News
May 2011
JAI has been chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2011
June 2010
February 2010
October 2008
June 2008
May 2008
Environment and Energy Policy at JAI
January 2007
October 2006
September 2006
July 2006
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
JAI has been evaluated as the 2nd best supplier to Siemens Gas
October 2004
August 2004
Family production improves the competitiveness
June 2004
JAI achieves an Energy Management Certificate
May 2004
The Danish Casting Technical Association visits JAI
February 2004
JAI is chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2003
June 2003
A Model Foundry with a Clean Reputation - Article from FOUNDRY Automation (ABB, Sweden)
April 2002
We must join hands - article from Inforama
January 2002
Body school at JAI - article from Herning Folkeblad
September 2001
New Quality Certificate according to ISO9001:2000
August 2001
April 2001
JAI is chosen as ABB's second best supplier for the second year in succession
March 2001
JAI is chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2000
February 2012
JAI has just added a new building to the existing production building on Mørupvej in Herning. The new Coremaking Dept. will be filled with machines to the total amount of EUR 3 mio. This investment confirms the fact that JAI wants to keep on producing the parts in Denmark and has no plans of moving the production to e.g. India. In he near future JAI is also planning an extension of the machining facilities on Hvidelvej in Herning.
Managing Director, Mr. Kenn Christensen calls it an investment in the future.
May 2011
JAI has been chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2011.
JAI was also chosen as best supplier in 2000, 2004, 2005 og 2006.
June 2010
At A/S Jydsk Aluminium Industri in Herning, one of the largest aluminium foundries in Europe, they find a close cooperation with the customers' Development Dpt. very important, so that the advising can begin at the very earliest stage of the development of the products.
The close cooperation with the customers is very important to JAI and the company uses mane ressources on this cooperation.
Quality improvement
In the wake of robots making their entry, dry ice blasting was introduced at JAI, at first in the casting department, but today dry ice blasting has spread to many other locations there.
According to JAI dry ice blasting offers essential advantages over the cleaning methods previously used:
- no blasting media in machine parts, shafts, pistons, etc. as was the case with sand blasting.
- no slippery floors due to residual sand left from sand blasting
- no cleaning after blasting to remove sand from machines, floors etc.
- no abrasion or wear marks on machines, moulds, etc. as was the case with sandblasting or mechanical cleaning with a steel brush or felt
- no environmental considerations or special precautions for waste disposal as was the case with sand blasting and alkaline cleaning.
- no moisture or water in machine parts as was the case with high-pressure washing, hot-water cleaning and alkaline cleaning.
Brian D. Monrad, Maintenance Manager at JAI, points out that the largest disadvantage of dry ice blasting is the noise level. It is necessary for the operator to wear ear protection. In certain circumstances this even applies to persons working near the item being dry ice blasted. For some material types it is necessary to combine dry ice blasting with the cleaning methods used previously; and there are certain materials or items for which dry ice blasting is not suitable.
The experience of JAI, especially when it comes to dry ice blasting of core boxes, shows that quality improvement becomes immediately obvious: with dry ice blasting the core boxes remain cleaner and tighter.
Throughout the foundry considerable efficiency improvement has been achieved by using dry ice blasting instead of sand blasting. This is primarily due to the fact that dry ice blasting does not leave any blasting media which then has to be removed from machines, swept up from floors, etc. and disposed of afterwards.
Another parameter of importance concerns the abrasion of machines and items to be cleaned - unlike sand blasting there is hardly any abrasion when using dry ice blasting.
June 2008
The Environmental Management System at Jydsk Aluminium Industri has been certified
In 2008 the Environmental Management System at JAI has been certified according to ISO 14001:2004.
May 2008
A/S Jydsk Aluminium Industri wishes to be an environmental and energy-minded company. In this connection it is the company's policy to reduce the environmental impact on the environment and the energy consumption and maintain the consumption at the lowest possible level.
-
maintain and develop a Management System, which meets the demands in DS2403 incl. the Danish Energy Agency's additional demands and DS14001.
-
through profitable measures constantly strive to reduce the environmental impact and the energy consumption.
-
observe the rules and legislation concerning environment and energy.
-
focus on the environment and energy consumption at purchase, new investments and renovation.
-
survey, measure and analyse the environmental impact and the energy consumption at determined intervals.
-
train and instruct the employees concurrently with the development and need.
-
motivate employees at all levels to an environmental and energy-minded behaviour and currently to make proposals for environmental and energy-saving measures.
-
set targets for the future efforts within this policy and re-evaluate these targets at least once a year.
-
inform all employees about the Environment and Energy Policy and the company's targets.
January 2007
Striko melting furnace
JAI has invested in a new melting furnace of the brand Striko MH II T 4000/2000.
The melting furnace has a capacity of 4 tons of fluid aluminium and can melt 2,300 kg. aluminium an hour.
The melting furnace has been installed.
October 2006
Generational change
As of 01.09.06 the following Management has been appointed at JAI due to a generational change:
Kenn Christensen Keld Jensen Karsten W. Bonde Bo Jensen
Managing Director Sales Director Production Director Technical Director
In the period until 01.08.07 Mr. Niels Jensen and Mr. Villy Jensen will continue their work at JAI as consultants being responsible for a number of different assignments.
September 2006
JAI has invested in a 160 kV x-ray system for use in connection with the production of initial samples, safety parts and for sampling of parts in production.
July 2006
JAI has been chosen as Siemens AG's best supplier of the year
JAI has been chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2005 within the area of Casting Technique. Within this area Siemens cooperates with 11 suppliers, who are all among the leading foundries in Europe.
February 2005
Monday 21st February 2005 JAI was chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2004 within the area of Casting Technique. Within this area Siemens cooperates with 11 suppliers, who are all among the leading foundries in Europe.
January 2005
JAI has received an Energy Saving Diploma
JAI has received the Energy- and Watersaving Diploma 2004 from "Energi Center Vest" in Herning. "Energi Center Vest" is a Centre of Knowledge and Service, which offers advice and information to private persons, companies and institutionsabout their energy and water consumption. The Diploma is given for a remarkable effort in the field of energy saving and for a positive and committed cooperation with "Energi Center Vest", which during the latest year has advised JAI on how to reduce the expenses for electricity and heat.
The system also depends on the employees taking an active part, which is why they are also invited to make proposals concerning the reduction of the energy consumption. The best proposals for energy saving are awarded.
Furthermore, each Department has its own "Energy Guardian", who is to keep an eye on possible irregularities in the energy consumption and make sure that everything is shut down at the end of the working day.
Quality Manager at JAI, Mrs. Charlotte Hansen, is pleased with the better control of the energy consumption, as this is also increasing the competitiveness of JAI.
Niels Jensen and Villy Jensen have received "the Business Leader Prize of Central Jutland".
December 2004
As a supplier to Siemens Gas JAI has achieved a 2nd prize in the Supplier Monitoring for all suppliers in year 2003/2004. JAI achieved a total of 92% out of 100% possible. The Supplier Monitoring has been carried through within the areas of purchasing, quality, logistics and technology with the following results.
- Purchasing has been evaluated to 93%.
- Quality has been evaluated to 100%, which means that JAI has fulfilled all the targets regarding quality.
- Logistics was evaluated to 76% in general, however with a delivery performance of 90%.
- Finally, the area of technology was evaluated to 98%.
October 2004
Open House at A/S Jydsk Aluminium Industri
Saturday 23. October 2004 JAI was open to visitors. Through the last years JAI has undergone extensive changes, a new and very automated plant has been built, new production technology has been introduced and the internal logistics has been changed. JAI wanted to present these changes to family and friends of the employees, partners in the local area and potential future employees.
In this connection our FMS factory was officially opened by the Mayor of Herning Mr. Lars Krarup, who also expressed his gratitude that JAI has chosen to produce 100% in Denmark and thereby provides jobs in the city.
Guided tours round both factories were given and the visitors also had the possibility to experience different plants in operation. The day ended with entertainment for both children and adults and a small treat was served at the FMS factory.
The children were entertained by a magician and Lupus, the mascot of the local football team FCM, while the adults enjoyed the band who was playing in the tent. Approx. 500 people visited JAI on the day of Open House.
August 2004
As most other Danish production companies JAI also faces the increased competition from especially Eastern Europe. To meet the competition JAI is working determined with automation and family production, also causing the introduction of the latest family production at JAI called the "pipe group".
operation.
packing and dispatch.
June 2004
At the beginning of June 2004 JAI received a certificate of our Energy Management System according to DS2403:2001 without any deviations.
May 2004
Saturday 8th May 2004 the Danish Casting Techical Association visited Jydsk Aluminium Industri in connection with their annual meeting. Approx. 80 persons were shown round the Flex and the FMS factory.
FMS Flex
February 2004
Friday 20th February 2004 JAI was chosen as Siemens' best supplier of the year 2003 within the area of Casting Technique. Within this area Siemens cooperates with 11 suppliers.
June 2003
In an act of post-war optimism, Jydsk Aluminium Industri first saw light of day in 1945 in Herning, Denmark. For many years a traditional foundry with a modest export, the first big leaps in modernization were taken in the 1990s. "When we began manufacturing truck components in high volumes, we realised that automation would be an important part of future production," says Villy Jensen, General Manager of Jydsk Aluminium Industri.
The first automation project started in 1998 with a robot-cleaning cell for tank parts for truck radiators and intercoolers. "Since then we have moved continuously towards implementing more robot-based automation. Today the foundry has eleven robots in operation. Five IRB 6400s work with cleaning applications, while one IRB 6400 handles and coats sand cores.
Keeping the customer happy
"As long as we earn money and our customers are satisfied with the quality we deliver, then we'll continue to implement robotics in our production. We believe in robot technology - especially when it comes to heavy and unhealthy operations like cleaning," says Villy Jensen.
As knowledge expands, so does the business
For Jydsk it was important to start small, and then let growing knowledge and experience provide the fuel for expansion. The shift from traditional to high-tech production is not easy for any organisation to handle. "As time passes and we integrate even more robots, we realise how important it is to develop knowledge within the company," notes Villy Jensen.
When we started automating, we had hoped the integrators would deliver a turnkey solution. But experience tells us that we have to participate actively in every automation project."
April 2002
Jydsk Aluminium Industri has acknowledged that a good manpower policy and social responsibility are necessary factors in a time where qualified manpower is in great demand. The company has joined the project: " The Flexible Labour Market."
- If we acknowledge that there's always room for improvement we can get far. Niels Jørgen Madsen, Production Manager at Jydsk Aluminium Industri says.This attitude has already been of benefit to the company. Realizing that it gets increasingly difficult to maintain qualified manpower the company has decided to introduce an entirely different view with regard to manpower policy. Jydsk Aluminium Industri has chosen to join "The Flexible Labour Market Herning" project. The co-ordination committee at Herning Kommune (local authority) has initiated the project.
Job satisfaction
Low unemployment and small classes makes it more difficult to employ qualified manpower. If we want to keep our employees we must be able to comply with their demands for development and influence, Niels Jørgen Madsen says and continues: - if we want to achieve in an increasingly competitive business we must improve the job satisfaction of our employees. Employees and management must join hands and it is therefore important to have a good manpower policy and take social responsibility.
Action plan
Among other things the aim of the project is to keep employees with reduced working capacity on the labour market and to integrate people with reduced working capacity. Using instruments like The Social Index, The Social Account and the company's manpower policy e.g. senior policy, absence, alcohol and education, a consultant within the field examines the company. Among other things, it is examined whether the employees are treated well, the ratio of absence and whether the management is action-oriented. The company then receives an action-plan that describing how to improve the job satisfaction of the employees. It is important to prevent expulsion from the labour market, to keep employees with reduced working capacity on the labour market and to integrate people outside the labour market.
Live in the moment
It would be just perfect if prevention were enough, but it is not. People live in the moment and do not consider long-term consequences. A young man may not always be able to see that hard work wears you down in the long term. He might just concentrate on making good money here and now, Gregers Terp, the consultant from "The Flexible Labour Market" explains. Together with Jydsk Aluminium Industri Gregers Terp has examined the Social Index. The Social Index is a self-evaluating instrument by the use of which the company is able to measure themselves with regard to the question: "How good are we at taking a social responsibility?" After having examined the Social Index, Gregers Terp has adviced the company as to the future focusing. It is now up to Jydsk Aluminium Industri to put it into practice and the company has gone all out.
Better image
- I am convinced that we have done the right thing. We are now aware of providing good conditions for our employees - There is always room for improvement, Niels Jørgen Madsen says and does not doubt that the company image will become much better with the new manpower policy and later on result in easier employment. It may also make it easier to keep the current employees. But we have far from finished working yet. To assure a good job satisfaction among the employees is a continuous process. We should not consider ourselves world champions eventhough we are doing quite well. If we wish to stay in the lead the manpower policy must always be in focus, the Production Manager says.
January 2002
Body School at JAI
As part of the jobsatisfaction policy JAI experimentally offered 8 employees to attend a "body school". The "body school" took place in co-operation with Herning Kommune (local authority) and physiotherapist Berit Truelsen.
Among other things, the "body school" includes team training as for example theoretic instruction in the anatomical and physiological body-structure, fitness training, motion training, physical fitness training and body-conscious training.
The following article was printed in Herning Folkeblad (local newspaper)
High level of jobsatisfaction
Factory Manager, Niels Jørgen Madsen explains that Jydsk Aluminium Industri has joined the project "the body school" with a wish for the employees to preserve their good health.
- We wish to keep them with us for a long period af time and such a project will hopefully help to prevent damages to the motor apparatus. It may also make the employees more aware of their habits both on and off the job. It is not enough that the management provides ergonomicly correct workplaces - also the employees themselves have a responsibility, Niels Jørgen Madsen says.
Overall the company has a so called jobsatisfaction policy that is part of the personnel policy. Among other things, this means that if the employees have many days lost through sickness they will have a talk with the supervisor and the shop steward. This is not a control measure but an opportunity to talk about personal problems. Evaluation is essential. According to Niels Jørgen Madsen, it has not yet been decided whether more employees will attend the body school.
- For the time being we will evaluate this project and we are also involved in other things. The other day the Management and the Safety Commission met to watch the videos taped during the body school project. We have learned from this experience. It revealed that even little things can create problems if you are not aware - for example an employee standing on a rubber mat that is placed incorrectly, Niels Jørgen Madsen explains. He adds that the introduction of a fitness room has been discussed as a possibility but no final decision has been made. Primarily, the company must be competitive and our employees play an important part. It is important with a high level of jobsatisfaction and to be aware that the physical and the psychical aspects are connected. We demand something from our employees but it also has to be a pleasant place to work - and to me equality and the respect for dissimilarities are factors of high importance, Niels Jørgen Madsen says.
Jydsk Aluminium Industri employs approx. 200 employees and according to Niels Jørgen Madsen the company could easily recruit more, if necessary. Even though, with regard to production the company belongs in "the heavy end" it still seems to have a good image as workplace.
Local teams
Physiotherapist Berit Truelsen has now finished the project at JAI and a similar project at Vestjyllands Postcenter in Herning.
She tells that employees from the senior department at Herning Kommune are attending the Body School project at the moment. Herning Kommune has added "the body school" on a list of initiatives in connection with the "flexible labour market" and this means that it is possible to have teams running successively - also across departments, Berit Truelsen says.
September 2001
Until now JAI has been certified according to ISO9002, but during the last 6 months the quality department has been working on an improvement of our quality control system, in order to meet the new requirements in the ISO9001:2000 standard.
The new standard has been changed into 8 main areas, where 4 areas are traversing requirements within the management, control of resources, manufacturing of the products and measuring, analysis and improvement. ISO9001:2000 is based on expectations and requirements of the customers. They are being verified (customer satisfaction), and they are being validated (what we are understanding must be correct).
ISO9001:2000 was chosen, as we also wanted to make our quality guide in new software called QLM. In the new quality guide all procedures and instructions have been changed into flow diagrams. Now it is easier to all users to get a general knowledge of the individual process and the functions/employees that are actors in the process.
It was rather easy to re-certify JAI, as we have developed much in other areas, as TPM, ITF-project control, IT, SPC, etc. JAI was re-certifed by Dansk Standard on June the 21st, 2001.
We got the new certificate without any objections, and we are very proud of this.
Now we will work with the internal training of our employees who are using the quality guide in their daily work.
August 2001
JAI builds a new factory in Herning for DKK 50 million.
By a new building in Hvidelvej Jydsk Aluminium Industri wants to double the turnover during the next three years
By extension of a new factory at the end of 2002 Jydsk Aluminium Industri wants to double the turnover in three years. The turnover is now DKK 150 million.
The building of the factory of almost 4.000 m2 in Hvidelvej has already been started. Shortly after New Year the production in new surroundings is expected to start. The price of the whole project will be DKK 50 million.
High technology will be applied in the new factory. Today JAI employs about 200 employees, and during next year another 30 people will be employed in the new factory. This is enough for a redoubling of the turnover. Seven robots, which shall primarily produce big series, will be installed in the new factory. The robots are the basis of this kind of production in Denmark, says Managing Director Niels Jensen, JAI, to Herning Folkeblad.
KPC is the builder and already in January 2002 the first machines will be installed in the new premises. A purifying plant and a machining plant from Sweden will be ready in the beginning of the next year.
Later on next year the "heavy” part of the production, melting and casting will be ready. Today the capacity in the factory in Mørupvej is being fully utilized, and there is no possibility for extending this factory. Therefore the new factory is a necessity.
The necessity has arisen because JAI during the last years has made big efforts to get orders for the company.
These efforts have resulted in many orders. We are not only using all our capacity, we need more capacity, Niels Jensen says.
Already now two thirds of the capacity in the new factory will be applied. The capacity is for three of the main production areas of JAI: elements for high-voltage, trucks and pumps.
Parts from JAI will be used for the motors in the new generation of trucks, which are being developed by Volvo and Scania, Niels Jensen says.
Almost 30 percent of the total production with JAI is for the truck sector. Production of high-voltage for big customers as Siemens and ABB is about 40% of the total production.
April 2001
ABB has measured JAI's delivery observance during year 2000 to 98.6%.
March 2001
The prize has been awarded due to delivery observance and flexibility.
