Our sales company “CERATIZIT Italia S.p.A.” based in Milano has been dissolved.
The company has been legally led over to the “CERATIZIT Alserio S.p.A.” within the scope of a merger.

According to our corporate policy the new company will still bear the name “CERATIZIT Italia S.p.A.”.

Through the consolidation of both sales company and production site we expect to improve the service to our customers.

Please note that the bank details, tax registration number as well as the commercial register number of the former CERATIZIT Alserio S.p.A. will not change.

CERATIZIT S. A. – is a pioneer and global player in sophisticated hard material solutions. The company operates from Mamer, Luxembourg. CERATIZIT is the world market leader in unique and consistently innovative hard material products for wear protection and cutting tools and is present in more than 50 countries worldwide. CERATIZIT provides hard material solutions to customers in selected industrial sectors including the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, oil industry, medical systems, electronics as well as mould and die making. With more than 400 active patents and close to 4000 employees, CERATIZIT is your strong partner worldwide.

Press Contact:

CERATIZIT Italia SpA
Josef Lämmle
Via Milanese, 6
I - 22040 Alserio (Como)
Tel : +39  031 6349 211
Fax: +39 031 619 508
josef.laemmle@ceratizit.com

Mamer/Luxembourg and Latrobe/Pennsylvania, February 24^th 2010

CERATIZIT announced today that it will centralize their US cutting tool manufacturing residing in Latrobe into their production facility in Warren, Michigan.

As part of the global production strategy of CERATIZIT, the move of production into one single location will build a more efficient production structure by consolidating capabilities and competencies. The hard and soft scrap recycling capabilities, the environmentally friendly local water based spray dried powder operations and the logistic center serving the market in the United States and Canada will all remain in Latrobe. Other departments and business sectors in Latrobe are not affected.

The US operations remain at the core for the international expansion plans of the Group. Therefore, the product portfolio will be enhanced by successful products out of the global product portfolio.

The contact person in customer service as well as the external sales force for customers remain unchanged.

CERATIZIT S. A. – is a pioneer and global player in sophisticated hard material solutions. The company operates from Mamer, Luxembourg. CERATIZIT is the world market leader in unique and consistently innovative hard material products for wear protection and cutting tools and is present in more than 50 countries worldwide. CERATIZIT provides hard material solutions to customers in selected industrial sectors including the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, oil industry, medical systems, electronics as well as mould and die making. With more than 400 active patents and close to 4000 employees, CERATIZIT is your strong partner worldwide.

Press Contact:

CERATIZIT USA INC.
Andreas Olthoff, President

5369 Route 982
USA-Latrobe, PA 15650
Tel.: +1-724-694-8100
Fax: +1-724-694-8620

andreas.olthoff@ceratizit.com

CERATIZIT supplies the most important producer of CBN materials with the tools necessary for high-pressure synthesis (anvils and dies). Furthermore CERATIZIT has been selling CBN inserts for many years, and to an increasing degree also tools for milling applications.

The stress the tools are subjected to during these milling operations is caused by interrupted cut, thermal shock and oxidation, and represents one of the threshold applications of CBN. The carbide expert CERATIZIT has faced this problem by providing CBN with the functional HyperCoat coating and using it for milling applications, which considerably enhances both process security and tool life. In addition it has become clear that these improvements are also achieved in turning applications under difficult conditions, such as the machining of grey cast iron and chilled castings.

HyperCoat coating is the secret
CERATIZIT has developed and patented a specific PVD coating for CBN cutting materials. This innovative coating is the answer to the complex demands on a material applied in milling operations which are characterized by stress variation, thermal shock and oxidation. The recently developed coating is based on an innovative composition which shows significantly better resistance to oxidation and simultaneously excellent wear resistance, especially when it comes to high application temperatures. Compressive stress resulting from the PVD coating procedure provides the new HyperCoat coating with higher toughness and last but not least with more reliability for the tooling system.

Cutting material with success story
CBN has been known as a cutting material for almost 40 years. In 1969 GE (General Electric) launched cubic boron nitride for the first time under the name 'Borazon’ as a revolutionary development in the field of extremely hard grinding materials. CBN does not occur naturally, but is produced synthetically (high-pressure synthesis) and, with a hardness twice as high as silicon carbide (SiC) after diamond ranks as the second hardest material. It shows its strengths particularly when turning hard materials (hardness > 58 HRC), such as hardened steel or chilled castings: CBN is characterized by extreme hardness and excellent heat resistance as well as sufficient toughness for this application area.

As in previous Plansee Seminars, PM processing technology will once more be a key subject of the 2009 conference. A variety of advanced PM technologies, including spark plasma and laser sintering will be addressed. Also on the agenda are the latest developments in testing and characterization, e.g. new analytical tools for evaluating microstructures. A special workshop on modeling will address cutting-edge research of material synthesis and component behavior.

Most of the research presented at the Plansee Seminar has emerged from cooperation between universities, scientific institutions and manufacturers. Each research area will be introduced in a key-note lecture presented by an esteemed industry or academic expert. The Plansee Seminar’s introductory lecture on innovation in general will be given by Professor Hans-Jörg Bullinger, President of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Germany.

Since the first Plansee Seminar in 1952, the event has evolved into a key conference for powder metallurgy, which attracts leading experts from industry and academia around the world. The Plansee Seminar gives participants ample opportunity to discuss the latest developments in technologies and applications for PM high-performance materials. All papers presented at the Plansee Seminar are previously unpublished research. Participants can expect world-class science and excellent networking opportunities.

The Plansee Seminar is organized and supported by the Plansee Group.

Since its foundation in 1921, the Plansee Group has been at the forefront of developments in the power metallurgy industry. With its four divisions – Plansee High Performance Materials, GTP Tungsten & Powders, Ceratizit Hardmetals & Tools and PMG PM Products – the Plansee Group one of the world’s leading suppliers of powder metallurgical products and components.

The Leicht + Müller success story
The Leicht + Müller Stanztechnik company produces stamped parts and tools for automotive electrics, telecommunication, household appliances and many other industry sectors. The company was founded in November 1984 by Heinz Leicht, expert toolmaker, and Klaus Müller, tool constructor, in Remchingen near Pforzheim (Germany). Their priority was to enter the international vanguard of tooling manufacturers.

As far back as 1985 Leicht + Müller also started their production of stamped parts. This second string to their bow not only provided synergy effects but also decisive growth impulses for the company. Today Leicht + Müller has 60 employees, who on a surface of 5,500 sq.m. produce approx. 1.3 billion stamped parts (20-80 tons) per year on 10 Bruderer stamping machines.

Up-to-date stamping machines for razor blades
The company is particularly proud of the project for Gillette (Procter & Gamble Group): together with other companies Leicht + Müller developed a complex, fully automatic stamping line for the further processing of razor blades which are applied in the latest product ‘FUSION’. The Americans requested a higher output from Leicht + Müller as compared to the previous technology applied.

In the meantime three complete stamping lines have been built at L+M which are suitable for batch production and have been delivered to Gillette (two of them in Boston/USA and one in Berlin/Germany). The most important parameters of the currently most modern stamping machines worldwide is the notably higher output, 500 strokes per minute, two blades with 13 laser points per stroke respectively, a cleaning module, laser measuring device and a camera in the stamping tool. Furthermore robotics and conveyor belts to guarantee full automation of the process are also utilized.

Vision Control for one hundred per cent process security
Leicht + Müller offers an extensive service range. The company’s designers work on 2-D (Cadda) and 3-D (Solid Works) CAD work places from Daveg. The Pforzheim based company is also able to offer prototyping and pilot production. Last but not least it is involved in batch production of stamped parts with Vision Control for guaranteed product quality and ‘laser marking on the fly’ for 100 per cent traceability (every single part is provided with a marking without slowing down the process).

Combinations of metal and plastic
Leicht + Müller SYSCOTEC (Systems, Components, Technologies) was founded in 2004 and specializes in the development and production of complete assemblies, i.e. combinations of metal stamping products and plastic parts. The new products from Leicht + Müller SYSCOTEC have brought customers such as Mercedes, BMW, TRW and Continental Teves onto the scene. The first batch production for level sensors in automotive windscreen washing fluid started in 2005.

Interview with the leading management quartet of Leicht + Müller
At Leicht + Müller the young generation is already straining at the leash. The sons Timo Leicht and Marco Müller have both completed a profound education. Currently they are working in Sales, Marketing, project management and in the company management, and later on they will entirely take on the responsibilities of their fathers, Heinz Leicht and Klaus Müller.

What is important in stamping technology and what does that mean with reference to the carbide?
Marco Müller: “High precision, long tool life and profitability. Carbide applied in high-performance stamping technology has to be adapted continuously to the high demands regarding tool life and will always be under scrutiny when compared to ceramics.”

Is there a ceramic solution which can keep the pace?
Marco Müller: “This discussion has been going on for a while. Of course we have already tested special ceramic grades and the results in terms of wear and tool life were sometimes even better than with carbide. However, the application of ceramic is not worthwhile considering the high acquisition costs and the extraordinary complexity of machining operations compared to carbide. Up to now ceramic has not caught on in our sector for economic reasons, and this is also not to be expected in the near future.“

What are the trends in the stamping sector?
Timo Leicht: “Target prices on a globally minimum level, but products of the customary best German quality. The market is becoming more and more difficult and one has to orient oneself based on low-wage countries. For cost reasons one should actually buy components for stamping tools there in order to remain competitive. The quality however up to now does not meet the standards of Leicht + Müller. So we have to concentrate on cost reduction in our company, e.g. automation of the processes.  Another tendency is towards hybrid components (plastic-metal composite material).  An ever increasing number of customers requests complete assemblies from one source, that means stamped parts are covered with plastic and provided with additional components such as e.g. Reed sensors or resistances. Since 2004 we have been able to offer this through Leicht + Müller SYSCOTEC.“

How did the partnership with CERATIZIT start?
Heinz Leicht: “That was at the beginning of the 80’s. At that time Josef Lämmle was the segment manager. He visited us frequently and asked if we were ready to test his products, and he was successful.”

How do you assess the relationship with CERATIZIT?
Klaus Müller: “We are delighted with the carbide from CERATIZIT! We appreciate speed, the large assortment and above all consistent quality. In a business where time pressure is enormous the business partners have to be absolutely reliable. And we fully trust the CERATIZIT team which has been serving us professionally for many years. Carbide is really a matter of confidence!”

So the requisites for all subcontractors of the automotive industry are high. Only those who have the best partners win the race. RSB has worked together with CERATIZIT since 2002. Das: “CERATIZIT offers better performance and special solutions for important application areas. We will focus increasingly on components for the automotive industry and also apply new materials. With the impressive innovative strength shown by CERATIZIT we are certain that the carbide specialists will also support us in this respect.”

The 450 employees at the Jamshedpur site produce a total of 400 different parts. The CERATIZIT tools are applied to machine up to 2,800 gear cases per month. The A270 milling cutter which shows great stability and is suitable for a variety of applications, is very popular at RSB.

(Interview for info box with picture)

Rainer Drieling, CERATIZIT product manager in charge of the milling sector, is convinced by the performance of MaxiMill 270. We asked him why he is so enthusiastic about the CERATIZIT tool.

1. What makes the MaxiMill milling system so successful?
“The 270 milling system is a fully-fledged system with great stability. In the industry it therefore has the reputation of being very reliable and is appreciated for its consistent results and long tool life. The positive geometry adds to the excellent system while at the same time protecting machine and spindle. As top quality surface finish is achieved when applying this tool, it is a very economic solution.”

2. What are typical applications of MaxiMill 270?
“Face milling in general and in combination with our Masterfinish finishing inserts, the production of highly precise surfaces at high cutting speeds. Slot milling and chamfering as well as pocket milling in plunging operations are also applications the MaxiMill 270 milling cutter is well-suited for.”

3. In which respect is MaxiMill 270 superior compared to competitors’ products?
“Both the programme width and the application in connection with CERATIZIT HyperCoat milling grades make MaxiMill 270 a face milling tool which customers cannot afford to ignore. In terms of economy the 270 system, which offers a unique price-performance ratio, gives an essential impulse to the cutting tool industry.”

RSB Global - India’s largest manufacturer of components for the automotive industry
The RSB group was founded in 1975 and consists of five companies with five production sites in India and one in Michigan, USA. Through the years the RSB group developed from a product manufacturer to a system supplier. The product range includes axles, crankshafts and camshafts, components for gears, trailers and drags. Some of their customers are companies such as Volvo, Caterpillar, John Deere, Fiat and Tata. The RSB group attained a turnover of 130 million dollars with 1,300 employees. Chairman R. K. Behera describes RSB’s policy by quoting the famous American civil rights activist Malcolm X: “Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” RSB in the Internet: http://www.rsbglobal.com/.