The company  Palfinger Crane Technology plc. is the world’s leading producer of loading cranes for trucks. About 250 welding operators work in the production plants in A-Lengau and SL-Marburg.

Interviewpartners: Ing. Georg Hohenwarter, European Welding Engineer and Quality Manager for welding processes in both plants.

 Erwin Mitterbauer, Welding Foreman in Lengau  with a lot of practical experience.
 

 Hoffmann: In 1995 you decided to introduce PROTEC CE15L as anti-adhering agent for welding spatters. What were your reasons for replacing the bio-chemical product used until then.

 Mitterbauer: We had severe problems with pores and odours which occurred during application of the old aqueous product.

 Hoffmann: Could you sum up the most important reasons for your decision to use PROTEC ?

 Hohenwarter: We were particularly impressed by the large number of approvals of well-known users out of different industries throughout Europe. Certainly the approval of the „Central Institute of welding technology” was important for us as well.

A special criterion was the occupational health’s approval by our works doctor and the AUVA (General Insurance office for accidents)

 Hoffmann: What are your specific demands on such a product?

 Hohenwarter: Basically Palfinger wants to achieve best quality by low cost of sales. All our construction parts, but especially our shearing arms have to be absolutely spatter-free. Another challenge is the basic material. It is blasted and completely dry when processing starts. Therefore welding spatters firmly stick onto it. The construction parts are reblasted after welding but  unfortunately the spatters are not removed by this process.

 Mitterbauer: If we treat the parts with PROTEC before welding,  the spatters do not adhere and we save time in post processing. It is also important for us that we can overweld wet parts without pores and that no odour is emitted.

 Hoffmann: How do you process surface treatment afterwards?

  Hohenwarter: The construction parts are degreased and  afterwards protected by priming through submerging or spraying. If you are interested in details on painting you have to talk to the paint shop directly.

 Hoffmann: Have you ever received complaints from the paint shop?

 Hohenwarter: No, there have never been complaints.

 Hoffmann: Do you use other anti-adherents than PROTEC CE 15L  weld-protection in your company?

 Hohenwarter: No, we just use PROTEC for treatment of workpieces and installations. We also apply PROTEC on the metal sheets which are processed in our laser cutting installations. Our Bystronic-installations are equipped with an automatic spraying-system where the use of  PROTEC proved to be very worthwhile!

 Hoffmann: We are pleased that such a well-known and internationally successful company as Palfinger bears such a testimony to our anti-spatter lotion PROTEC,  since Palfinger stands for highest quality standards. Many thanks for the interview!