“This new logo is more closely aligned to our dynamic, forward-thinking corporate strategy. We will continue to be the same valued business partner, providing innovative chemistry and solutions that allow our customers products to be made safer, more efficient, and more durable,” said a company spokesperson.
“We acknowledge our history by retaining our tagline, The Substance Inside—a reminder of the industry we are in and the essential part that chemistry plays in countless products and processes.”
“Our new “what we do” statement: At SI Group, we create smart chemistry that solves global challenges and makes great things possible. Our innovations improve the performance and durability of aerospace, transportation, health and wellness, consumer goods, personal safety, food, beverage, home goods, construction and industrial products around the world.”
SI Group is a global developer and manufacturer of chemical intermediates, specialty resins and solutions that are critical to the quality and performance of countless industrial and consumer goods.
They have a local presence in 10 countries, more than 2,700 employees, and customers in more than 90 countries.
The SI Group focus is on ten key market segments—rubber resins, antioxidants, fuels and lubricants, plastic additives, industrial resins, health and wellness, adhesive resins, surfactants, engineering plastics and pharma and specialty.
Eleven years ago Schenectady International, Inc. (now known as the SI Group), through its South African affiliate, Schenectady South Africa (Pty) Ltd reached an agreement to partner in South Africa with Hüttenes-Albertus Chemische Werke GmbH (HA) by acquiring Hüttenes Albertus Falchem (Pty) Ltd (“HAF”) and Zeta Resin (Pty) Ltd’s (“Zeta”) foundry and timber chemical intermediates business.
In 2010, in order to streamline operations in South Africa and make the group more cost effective, it was decided to flatten this structure and incorporate HA Falchem SA (Pty) Ltd into the SI Group, and SI Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd was formed.
Innovations on display at GIFA 2015
Special innovations, such as the new cylinder liners with a “hedgehog” structure, Telefeeder technology for aluminium sand casting and a penetration coating to prevent white film defects, were displayed on the Hüttenes-Albertus stand and presented in more detail at the GIFA 2015 Forum and WFO Forum.
The new core production process for ferrous and non-ferrous casting
In the past productivity and dimensional requirements were the major priority for researchers in the foundry industry. Nowadays, the focus lies on environmental protection and the application of sustainable, environment- and resource-conserving binder technologies.
By means of intensive research Hüttenes-Albertus successfully developed an entirely new core production process for ferrous- and non-ferrous casting. Cleantech is an innovative process for foundry core production. Using a polycondensated water-based urea formaldehyde resin modified by a renewable natural polymer and a new patented catalyst.
Foundry cores with very good mechanical properties can be produced using traditional Hot-Box machines or Cold-Box machines that can be heated to a temperature of 80-120°C. Hot air with a temperature of 110°C is released in order to remove the redundant water (solvent).
The main advantage of the air supply is the replacement of CO2 and other organic substances, such as amine or sulphur dioxide, which are formed in traditional core production processes. The patented double catalyst accelerates the reaction and captures excess formaldehyde. The result is an extremely low free formaldehyde content in the work environment.
Innovative coating to prevent white film defects
For many years foundrymen have been struggling with the casting defect “white film”, which appears on the casting surfaces of thick-walled castings made of nodular graphite cast iron. This is a pockmark-like, rough area on the casting surface, which is covered with a white film. The film is removed by sandblasting the castings; however the irregular surface remains and often leads to graphite degeneration.
The Hüttenes-Albertus team has investigated in great detail the cause of this problem. Working in close collaboration with selected partners from the foundry industry, a group of R&D chemists and product managers examined through research the causes and conducted field trials. An innovative impregnating coating was developed by closely analysing the causes for the emergence of the film and carrying out individual process steps to overcome the defect.
New adhesives for the foundry industry
Hüttenes-Albertus has been a supplier of different adhesives to foundries for many years. These adhesives can be used for cold and hot curing applications or for curing in the microwave oven.
Most adhesives in cold setting and microwave oven curing contain special types of waterglass and inorganic fillers. As a consequence of this, these adhesives release almost no gas when they are heated for bonding critical core packs.
Besides this, a full line of adhesives with different properties for special applications is available. Real newcomers to the line are, e.g., flake materials for use via large dosing tanks.
Another current project focuses on the development of a special fusion adhesive for the lost foam process.
For further details contact SI Group SA on TEL: 011 389 8200 or visit www.siigroup.com or www.huettenes-albertus.com
