Surface technology and coating: electroplating processes, KTL (cathodic dip painting), anodizing, passivation and blackening for the automotive industry.
HEICHEGROUP Germany GmbH
Schwaigern · Hunderdorf · Pilsting · Leisnig · Spartanburg (USA) · Jasper (USA) · Pároczálujfalu (HU) · Stanowice (PL)New on Amplifa
About Heiche Group
Heiche Group is a medium-sized service provider for surface coating and finishing headquartered in Schwaigern (Baden-Württemberg). Founded in 1965 as a jewelry and silversmithing workshop, the family-owned company has developed since entering electroplating technology in 1970 into an internationally active specialist in surface technology and employs around 700 people worldwide. The process portfolio includes zinc and zinc-nickel coating, passivation, anodizing and hard anodizing, KTL coating (cathodic dip painting), chromating, blackening, phosphating, sealers and topcoats as well as sol-gel coatings for magnesium. The materials treated are primarily steel, steel castings, aluminum, aluminum structural castings and magnesium. The processes are carried out in fully automated systems and meet the corrosion requirements of the automotive industry, including according to customer standards from BMW and Daimler Benz. In addition to its headquarters, the group operates plants in Bavaria (Hunderdorf, Pilsting), Saxony (Leisnig), Hungary, Poland and the USA (Spartanburg, Jasper). Since 2018, Heiche Group has been 100% owned by KAP AG and is part of KAP Surface Technologies.
- Site
- Schwaigern
- Processes
- Zinc-nickel coating (alkaline/acid, electroplated), Zinc coating (alkaline/acid, electroplated zinc plating, barrel and rack goods), Passivation, Anodizing (anodizing), Hard anodizing (coating thicknesses 3-70 µm depending on process), Sealers / topcoats (0.5-2 µm protective layer on passivated zinc/zinc alloy coatings), KTL coating (cathodic dip painting), Blackening
- Materials
- Steel casting, Aluminum, Steel, Magnesium, Aluminum structural casting
- Certificates
- TS 16949:1996, IATF 16949 (TS 16949:1996)
- Founded
- 1965
- Employees
- ca. 700
- Industries
- Automotive industry
- 01
Quotation and process consulting (technical center)
- 02
Cleaning/pre-treatment
- 03
Electroplated coating (zinc, zinc-nickel)
- 04
Passivation/chromating
- 05
Sealing/topcoat
- 06
KTL or painting technology
- 07
Testing and quality assurance
Materials and Processes
Steel
Base material for electroplated zinc coating, zinc-nickel coating and KTL with high corrosion protection.
Steel casting
Preferably coated with electrodeposited zinc-nickel; meets the high corrosion requirements of the automotive industry.
Aluminum
Material for anodizing/hard anodizing, passivation, Alu Cast Protect and KTL coating.
Aluminum structural casting
Focus of KTL coating at the Pilsting site.
Magnesium
Coating with sol-gel, KTL and passivation.
Locations
Schwaigern
DEHeadquarters and plant
- Materials
- Steel, aluminum, steel casting, magnesium
- Anodizing line (commissioned 1998)
- Chromating line (commissioned 1997)
- Technical center
- Photovoltaic system
Hunderdorf
DEPlant Heiche Bayern GmbH & Co. KG (since 2014)
Pilsting
DEPlant Heiche Bayern, KTL coating (production start 2017)
- Materials
- Aluminum structural casting
- KTL coating line
Leisnig
DEPlant for blackening and phosphating (production start 2003)
Spartanburg (South Carolina)
USPlant Heiche US Surface Technology LP (in production since 2014), KTL for steel and aluminum
- Materials
- Steel, aluminum
- KTL coating line
Jasper (Alabama)
USPlant Heiche US (founded 2020)
Pároczálujfalu (Satroarlajujhely)
HUPlant Heiche Hungary (production start 2006)
Stanowice
PLPlant Heiche Polska Sp. z o.o. (production start 2008)
- Materials
- Aluminum, steel
- Passivation line for aluminum (2017, among others Alu Cast Protect)
- Zinc-zinc alloy coating line (2020)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc-nickel coating (alkaline/acid, electroplated)Surface | – | – | – | – | Steel casting |
| Zinc coating (alkaline/acid, electroplated zinc plating, barrel and rack goods)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| PassivationSurface | – | – | – | – | Aluminum |
| Anodizing (anodizing)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminum |
| Hard anodizing (coating thicknesses 3-70 µm depending on process)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminum |
| Sealers / topcoats (0.5-2 µm protective layer on passivated zinc/zinc alloy coatings)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| KTL coating (cathodic dip painting)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminum, Steel, Magnesium |
| BlackeningSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| PhosphatingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| ChromatingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sol-gel coatingSurface | – | – | – | – | Magnesium |
| Alu Cast Protect (passivation process for aluminum)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminum |
| Painting technologySurface | – | – | – | – | – |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc-zinc alloy coating line | – | 1 | – | 2020 | Poland (Heiche Polska) |
| Passivation line for aluminum | – | 1 | – | 2017 | Heiche Polska |
| Anodizing line | – | 1 | – | 1998 | Schwaigern |
| Chromating line | – | 1 | – | 1997 | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The processes are carried out with process reliability in fully automated systems and meet the high corrosion requirements of the automotive industry. The company was certified in 2000 according to TS 16949:1996 and works according to customer standards from BMW and Daimler Benz (among others DBL 4952).
| Evidence | Schwaigern |
|---|---|
| IATF 16949 (TS 16949:1996) |
History
- 1965
Founded as a jewelry and silversmithing workshop by Gerhard and Hannelore Heiche
- 1970
Entry into electroplating technology with the processes blackening and phosphating
- 1981
New construction of the Schwaigern plant, Dieselstraße 10
- 1988
Entry into painting technology
- 1997
Commissioning of a new chromating line
- 1998
Commissioning of a new anodizing line; generational change: Rüdiger and Gunter Heiche take over management
- 2000
Certification according to TS 16949:1996
- 2003
Production start of the Leisnig plant (blackening and phosphating)
- 2004
Opening of a technical center and commissioning of a photovoltaic system in Schwaigern
- 2006
Production start of Heiche Hungary in Satroarlajujhely
- 2008
Production start of Heiche-Matusewicz in Stanowice (Poland)
- 2009
New developments for the coating of magnesium with sol-gel, KTL and passivation
- 2010
Acquisition of Heiche-Matusewicz Sp. z o.o. at 100%; renamed HEICHE Polska Sp. z o.o.
- 2012
Founding of the plant Heiche US Surface Technology LP in Spartanburg, South Carolina
- 2014
Opening ceremony of Heiche US; acquisition of Alpha ISO GmbH and founding of the plant Heiche Bayern GmbH & Co. KG in Hunderdorf
- 2015
50th company anniversary
- 2016
10th anniversary at Heiche Hungary; establishment of a second site in Pilsting (Lower Bavaria)
- 2017
New construction of a passivation line for aluminum in Poland (among others Alu Cast Protect); production start of KTL coating in Pilsting; KTL production start at Heiche US for steel and aluminum
- 2018
Transfer of Heiche Group at 100% into KAP AG and integration into KAP Surface Technologies
- 2020
Expansion of the site in Poland with commissioning of a zinc-zinc alloy coating line; founding of the Heiche US site in Jasper/Alabama