News from QUBUS

The management of Qubus GmbH and Ifo GmbH in Schwäbisch Gmünd has granted power of attorney to the Head of Commercial Administration, Nicole Kässer.

Nicole Kässer has been responsible for the joint management of the two closely linked companies since 2007. For the past four years, she has headed the commercial division of the owner-managed surface technology service provider and is responsible in particular for the organisation, management and oversight of the entire commercial division, as well as for costing, controlling and budgeting.

„The companies“ steady growth made it necessary to adapt and strengthen management structures and areas of responsibility in line with this development. However, by appointing her as an authorised signatory, we also wish to recognise Ms Kässer’s significant managerial responsibility and her associated high level of commitment to the company. We are delighted that Nicole Kässer is joining our management team,” said Michael Müller, Managing Director of the Ifo – Institute for Surface Technology.

The managing partners of both companies, on behalf of the entire organisation, warmly congratulated their new authorised signatory on her appointment.

New managing director for the Ifo Institute’s co-leadership structure. Marc Holz is to succeed managing director Hans Pfeifer.

The current Head of the Expertise, Research and Development Division is to be appointed to the Executive Board with effect from 1 August 2016 and, together with Michael Müller, co-founder and managing partner of Ifo, will take over the leadership of the globally active testing institute. Marc Holz, a graduate chemist, will thus succeed Hans Pfeifer, who has stepped down from the management of the institute due to reaching retirement age.

„I am very much looking forward to my new responsibilities,“ said Marc Holz. „I am excited to work with my colleague Michael Müller and our staff to further develop and advance our unique network of services for surface treatment companies.“

Together with its sister company, Qubus – Planung und Beratung Oberflächentechnik GmbH, and its offices in Dubai, China and the Netherlands, the Ifo – Institute for Surface Technology offers services to companies in the surface technology sector worldwide. More than 80 qualified engineers and technicians work in the business areas of inspections, certification, expert reports, contract research, laboratory services, plant and factory planning, environmental law and management systems.

Surface treatment technologies are key to finding technical, scientific, economic and environmental solutions to current problems in the development of innovative products. Modern surface treatment technology is used across all sectors of the manufacturing industry. No car leaves the production line without its key components having undergone surface treatment. Modern medical technology is also inconceivable without surface engineering processes, whilst the construction and plumbing sectors, electrical engineering and the electronics industry cannot do without surface finishing either. It is therefore not surprising that surface engineering is one of the most dynamically growing sectors in Germany. The content of engineering degree programmes does not reflect the importance of electroplating and surface engineering; in many cases, the subject of surface engineering is not covered at all or is only touched upon in passing.
With its 2½-day introductory seminar, the ZVO Academy offers an opportunity to refresh or improve one’s basic knowledge of electroplating and surface treatment technology.

Target groups

from the fields of electroplating and surface treatment:

Project Engineers and Sales Engineers in Plant Engineering
Project Engineers and Sales Engineers in Process Chemistry
People changing careers or returning to the electroplating and surface treatment sector

Purchasers of surfaces:

Developers and designers
Technical Business Administrators

For details and to register, please contact ZVO – Central Association for Surface Technology.

The first in-house fire safety assistant training course took place successfully on 15 April 2016.

During the theoretical part of the session, participants were given information on how fires start, the flammability of materials and the various methods of extinguishing fires. In the practical part, each participant was then given the opportunity to practise using a fire extinguisher.

The new fire safety business unit was successfully launched in November 2015 as part of the Environment and Health and Safety division.

As an experienced engineering firm, we draw up fire safety plans and fire safety reports for industrial and specialised buildings as part of planning permission procedures, as well as for insurance companies and public authorities.

Our fire safety experts have many years’ experience in preventative fire safety.

Your contact: Frank Schüle | Head of Occupational Health and Safety, Environment and Fire Safety, QUBUS Planung und Beratung Oberflächentechnik GmbH | schuele[at]qubus.de | Tel. +49 7171 10408-17; Holger Patzelt | Fire safety expert | holger.patzelt[at]qubus.de | Tel. +49 7171 10408-21

In accordance with Section 10 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and ASR A 2.2 (Technical Regulations for Workplaces), the legislator requires that a sufficient number of employees be trained as fire safety assistants. The required proportion is 10 % of the workforce.

QUBUS offers training through regular seminars in Schwäbisch Gmünd.

The next training sessions will take place on 15 April 2016, 15 July 2016, 23 September 2016 and 4 November 2016 takes place in our training rooms.

Provided there are enough participants (at least 8), the training can also take place on-site at the company’s premises.

Your contact: Frank Schüle | Head of Occupational Health and Safety, Environment and Fire Safety, QUBUS Planung und Beratung Oberflächentechnik GmbH | schuele[at]qubus.de | Tel. +49 7171 10408-17; Marcus Sorg | Project Engineer for Health and Safety, Environment and Fire Safety, QUBUS Planung und Beratung Oberflächentechnik GmbH | sorg[at]qubus.de | Tel. +49 7171 10408-20

From 6 to 10 October 2015, ZVO e.V. once again organised its "Introductory Seminar on Electroplating" at the premises of Qubus Planung und Beratung Oberflächentechnik GmbH. The seminar has been running with great success for many years and is aimed at newcomers to the field, design engineers, quality management staff and procurement officers.

The aim of the seminar is to provide participants with an overview of electroplating. Topics to be covered include an overview of the industry, basic concepts of electroplating, coating systems, plant engineering, testing methods and the environment. Particular emphasis is placed on fostering in-depth discussion between participants and the speakers.

ZVO e.V. organises this seminar several times a year.

Your contact: Ulrich Mäule / Managing Partner / maule@qubus.de /Tel.: +49 7171 1040813

Our annual summer party is the classic sort, complete with a barbecue, music and a tribute to those celebrating work anniversaries. This summer event is very popular with our staff and their families, as well as our business partners. At our company party, private conversations sometimes arise, as our staff are able to relax and chat freely with one another whilst the children enjoy the highlight of the summer party.

Smiling faces, a lively atmosphere and a positive vibe amongst the staff send a clear message: at Qubus and IFO, everything clicks – both professionally and personally.

Shortly before the expiry of an important transitional period, Annex II to the REACH Regulation (EU) No 1907/2006 was amended once again and a new transitional period was introduced.

This will take some of the pressure off manufacturers and formulators. Otherwise, two conflicting amendments to Annex II would have come into force simultaneously on 1 June. For all chemicals placed on the market by 31 May 2015 under the previous system (orange symbols, etc.), the safety data sheet need only be updated (and then made available to customers) by 31 May 2017 as an exception! This means there is now a two-year transition period for safety data sheets that already existed as at 31 May 2015.

However, this only applies to safety data sheets that were drawn up correctly by 31 May 2015, i.e.:

1. The following applies generally to substances, but also to mixtures that were voluntarily converted to the GHS (CLP) system before 1 June 2015: safety data sheets must comply with Annex I of EU Regulation No 453/2010. This Annex I describes Annex II of the REACH Regulation during the transition phase from the EU classification and labelling system (orange symbols, R and S phrases) to the GHS classification and labelling system (diamond symbols with a red border, the signal words "Warning" or "Danger", and H and P phrases)

2. For mixtures that were lawfully placed on the market before 1 June 2015 whilst still bearing the orange labelling, the safety data sheet does not need to be fully aligned with the GHS (CLP) until 31 May 2017, and must then, at the latest, comply with the new Annex II set out in EU Regulation 2015/830.

For all new chemicals placed on the market for the first time on or after 1 June 2015, the safety data sheet must comply with Annex II in accordance with EU Regulation 2015/830 at the time of dispatch, i.e. it must include CLP symbols and H-statements.

Consequently, we will unfortunately have to continue using both labels in the lists of hazardous substances for some time to come.

Your contact: Frank Schüle | Head of Occupational Health and Safety/Environment, QUBUS GmbH | schuele[at]qubus.de | Tel. +49 7171 10408-17

On 15 June 2015, the SVHC list (substances of very high concern) was expanded once again by two substances, bringing the total to 163.

http://echa.europa.eu/de/candidate-list-table

Although these two new substances are not generally relevant in electroplating, customers are likely to ask about them in their enquiries once again. The obligation under Article 33 governs communication within the supply chain, both upstream and downstream, so you are required to comply. You should therefore update your enquiry and response letters accordingly.

We’d be happy to help with that, of course.

Here are the two new photos:

• 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-C₆–10-alkyl esters; 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mixed decyl, hexyl and octyl diesters containing ? 0.3% of dihexyl phthalate (EC No. 201-559-5)

and

• 5-sec-butyl-2-(2,4-dimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxane [1], 5-sec-butyl-2-(4,6-dimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl)-5-methyl-1,3-dioxane [2] [covering any of the individual stereoisomers of [1] and [2] or any combination thereof]

Your contact: Frank Schüle | Head of Occupational Health and Safety/Environment, QUBUS GmbH | schuele[at]qubus.de | Tel. +49 7171 10408-17