The Clouth Group is known as one of the market leaders for doctor blades, creping blades, coating blades, and as a supplier of complete doctor systems for the paper processing industry. Thanks to reliable product solutions, Clouth has taken root worldwide as a supplier of cleaning systems.

What many people don't know is that the Clouth Group's system solutions are successfully used in other industry sectors, too - showing their full potential there.

But how did it come to a use outside the paper industry? Marcus Herziger, sales manager for the non-paper sector, told us about that in an interview on the different areas of application:

<<The Clouth blades always have been used in other areas, too. At that time, however, there was no distribution network for the industries outside the paper industry, so it was difficult to actively acquire the business.>>

Then - through the realisation of miscellaneous mechanical projects - the acquisition of Joh. Clouth Maschinenbau Eltmann brought the Clouth Group into a more intensive contact with the steel industry.

<<Perhaps the year 2006 can be seen as a turning point for the non-paper sector.>> Marcus Herziger reports; he joined Joh. Clouth in the year 2003 and since then is working in the sales department of the Clouth Group. <<Before I started to work for Clouth, I worked in the steel industry and I brought my contacts with me. That fitted together well, and I started to design a new sales sector for the group.>>

Thyssen Krupp –  A Long-Standing Business Relationship

One of the first clients Marcus Herziger was in charge of was Thyssen Krupp. <<That was exciting!>> he remembers describing that the plant concepts in the steel industry are similarly complex as the production plants in  the paper industry. <<The need for a use of our systems has been recognised promptly, as they could be implemented very effectively in many concepts.>>

And that very successfully! To this day, the Clouth Group is firmly established as a system supplier in the production facilities of steel plants worldwide - such as those of Thyssen Krupp or ArcelorMittal, which are serviced by Clouth during regular plant inspections or at regular maintenance intervals.

Clouth Products -  in Use in Different Industries

Marcus Herziger recalls: <<In 2008, for the first time, with Joh. Clouth Maschinenbau Eltmann we have been present at a trade fair outside the paper industry. At the EUROBLECH trade fair in Hanover we presented ourselves for the first time as a provider of doctoring system solutions. In retrospect, that was a very successful start.>>

This is the case, as the ideas for an optimisation of a production, an increase of occupational safety or the saving of costs are the same in every industry and empirical values already made can be transferred to other industries.

<<It happens again and again that people in charge who have worked in the paper industry and are now active in other industries know the Clouth Group and see possible problem-solving solutions through the use of Clouth products in their industry as well.>>

Moreover, systems from the Clouth Group are used in the ever-advancing automation of production plants, too. << We often deal with employees from the R&D sector who optimise existing processes of production lines and then approach us on the subject of cleaning.>>

This way, Clouth's products are now successfully used in the textile industry for fibre production. Such specially manufactured fibres are used, for example, to produce bulletproof vests or fireproof work safety clothing.

More and more frequently, the cleaning systems, as well, are found in the starch processing industry in the food sector (e.g. potato or corn starch). The Clouth Group products are, as well, used in the production of confectionery or finished products such as frozen pizza.

Flooring is a completely different industry - here, too, doctor system solutions can be found in the production of vinyl flooring or laminates.

 << Clouth products are in use even in the production of a tyre manufacturer!>> Marcus Herziger smiles. << However, the major sales areas for us currently still are the steel industry and the aluminium industry. Especially the installation of our doctoring system solutions in the labour line 3 at Speira (formerly Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH) was and still is very successful.>> Read more about Clouth products in the AL 3.

Innovative Products for New Industries

With the development of the CLOUTH QUICK REPLACEMENT BLADE SYSTEM, which is especially designed for the food industry, doctor blades can be replaced within just a few minutes and during ongoing production. This results in a much higher line availability and less maintenance effort.

<<We have developed a modular system for a use in the steel and aluminium industry - inspired by plant concepts in the paper industry, such solutions can be adapted to other plant concepts variably and cost-effectively.>>

Mastering New Challenges

<<We continue to enlarge the portfolio and experience.“, Marcus Herziger says and continues: <<The challenges we know from the paper industry partly are similar to those in other industries and we can use our wealth of experience for other industries. But there are also always new conditions that we have to adapt to in planning and implementation.>>

In particular, the production environments differ significantly. <<Temperatures of 600-700°C sometimes prevail, so that only certain doctor systems are in use. Or special lacquers, alkalis, adhesives, or strongly adhesive materials are processed with which our systems come into contact.>>

Often the surfaces of the rolls are very soft which makes a continuous scraping necessary to prevent dirt particles or splinters produced during production from being pressed into the surface.

Marcus Herziger recalls: <<One customer was cleaning the roller surfaces manually with grinding stones which led to a frequent roller replacement. After our systems had taken over the cleaning, the service life of the roller surfaces could be increased by a multiple.>>

A Look to the Future

More and more divisions and sectors are being added. <<The market is big. We don't yet know all the areas where our systems can be helpful. There are so many different production plants and plant concepts worldwide. We are open to everything.>> Marcus Herziger smiles.

Thank you for the interesting interview and the exciting insight into the use of Clouth systems in other industries.

Would you like to learn more about our innovative products and system solutions? Then contact our expert Marcus Herziger: marcus-herziger@clouth.com