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Arnold Umformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG Carl-Arnold-Straße 25 74670 Forchtenberg, Germany http://www.arnold-fastening.com/
Contact Dipl. - Betriebswirt Michael Pult +49 7947 821170

Green screws

Arnold Umformtechnik offers an alternative to hexavalent chrome – Chromiting® overcomes residual risk

(PresseBox) (Forchtenberg, Germany, )
Long before the official date on which materials containing hexavalent chrome are to be banned in motor vehicles (July 2007) Arnold Umformtechnik GmbH is offering a system that can be used in bulk manufacturing, to replace the old method of yellow chromating®. The fasteners specialist calls the technique “thick-layer passivating”, a new process technique jointly developed with the surface treatment specialists, SurTec Deutschland GmbH, used to apply corrosion protective barrier coats. During laboratory tests carried out by the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA) the new system stood out from 56 systems covering a total of 133 hexavalent chrome-free surface coatings. The system is beneficial not merely in replacing the hexavalent chrome surface treatment, but it also provides increased protection against corrosion. The cost of the parts is similar to that of the preceding generation.

Hexavalent chrome guaranteed high-quality corrosion protection in the automotive industry. However it is also extremely toxic and carcinogenic if it gets into human organs. That is why, from July 2007, the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Order bans the use of materials containing hexavalent chrome in vehicles. The EU Directive, announced in September 2000, posed a major challenge to the fastener industry in particular as it considered how to develop and manufacture their products. They needed to achieve zero risk for health and corrosion protection, while maintaining economic viability.

Progress made by cooperation
Arnold Umformtechnik GmbH got to grips with the subject at a very early stage. The aim was to develop “green” screws, i.e. screws containing no hexavalent chrome. Together with SurTec, the surface treatment company based in south-west Germany, they had been working since 1994 on an economically equivalent replacement system, which allowed no compromise with regard to the quality of hexavalent chrome, but which did not have the carcinogenic side effects. The alternative to yellow chromating®, as it is known, had to provide good corrosion protection, had to look shiny, and also comply with manufacturers’ specifications with regard to bonding and abrasion resistance. A crucial factor was the need for a fastener to maintain its dimensions in every respect.

Every year in Germany some 600,000 tons of steel are turned into fasteners and cold extrusion parts. The majority of these are electroplated to provide a zinc coating, ensuring cathodic corrosion protection. The products manufactured at Arnold are treated in a process developed by SurTec, replacing the hexavalent chrome with trivalent chrome. The chromiting® technique developed and patented by SurTec replaces the conventional chromating® process. With its partners, Arnold has perfected the process to meet the requirements of the industry. In addition to the fact that the technique contains no toxic substances, the new process provides improved corrosion protection at no additional cost. In particular, small electro-plated screws with diameters of less than M6 are key candidates for the thick-layer passivating technique.

Fasteners undergoing chromiting® progress through a multi-stage electro-plating line, consisting of more than 20 baths. The fasteners are given their anodic zinc layer inside a drum. The chromiting® then follows, still inside the drum. The process produces a slightly green coating on the surface. The colouring is an indication of the fastener’s environmental sustainability. Chromited® parts can be tempered, underlining the economic efficiency of the system. The new alkaline cyanide free process also ensures that even difficult-to-reach places are evenly coated. The thread geometry is unchanged and adherence to calibration is maintained.

The process reliability of chromiting® has been proved. The new products from Arnold have passed the market test. An advanced Supply Chain Management guarantees availability and economic efficiency. The static process control system, closely linked with the electronic systems, ensures that the required maximum specifications are maintained for every single fastener the company supplies. The list of Arnold’s customers and references confirms the success of this cooperation leading German car manufacturers and international tier 1 supplier companies have put their trust Arnold products.

Arnold Umformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG

The ARNOLD Group – solutions which connect
Whereas the Arnold name has always signified and still does stand for “fasteners”, in recent years the range of products has expanded.

Today, Arnold is a group of companies supplying a comprehensive range of fastener products and related services besides the parent company ARNOLD UMFORMTECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG, Forchtenberg-Ernsbach in Germany, members of the Arnold Group include subsidiaries Arnold & Shinjo, also based in Forchtenberg-Ernsbach, Germany, and ARNOLD Technique France, based in Lyon, France. In 2003 the overall group, employing just under 500 people, achieved a sales turnover of over Euro 80 million. The transformation from a purely manufacturing company into a comprehensive service provider to the fastener industry began in the mid 1970s, when the company decided to conccentrate on manufacturing very high-quality technological fasteners. As it entered the higher quality fastener market, the company faced new challenges. Today Arnold works with major companies in the automotive and electrical industries, both at home in Germany and abroad, and becomes involved early on as their customers develop and design new parts. First of all this requires intensive on-site consultation along with comprehensive customer services, and secondly it requires highly qualified employees who can rise to, and meet the demands of the market.

•To be able to meet the particular demands of each of the industrial sectors, Arnold has divided its marketing activities into automotive and trade and industry divisions. Thus, customers can call upon specialist teams able to offer customised advice in order to provide innovative solutions.

•To meet the challenge of such development partnerships, our qualified staff develop the best possible fastener solutions by visiting customers at home and abroad, and implementing the results of their visits at our own engineering design and development departments.

•By constantly analysing industry applications, the products themselves, and users´requrements, ARNOLD is always in an excellent position to be able to develop new solutions to problems and incorporate thm into the development process. So, with ARNOLD´s own production expertise, we are able to produce top quality innovative products and individual industry solutions that set new market standards. Furthermore, ARNOLD is an important and integral part of the Supply Chain. Working very closely with OEMs and their suppliers, ARNOLD is able to react very quickly to changes in the market, and to incorporate the knowledge gained into enhanced products for customers. A Pre-Sales and After-Sales service covering Key Account Management, modern logistics systems and customer seminars rounds off the range of ARNOLD services.

The Arnold Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Würth Group, which with over 50,000 employees and more than 320 companies world-wide operates on a global basis with earnings of over 6 billion euros. So, against that background, the Arnold Group represents a secure partner in the best possible position to serve the global requirements of the market.


Die ARNOLD Gruppe – Lösungen, die verbinden
Wurde der Name Arnold in der Vergangenheit noch oftmals automatisch mit dem Begriff „Verbindungselemente“ gleichgesetzt, so hat sich dies in den letzten Jahren grundlegend geändert.
Heute ist Arnold eine Unternehmensgruppe zu der neben der Muttergesellschaft ARNOLD UMFORMTECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG, Forchtenberg-Ernsbach (D), noch die Töchter Arnold & Shinjo, ebenfalls Forchtenberg-Ernsbach (D), und Arnold Technique France, Lyon (F), gehören. Die Unternehmensgruppe erwirtschaftet mit knapp 500 Mitarbeitern über 80 Mio.€ Umsatz. Der Wandel setzte bereits Mitte der 70er Jahre ein, als man sich auf die Herstellung von anspruchsvollen Verbindungselementen konzentrierte. Mit dem Eintritt in das Marktsegment der höherwertigen Verbindungselemente kamen auch neue Herausforderungen auf das Unternehmen zu. Arnold arbeitet heute national und international mit den „großen“ der Automobil- und Elektroindustrie zusammen und wird von diesen frühzeitig als Entwicklungspartner in Entwicklung und Konstruktion von Neuteilen eingebunden. Dies bedingt zum einen eine intensive Betreuung vor Ort und umfassende Dienstleistungen für die Kunden und zum anderen hoch qualifizierte Mitarbeiter, welche den Anforderungen des Marktes gerecht werden können.
Das Unternehmen Arnold hat sich diesen Herausforderungen mit Erfolg gestellt:

•Damit die speziellen Anforderungen der einzelnen Branchen erfüllt werden können, ist man bei Arnold dazu übergegangen den Vertrieb in die Sparten Automotiv und Industrie + Handel zu gliedern. So entstanden Spezialistenteams, die den Kunden mit individueller Beratung innovative Lösungen anbieten können.
•Um dem Anspruch der Entwicklungspartnerschaft gerecht zu werden, erarbeiten qualifizierte Mitarbeiter national und international vor Ort beim Kunden und in der eigenen Konstruktions- und Entwicklungsabteilung die optimale Verbindungslösung.
•Durch die kontinuierliche Analyse der Anwendungsfälle, der Produkte und der Anforderungen der Anwender ist ARNOLD in der Lage selbständig neue Problemlösungen zu entwickeln und diese in den Entwicklungsprozess mit einfließen zu lassen. Verbunden mit dem ARNOLD eigenen Produktions-Know-how entstehen so innovative Produkte und individuelle Branchenlösungen die neue Marktstandards setzen. Des weiteren ist Arnold ein wichtiger Integrationspartner in der Supply Chain. Durch die enge Zusammenarbeit mit den OEMs und deren Zulieferer ist ARNOLD in der Lage, bei Entwicklungen in der Zuliefererindustrie auf wichtige Veränderungen des Marktes hinzuweisen. Ein internationaler Pre- und After-Sales-Service der u.a. moderne Logistiksysteme, Key-Account-Management und Kundenseminare umfasst, rundet die Palette der Dienstleistungen ab.

Die Arnold Gruppe selbst ist ein 100%iger Bestandteil der globalen Würth-Gruppe, die mit über 50.000 Mitarbeitern und über 320 Gesellschaften weltweit über 6 Milliarden Euro erwirtschaftet. Durch diesen Hintergrund stellt die Arnold-Gruppe für jeden Kunden einen sicheren Partner dar, der die globalen Anforderungen des Marktes optimal bedienen kann.

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The publisher indicated in each case (see company info by clicking on image/title or company info in the right-hand column) is solely responsible for the stories above, the event or job offer shown and for the image and audio material displayed. As a rule, the publisher is also the author of the texts and the attached image, audio and information material. The use of information published here is generally free of charge for personal information and editorial processing. Please clarify any copyright issues with the stated publisher before further use. In case of publication, please send a specimen copy to service@pressebox.de.