“Innovative processes do not take place separately in Institutes or Industrial Enterprises. Constant interaction between both is essential for generating new insights and development”, said Dr. Hubert Bick to the approx. 30 visitors – employees from the Surface Engineering Institute from Aachen, Germany.

Each year the Surface Engineering Institute (IOT) belonging to the RWTH Aachen University organizes plant tours at important enterprises in the German and International landscape. This year, alongside large-scale enterprises such as Daimler and Alstom, there was a medium-sized enterprise among them: Deloro Stellite in Koblenz.

After welcoming the guests, they learned that Deloro Stellite, which was founded more than 100 years ago in North America, specializes in surface engineering and is world market leader. Deloro Stellite in Koblenz has been active since 1970 for companies of all industries.

Hubert Bick went on to exemplify Deloro Stellite’s unique competencies: “Deloro Stellite’s distinctive feature is a high level of vertical manufacture: Firstly, we are able to coat components with our cobalt-, nickel, or iron-base alloys using diverse welding or spraying techniques. Above that, our four varying casting techniques add value to our remarkably high product range. The subsequent finishing of components rounds up our delivery programme. This enables us to consult and supply our customers and meet their requirements.”

The Institute’s scientists and engineers showed special interest in the background of the material as well as in the many different areas of the cobalt-based Deloro Stellite.

“Furthermore, we are particularly proud to have enlarged our Research & Development Department this year despite the economical crisis, employing another two development engineers. The contact to Universities and Institutes is essential in order to optimize our materials and expand our application areas. At the present time, we have to watch costs, but maybe when the situation improves, one of you will start working at Deloro Stellite because we still focus on growth”, commented Dr. Bick.

After a detailed tour of the Plant through the departments Spraying & Welding, Foundry and the Machine Workshop, the guests were invited for refreshments at Hettiger Stellite’s assembly hall where they could see a fully-automated Valve Star , destined for a Spanish customer.

The Surface Engineering Institute conducts active research and development work in the areas of thermal coating technology (PVD/CVD technology and thermal spraying) hard and high temperature brazing, as well as modeling and simulation of these processes. For each of these processes, fundamental knowledge is acquired in the field of materials and applied in the area of material engineering beginning with the project idea through to complete system solutions and on to pilot production.