Incontra Thomas Strabo Hummelshøj – Motore dell’innovazione (articolo in inglese)

Thomas Strabo Hummelshøj, Co-founder and CTO of Expanite, innovator, and the driving force behind the company’s groundbreaking technologies and digital solutions.

Interview

Get to learn the man behind the Expanite technologies and learn how Expanite was born. Read Thomas’ take on why digitalization will play an even bigger role – also when it comes to surface hardening.

Why did you become an engineer?

I guess it is in my DNA. My grandmother worked with the Danish physicist and Nobel prize winner Niels Bohr. Both my parents were physicists. At the university, I studied mathematics and physics, but I quickly changed to DTU (the Technical University of Denmark) and studied technical physics. I wanted to do a PhD, and I met Professor Somers, who for ten years had been working with stainless steel. Professor Somers guided me to a PhD on how stainless steel performs when subjected to carbon. In this way, we discovered, how you can surface harden stainless steel. We founded Expanite as a spin-off from DTU, and like all start-ups, our first office was in the basement, where we had our desks and the oven for surface treatment in the same room. That says something about our low impact treatment solutions. Besides physics, I have studied Sports and taught at high schools for 10 years. I had not planned to start a company – it just happened to be a logical next step.

What is your current role and what are your main responsibilities?

In our first years, some people would call me Mr. Expanite. With our new management structure, our new board, and our strong investors, this doesn’t happen anymore. I have two important roles now: ensure that our engineers and technical team know at least as much as I do. My second role is the continuous development of our digital production platform (Fenris). The fact that we have this platform, and we can manage everything that happens in the ovens, is not only unique but also very powerful.

What is your current role and what are your main responsibilities?

I am a process specialist. I know a thing or two about heat treatment, I understand the processes, and my knowledge about metals doesn’t harm. And over the years, I have developed a strong network, that is always ready to help. I help our customers find the right solutions giving their parts the properties they want. And here at Expanite, I am deeply involved in our technology development program working closely with our technical team

How would someone living with you describe you?

The expression they would use is probably “ultimate”. I believe things must be done right.

What’s a day in the life like for you at Expanite?

My favorite day starts with a bike ride from my home to Expanite north of Copenhagen. I enjoy working with our skilled tech team, and I see my role as being their coach. When I get home in the evening, I would like to think that I have made a difference for the team, and that the team has made a difference for our customers and colleagues.

What are some of the key technologies and tools you work with at Expanite?

These days I work mainly with our proprietary software Fenris. I believe that software is the key to the future. With our software, we can continue to optimize our processes both in terms of the performance of the treated material and in terms of the environmental impact of our processes. I am now much more a physicist and a software guy than a materials man!

Can you describe a recent project you’ve worked on and your contributions to it?

I don’t want to go into specific projects. I would like to stress the power of our digital production platform. Previously, I would travel a lot, managing tests, new developments etc. Now, with our production platform, I can supervise and manage the entire process. I know exactly what’s going on in the oven, what’s happening in the lab. We work and communicate through the same platform, and I am the proud founder of this platform.

What innovative technologies or solutions is Expanite currently developing?

Expanite is increasingly expanding its focus into the realm of traditional heat treatment—a natural progression for us. These advancements, along with several other exciting developments, will soon be launched, and I am eager to see the impact they will have on the industry.

What are some of the biggest technical challenges you face in your work, and how do you overcome them?

It is all about running a streamlined, high quality, low emission process that ensures the quality our customers have come to expect from Expanite. The fine tuning through our digital platform is the way to go.

How does the tech team at Expanite help your customers?

Embedded in our DNA is the willingness to help. Our technical team knows a lot about alloys, and we see ourselves as genuine partners, where transparency is one of our values. Our customers consult us on the use of materials. I believe we have saved our customers a lot of money when we have suggested cheaper alloys that do the job just as good – or better – than the more expensive material, that was originally chosen. The choice of material is sometimes a surprise – I would like to challenge the perception that more expensive materials offer better performance. This is not always the case and with our flexible treatment solutions, there is most often a smarter way. Product development is another area, where we help our customers or the consultancy companies they have hired. Finally, I would like to mention speaking at conferences. I enjoy standing in front of an audience and share our experiences.

What trends do you see in the industry, and how is Expanite preparing for the future?

I like to remove unnecessary steps. And I enjoy optimizing whatever we do. As mentioned, the future is digital. The winners will be those who can control everything digitally. At Expanite, we are at the forefront of this trend.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a technical role at a company like Expanite?

Be ready to innovate. Be open and curious. When you encounter a challenge think: “I have never done this before, therefore I can do it”. Be ready to criticize what has already been established and be agile and ready to disrupt. I still see Expanite as the new boy in the classroom. Within our team there is a lot of trust. We will use that trust and our eagerness to spread our technologies and solutions to new applications and corners of the world.

Can you share a memorable experience or accomplishment during your time at Expanite that stands out?

The development of SuperExpanite was a milestone. I remember I spent my holiday writing the patent application. Another milestone is the development of our digital production platform enabling us to manage and communicate with the ovens. That was a breakthrough

About Expanite

Expanite offers state-of-the-art solutions for surface hardening treatment of stainless steels and titanium. With Expanite’s processes, it is possible to increase the material’s surface hardness tenfold while at the same time maintaining and even increasing its corrosion resistance. Expanite is a global organization with a combined development and production facility near Copenhagen, Denmark, and hardening capacity in both US, Germany, Korea and China. Expanite’s solutions are flexible and can be introduced directly into a customer’s own production line as part of a licensing arrangement. Learn more on www.expanite.com.