Head office Expanite A / S in Denmark – Expanite also has treatment centres in USA , Germany , Korea and China .
Danish pioneer receives capital injection
A pioneering Danish company that developed hardening and heat treatment of stainless steel and titanium has received a large capital increase .
Text by Expanite
Twelve years Expanite was created from a research project at the Technical University of Denmark . Today , having built a solid business in Europe and a strong foothold in the US and Asia , the company is further expanding its activities in the US and strengthening its presence and offerings in Europe and Asia . The company ’ s technology is based on a series of patented processes for high-performance , gas phase based hardening / heat treatment of stainless steel and titanium with a reduced environmental impact . It offers a fully digitalised approach to surface hardening , production management and quality control , with a business model that involves a chain of its own service centres as well as technology licensees .
A greener option In addition to delivering services that significantly extend the life of components , Expanite ’ s way to achieve the extended lifetime of materials is a green alternative to environmentally challenged processes such as hard chrome plating and standard stainless steel hardening involving aggressive chemicals and long process times with associated high energy consumption . Its patented solutions are gas-based , shortening processing time , reducing overall energy consumption , and eliminating the need for harsh chemical cleaning before / after processing .
Lauritzen Fonden & Finindus The capital increase is primarily led by the Danish foundation Lauritzen Fonden and the Belgian investment company Finindus , which have both been shareholders in Expanite since 2014 . In connection with the increase , ownership has been consolidated , so the company is now primarily owned by these two investors . Especially Lauritzen Fonden has significantly increased its ownership of the company . The CEO of the Lauritzen Foundation , Tommy Thomsen , states : “ As a
About the company minority shareholder in Expanite , we have had the opportunity to follow the development of the company and gained good knowledge of the management , market and business model . So , when the management presented a plan with ambitions to accelerate growth , we judged that it was the right time to increase the foundation ’ s investment and presence in Expanite . The aim of the Lauritzen Fonden ’ s business activities is to promote Danish entrepreneurship - and that is exactly what Expanite is a good ambassador for .” Hans Maenhout , Finindus ’ Investment Director further underlines : “ We have not only seen this company grow significantly , but we also witnessed its technology to become even more relevant in today ’ s world : offering the highest performance , guaranteeing maximum life time , at a minimal environmental impact , and all this in a fully digital package .”
Expanite was founded in 2010 by leading experts in material and surface hardening from the Technical University of Denmark . The company has its head office in Hillerød near Copenhagen and service centers and licensees in the USA , Germany , Korea , and China . Expanite ’ s DNA is based on sustainable solutions to extend the life of components made of stainless steel , titanium , and other high-value alloys - and the business model allows for license agreements whereby customers may implement the technology in their own production lines . Customers for Expanite ’ s services are found within several industrial sectors , including process equipment for the food and pharma industry , pumps , valves , medical devices , the automotive industry and many others - everything from large global groups to specialists with a niche focus .
www . stainless-steel-world . net Stainless Steel World April 2023 25