Better communication, planning key to addressing challenges

Steel and technology group voestalpine High Performance Metals (HPM) plans to introduce powder metallurgical grades, upselling from conventional to higher grade materials where customers will benefit from longer tool life within the automotive industry. The company will also work closely with its clientele to meet market needs, says voestalpine HPM’s national steel sales manager Charmanita Hoggons.

She adds that the company has a unique combination of materials and processing expertise as a leading partner to the automotive press and form tooling segment as well as consumer goods.

Hoggons notes that voestalpine HPM also assists clients in finding the right combination of tooling materials and required services for every part to significantly increase production and produce higher quality end products.

The company offers machining, heat treatment and tool steel cut to clients’ requirements as well as the manufacturing of die-sets, which comprises a large portion of its market share in the South African automotive sector.

voestalpine HPM manufactures innovative steel parts and other metals for international customers, but its competence lies in the development and implementation of light-weight solutions for the automotive industry.

Hoggons notes that having the correct stock mix to ensure that the company can meet its clients’ needs and forecasting to plan for future growth trends is challenging. She highlights that better communication and planning with clients would certainly help to improve supply.

Facility Upgrades, Improved Efficiencies

In an Engineering News article earlier this month, voestalpine HPM mentioned that it had conducted facility upgrades at its Isando-based steel warehouse and had expanded its product offering and services to include machining.

These strategic moves were aimed at improving operational efficiency, expediting order processing, and enhancing customer service to strengthen relationships with industry professionals.

The relaunch of the redesigned warehouse showcases the company’s significant upgrades and provides an opportunity for customers, partners, and industry professionals to witness the investments made in infrastructure, technology and logistics.

Further, the South African operations have experienced improved productivity, as a result of the phased roll-out of technology, optimised inventory storage and overall management, as well as reduced travel time of materials between storage locations and operational areas within the facility.

voestalpine HPM has, through continuous research, also endeavoured to expand its product supply of metals used in various die-casting applications as well as its reach in South Africa and Africa, as reported in Engineering News in March.

The article noted that higher-grade steel for die-casting allows for a longer die-set life span, consequently saving clients costs in terms of die-set replacement, and reduced production stoppages.

voestalpine HPM noted that it seeks to reduce the total cost of ownership of every die-cast part manufactured by its clients.

Other Activities

In a media statement, Voestalpine’s Austrian offices reported that its Metal Forming Division, based in Krems, is supplying a total of 100 km of guard rails, an innovative double-sided vehicle restraint system to make the roads safer and to expand and modernise Czech Republic’s D4 highway. In another project, Voestalpine recently supplied 33 km of guard rails for the D55 highway, which runs from the east of Austria to its border in Lower Austria. The project is scheduled for completion in 2024.