Interview with Philippe Descaillot, Managing Director of … · 2017. 7. 5. · THERMOCOMPACT SA...
Transcript of Interview with Philippe Descaillot, Managing Director of … · 2017. 7. 5. · THERMOCOMPACT SA...
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Interview with Philippe Descaillot, Managing Director of THERMOCOMPACT SA
Truly wiring innovationSpeed and cut precision are two buzzwords in precision mechanics,
as they help improve productivity and put the final products on a new level. Electro discharge machining (EDM) is the preferred process in this context, using a special high-technology wire which is likely to come from a manufacturer like THERMOCOM-PACT SA. The company is the world leader in the production and supply of EDM wires, distributing its products worldwide to more than 50 countries. EDM wires, precious metal-coated and
diamond wires are the three fields which give THERMOCOMPACT the opportunities to conquer the market with innovative solutions
and superior quality materials.
“Innovation is key in our market.
However, acting on today’s global
market, the process of coming up
with new ideas and turning them
into new products must be execut-
ed as a joint effort by the research
team, customers and suppliers,”
points out Managing Director
Philippe Descaillot, who is well
aware that the future of the com-
pany is closely intertwined with its
ability to put forward innovation
and thus conquer the future.
THERMOCOMPACT may be a
company that dates back to 1913,
but it focuses on its innovative
spirit that has prevailed throughout
the decades. However, its begin-
ning was a far cry from the high-
tech solutions in precious metals
coating and high-tech wires for
EDM applications that the com-
pany delivers today. Little more
than 100 years ago, in 1913, the
company started operations un-
der the name Laminor. The initial
focus was on the production of
watch bracelets before it changed
its name to THERMOCOMPACT
in 1973. Since that time THER-
MOCOMPACT has been present
in the EDM wire market. In 1995,
it was acquired by the two busi-
ness partners Gilles Mollard and
Jean-Claude Cornier, and today,
THERMOCOMPACT is part of
Thermo-Technologies Group,
which is in the hands of the Mol-
lard and Cornier families. Applying
its founding values of expertise,
excellence and innovation, THER-
MOCOMPACT exports about 98%
of its production to the global mar-
ket, serving customers in Europe,
Asia and the USA.
“We have not rested on our laurels
or on the 17 product and process
world patents which we have
had registered in our company’s
name,” stresses Mr. Descaillot.
“Instead, we have very much fo-
cused our strategy on R&D and in-
novation, which is a guarantee for
continued success. A portfolio of
relevant patents, which undergoes
continuous renewal, is a key as-
pect of our leadership approach.”
About 6% of the annual turnover
of 30 million EUR is reinvested into
R&D, which boasts a highly quali-
fied team of six Ph.D engineers
THERMOCOMPACT regularly presents solutions for precious metal coatings, wire production for EDM applications and diamond-coated wires at major international fairs
The company’s EDM wires are continu-ously adapted to keep pace with the performance needs of its customers
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THERMOCOMPACT SA181 Route des Sarves Z.I. “Les Iles” 74371 Pringy France
+33 450 272002 +33 450 271737
[email protected] www.thermocompact.com
who take on external partnerships.
“Right now, we are closely involved
in a major project concentrating on
the development of diamond wires
for applications for cutting silicon,
as used in the electronics and
photovoltaic markets,” explains
Mr. Descaillot. “And so far we have
had positive feedback from our
customers. You can see this as a
kind of start-up activity, as we are
just at the beginning of developing
this segment within our portfolio.”
THERMOCOMPACT serves in-
dustrial customers in the fields
of automotive, aeronautics, con-
nectors, medical and precision
cutting. Among its customers are
manufacturers for special ma-
chinery, including GFMS (Georg
Fischer Machining Solutions), as
well as independent distributors
worldwide. The company’s electro
discharge machining technology
is also applied in the production of
moulds for plastics components,
for example for telephone casings,
for components in car manufactur-
ing or for cutting tools. Even tools
for working with fine wire in watch-
making is an area THERMOCOM-
PACT’s products cover. “We are
aware of the broad range of appli-
cations. However, each application
has its own challenges,” points
out Mr. Descaillot. “Our strong
focus on R&D enables us to offer
our international clientele a new
generation of electrode wires – the
Gamma and Beta-Gamma lines –
which boast better performance
and meet our customers’ current
requirements. These products
generate about 80% of our turno-
ver right now,” adds Mr. Descaillot.
THERMOCOMPACT has initiated
various special projects with cus-
tomers, such as GFMS (Georg Fis-
cher Machining Solutions). “It is all
about increasing the performance
of electro discharge machining.
Here, we have to define exact
parameters in order to control the
fine cuts of the machine and to
gain maximum performance. This
is a task which can only be tackled
in cooperation with the customer
to offer a combination of machine
and wire,” stresses Mr. Descaillot.
In addition, the company is in-
volved in special projects with the
aeronautics industry. “A problem
with electro discharge machining
might be the deposition of metal
on the wire, which leaves sediment
on the component. This is a prob-
lem that is hard to solve, and we
are committed to finding a solution
that prevents any wire particles
from sedimenting on the compo-
nent. This is one of our ambitious
projects,” says Mr. Descaillot.
High quality standards in sourc-
ing, production and delivery rank
highly on the company’s agenda.
As the quality of its raw materials
is essential, THERMOCOMPACT
has built up a close network of
European suppliers, which deliver
materials of great purity. “This ena-
bles us to produce superior quali-
tys. What’s more, our closeness to
suppliers guarantees retraceability
at any stage, another factor in safe-
guarding quality standards,” says
Mr. Descaillot. “In the near future,
we will continue to create a unique
bond with suppliers, customers
and research institutions and keep
on creating solutions that boost
performance and quality in various
key industries.” ❙
The company is the world leader in EDM wires and distributes its prod-ucts to more than 50 countries
At its in-house lab, THERMOCOMPACT’s R&D team works on the de-velopment of EDM gamma and beta wires and diamond wires, which are used in silicon applications, soft to hard crystals and sapphire amongst others