FIMIGroup is at the top for finishing and processing plants in the aluminium sector

Strong know-how, an experience of over sixty years and a tailored range of solutions designed to meet the most demanding requests.

This is FIMIGroup, not a simple manufacturer of metal processing equipment and plants, but a high value-added group of companies composed of 3 divisions, 8 sites, and 200 employees with more than 1.500 plants installed worldwide.

The core business is the design, construction and start-up of plants for the processing and treatment of coil-rolled metals in different types of material: aluminium, high carbon steel, stainless steel, copper and brass.

FIMI product is the result of a process through which the company and the customer are synergically involved, from the first planning phases to the complete development of the plant. The service that FIMI offers its customers starts in this phase and proceeds after the installation with assistance, training of customer’s staff and a series of periodic checks to monitor the efficiency level of the systems. The so-called “digital servitization” that FIMIGroup offers its customers.

Particularly for the aluminium sector, FIMI Group produces:

• Tension levelling lines, provided with the Proflexroll® innovative system
• Degreasing and pre-treatment lines are distinguished by their ability to process even thin thicknesses with maximum eco-compatibility of processes
• Slitting lines (slitter) and trimming lines
• Cut to length lines

In recent years, aluminium has become increasingly important in the worldwide context.

In the automotive industry, aluminium components are growing in demand, for example, in the production of electric batteries or other innovative applications; for this reason, we are producing increasingly high-performance and complete plants for processing this material.

Of particular interest is also the food business, where lines for the packaging material production are high demanded. This is an extensive market, considering the increasing consumption in countries such as China and India. To operate in the food industry, many customers request aluminium cutting lines with the addition of coil degreasing and cleaning treatments. In other sectors, integration with a painting station is also required, and the plants designed by FIMIGroup can meet these needs.

A clear example is the line produced for ALUFLEXPACK NOVI D.O.O., a world leader company in aluminium foil products.

The customer’s objective was to have the complete supply chain (degreasing, surface conversion, annealing of the material) to produce in-house for their customers material that conforms to the high-quality standards requested by the world’s leading food industries.

The solution designed is the result of the know-how and the patented technologies that FIMIGroup has developed in the aluminium sector used to produce a unique line on the market.

In fact, it is equipped with the most advanced devices for foil processing and treatment, such as:

• Tension leveller with Proflexroll®, a Proflexroll® levelling technology with expandible roll to improve the flatness of the aluminium strip
• Multi-roll alkaline and acid degreasing systems® designed explicitly for the Cheam foil and coatings section, a revolutionary system in alkaline acid degreasing treatment which guarantees the total removal of oils and oxides without compromising the mechanical properties of the material.
• Combined alkaline and acid degreasing sections with our patented multi-roll system®, specially designed to process materials with thin thicknesses up to 10 microns that guarantee the total removal of oils and oxides without compromising the mechanical properties of the material.
• Cheam coater unit for the surface conversion of the material without the necessity for rinsing and with high precision of the product amount applied superficially.
• Particular attention was focused on sustainability and energy savings in the plant's design.

To mention a few of the solutions adopted:

• The residual fumes from the alkaline and acid treatments are collected and treated by a scrubber + demister group, significantly reducing pollutants.
• Wastewater from alkaline and acid treatments is treated with a depuration system which allows this water, once purified, to be discharged in full compliance with the most restrictive European anti-pollution norms.
• Reduced energy consumption is possible thanks to an optimal dimensioning of the drive units.
• All units subjected to heat treatments, such as degreasing tanks and ovens, have been enclosed to retain the heat generated as much as possible.

The residual waters from heat treatments already present in the plant to heat the alkaline and acid solutions used in the degreasing line are re-used for significant energy savings.