Based in Germany, HANSA-FLEX is a global supplier of hydraulic systems and components. The company’s main business is fluid conveyance, with main products including hose and tube assemblies, connectors and fittings. HANSA-FLEX operates in 40 countries with several hundred branches around the world. The company’s sales worldwide total to up to 600 million EUR. Founded in 1962, HANSA-FLEX employes more than 5000 people.
The German HANSA-FLEX’s cooperation with Lillbacka began more than 10 years ago. Today, HANSA-FLEX largely relies on Finn-Power machines for its crimping process. The two family companies’ cooperation began when HANSA-FLEX was in the search for a supplier that was able to deliver the kind of modern solutions that meet evolving industry standards.
Axel Tammen, Director of Engineering and Quality Assurance at HANSA-FLEX, has 25 years of history of working with Finn-Power machines. As the industry shifts more and more towards digital solutions, Tammen feels that one quality in particular gives Finn-Power a competitive edge: their intelligent control system. The ICC™ (Intelligent Crimping Control) systems on HANSA-FLEX’s Finn-Power machinery are currently being upgraded to the latest versions, enabling seamless data transfer and the future capability to control all Finn-Power crimpers from a single location.
“Regarding the future of our industry, the magic behind Finn-Power crimpers is the ICC™ system. As an Engineering Director, my dream is to be able to define and manage crimping dimensions straight from our engineering department in Bremen to all of our branches all around the world. With Finn-Power, this dream can be reality. Their digital development places them at the forefront of the industry.”
ICC™ System Supports Quality Assurance and Eliminates Manual Work Phases
Tammen explains that Finn-Power’s intelligent control system ensures product quality and consistency. The system also supports faster, more secure data transfers to both HANSA-FLEX branches and customers with Finn-Power machines, simplifying, for example, the setting of new crimping dimensions as products develop.
“In the past, we had to send lengthy files to our branches, where staff would find the right dimensions, possibly print the files, take them to the machine and then manually adjust the settings: a time-consuming and error-prone process. Now, our engineers can control settings remotely from anywhere in the world, streamlining the process while reducing errors.”
“Finn-Power Machines are a Smart Investment”
With a decade of collaboration, valuable digital advancements and consistently high performance, Tammen considers Finn-Power machines to be a smart investment. He highlights their stability and notes that they require minimal maintenance compared to other machines.
“For our business, it is important that machines keep working, working and working. If we have a malfunctioning crimping machine, it can put the entire production on halt at some of our smaller locations. Our Finn-Power machines do not require much maintenance and when they do, maintaining them is easy.”
When working with suppliers and partners, HANSA-FLEX values service: short reaction times, engineering expertise and close, flexible cooperation.
“Forming a strong partnership with Lillbacka has been valuable to us. As two family-owned businesses, we share common values and similar approaches to business. We have had smooth collaboration with both Lillbacka’s German distributor Gerritzen GmbH and the entire team in Finland, and have always received expert support to any engineering challenges we may have had. As far as the future of our collaboration goes, we are currently exploring the acquisition of specialized Finn-Power laser marking equipment. We are pleased with our cooperation with Lillbacka and look forward to expanding it in the future.”