Holzapfel Group wins surface technology award "The Surface"

The innovation prize "The Surface - Stuttgart Surface Technology Prize 2024" is awarded to the Holzapfel Group for the precise, partial and economical production of surfaces using innovative system technology. Awarded every two years, the prize from the Fraunhofer Institute for Coating Technologies is a prestigious award that was last presented to the Holzapfel Group in 2012 (2nd place). Michael Kolb, Innovation Manager at the Holzapfel Group, explains: "Our innovative system for the flexible positioning and coating of surfaces offers a state-of-the-art solution for the uniform and efficient application of surface coating systems. The new technology, which enables precise control and movement of the workpieces, significantly improves the quality, functionality and durability of the surface treatment. It can also be used wherever scooping components are involved or surfaces have to be deposited precisely over several coating systems." This development is particularly important in the field of heat sink coating for power electronics, a market that is experiencing dynamic growth. The continuously increasing relevance of power electronics in electric vehicles and numerous other high-tech devices is driving this market. The more compact and efficient the components become, the higher the power loss in the form of heat. Against this backdrop, efficient cooling is essential for the long-term functionality of the electronics. The surface coating of the heat sinks is crucial to ensure efficient heat dissipation, the longevity of the components and the material connection of the heat sink to the actual power electronics.

Maik Hormel, technical plant manager at Holzapfel Metallveredelung GmbH and Dekotec GmbH, emphasizes: "The various manufacturing processes for heat sinks, including hot and cold extrusion, as well as machining processes, require individual pre-treatment adapted to the respective manufacturing process. Sometimes the manufacturers of the heat sinks use different manufacturing processes in parallel for a single article and therefore require pre-treatment processes that are adapted to this. The combination of ultrasound and the PLC-controlled rotating/tilting frame enables outstanding component cleaning in the degreasing and pickling processes, which cannot be achieved with conventional cleaning processes." Compared to a static or rigid rack, the Holzapfel Group's digitally controlled rotating/tilting rack technology can double the throughput rate, save 61% metal, reduce CO2 emissions by 385 t / p.a. and save 78% chemicals in an exemplary industrialized process. Hans-Ludwig Blaas, Managing Partner of the Holzapfel Group, adds: "We are grateful and proud of this competent recognition of our development work. The growing manufacturer market for power electronics and a large number of current project inquiries confirm that we have clearly taken the right path at the right time with this exceptional technology. However, this success would not have been possible without our high-caliber and dedicated development team, which successfully asserted itself against large corporations and their research institutions."