Innovation seeks Inspiration News | People | 18.09.2024

Industrial marking systems must operate seamlessly on the shop floor. The physical basis for this is largely determined by the raw materials and close cooperation with specialist suppliers. To further strengthen a partnership that has spanned decades, the S+P team recently travelled to North Rhine-Westphalia to visit VPF GmbH & Co. KG. This expert in adhesive composites and specialist coatings supplies key components that are incorporated into our end products.

For S+P Samson GmbH, VPF’s portfolio – thanks to an intelligent modular system – offers precisely the flexibility required for bespoke products in the steel, chemical and automotive industries. During the meeting, the discussion focused on hard technical facts. Specialists from both companies analysed manufacturing processes, material specifications, as well as the physical limits of adhesive coatings and material tolerances.

Knowledge transfer for procurement and development

For our technical procurement team in particular, the meeting provided an opportunity to examine VPF’s material structures in detail. Understanding how different surface materials behave during coating under extreme laboratory conditions feeds directly into our quality control. From the joint data analyses, we derive new approaches for optimising our own formulations. The aim is to further increase the reliability of labelling on our customers’ plants.

Trust as the foundation for stable supply chains

However, the professional exchange did not end with regular office hours. In informal gatherings following the working day, we were able to gain deeper insights into the market and raw materials situation. These long-standing, personal contacts ensure the reliability of our supply chains. Mutual trust ensures that material innovations in labelling technology are quickly tested, approved and made available for practical applications on the production floor.