JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #95 - Special JEC Europe - March 2015 - 5

B.L. : We are much more

than just a supplier of material
for non-crimp fabrics in glass,
carbon and aramid.
We support our customers
throughout the value chain, by
advising on material selection
and process definition. We take
over prototyping and operate a
GL-certified laboratory for test
series. Our Stade plant also has
build-to-print capacity for RTM
and infusion processes.

JCM: For more than 30 years,
your growth has been essentially organic. Do you plan
on acquiring any companies or
shareholding interests in the
future to increase your market
share?

B.L. : Our long-term outlook

requires us to grow with due
caution, on a firm financial footing. We have so many ideas of
our own, in which we invest to
stimulate our organic growth.
Sometimes it does make sense
for us to buy know-how and
capacity, so that we can keep
pace with the market. For
example, we have recently taken
over equipment from FGI to
expand our capacities in North
and South America.

JCM: Are you considering expanding your activities if there
are any opportunities, or will
you remain focused on your core
business?

B.L. : We are always work-

ing on the development of
new business concepts. One
example is our subsidiary
Saertex multiCom which offers
high performing inliner for
the trenchless rehabilitation of
pipelines for drinking water,
industrial water or pipes in a
sewer networks.
Another is Saertex LEO®, a
new generation of fire retardent composite which we have
developed with a partner. The
Leo system targets new applications in railway engineering,
shipbuilding and the construction industry.
On the other hand, we are also
expanding our core business
of multiaxial fabrics. We have
added a new product, SAERfoam, a fibre reinforced core
material for structural sandwich laminates. Through new
products and services, we can
offer combined systems for our
customers.

JCM: You have regularly carried
out activities internationally,
and are present today on all the
continents. Have you already
scheduled any new installations?

B.L. : Part of being close to

Strong growth: multiaxial carbon
fabrics from Saertex

our customers means having a
local production base backed by
local engineering & support on
applications. The latest member
of the Saertex family is our
Brazilian subsidiary. I am immensely proud of what we have
put together there in such short
time. This is a result of good
team work with colleagues from
the US, Germany and Brazil.

Innovation: GL certified SAERfoam to replace Balsa and PVC.

To date, Saertex Brazil is fit to
produce 15,000 tons of multiaxial fabrics per year, and has
successfully introduced SAP.

extreme environmental conditions.

JCM: Which markets and
geographical zones are your
priorities for growth in the next
3-5 years?

B.L. : As a family firm, we are

JCM: Is Saertex vulnerable to a
hostile takeover?

B.L. : We see positive growth

opportunities across the whole
sector. The trend to resourcesaving lightweight construction
is continuous, and not only in
the aviation and wind power
sectors. Major opportunities exist for Saertex precisely in fields
which currently still use largely
metal components, such as the
shipbuilding, automotive and
oil & gas industries.

JCM: What are the main challenges that Saertex must meet
in the medium term, just like
the composite materials industry
in general?

JCM: Will carbon become more
and more important in your
activity?

B.L. : At present, we supply

around 95,000 tons of glass and
1,500 tons of carbon fabrics.
At first sight, this looks like a
serious imbalance. However,
the carbon sector is actually
recording exceptionally strong
growth. For example, new
carbon solutions in the wind
power sector are steadily enhancing turbine efficiency and
furthering the development
of new wind farms - even in
No95 March 2015 /

financially independent and
seek to remain so in the future.
Since summer 2014, my twin
sons, Simon and Klaus, have
joined Ralf in the company,
reinforcing Saertex's long-term
future as an independent, family-owned company. My sons
will gradually grow into their
roles and get to know customers, products and colleagues.
You can imagine that I am glad
to see my sons' enthusiasm for
carrying on the family business.

B.L. : Like many high-tech

sectors, we will face a challenge
recruiting the qualified staff
we urgently need to continue
on our pathway to growth. I
believe this is a serious issue not
only at Saertex. We are always
on the lookout for new people
and are excited to receive interesting applications. n
More information:
www.saertex.com

jec composites magazine 5
http://www.saertex.com
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #95 - Special JEC Europe - March 2015

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