Interview with Bernhard Rupke, CEO of Hekuma

How important is the automotive sector to the automotive market crisis?
- Despite the crisis in 2009, Hekuma has implemented a multitude of equipment for the automotive industry in the past 12 months. In particular, the insertion of electrical, electronic, and mechanical components in the injection mold, constitutes high demands on the precision of the robot and gripper technology. Even the after the injection process required complex assembly and inspection process of the components characterizes another core competence of Hekuma GmbH. The same applies, based on active customer relationships, to provide new innovations and technologies. Automotive will continue to be an important main pillar of Hekuma GmbH.

Is in-mold labeling of continued interest for Hekuma GmbH?
- IML in injection molding applications has become a widely used standard technology. Especially for us, high cavitation applications and short cycles are interesting. The core competencies of Hekuma GmbH are particularly advantageous.

Relatively new is the "in-mold labeling" in thermoforming. Hekuma has in recent years done a lot of development work. Basic tests, up to 4-cavity applications have been tested positive. We are currently working on a system with up to 14 cavities for serial production on the basis of a specific customer order.

Since the combination of thermo-forming products, like yogurt cups with in-mold labels, a number of application advantages, such as the provided ability for direct integration of barcodes or RFID transponders, we expect the development in the mid-term to be similar to standard technology, such as the injection IML.

One final question: How will Hekuma advance into the future?
- The customer requirements in the named sectors will steadily increase in the future and in increase in difficulty. This means for us that the partnership with customers are to be built up more closely and supporting. Especially in the planning phase of our clients, it is important to ensure maximum support to generate the most appropriate and most efficient solution.

In the implementation phase, the previously mentioned core competencies of Hekuma are to be translated into customer benefits. The success of our customers, in terms of high availability with zero-defect production in manufacturing everyday life, is the measurable claim. But this not only applies to further expanding the partnership with our customers, but also with other project participants, such as injection molding manufacturers, and the leading mold manufacturers, in order to demonstrate efficient project work in the sense of our shared customers.