Dec 27 2010
Ceramicx, a leading manufacturer and specialist in infrared heating, made a triumphant debut at Plasteurasia, Turkeys annual plastics exhibition held in Istanbul earlier this month, with a little help from its new Turkish partner Ser Rezistan.
Leading international infrared heating specialist and manufacturer Ceramicx has made a successful debut with its new Turkish partner Ser Rezistans at Turkey’s annual Plasteurasia plastics exhibition this month, December 3-5.
Now in its twentieth year, Plasteurasia continues to grow and also to reflect Turkey’s status as one of the world’s most dynamic and growing plastics economies and locations for plastics processing. Ceramicx and Ser Rezistans used the show to present the company’s infrared heating portfolio to the Turkish markets and to aim the products directly at the country’s expanding thermoforming businesses.
The distinctive Ceramicx logo was hung in plain view of the entrance to the Plasteurasia exhibition and Hasan Duman of Ser Rezistans reports a very positive reception for the company. ‘We offer a very wide range of heating products for the plastics sector. The addition of Ceramicx expertise in infrared technology and in heating for thermoformers gives us a very commanding position in the marketplace.’
Ceramicx founder and director Frank Wilson says that ‘it’s important for Ceramicx to have a solid presence in one of the worlds most expansive manufacturing economies. We are really looking forward to developing
Hasan explains that ‘Ser Rezistans is one of the fastest growing supplier company in the Turkish market – not least because of our commitment to values of hard work and integrity. This year’s PlastEurasia exhibition showed everyone the strength of our plastics industry relationships worldwide - from America to Ireland, Italy and Middle East region. Some of biggest Turkish names in brown and white goods production visited our stand this year – wanting to know more about how our heating solutions could help their production.’
Hasan add that ‘the Turkish infrared market is hungry for products that can demonstrate very good quality and show an excellent performance/price ratio. With Ceramicx now in our portfolio, our Ser Rezistans sales opportunities are very much expanded. And - on a personal level - I very much admire the Ceramicx full traceability system for its infrared products. It gives its partners and associates much confidence and I sure that it is leading the way – in Turkey and elsewhere.’
Following the success at Plasteurasia, Hasan says that ‘one of our primary aftermarket sales targets will be producers of thermoforming machines in Turkey. Also included in our marketing will be anyone who uses plastic thermoforming machine in their manufacturing process - especially Turkey’s packaging industries. The Ceramicx quartz and halogen heater series will also give us some good sales and marketing opportunities in the areas of textile; printing, paint drying, curing and other operation.’ Hasan points out that the overall Turkish marketplace has much diversity and opportunity. ‘Turkey has the fourth biggest plastic industry market in the world - and Turkey GDP continues to outpace most other economies over the last eight years,’
Ceramicx is preparing to gear expanded output to a range of international markets for 2011. Wilson says that ‘Ceramicx technology can help - in particular for all kinds of plastics thermoforming – in relation to engineering; curing and heat processing of many materials and products - to the highest temperatures – and in relation to all domestic heating markets through our Comfort IR range of heaters. Developing local consumption, downstream industries, new grades and applications and providing process optimisation for all this work is now the order of the day for many markets throughout the world.’
Last month’s triennial K exhibition – best ever for Ceramicx – saw the company receiving a rising volume of applications engineering enquiries for infrared know-how; products and expertise. Wilson expects a number of projects to emerge from Turkey via Ser Rezistans: ‘Turkish manufacturing is in a positive place – with open opportunities for its understanding and application of infrared heating,’ says Wilson, ‘The K exhibition showed us that there are large numbers of innovators in plastics – all seeking places to produce. Turkey is fast becoming a plastics processing location of choice.’
Ceramicx was set up in 1992 and in 1994 moved into its new premises in Ballydehob, Ireland on a site previously owned by Infrared Internationale. The factory output is 98% exported. The company’s planned developments and expansion will include higher value jobs supported by increased levels of automation and know-how at our factory works. Over the past five years Ceramicx has invested in a large machinery shop, with CNC milling machines and metal cutting, shaping and finishing machinery to ensure the continuing independent manufacturing success of the company – with no dependence on outsourcing and full control of the innovation and materials used.
Ceramicx products and systems are already extensively used in a wide range of industrial and consumer areas. Whether they know it or not, the worldwide plastics and packaging industries are all key users since much of their processing equipment already contains Ceramicx heating elements or Ceramicx heating design. Thermoformed plastic products surround us all in the day to day – from butter tubs to burger boxes and from fridge linings to car door linings – and Ceramicx has played its part in the heat forming technology.
All of these elements offer an immense range of heating types and heating performance: Ceramicx makes Ceramic and Quartz emitters which range in surface temperature from 150°C (302°F) to 730°C (1346°F) and the Ceramicx Tungsten bulbs are capable of reaching in excess of 2400°C (4352°F).
Part of the Ceramicx service been to mix and match these heating options in the best interests of the customer. Founder Frank Wilson says that ‘at Ceramicx you will find a company that is not satisfied with the established standards for the industry. We have developed many new products that better fit the needs of today's manufacturer who has no choice but to be reliant on process heating. Our niche is in giving this customer a much superior product at a competitive price. In addition, the energy content of every product is a very important cost and ecological issue.’
Ceramicx logistics and delivery systems are second to none: Each day the company ships its output across the globe. The goods range from the smallest carton of around 6kgs to full pallets and containers. The company ships by road, sea and air and the requirements vary greatly for different countries: Destinations outside the EU require import documentation such as movement certificates and export documents, Certificates of Origin, Invoices and other documents – all of which the company has expert systems for.
Ceramicx also pays great attention to the packaging and safety of its goods in transit and all goods are carefully wrapped and packaged. Ceramicx uses recycled packing for all of our shipments wherever possible.