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Interview with Horst Erbel, Managing Director of

PERO AG

Industrial parts cleaning for problem-free production

For manufacturers, producing their goods and developing new innovations for the market are clearly the top priority. This is where money is made and reputations established. There are, however, more mundane aspects of the manufacturing process, such as machine mainte-nance, which can be costly and time-consuming but are nevertheless essential for production efficiency and product quality. PERO AG is a leading global supplier of cleaning systems for industrial parts and, for over 60 years, has been partnering with customers to find optimum solutions to ensure problem-free production facilities the world over.

“Cleaning systems are something

which every manufacturer needs

but none of them want,” observes

Managing Director Horst Erbel.

“It comes down to the cost factor,

but an effective cleaning process

makes a significant difference to

production quality. Our customers

want an efficient system which

meets their exact requirements,

at a reasonable cost.” Founded

in 1953 in Königsbrunn, Bavaria,

PERO is owned by the Erbel fam-

ily and specializes in cleaning

systems for industrial parts using

both solvents and water-based

cleaners. With the acquisition of

the largest manufacturer of clean-

ing systems in eastern Germany

in 1992, PERO has been manu-

facturing cleaning systems and

system components in Gotha,

Thuringia, for almost 25 years.

The company’s portfolio is based

on a flexible modular system,

available in a range of sizes, from

which standardized machines

are produced but also bespoke

cleaning machines are created to

match clients’ specific needs. The

latest innovation, to be launched

in 2016, is the N2, a newly de-

veloped energy-efficient cleaning

system. “The N2 was designed as

a very flexible system which, due

to its compact size, can be easily

transported in a container around

the world,” explains Mr. Erbel.

“We have also developed a new

system called Neptun which uses

aqueous media and will also be

available this year.”

While others in the industry only

supply machines and after-sales

service, PERO sees itself not just

as a supplier but as a consultant,

a system developer and a partner

for its customers. Before a specific

cleaning system is defined for a

customer’s project, PERO and its

customers undertake extensive

process analyses and testing at its

technology center in Königsbrunn

to establish which system is best

suited to the customer’s needs

based on their specific production

process and level of cleanliness

required. These cleaning tests

are one important step during the

project phase and can currently

be performed in one of 15 differ-

ent cleaning systems either with

solvent or aqueous media as the

cleaning agent. Customers are fully

involved in the testing phase so

that PERO gains an in-depth un-

derstanding of their processes. Its

expert technical staff have manu-

facturing experience and under-

stand how particular parts are con-

taminated during the production

process. They demonstrate the test

results and advise clients accord-

ingly. “Our systems are an invest-

ment for our customers, and they

must be 100% fit for purpose,” as-

serts Mr. Erbel. “Our testing phase

ensures that the investment is

safe because the concepts are re-

searched and proven beforehand.”

That this comprehensive testing

operation contributes significantly

to the company’s success is clear.

“It enables us to guarantee system

suitability,” points out Mr. Erbel. “In

addition, we offer superb service

and top-quality products which

are, nevertheless, good value for

money, and we are not afraid to ad-

vise customers against a particular

solution if necessary.

›››The new N2 model, a flexible and compact energy-efficient clean-ing system, will be launched at trade shows during 2016

The industrial parts cleaning system is modular and can be tailored to customers’ individual needs

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PERO AGHunnenstrasse 18 86343 Königsbrunn Germany

+49 8231 60110 +49 8231 6011810

pero.news@pero.ag www.pero.ag

This approach has enabled us to

build successful long-term partner-

ships with many of our clients.” All

customers interested in cleaning

tests can contact PERO personally

to discuss a test procedure in the

new technology center in Königs-

brunn.

PERO boasts a broad customer

base across a wide range of indus-

tries: car manufacturers and their

suppliers, the aviation industry,

medical technology, and general

manufacturers of every size who

undertake mechanical work such

as turning, milling, punching and

pressing all number among its

clients. The company does not

concern itself too much with the

competition or its market position.

“We focus on our own products,

which are all made in Germany,”

emphasizes Mr. Erbel. “Our success

is based on selling large numbers of

top-quality machines which suit the

international market and providing

excellent service to our customers.”

Between 45 and 55% of PERO’s

annual turnover (30 million EUR in

2015, the highest in the firm’s his-

tory) is generated by exports; it has

subsidiaries in the USA, France and

Switzerland, and sales partners in

the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden,

Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

The company sells its machines in

significant numbers to all different

countries around the world.

The future for PERO looks very

positive. “We are planning a new

marketing concept for 2016 to

increase our market penetration,”

concludes Mr. Erbel. “We will

launch our new N2 and Neptun

models at a number of trade fairs,

and we are also investing around

two million EUR this year in a new

production hall at our Gotha site.

On completion, we will focus on ra-

tionalizing our processes.” A busy,

but undoubtedly promising time

lies ahead for PERO. ❙

In PERO’s laboratory, experts conduct exhaustive tests to ascertain the best solutions, based on an in-depth understanding of the customer’s production process

››› Interview with Horst Erbel, Managing Director of

PERO AG