Two AZL partners are joining forces with AMAC´s support

In April 2015, through the excellence network in composites production technology of the Aachen Center for integrative Lightweight Production (AZL), the two partnering companies Katcon and M.TEC announce their strategic cooperation in order to establish a high-class product portfolio to serve Automotive and aircraft interior customers. As a long-term reliable and established global Automotive supplier, family-owned Mexicoheadquartered company Katcon has been serving directly and with great satisfaction over 60 OEM´s in the worldwide Automotive industry. Financially strong and with significant investment potential, Katcon decided to expand and strategically divert its profitable activities in entering the composite market. Dr. Michael Effing, Founder of AMAC GmbH, Senior Advisor to AZL and as of now, also European Representative of Katcon Advanced Materials is happy: “We started advising and introducing Katcon, the worldwide renowned manufacturer for Automotive exhaust systems, to the composite industry only in 2014. To see this project alive and operational already now shows efficient project management.” Fernando Turner, President of Katcon Advanced Materials explains: “Katcon is proud to invest in the fascinating and innovative composites industry with machines, people and business development: The AZL and the excellence in business development of AMAC helped us significantly to establish collaborations with international top players of the composite industry. In record time, we have chosen the latest Advanced material´s manufacturing technology and equipment and bought state-of-the-art machines for processes like RTM for thermoset and for thermoplastic, thermoforming and hybrid moulding, as well as related post-processing technologies.“ With these techniques, Katcon focusses on Automotive and aircraft interior applications like external & internal body panels, underbody and structural components, doors, tailgates, floor pans or seats. While developping its in-house engineering capabilities, Katcon is relaying on M.TEC´s cooperation expertise. Dr. Volker Gorzelitz, CEO of M.TEC: “Starting as a spin-off from Aachen University´s Institute for Plastics processing (IKV) over 20 years ago, we are now established on the market as a specialist in calculation, designing and engineering of parts. We are happy to support Katcon in entering the advanced materials industry with our know-how and expertise.” Dr. Kai Fischer, Managing Director of AZL Aachen GmbH: “This cooperation is an example of the efficient usage of our network and its specialized lightweight know-how along the entire value chain – a complete new working team has thus been set up. To see how quickly AZL and its high quality lightweight competence network bears fruits is extremely satisfying for us. We wish Katcon and M.TEC best success as world-class supplier cooperation in serving the worldwide transportation market.” In the cooperation of these four partners, AMAC assures business development and establishing Katcon´s market share on the European market, AZL leads the process development and manufacturing, and M.TEC takes care of design and engineering. Katcon develops, produces and sales worldwide with its production facilities in Europe, USA, Mexico and Asia.