Siempelkamp: 30 years with [FP]-LIMS – one of the world’s largest hand-molded foundries
How a Krefeld-based traditional company produces hand-formed castings of up to 320 t – and why its laboratory still accesses analysis data from 1992 today.
Castings of 3 to 320 Tons – Worldwide Reputation in Krefeld
Whether in energy conversion or raw material processing, in press construction or general mechanical engineering: Siempelkamp Foundry, headquartered in Krefeld, Germany, is known worldwide for large and heavy castings made of nodular graphite cast iron from 3 to more than 300 tons.
With a casting volume of approximately 60,000 tons per year and 375 employees, Siempelkamp is one of the largest hand-molded foundries in the world. With almost 120 years of history, it’s also one of the most traditional companies in Germany.
The foundry places the highest value on excellent metallurgical know-how and continuous research and development – securing its first-class position in the market.
One of the Largest Hand-Molded Foundries in the World
Siempelkamp’s scale defines what its quality management has to handle every day – from chemical analysis cadence to long-term archiving.
LIMS as a “Safe Haven” for Complex Casting Production
![Siempelkamp Foundry – production with [FP]-LIMS in the background](https://fp-lims.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Siempelkamp-Foundry-LIMS-1024x680.jpg)
Casting production at Siempelkamp · Image: Siempelkamp Giesserei GmbH
The production of hand-formed large castings of up to 320 t is a masterpiece. It requires extreme precision and optimal process flows because the manufacturing process is not only very elaborate but, above all, very complex.
To ensure top-quality end products, all production steps must measure up to the industry’s high standards. The requirements for the LIMS – used at Siempelkamp primarily for chemical analyses – are no less demanding.
The accredited foundry laboratory works with mechanical-technological and metallographic methods, optical emission spectrometry and manual non-destructive testing. Every day, around 60 analyses are carried out in the lab, automatically captured in the LIMS and communicated to the melt store.
Here, above all, it is crucial that the LIMS runs reliably and consistently. A failure would be a disaster.
From Lab Data to Decision Data
For Siempelkamp, the LIMS is more than analysis management – it’s a data mining instrument. All analysis data flows downstream into other systems, for example into a CAQ system, where data can be evaluated and linked to other processes.
In total, more than 20 people work with the LIMS daily – 10 of them in the quality department alone. The software is simply structured, making everyday work easier across teams.
As a manufacturer of cast materials for nuclear technology, among others, data security is a decisive plus for Siempelkamp. In nuclear technology, the company is obliged to archive analysis data for at least 30 years.
![Quality work with [FP]-LIMS at Siempelkamp](https://fp-lims.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Siempelkamp-Foundry-LIMS-1-1024x680.jpg)
Quality work with [FP]-LIMS · Image: Siempelkamp Giesserei GmbH
We know: in LIMS, the data is safe. We can still access data from 1992 – that’s very exciting.
Innovative by Tradition: Future Technologies as an Opportunity
For Siempelkamp, secure data management is the basis for everything that follows – from process optimization to artificial intelligence. The company also collaborates with research partners such as the LBF Fraunhofer Institute.
Secure Data Management
The foundation for any future-oriented foundry – without it, neither AI nor process optimization works.
AI-Driven Optimization
Siempelkamp is optimizing its casting processes with AI – including recommendations for action and troubleshooting.
R&D Excellence
Long-running R&D projects – e.g. with LBF Fraunhofer – continually optimize materials and production processes.
I can’t imagine how our production would function without the LIMS. Measurement data must land in the melt store within a few minutes so that appropriate responses can be made. Then there is the aspect of secure data archiving. How is that supposed to work without a LIMS?
30 Years of LIMS at Siempelkamp – The Big Picture
Starting Point
- LIMS delivered as software with a spectrometer
- Chemical analyses centrally captured for the first time
- Single-source data foundation for quality work
- Reliable partnership with Fink & Partner from day one
30 Years On
- 20+ daily users across departments
- Integrated into CAQ & broader system landscape
- 30+ year data archive for nuclear-grade compliance
- Foundation for AI & ongoing R&D programs
Looking for a LIMS Partner You Can Rely on for Decades?
See in 30 minutes how [FP]-LIMS can support complex casting production – from process control to compliance archiving and AI-ready data foundations. Free, no sales pressure.