Adhesive production at Henkel: Maintenance is safety-relevant

Henkel is the largest adhesive manufacturer in the world. The Henkel plant in Heidelberg is the largest production site in Europe – specialized in adhesive technologies for the automotive industry.

Alexander Herner, Team Leader of Planned Maintenance at Henkel, has been utilizing the basement service for regular inspection of the exhaust systems since 2014. He recently expressed his satisfaction in a survey conducted by Keller Lufttechnik among his service customers. He consistently awarded the highest rating.

At the Henkel plant in Heidelberg, they are convinced: "If there is a need for action on the equipment, the Keller specialists take a lot of time and explain to me and my team in detail and understandably what it's all about and how everything works," says Alexander Herner. "We really appreciate that because we don't have such detailed knowledge about the extraction systems ourselves."

The health and safety of employees take priority in adhesive production at Henkel in Heidelberg. An important safety aspect is the regular and professional maintenance of all machines. Keller Air Technology undertakes this task for four extraction systems that keep the hall air clean. Alexander Herner, team leader of planned maintenance at Henkel, appreciates the good and professional cooperation.

What most people don't know: Henkel is the world's largest adhesive producer. 48 percent of the company's revenue, over 9.6 billion euros, comes from the Adhesive Technologies division. The Henkel plant in Heidelberg is the largest production site in Europe – specialized in adhesive technologies for the automotive industry. “Many things that used to be bolted into vehicles can now be bonded with our modern adhesives. This makes cars more flexible, lighter, and quieter,” says Alexander Herner, team leader of planned maintenance.

Explosion protection is important

The adhesive production begins with mixing the various powdery and liquid raw materials – a dusty process. But the employees are hardly affected by this. Four extraction systems from Keller Air Technology ensure that the dust-laden air is sucked in, filtered, and transported away. The special feature with fine dusts: a potentially explosive atmosphere develops in the extraction system. Since the introduction of a spark cannot be completely ruled out, Keller Air Technology equipped the devices with appropriate safety technology. The explosion-proof housings additionally feature a rupture disc that ensures a controlled pressure release in case of emergency, as well as check valves that prevent flames from spreading through the piping system. “To ensure these systems reliably perform their duties at all times, regular maintenance by specialized personnel from Keller Air Technology is essential,” says Alexander Herner. “The service technicians work very thoroughly. It takes about four hours per extraction system. Therefore, I plan the service appointments so that our three-shift operation can continue as usual.”

Keller service technicians: competent and friendly

Alexander Herner appreciates this conscientiousness because: “Safety is a top priority at Henkel,” he says. “Our internal standards exceed the legal requirements.” As a team leader of planned maintenance, he has to constantly communicate and remind external service providers, whom the company has commissioned for maintenance and repair of various systems, to adhere to these standards. He explains that this is often challenging. However, he is enthusiastic about working with the Keller service team: “The employees are consistently very competent, reliable, and friendly. They understand our safety requirements and implement them straightforwardly. All work is carried out with the utmost care.” His satisfaction was recently expressed in a survey conducted by Keller Air Technology among his service customers. He awarded the highest rating across the board.

More favorable conditions through service agreements

Since 2014, the Henkel plant in Heidelberg has been using Keller's service for regular inspection of the extraction systems. Since 2020, a so-called service agreement has replaced individual orders. “This provides the customer with more favorable conditions and prioritizes them in case of malfunctions. It also simplifies administrative processes for both sides,” says Martin Kirschmann, team leader of service sales at Keller Air Technology. Service agreements are available in various options and for all service levels; even individual requirements can be implemented. “In joint coordination with the operator, we always find a solution that fits and satisfies,” says Martin Kirschmann.

A spare parts warehouse ensures safety

Because both Henkel and Keller Air Technology diligently maintain regular maintenance, the machines run reliably. “We have spare filters stored here that we can replace ourselves,” says Alexander Herner. “Other wear parts are supplied by Keller Air Technology so quickly that we typically don't need to keep them in stock.” The Keller service technician recommends which spare parts should be kept on-site to be prepared for emergencies, based on the individual circumstances, after an inspection. “If there is a need for action on the systems, the Keller specialists take a lot of time and explain to me and my team exactly and understandably what is going on and how everything works,” says Alexander Herner. “We really appreciate that because we don't have such detailed knowledge of the extraction systems ourselves.”