FCMD GmbH Hattingen: First appearance at Hanover Fair 2011

1 Stand of FCMD at the Hanover Fair • FCMD-Stand auf der Hannover Messe

2 Machining equipment at Hattingen • Bearbeitungsmaschine am Standort Hattingen

3 Drive of a tube mill in South Africa • Antrieb einer Rohrmühle in Südafrika

For the first time since their merger early in 2011, FC Stahl Hattingen GmbH and CMD GmbH presented their company under the new firm name FCMD at the Motion, Drive and Automation Fair in Hanover (Fig. 1).

As a company of the French groupe CIF (total turnover approx. 180 million €, about 1200 employees worldwide), to which such renowned companies as Ferry Capitain and CMD belong, FCMD GmbH with headquarters in Hattingen on the Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, not only manufactures girth gears, gearbox casings and other large parts of up to 160 tons but is also responsible for the sales of all products of the groupe CIF. In addition to layout and planning of complete drive systems such as girth gear – pinion drives, central drives and vertical mill drives, this also includes individual components such as special gearboxes, couplings, tyres, grinding bowls and mill heads.

Future strategy

Sales manager Frank Buchmann: “Since 1993 the Hattingen-based FC Stahl has manufactured girth gears and pinions while CMD GmbH has been responsible for gearboxes and couplings. The concentration of these competences in the central Ruhrgebiet underlines the future strategy of the parent company groupe CIF and their determination to grow at this location.” Thus a further hall for repair and service will be set up in the business and country park Henrichshütte, where FCMD can repair large parts with an outside diameter of up to 16 m and with a weight of 160 t. The maximum processing capacity will reach 400 t.

While FC Stahl mill, turn, cut gears and drill parts of up to 160 t according to the specifications of the customers from the cement and mining industries, but also for energy equipment and wind power stations, the competence of the groupe CIF at the service location Hattingen (Fig. 2) is focused on the repair of gearboxes and girth gears.

Managing director Olaf Pointeau: “Trained technicians and suitable workshop equipment ensure quick and competent manufacture and repair.” At present 40 employees work in Hattingen. The production department in Henrichspark works in three shifts as regards mechanical manufacturing and gear cutting. Furthermore, FCMD GmbH offer their customers complete service for the mechanical drive equipment of their plants. Such a partnership requires a permanent and close relationship and local presence at the industrial plants.

Competent local service

It is precisely for this reason more than 20 service technicians work for FCMD GmbH and their partners in the worldwide network (Fig. 3) of the groupe CIF. They take care of the problems during local inspection and ensure competent and quick solutions irrespective of the manufacturers. “The purpose of this cooperation is the improvement of the plant availability and the reduction of downtimes for maintenance and repair as well as the increase of the service life”, explained sales manager Frank Buchmann.