the energy transition in the coming years and therefore it is important that we remain flexible to service all of our customers requirements which our new capital investment strategies will allow.


Q A


the company´s policy? And how does it feel having responsibility in such heritage when projecting the future?


A


As you state, Zollern has a very proud history of over 300 years


of trading and that in itself indicates the backbone of the organization to remain flexible and reinvigorate itself within the industrial markets that it trades within. The company is very determined to be here for the long term and therefore our investment strategies are targeted as such to ensure the continuation of this legacy. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to add to the history of our group.


Q


It is our understanding Zollern is working in launching a brand


new Strategy Plan, following the pandemic and your own experience in the Investment Casting market. Can you speak to us about it? What are the major drivers and competitive advantages aimed and considered for this Strategy?. Investment Casting´s Zollern operations are mostly carried out at two main plants Sigmaringendorf, (Germany) and Maia, (Portugal). How this new Strategy Plan shall be affecting the existing split of products and processes?


A


Yes we are pleased to confirm that we have embarked on two


major investment strategies at two of our sites, our HQ in Sigmaringendorf and our facility in Maia (Portugal). Our investment at the HQ will introduce the ability for us to be able to enhance upon our current 100KG Equiax casting up to 220KG and also introduce a direction solidification, single crystal casting capacity up to 100KG. These will be up and running in Quarter 3 2022 and are aimed at the IGT/Aero markets. In Maia we have expanded our vacuum casting capability with the installation of a new multi access shelling line that will allow us to almost double our capacity in this area, aimed at our automotive, military and other customers. Both of these investments complement the existing ranges that we offer our varied customer base that we will continue with for the future.


Q A ®


Has the transition energy model, Europe is going through, and in particular the shift to electric power plants in automotive had any effect on the applied previous strategy plans in terms of product portfolio or market niches to be revisited?


It would be safe to say that some of the traditional markets that Zollern have dealt within will be affected by


Q A


Projecting this mid-term future, what market segments are


being envisaged? And how are you foreseeing these segments to evolve?


As mentioned earlier, the market segments that we are attracting


with our investments have gone through some softening in recent months, but we are confident that with close dialogue with our customers and the flexibility to move with their requirements we will see ourselves through to a successful future.


As a consequence of the new Strategy


Plan, is the market


bound to see a significant redefinition from the Zollern presence in certain segments and niches? Should it be the case what is the timing to be considered for this redefinition to take place?


As mentioned earlier, this is an addition to the current


capabilities and customer supply chain relationships we have in place today and we will always remain flexible to service our customers accordingly.


Q A


It is recognized the high degree of automation applied by Zollern in their manufacturing operations including autonomous casting cells. How is this experience to be projected into the new strategy products and/or processes application?


The learning that Zollern has gained in these areas in the


previous years is being put to great use in the way we have designed and configured our new equipment for the future. Process control is the key to a sustainable product and as such this will always remain key to us.


Continued on pg 30 January 2022 ❘ 29


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