Impression Technologies Ltd (‘ITL’), the creator of Hot Form Quench (HFQ®) Technology, the leading advanced lightweighting solution for high-strength aluminium structures, has announced a key strategic partnership with fischer group, a global leader in the manufacture and supply of precision automotive components, which also serves the aerospace sector.
Fischer group is a key supplier of complex-shaped hydroformed parts such as manifolds, catalyst converter shells and complex tubing system components to the world’s largest automotive OEMs. Under the agreement, fischer group will manufacture body-in-white components using HFQ® Technology, enabling it to service OEM requirements in fast-growing markets such as electric vehicles.
The initial focus of the partnership will be to supply automotive customers in Europe from fischer Hydroforming’s base in Menden, Germany, with the objective of expanding to service global OEM customers from fischer’s facilities in Mexico and China. This is an important step in the rapid deployment of a full-service HFQ supply chain capability which will be in place from mid-2020 onwards to service the needs of OEMs across the globe.
Commenting on the announcement, ITL’s CEO, Jonathan Watkins, said: “We are delighted to have entered this strategic partnership with fischer group, which will offer automotive and aerospace OEM customers stronger, lighter, more cost-effective structures made using HFQ® Technology. We look forward to working with fischer to develop a global HFQ supply chain capability.”
Dr Stefan Geißler, MD of fischer Hydroforming, said: “This partnership with ITL offers fischer a unique opportunity to supply our automotive and industrial customers with an entire new genre of metal forming capabilities, further building on fischer’s extensive technical and manufacturing experience. We believe HFQ® Technology can offer our customers multiple sustainable opportunities to simplify design while reducing weight, cost and system complexity.”
For further information on HFQ®, please visit https://hfqtechnology.com/
