The Werk Nord (North Plant) in Hagen, Germany deserves a closer look. In Hagen, Waelzholz’s spirit of innovation is particularly easy to see: the company was one of the first to install the then newly-introduced EBNER HICON/H₂® bell annealers, a step that laid the foundation for many further modernization and digitalization projects. Today, in the same plant, the latest generations of workbases are in operation: everything from designs equipped with high-performance internal coolers to a brand-new GREENBAFx® workbase with its directly-heated workload space. This equipment is among the most technologically advanced solutions currently available to the industry.

A NEW DEFINITION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY: ECOMODE GOES LIVE AT THE HAGEN WORKS

An additional milestone on the shared journey was the ECOMODE software module, which EBNER developed in close cooperation with Waelzholz. The system is based on a mathematical model, which intelligently reduces energy consumption throughout the entire heat treatment cycle – without sacrificing product quality or the reliability of the process.

However, to be able to use this technology in daily operations, it was necessary to upgrade to the latest generation of the EBNER control system. The update not only established the technical prerequisites for implementation of the module, but paved the way for Waelzholz to move forward towards digitally-networked and future-proof production processes.

Particularly gratifying was the fact that the project was supported by the award of an environmental subsidy. While this provided financial support, it was also clear confirmation of the relevance of the project to society at large – energy efficiency and the conservation of resources are influential aspects of modern industrial policy.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Installation of the ECOMODE module marked yet another high point in a partnership that has been based on trust, an investigative approach to technology and a mutual drive to make industrial processes more efficient and more sustainable. For both EBNER and Waelzholz, the project represents more than just a technical upgrade: it is an affirmation of both a responsible approach to manufacturing and technological progress.

The many years of collaboration are an impressive indication of how teamwork and continuous innovation go hand in hand. They are also yet another demonstration of how the future of industrial heat treatment is created where tradition and a pioneering spirit meet.