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Ipsen Group Establishes Excellence Centers

Ipsen Excellence Centers in Vacuum and Atmosphere Technology

Cherry Valley, ILLINOIS (July 29, 2020) – Today Ipsen announced the following changes after months of market analysis and working diligently to understand customer needs. The three main drivers are customer demand for expanded technical services, identical metallurgical outcomes worldwide and solutions for processing newly developed materials.

Ipsen is the global leader in heat treatment technologies with more than 10,000 operating systems in 60 countries. To ensure we properly address market needs to our current and future customers, we are establishing Technology Excellence Centers while further strengthening our offerings. An important outcome will be faster response times supported by advanced new service products in all regions Ipsen serves. 

Ipsen’s equipment manufacturing business will be driven by an Atmosphere Technology Excellence Center in Kleve, Germany, and a Vacuum Technology Excellence Center near Rockford, Illinois, USA. This focus into one field of technology will enable faster-paced innovation and a laser-focus on performance and quality.

As a result of this change, new furnace equipment will be manufactured at fewer locations around the world with a focus on specialization. The Ipsen Germany location will exclusively build Atmosphere Batch and Continuous Systems while the US location will exclusively build all types of Vacuum Furnaces. Additionally, Ipsen India will continue to build Atmosphere furnaces for the India and Southeast Asia markets. Our China and Japan locations will no longer manufacture new furnaces, and will focus on customer service and the sale of new equipment from the Excellence Centers.

Importantly, the customer relationship with Ipsen will remain unchanged—we will continue to support our customers from all of our global locations. Sales, service and support teams remain local in each region as speed of response can never be sacrificed. All Ipsen plants remain open in all regions as the aftermarket support of our customers is more than half of Ipsen’s annual business. Activities such as upgrades, local inventory of parts and service will continue to be fully supported on a local basis.

This consolidation of equipment manufacturing sites together with the uncertainty of the global pandemic does result in a reduction of staff, which is a regrettable but necessary outcome from this carefully planned strategic step. After more than 70 years in business, the Ipsen team remains inspired to continue delivering services and innovations that advance the safety and well-being of all.