In addition to selling solders in a wide variety of alloys, shapes and packaging units, the Saxon solder manufacturer also focuses on active customer consulting. "In addition to metallurgical laboratory diagnostics, solder bath analysis and solder bath management as well as disposal consulting are an important part of our consulting business," explains Tobias Patzig, authorized signatory of Feinhütte Halsbrücke GmbH. Customer advice has a similar value for Emil Otto. "The combination of the right solder and flux is crucial for a good soldering result. We can now provide our joint customers with optimum advice and develop individual solutions," says Markus Geßner, Marketing and Sales Manager at Emil Otto GmbH. Patzig also sees some added value for electronics customers here, which can only be supported in this way by an active smelter and a flux manufacturer.
Emil Otto itself offers a wide range of alcohol-based, water-based and hybrid fluxes. "The majority of our products, such as our multifluxes or our concentrates, are based on customer consultations," explains Geßner. The Hessian company advises its customers intensively on the selection of the right flux and in some cases develops customer-specific mixtures thanks to its own laboratory and in-house production. "Of course, we have to test extensively for this," assures Geßner.
The situation is similar in solder bath analysis and solder bath management by Feinhütte. The solder bath analysis provides an exact snapshot of the respective chemical material composition of the solder bath. A professionally conducted solder bath analysis creates additional customer safety in order to avoid faults and errors in the solder. This can minimize subsequent risks, for example due to short circuits caused by possible material defects.
However, Patzig pays particular attention to waste disposal consulting. Feinhütte processes a total of around 15,000 tons of secondary materials into new alloys every year. "In the tin and lead smelting sector, environmentally friendly disposal solutions are essential, and in a way that not only follows legal regulations, but also develops innovative and sustainable concepts. Only with a verifiably closed cycle for disposal and recycling within Germany can production residues containing tin and lead be handled safely. At the same time, the highest possible recycling rate and short transportation routes conserve the use of valuable resources, especially at a time like the present when supply chains and manufacturers are no longer able to function or act. This does not apply to us, as we have a sufficiently large warehouse. Furthermore, we close the cycle, which is good for the environment and also makes economic sense," says Patzig. Feinhütte works actively with its customers and offers a 360° service, which is optimized from the buy-back of the residues to the production of solder to delivery to the customer.
"The decision to jointly invest in sales and customer support and thus expand joint customer advice was made at the beginning of the year. We will continue on this path together, even despite the coronavirus pandemic, because we also see this as a strong signal to our domestic electronics industry," Patzig and Geßner continue. "Especially when international supply chains collapse, there needs to be a stronger focus on local suppliers who can offer supply security, short delivery routes and high quality," they both add.
For this reason, Feinhütte is delighted to welcome Pawelka to the team as a new employee who can precisely communicate these skills and added values to customers and interested parties within the consulting process. "I am delighted to be working for both companies in the future. Feinhütte not only impresses with innovative and high-quality products, we can also offer the customer the complete metallurgical portfolio," explains Pawelka, adding: "In combination with Emil Otto, we can present the customer with a very high-quality product portfolio. In short: the best of chemistry and metallurgy come together and offer enormous added value. In addition, both companies have been active on the market for centuries and impress with their robustness, sustainability and innovations."