HÜTTINGER hosts plasma conference

"Our first conference last year was so well received with so much positive feedback that we were excited about hosting another one this year on different topics," explained Sales Director Michael Ehinger. The first conference was held in 2010 at the company's subsidiary near Warsaw, Poland. This year customers from all over Europe traveled to the Black Forest region to hear presentations given by external speakers and plasma experts from HÜTTINGER on innovative development and production methods as well as the service organization. The broad spectrum of presentations included a simulation of plasma coating processes from the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) and talks on the challenges of developing vacuum processing systems for large area coating, the modularization of products and the future of MF arc management.

Between the presentations, customers had many opportunities to see for themselves best practices at work throughout HÜTTINGER. The company opened the doors to its large equipment lab to show how it conducts in-house qualification. Customers were able to experience on-site how HÜTTINGER tests new developments as part of EMC and lifecycle testing and simulates worst-case scenarios. Production also gave customers a detailed look at its operations: Senior production managers explained how their production processes with integrated quality gates and value stream production lines ensure production is intensely flexible while maintaining high quality. "The competitive pressure is forcing companies to adapt more and more quickly and with flexibility to changing conditions while constantly rethinking and improving applied methods," explained Ehinger. "That is why it is always so exciting to see how other companies shape their processes. We are happy to have our customers share in our experience and, naturally, we benefit from their feedback."

There was also time for customers to relax and network during a BBQ at day's end on the rooftop garden of the company's headquarters. Guests were also able to sample local wines from the Kaiserstuhl Winery. "It was a really interesting day where I got to learn a lot of new things," summed up one attendee. "Next year I will definitely attend again."