Taking Care of the Consumer
Product Development & Design with Technical Support
ACI doesn’t always go down “proven paths”, but also helps customers navigate in unfamiliar territory. We routinely develop and manufacture products that have never been made in the history of the world. The company actively seeks projects that will be mutually beneficial both for ACI and its customer or partner over the long term.
ACI utilizes its strong Materials Science and Engineering technology to develop and design new products in collaboration with customers. This collaboration is the key as it unlocks the true need or application so that ACI can provide the design to achieve the desired results. By partnering with the ACI Tool & Die shop, new designs and products can be made with the engineering inputs.
ACI offers technical support with all of its products and in support of its customers. Customers use ACI as their ceramic experts going forward to achieve their goals.
Lab Testing
Applied Ceramics maintains two labs in both locations with dedicated staff and equipment to test products and materials. ACI also maintains many relationships with other external labs so that we can work together to offer superior testing information and service.
CONTRACT MANUFACTURING & PRIVATE LABELING
ACI toll manufactures customer directed proprietary bodies and products for a broad range of applications, but can also assist in the development of new materials or products. In collaborating with customers, sometimes it makes more sense for ACI to manufacture products under a private labeling scenario to save time and money. Other times, it can be less expensive to utilize ACI’s equipment or technology to handle capacity constraints at customer’s facilities.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Applied Ceramics (ACI) begins in Atlanta, GA at the present site. ACI provides alumina kiln furniture to 3M-Alsimag, General Electric, Kemet, AVX and other ceramic companies mostly as saggers and plates.
Diversified into the Electronics industry using Zirconia material. Focuses heavily on Barium Titanate Capacitor Industry and supplies all domestic users within the next two years.
Strategic decision to bring on R&D department head and a focus on innovating new products. Mostly materials development leads to multiple formulas and product knowledge for kiln furniture markets. ACI also begins partnering with larger companies to develop and sell new products.
As a part of the strategy to look for new markets, ACI acquires the base technology for the manufacture of ceramic honeycomb, Versagrid™. While these products were originally intended for the kiln furniture industry, it led to many more opportunities. Currently used in the environmental industry, ceramic honeycomb now supports other industries as well such as molten metal filters, mechanical and/or thermal supports and gas or liquid flow control.
ACI begins manufacturing its Firecat™ ceramic honeycomb and supplying the wood burning stove industry. ACI is the only US manufacturer of ceramic wood burning stove products and produces and services all products in both ceramic and metal.
ACI enterers into a venture with the Hyundai group of Korea to produce ceramic honeycomb for the environmental industry. ACI establishes and staffs a Contract R&D team to assist customers with innovative solutions.
ACI enters into a joint venture with General Motors to produce automotive substrates internationally.
ACI acquires United Emissions Catalyst and its catalytic coating capability.
ACI purchases Fisk Tool and its canning capability.
ACI purchases Amazon Ceramics to expand its product offering and its technical ceramic processing knowledge.
ACI purchases another manufacturing facility with a tool shop, expanded laboratory and test facility in Laurens, SC. ACI also operates a full service tool & die shop and laboratory that supports both locations, its ventures and its respective customers.
ACI absorbs NRG Ceramics under an agreement after private labeling products for NRG in the Aerospace and Defense industries since 1984.