20 years of AGTOS – a success story
The enterprise that was established 20 years ago by a small but enthusiastic team has today become an internationally renowned manufacturer of turbine-wheel shot blasting machines of all kinds. The know-how gained by the initial employees at a variety of manufacturers provided the basis for numerous shot blasting technology innovations.
For example, an innovative system was developed for changing filter cartridges that offers decisive advantages during installation. The single-disc wheel also underwent a renaissance in turbine technology in a contemporary design. It contains fewer wear parts and facilitates speedier installation. Added to this is a range of details such as larger and more numerous maintenance hatches on machines that also facilitate operation under practical conditions. Material thickness and executions were adapted to heavy duty operation.
The name AGTOS encompasses the field of activity of the enterprise in engineering surface systems as expressed in German:
Gesellschaft für Technische Oberflächen Systeme.
These can now be found in over 50 countries around the world, with extremely satisfied customers machining surfaces of the most varied workpieces and materials with turbine-wheel shot blasting machines from AGTOS.
We started operations on 1 October 2001 in a small commercial property with two offices in Emsdetten, Germany and, simultaneously, a factory unit in Konin, Poland.
The rapid and reliable delivery of spare and wear parts and the servicing of existing shot blasting plants were already an important field of activity for our company during its market entry. The first AGTOS turbine-wheel shot blasting machine, a hanger-type blasting machine, was sold as early as December 2001, being delivered and installed in March of the following year.
April 2002 saw us exhibiting for the first time with a small stand at the Hannover Messe trade fair. We moved into a new building at Gutenbergstrasse 14 in 2003, and this address is still our company headquarters. The first machine, a satellite rotary table blasting machine, was also delivered to Brazil in the same year.
The company and workforce both developed rapidly, enabling us to welcome our first apprentices as early as 2005. Since then, many young people have started their careers at AGTOS in a variety of professions.
The distribution network also grew continuously, with new representatives and sales partners being gained. These represent the link to our customers, some of which are very far away, providing advice and support in service cases.
2006 saw commissioning of the first extension to our plant in Konin. A second construction phase followed in 2008, doubling the original production area, and this was expanded again in 2014 through an extension consisting of a further factory premises with an office wing covering 2,700 m². The Emsdetten location also saw numerous conversions and expansions, with a new office wing also being added here in 2016. Overall, the team grew to more than 170 personnel.
The demands made of turbine-wheel shot blasting machines are continuously growing. Maintenance intervals are extended, and digital options are employed for the early detection of impending wear. In addition, production processes are increasingly automated. Data streams are growing, with plant and machinery being increasingly networked.
Rapid growth and increases in personnel numbers required the adaptation of processes, resulting in the introduction of an ERP system in 2019 that now links both locations. Decision-making channels at AGTOS will also be shorter in future, and efficient, high-quality production is assured.