Two thermoplastic composite pioneers are joining forces: Cato Composite Innovations BV and AMAC GmbH announce strategic partnership. Cato Composite Innovations, a leading technology company developing, manufacturing and selling thermoplastic composite components and parts worldwide, and Michael Effing, CEO and founder of AMAC, announce their strategic partnership for global sales and marketing activities.
left to right: Peter Boer, Michael Effing, Joost van Lindert, Michel Jansen
Cato provides mass manufactured customized lightweight parts and components. Cycle times of less than 1 minute and a production capacity for product series varying from 1,000 to 1,000,000 products/year are realized through the use of superior thermoplastic composite materials and Cato’s proprietary processing technology.
Cato’s technology includes automated thermoforming and compression moulding, subsequent injection moulding, manufacturing of sandwich components and automated 5 axis trimming technologies. Combined with a thorough understanding of the industry, this makes Cato an unmatched thermoplastic composite solution partner for its customers. Cato´s aim is to further develop its worldwide business and strategic position in the targeted segments Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics, Protection and Consumer products as well as Sporting Goods.
To support this ambition, Cato announces a strategic cooperation with Dr. Michael Effing who will be driving strategic sales and marketing for Cato focusing on specific key accounts in various industries, as of 10th of February 2014. Mr. Joost van Lindert, co-‐founder and Managing Director of Cato with Mr. Peter Boer, explains: „We are delighted to announce Cato´s cooperation with Dr. Michael Effing (AMAC GmbH). We believe that Michael Effing, whose network and long-‐term experience in the composites industry are without comparison, will be an excellent bridge between our technology capacities and the end-‐customers”.
Mr. van Lindert continues: „Over the last five years we have developed integrated production technology and have invested in people as well as in equipment for automated mass production capabilities. Our focus lies now on the market development. Early 2013, we started our initial and successful sales expansion through our cooperation with Mr. Michel Jansen, who is an experienced thermoplastic composites professional, especially with a proven track record in the area of self-‐reinforced composites.
Together with Michael Effing, we now have a very strong team, fully dedicated to our global expansion“. Dr. Michael Effing states: „The overall trend in the composite industry goes indeed more and more towards thermoplastics for the simple reason of mass production requirements such as cycle time and the need for robust, automated and reproducible processing. For example, in the consumer goods market, for applications such as housings for tablets, the integrated technics provides the capability to produce over 100,000 units per month, combining light weight, minimal thicknesses without loss of structural performance with other functional and aesthetic effects”. Dr. Effing details: „I am very proud to support Cato in the further development of their international business.
Cato´s technology is indeed the result of 20 years of constant development and improvement. And the cornerstone for today´s cooperation lies way back in the 1990´s : Joost van Lindert and myself were pioneers at DuPont in the development of the TEPEX® business. Today, Cato´s technology in forming and manufacturing is the result of what we started together at that time”. Dr. Effing closes: „This cooperation is for me the continuation of a trustful and inspiring long-‐term relationship, and I am excited to support Cato grow their business further.“