THE EARLY YEARS

Karl-Heinz Westhoff takes over Ernst Sonderhoff Dichtungsmassen, which sells single-component sealing compounds. These sealing compounds are manufactured in the Selhamin-Farbwerk - Dr. Franz Westhoff GmbH, which his father, Dr Franz Westhoff, had purchased in the thirties. At that time, solvent sealing compounds were still used in the engines of large volume ship diesel engines, tractors, earth-moving equipment, bulldozers and cranes, and in heavy duty transmissions and electric back geared motors. The outstanding sealing effect gained a reputation within the industry. The customers soon included prominent companies such as KHD, Liebherr, Fendt, ZF-Friedrichshafen, SEW, Case-Poclain and International Harvester.

TODAY, AS THEN, THE CHEMISTRY HAS TO BE RIGHT

In the sixties, Sonderhoff began the development of sealing compounds for the packaging industry. The rebate sealing compound FERMATEX S 952 for fibre and tin plate packaging were the first developments in this segment.

This was followed by the single-component PVC compound FERMAPOR DD 980, which can be applied automatically, and in which a foaming reaction is induced by heating.

Sonderhoff realised the idea of reaction gasketing for the first time with BASF's packaging company. It proved possible to produce foaming of a sealing body made of polyurethane at room temperature simply by mixing two liquid components. FERMAPOR K 31 had been born and a patent was soon applied for. FERMAPOR K31, the new two-component, cold-setting polyurethane foam system, was to revolutionise sealing applications in the area of plastic lids and black plate barrel lids, but before this there had been many vain attempts.

INNOVATIONS

The time came at last. After a long, hard struggle, which had lasted over ten years, patent no. 15 94 266  for the sealing of packaging materials with 2C-polyurethane foam was issued worldwide in 1980. Innovative developments in the engineering sector were a decisive growth factor in its use and distribution.

FIPFG (formed-in-place foam gasket) sealing technology had been born with FERMAPOR K31. For the first time, a mixing head travelled over the work piece to be sealed and applied the component mixture to the groove of the work piece.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Sonderhoff developed the cleaning agent SOFLEX, which is used as a water-soluble cleaning concentrate for mixing heads and made previously-used solvents such as methylene chloride superfluous. Sonderhoff is working on the development of new solutions as a priority, and replacing all foaming agents with environmentally-compatible alternatives. Consequently, SONDERHOFF is one of the first providers worldwide to consistently dispense with the use of chlorinated and halogenated hydrocarbons as foaming agents in the formulation and processing of polyurethane foam systems.

THE FIRST LINEAR ROBOT

Introduction of linear robot technology in dosing machine construction. Mixing and dosing machines which made use of this technology were presented for the first time at the plastics fair K’83. Seals could now be applied more quickly, better and as a result more cheaply, even in complicated geometries.

GENERATION SWITCH

The sons of company founder Karl-Heinz Westhoff, Rolf and Heinz Westhoff, became partners in the ERNST SONDERHOFF GmbH / Co. KG. This initiated the generational transition.

EDF MASCHINENFABRIK

EDF presented the first 2-C gluing system DM 110 with the MK 200 mixing head at the “K’92” in Dusseldorf. The first contacts with Sonderhoff had already begun. This subsequently produced the first joint sealing foam projects. Thanks to the good and professional cooperation, talks at company level were also quickly initiated.

SONDERHOFF & EDF 

Entrepreneurial vision, experience and customer orientation inspired Heinz and Rolf Westhoff with new ideas and to a bold step with the acquisition of Maschinenfabrik EDF in the newly-established Westhoff Group. This was also the origin of “System 2.” This means “material and machine” from one source, with one responsibility.On the occasion of the “K’95” in Dusseldorf the time had come. At this first joint fair appearance by Sonderhoff and EDF, the new MK 400 mixing head was presented. This revolutionary new development permitted the cleaning of the mixing chamber, mixing elements and outlet nozzle with high pressure flushing. This meant EDF system customers no longer needed to use solvents. After almost forty years of entrepreneurial activity Karl-Heinz Westhoff relinquished control, and handed over an extremely well-organised company to his two sons Rolf and Heinz Westhoff, who became partners and sole proprietors of the company.

FERMA POLYMERSERVICE GMBH

In 1997, FERMA Polyservice GmbH was established to create a sustainable improvement in customer service. As a result, FERMA complemented the orientation of the company group in terms of customer orientation as an extended workbench. As service provider, the new company offered contract foaming, the manufacture of sample parts and the assumption of serial production for the sealing of industrial components. A plot and building adjoining Sonderhoff were purchased for this purpose. FERMA began with three employees and two EDF mixing and dosing machines.

A STRONG TEAM – SONDERHOFF, EDF & FERMA

The Westhoff Group presented all the business fields of the three companies Sonderhoff, EDF and Ferma for the first time at the K’98 in Dusseldorf. The focus was on the world premiere of the newly-developed EDF precision mixing head MK 600.

ENTRY INTO A NEW MILLENNIUM

In 2000, Sonderhoff acquired an interest in Sehab Trading AB and took it over in 2001. This was followed by its renaming in SONDERHOFF SCANDINAVIA and the move into new premises in Anlingsås (near Göteborg in Sweden)

The SONDERHOFF ITALIA SRL was founded in Lecco, Italy (near Como / Milan). SONDERHOFF ITALIA moved into a new building and began sales activities. With its own EDF mixing and dosing machines Sonderhoff Italia became a competence centre for contract foaming in Italy.

EXPANSION CONTINUES

The sales rights for the USA, Canada and Mexico were restructured. To cope with the great demand, the decision was taken to establish SONDERHOFF USA Corp. in Elgin, Illinois. Sonderhoff USA Corporation was set up at the end of 2003. The new building in Elgin near Chicago was occupied in January 2004 and market processing began. The new dosing system range DM 402/403, based on a modular concept and easy accessibility, was introduced. The presentation of the new DM 402/403 was also accompanied by the presentation of the next generation of the TYP HD EDF linear robot. For the first time, this robot permitted acceleration values greater than 10 m/s2. This is the acceleration achieved in free fall in the gravity field of the earth. As a result, a speed without air resistance of 100 km/h was attained in 2.83 s. A fully-laden jumbo jet by comparison only achieves an acceleration of about 1.6 m/s2.

In 2003, the proprietors Heinz and Rolf Westerhoff decided to restructure the Group. In 2004, the POLYMERE HOLDING GmbH was established, as well as the SONDERHOFF IBERICA S.A.U. The latter moved into a new company building in Esparraguera / Barcelona. Operative market processing and the offer of contract foaming began with four employees. EDF presented a low-cost alternative to DM 402/403 in the form of the new dosing machine DM 302/303.

FERMAPOR K31

Sonderhoff decided to develop a new two-layer sealing foam. In addition to the familiar polyurethane sealing foam body, this foam had a very elastic protective sheath, which made the seal resistant to water and UV influences and mechanical damage. All the components in this seal application were so precisely mixed and dosed by EDF dosing machines that this two-coat seal was created with a single application.

THE IDEAS FROM MANY – FROM ONE SOURCE

Sonderhoff decided to introduce an umbrella brand to create a uniform CI for all company segments. Over 10,000 business partners and interested parties were informed. Many new company, product and user brochures were created, while the Sonderhoff Group homepage was redesigned.

Did you already know…

In our download area you will soon be able to download and print out all current brochures as PDFs.