Plant engineering, electrical engineering and process technology for the ceramics industry – from handling machines to factory control systems.
THERMOPLAN Anlagenbau Elektrotechnik Verfahrenstechnik GmbH
Olching · Brilon · PressathNew on Amplifa
About Thermoplan
THERMOPLAN Anlagenbau Elektrotechnik Verfahrenstechnik GmbH is a medium-sized, internationally active company founded in 1984 and headquartered in Olching near Munich. The 55-member team specializes in plant engineering, electrical engineering, factory control systems and process technology for the ceramics industry in fine, technical and coarse ceramics. The range of services extends from individual components and spare parts to retrofit modifications of existing plants through to the planning, manufacturing and commissioning of new systems such as handling machines with Fanuc industrial robots, unloading systems, storage systems and conveying technology. The portfolio is complemented by customized control cabinet construction (Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi, Allen Bradley), the browser-based factory control system Planys integral and the laser-based quality inspection technology Bluebox. Customers come from the roof tile, glass and building materials industries, including Creaton, Laufen AG, Eternit and Rigips. Since 2023, the Northern plant in Brilon has been manufacturing; in 2024 the Pressath site was opened. Services include maintenance, UVV inspections in accordance with DIN EN 528, energy optimization and training courses.
- Site
- Olching
- Processes
- Plant engineering (new plants for the ceramics industry, handling machines), Retrofit of existing plants, Spare parts sales (mechanical parts), Grinding, Casting, Glazing, Shaping, Drying
- Materials
- Ceramics (fine, technical, coarse ceramics), Steel
- Certificates
- DIN EN 528 (Maintenance/UVV), ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1984
- Employees
- 55
- Industries
- Ceramics industry, Coarse ceramics, Roof tile industry, Glass industry, Building materials industry
- 01
Process technology consulting
- 02
Engineering & control cabinet construction
- 03
Plant engineering / manufacturing (Brilon)
- 04
Robotics integration & assembly
- 05
Commissioning
- 06
Factory control systems & quality inspection
- 07
Maintenance, UVV inspections, spare parts
Materials & Processes
Ceramics (fine, technical, coarse ceramics)
Handling, shaping and firing processes for ceramic products form the core business area.
Steel
Steel construction components for handling machines, storage systems and plant constructions.
Sites
Olching
DEHead office / headquarters, engineering and electrical engineering
- Control cabinet construction (Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi, Allen Bradley)
Brilon
DENorthern plant with manufacturing
Pressath
DESite (opened 2024), approx. 30 employees
Plants & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant engineering (new plants for the ceramics industry, handling machines)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Ceramics |
| Retrofit of existing plantsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Spare parts sales (mechanical parts)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| GrindingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| CastingCasting | – | – | – | – | – |
| GlazingSurface | – | – | – | – | Ceramics |
| ShapingForming | – | – | – | – | Ceramics |
| DryingHeat treatment | – | – | – | – | – |
| Firing technology / kiln controlHeat treatment | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quality inspection / laser measuring technology (Bluebox)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Electrical engineering / control construction (Siemens, Omron, Mitsubishi, Allen Bradley)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Factory control systems (production data acquisition, energy monitoring, Planys integral)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Storage technology (storage systems, conveying technology, frequency controllers)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Maintenance and UVV inspections in accordance with DIN EN 528 (mechanical and electrical)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Robotics integration (industrial robots with adapted gripping technology, Fanuc)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial robot | Fanuc | – | – | – | – |
| High-bay racking / storage systems | Thermoplan | – | – | – | – |
| Unloading system | Thermoplan Wolfshöhe | – | – | 2023 | – |
| Quality inspection system (measuring technology) | Thermoplan Bluebox | – | – | 2020 | – |
| Handling machines | Thermoplan | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Standards
Quality assurance is carried out, among other things, with the laser-based measuring technology Bluebox developed since 2020, which thanks to high-energy lasers delivers precise measurement results regardless of size, speed and surface condition. Plants are maintained in accordance with DIN EN 528 and inspected mechanically and electrically every year.
| Evidence | Olching | Brilon | Pressath |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIN EN 528 (Maintenance/UVV) | |||
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1984
Company founded by Johannes-Michael Nether and Dr. Lehmann (former chairman of the board of Eternit).
- 1986
Dr. Georg Kronawitter joins as co-shareholder and co-managing director.
- 1988
Christian Nether starts as an employee and co-shareholder.
- 1988–1992
Development of process control technology, deployment at Migeon, Wiest, Josef Berchthold GmbH and Weber Umwelttechnik.
- 1993–1996
Development of production data acquisition (Creaton, Wiest), plasticity control of the roof tile presses Nova and Wega.
- 1996
Johannes-Michael Nether leaves the position of managing director; Christian Nether takes over together with Dr. Georg Kronawitter.
- 1997–2002
Redevelopment of production data acquisition and process control technology, switch to Siemens controls, quality inspection via laser measuring technology (Creaton).
- 2001
Dr. Georg Kronawitter leaves the position of managing director, remains a shareholder.
- 2003–2007
Control cabinet construction for preparation and shaping, projects at BdN in France (diesel particulate filters).
- 2008–2012
Expansion into plant (re)construction, robot integration, energy optimization of kilns and dryers, production data acquisition on web service.
- 2018
Michael Nether joins the management board.
- 2020
Product development of the Blue Box measuring technology.
- 2021
Portfolio expansion: storage systems and conveying technology.
- 2022
Establishment of the Mechanical Service department and UVV inspections, spare parts sales.
- 2023
Opening of the Northern plant in Brilon with manufacturing, expansion into plant engineering, unloading system Wolfshöhe.
- 2024
Opening of the Pressath site (approx. 30 new employees), renaming to Thermoplan Anlagenbau Elektrotechnik Verfahrenstechnik GmbH, 55 employees.