Under the Surface: Tim Suys

My journey in the welding industry spans 25 years. It all started when I was studying electrical engineering, and a module on welding piqued my curiosity. Little did I know that it would lead to a fascinating career in sales engineering for welding consumables, particularly in the challenging fields of hardfacing and cladding.

Tim's journey at UTP has taken him around the world, letting him cross paths with different cultures. It was not only in the technical aspects that posed a challenge to Tim, understanding and working with different perspectives proved to be demanding as well. By listening carefully to customers, Tim discovered that creativity and out-of-the-box thinking could set UTP apart from the competition.

Challenges in wear protection? It's all about staying ahead. Research, development and the testing of new products is ongoing to meet future customer needs and keep the competition in the rearview mirror.

One outstanding project was with ArcelorMittal in Gent, Belgium. Their continuous casting line was experiencing driving roll issues. We introduced a 15% cobalt alloy filler metal that doubled the life of the rolls — a real success story in the steel segment of the welding industry.

Tim highlights the challenges in the steel industry, which is known for its conservatism. Convincing customers to try new solutions took time, but the results spoke for themselves. Over the past decade, UTP's sales of welding consumables to the steel industry have tripled, a significant achievement.

In the surface protection industry, finding the most economical solution for the customer is crucial. Collaboration with local sales teams is a key success factor in adding value to customers by extending the lifespan of critical components such as continuous casting rollers.

Tim emphasizes what sets UTP apart: high-quality materials, consistency, and application expertise and know-how. The unique portfolio, crafted by our R&D team, allows us to offer top-notch solutions for the maintenance and repair industry.

The future of wear protection? New alloy concepts are on the horizon. As steel strength increases for future applications, we're developing consumables to meet even higher wear resistance requirements.

Join us as we continue to raise the bar in welding technology with UTP, the best solution for surface protection.