High-Tech Gründerfonds invests in ATC ALUVATION Technology Center Paderborn GmbH

The ALUVATION system devised by ATC ALUVATION Technology Center Paderborn GmbH is revolutionising the way in which aluminium components undergo heat treating, a process that has to date been based on permanently installed large-scale systems. Founded by Markus Belte in October 2016 and based in Paderborn, eastern Westphalia, the technology company has today announced that it is the recipient of seed-stage funding from High-Tech Gründerfonds. The innovative configuration of modular, easy-to-transport heat-treating systems for aluminium components forms the core of the ALUVATION system. It consists of standardised furnace modules for annealing and cooling down materials in a configuration that has yet to be replicated. The system’s design enables these modules to be easily assembled, expanded and added to a variety of ways, while also offering flexibility in application.

Heat-treating processes are connected to an Industry 4.0-based data network. The system’s design makes this possible: the furnace module systems are mobile (suitable for transport by road), modular (flexible application and configuration) and standardised. ALUVATION paves the way for a new age of heat treating that optimises resource usage, is tailored to clients’ requirements and minimises CO₂ emissions.

Commenting on the collaboration, Markus Belte, Founder, CEO and main shareholder of ATC ALUVATION Technology Center Paderborn GmbH, says: “I am delighted that High-Tech Gründerfonds has committed to accompanying and supporting ATC ALUVATION in its go-to-market strategy. The benefits this provides for our clients are clear to see: zero investment costs as they only lease what they need, rapid availability of the systems within just a few days, transparent unit costing, process control through the data handling service we provide, and flexible application of the systems, with the option of adding to them at short notice. In addition, clients who install these systems in their production facilities significantly reduce their CO₂ footprint as the systems no longer need to be transported around.”

“ATC ALUVATION is a great example of how fledgling companies develop disruptive solutions to conventional processes by incorporating elements of Industry 4.0 and connected production. The ALUVATION system has the potential to optimise and enhance flexibility in the production of lightweight aluminium components, thus helping clients significantly boost efficiency. In Markus Belte, we have a company founder with both a high level of specialist expertise and an impressive track record in the world of business,” says Klaus Lehmann, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF.

About ALUVATION
Founded in October 2016, ATC ALUVATION Technology Center Paderborn GmbH is a technology company headquartered in Paderborn, eastern Westphalia. ALUVATION founder Markus Belte has been fundamentally shaping the technology used in the heat treating of aluminium components since the 1990s and is one of the world’s leading specialists in this field. The ALUVATION system takes heat treating in a new direction, away from permanently installed environments and into a new, digitalised, mobile, modular and dynamic age of Industry 4.0.

Contact Details:
ATC ALUVATION Technology Center Paderborn GmbH
Marketing and corporate communications
Marcus Rüther
Phone: +49 (0) 5254 – 80771-105 / +49 (0) 178 – 8386233
Fax: +49 (0) 5254 – 80771-150
m.ruether@aluvation.com
www.aluvation.com

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is Germany’s most active seed stage investor. With EUR 576 million under management (EUR 272 million HTGF I, EUR 304 million HTGF II), we provide financing for technology-driven companies active in a wide range of fields, including robotics, IoT and energy, Medtech and Biotech, chemicals and software. The seed financing provided is designed to enable start-ups to take their ideas through prototyping and to market launch. We typically invest EUR 600,000 in the seed stage, but can provide up to EUR 2 million in total financing per company in follow-on financing rounds. Furthermore, start-ups benefit from our team’s experience and expertise as well as HTGF’s extensive network of investors, experts, managers and scouts. Investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, the KfW Banking Group and numerous strategic corporate investors, including ALTANA, BASF, Bayer, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE, Daimler, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom, Evonik, Innogy, Lanxess, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, METRO, Qiagen, SAP, Tengelmann and Carl Zeiss.

Contact:
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Klaus Lehmann
Schlegelstraße 2
53113 Bonn
Phone: + 49 228 – 82 30 01-00
info@htgf.de
www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de