA Corp. was established primarily as a production operation. “With our own material production and contract manufacturing operation in Elgin, Illinois, as well as our own sales and service team, we are fully autonomous and have a strong presence in the market,” Holger Hülsken explains. With an increase in demand for silicone seals, Sonderhoff’s management decided to add the manufacture of the two-component silicone foam system FERMASIL® to its established US production of polyurethanes for foam gasket, gluing and potting systems. Since the end of 2011, Sonderhoff has been producing silicone products for foam seal and potting applications in the USA and selling them under the name FERMASIL® in North America.
Good growth prospects for the next ten years
President and CEO Holger Hülsken is confident that automation and application processes for fluid and thixotropic FIP sealing systems will continue to expand on the NAFTA market and will eventually become an industry standard, and that these sales markets offer ample room for further growth of Sonderhoff as well.
Sonderhoff USA has already planned its 10th anniversary celebrations. On August 9th, 2013, there will be an open house event for customers, suppliers, partners, friends and colleagues. Aside from food and drinks for the guests, several speeches, tours of operations and machine demonstrations will take place on this day.
