Minkon UK is driving this expansion in close collaboration with Minkon Germany, where the group has its headquarters. Long respected for its precision instrumentation and steel plant technologies, Minkon’s cross border synergy is already creating tailored solutions for foundries, supported by a refreshed digital presence at www.minkon-international.com and a growing UK based sales and technical team. “What we’re doing is straightforward but powerful,” says Mark Sickling, general manager at Minkon UK. “We’re taking half a century of steel industry knowledge, especially in temperature measurement and metal handling, and translating that into practical, cost effective tools for foundries. Minkon UK already has a long tradition in this sector, and we’re using that foundation to lead expansion into wider European markets with our group’s international expertise in measurement and analysis technology for the steel industry.”
FROM STEELWORKS TO FOUNDRIES: STRAIGHTFORWARD
Minkon’s roots lie in the demanding environment of integrated steel plants, where accurate temperature control, robust protection, and reliable measurement are essential. That same discipline now informs the company’s approach to the foundry market. With foundries often facing challenges around supplier reliability, inconsistent pricing, and restricted technical support, Minkon’s offer provides a timely and comprehensive alternative. Minkon UK delivers full spectrum solutions: not just consumables like thermocouples, samplers, filters, spoons, heatshields, and high temperature adhesives, but also a range of lances, hardware, measuring devices, sampling systems, and expert servicing of instrumentation – now available across its client base through strategic partnerships with specialist service engineers. “We know from our foundry clients that the current supplier landscape isn’t always ideal,” says Stuart Smith, operations manager at Minkon UK. “Some are only getting one delivery day per week. Service charges can be eye watering. And pricing seems to change from client to client, with price rises made without notice. We’ve built our offer to directly tackle those pain points, with more predictable costs, excellent availability, and full support across products and instrumentation.”
NON HAZARDOUS, HIGH PERFORMANCE: THE MINTEMP ADVANTAGE
A standout product in the Minkon range is MinTemp, a thermocouple designed for use in molten metal environments using the company’s new non hazardous Mintex fibre. All versions of Minkon thermocouples are compatible with standard hardware and measuring devices, meaning no modifications are necessary. MinTemp thermocouples using the Mintex system offer safe, rapid, and reliable readings, without the risks associated with older thermocouple designs which use hazardous materials. Costs incurred with the disposal of the old ceramic fibre waste can be eliminated with the use of the new Mintex fibre, offering, in some cases, a significant saving. Originally developed for steelworks, the MinTemp thermocouple is now being introduced to foundries looking for a safer, more consistent alternative to traditional measurement methods. “MinTex represents the direction we’re heading as a group,” says Gerhard Wuensch, group managing director of Minkon. “It’s clean, precise, and engineered with foundry practicality in mind whilst prioritising our commitment to environmental responsibilities.”
SUPPORTING METAL FLOW AND FILTRATION AT EVERY STAGE
Beyond its instrumentation and probes, Minkon offers a comprehensive range of metal filtration products, including protective jackets and heatshields suitable for both ferrous and non-ferrous foundries. The emphasis is on process control: improving flow quality, reducing contamination, and protecting operators and equipment in high risk areas of the plant. As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation, the company is also developing new ways to simplify data collection and integration. A forthcoming app based platform will allow technicians to monitor and record instrumentation readings via smartphones or tablets, offering easier access to real time performance data without requiring investment in complex control systems.
“Digitalisation is a big part of our strategy,” says Matthias Hölscher, director of Minkon. “We’re working on tools that help our customers simplify operations, not complicate them. An app that makes our instruments easier to use is just one example of how we’re keeping instrumentation practical and accessible, even in environments where robustness is a must.”
FORTAFIX AND THE FOUNDRY FOCUSED FUTURE
For foundries operating at extreme temperatures, Minkon UK’s Fortafix range provides proven solutions for bonding, coating, and protection. Used in high temperature applications for over a century, these materials have been continually refined to meet the needs of today’s casting and melting environments, where reliability and repeatability are critical. “What sets us apart is that we understand molten metal from every angle,” adds Mark Sickling. “It’s not just about thermocouples or filters, it’s about seeing how everything fits together. That’s the mindset we’re bringing to our foundry clients in the UK, Germany, and across Europe.” Fortafix products are a key part of Minkon UK’s heritage and remain a cornerstone of the company’s offer to the foundry sector. With applications in ladle preparation, furnace maintenance, and thermal insulation, they form part of a complete support package spanning the full molten metal lifecycle, from measurement to movement to containment.
PEOPLE, INNOVATION AND EXPANSION
Supporting this strategic expansion is the launch of the new Minkon International website (minkon-international.com), designed to present the group’s capabilities clearly and accessibly to both foundries and steelworks. Whether customers are seeking technical background, service information, or product data, the website now acts as a central hub for Minkon’s complete international offering. It also marks a wider shift towards integration and transparency across the business, aligning Minkon Group companies more closely while continuing to reflect the individual strengths of each location. At the centre of this momentum is a growing team. Minkon UK has recently appointed Hannah Blackmore as sales manager, bringing fresh energy to the company’s foundry focused strategy. Backed by engineering expertise and market insight, she will lead the development of new client relationships across the UK and wider European market. “Foundries aren’t new to us,” says Blackmore. “We’ve supported them for years, but now we’re going further, with a complete, joined up offer that’s both technically solid and commercially competitive.” As Minkon builds its reputation across Europe, the combination of trusted products, steel grade engineering, and responsive service support is proving to be a winning formula. “We’re not here to replace what’s working, we’re here to improve what isn’t,” concludes Gerhard Wuensch. “That’s what Minkon has always done best: listen, engineer, deliver, and ultimately help metal producers work more safely and efficiently.”