With a full day open house and conference in June, Plasmatreat celebrated the formal opening of its new office and technical center in the United States.

The 5000 square-foot facility is located in the heart of Chicago’s high-technology corridor in Elgin, Illinois, with easy access to O’Hare Airport. It is operated by Vice-President of Sales, Nicholas P. Rollick and Business Development Managers Jeff Leighty and Luke Diana.

The large R&D laboratory is specially outfitted for process applications. Equipped with various Openair® plasma installations, industrial robot systems and facilities for carrying out tests in adhesive bonding, printing and coating processes, it serves, however, not only for demonstrating the Openair® plasma jet systems but also above all for carrying out trials and test series. Here, in collaboration with customers and application associates, the conversion of laboratory-scale pilot testing to industrial processes is evaluated.

For the event, titled “Activation, Cleaning and Plasma Polymerization Using Openair® Plasma Conference”, Christian Buske, CEO of the Plasmatreat Group and his US team had the honor to welcome the Mayor of Elgin, Honorable Edward Schock, as well as about eighty American and international guests. The list of speakers included Dr. Kash Mittal (editor of the "Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology"); Dr. Ralph Wilken (Director of PLATO plasma technology and surfaces at the Fraunhofer Institute IFAM, Germany), Kevin Biller (The Powder Coating Research Group), Christopher Raney (VP Folding Carton, Bobst Group North America,), Holger Hülsken (Managing Director Sonderhoff USA), Larry Haack and Ann Straccia (Ford), Doug Stangle (Reis Robotics) and Rich Peek (Cascade Engineering).

A special highlight was a trip to the nearby Sonderhoff USA Corporation production facility where Managing Director Holger Hülsken welcomed the conference participants for an actual demonstration of an Openair@ plasma treatment integrated in a CNC automated foamed sealing application machine. In the evening a barbecue party with live music concluded the successful opening giving everyone in attendance a chance to network and discuss the day’s events and the future possibilities.

Plasmatreat thanks all its guests for their participation and great support of this important day!

“Reis Robotics USA was delighted with the opportunity to present how we complement Plasmatreat in many applications. I enjoyed meeting all the attendees / presenters and enjoyed our discussions at this well planned out and enjoyable event. Thanks for the invite.”

Doug Stangle, Product Manager, Reis Robotics USA

"Plasmatreat USA opening meeting in Elgin, IL on June 16, 2010 was very well organized. The representations were of high standard and clearly brought out the current usefulness and further potential of Openair® technology.”

Dr. Kash Mittal

“Thanks for your wonderful hospitality. The conference was well organized and the guest speakers were very informative. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Also the new facilities look great. I am sure that all of your hard work will return great dividends in the future. Best of luck to all of you.”

Bruce Bode, Plastics Engineer

“I want to convey my appreciation for giving us the opportunity to attend your open house. It has already proven to be a valuable lead source for us.”

Jay Wilford, Brighton Technologies Group

"It was impressive to see all the new areas of manufacturing that are now using Openair® plasma surface treatments to enable bonding, and at the same time, meet directly with the people who are open to implementing this technology."

Ann Straccia and Larry Haack, Ford Research and Innovation Center

“I would like to thank you for inviting me to your open house day, I really had a good time!”

Dr. Frederic Siffer, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

“Thank you again for the good hospitality and organization provided by the Plasmatreat team during your open house day at your new facility in Elgin, IL. We appreciate your assistance to work hand and hand to be successful together in the North American market.”

Holger Hülsken, Sonderhoff USA Corporation

“Yours is a classy organization and the grand opening was a productive and thoroughly enjoyable event. It’s great that Plasmatreat has now become part of the North American market.”

Kevin Biller, The Powder Coating Research Group