With 17 profiling lines in Sundern (Germany) Tillmann Profil is one of the leading manufacturers of cold-rolled profiles in Europe. Offering a broad portfolio of roll-forming technology as well as manufacturing entire modules and components, Tillmann Profil delivers the highest product quality and their industry excellence heavily relies on in-house expertise, supply chain flexibility and reliable supplier partnerships.
Julius Nolte, Purchasing Manager at Tillmann Profil
When explaining the company’s approach to projects, Julius Nolte, Purchasing Manager at Tillmann Profil, says: “We have a lot of industry know-how. And internal optimisations result in time savings, which can give us a decisive competitive advantage. So, we can respond very quickly to new projects if our suppliers are also quick.”
Offering a wide range of thicknesses from 0.30 to 7.00 mm, Tillmann Profil has established a reliable reputation for providing profiles with particularly high strength needs, mainly to the solar and shelving construction industries, but for trailers, cable trays and the automotive market as well.
With the extremely high levels of corrosion associated with e.g. large solar projects, Tillmann Profil wanted to provide more sustainable, lasting value to customers.
This is how they were attracted to ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products’ most exceptional metallic coating in 2014, which offered the best possible corrosion resistance. Julius Nolte notes: “The corrosion resistance of Magnelis® is simply unique. Lots of solar end customers do indeed specifically ask for Magnelis® and do not want a generic zinc-magnesium coated product. The Magnelis® brand is well-known and valued, and the Magnelis® ZM430 and heavier coatings are an absolute strength.”
The product’s established reputation also helped Tillmann Profil to explore new kinds of projects and markets. As Julius Nolte explains: “The combination of steel grades in the higher strength range with simultaneously higher zinc coatings is unique. It can result in many advantages such as thickness reduction, coating reduction and, consequently, cost reduction. Moreover, Magnelis® is excellent for forming, laser cutting and welding, bending etc, better than other ZM coatings. Heavier coatings such as ZM620 have just been ordered and are opening up new market areas.” “The longer expected lifetime of applications such as solar parks can also be a selling point,” he continues. “Some customers ask about the guarantee.”
Today Tillmann Profil has completed projects across Europe including Germany, Bulgaria and Romania. When asked about his experiences of the very first project constructed with ArcelorMittal’s Magnelis®, Julius Nolte mentions the smooth and reliable logistical performance and the quality of the product: “This was immediately a very good sign for us. Everything ran smoothly.”
This succinct sentiment is emblematic of the consistently effective and close partnership between the two companies, which, thanks to effective communication lines during key parts of project planning and rollout, has gone from strength to strength throughout the years.
“Tillmann Profil offers its customers special service through a high degree of flexibility and customer proximity,” says Julius Nolte. “That requires a supplier that can match this reliability and adaptability. ArcelorMittal helps to achieve this by maintaining direct contact with the end customer to clarify technical matters throughout projects.”
Julius Nolte adds: “Magnelis® is more reliable in terms of supply than other materials such as hot dip galvanised steel, as long as it is planned in predictable campaigns. Due to the excellent technical support ArcelorMittal people provide, the specification criteria for the steel grade and coating are often already set when our customers place their orders. That’s saving us and our customers time.”
Looking into upcoming projects, Tillmann Profil’s vision can be described as consistently positive, both for their own future and for their continued partnership with ArcelorMittal. “Two new profiling systems were started in 2024. We are well prepared and see further good opportunities for the future with technical innovations in vehicle construction and in the solar sector.”
Copyright image: Tillmann Profil
