Case Study

Since 1952, the coating specialist Hertfelder has been consistently dedicated to surface finishing. Around 50 employees ensure day by day that plastic and metal components up to 100 cm in size are reliably and professionally coated. Customers come from the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as from the sanitary or kitchen sectors. The family-owned company, based in Marbach am Neckar, specializes in customized coating applications, handling both small scale and series production orders. For these they can choose from six different coating systems, ranging from manual to fully automated robotic systems, including the necessary drying equipment.
To meet the demand for plastic parts with a high level of scratch resistance, such as those used in vehicle interiors, UV coatings are the only solution. Hertfelder GmbH has noticed increasing demand in this area for some time, and the management decided to invest in a new, modern UV curing unit.

“We reached out to several suppliers,” said Max Hertfelder, the junior manager who runs the family business with his father, Walter Hertfelder. Thorough testing is essential when choosing a UV curing system to ensure that the equipment is perfectly matched to the coatings being used. This is the only way to achieve the desired, flawless result. When retrofitting a UV unit onto an existing machine, it’s equally important that the UV equipment fits into the machine’s environment.

“Lab tests alone weren’t enough for us. That’s why we were delighted with the offer from the UV specialist Dr. Hönle AG, who, unlike any other supplier, readily provided us with a loan unit for in-house trials.” This allowed the experienced coaters to quickly gain initial experience, always in close contact with their dedicated contact person from Hönle. Together, they determined the necessary dose, intensity, and ideal spectrum of the UV emitter. The right UV module was found quickly due to Hönle’s extensive product range and was customized to meet the specific application requirements and the conditions of the coating machine. The actual integration into the coating machine was simple and carried out by the Hertfelder team.

The UV unit has been in operation for several months now, achieving the desired success: customers are fully satisfied with the scratch-resistant UV coatings on their components. “By investing in a modern UV dryer, we were able to expand our offerings for our customers—and even gain new clients,” says a pleased Max Hertfelder, who is very satisfied with the decision to partner with Dr. Hönle AG. “Our contact at Hönle was always there for us, from the initial consultation to on-site testing and installation. And if we ever have a question or need service, I know exactly who to reach out to.”

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