Celebrating 4 years of PI-KEM Hart!
This summer we are celebrating 4 years since the PI-KEM Group acquired Hart Materials to become PI-KEM Hart! Specialising in high performance metals, metallic composites and chemicals for advanced technology applications, we’ve supported a wide range of industrial and academic customers over the last four years. We have also strengthened our supplier relationships, and continued to grow the business. Read on to learn more about the PI-KEM Hart story…
A Brief History of Hart Materials
Founded by industrial chemist Dr Tony Hart in 1981, Hart Coating Technology supplied the surface coating industry with specialist raw materials. The company experienced early success supplying the nickel electroforming industry, and the supply of nickel-based materials remains a large part of PI-KEM Hart to this day. In 1982, the business was appointed as a distributor for US metallic materials manufacturer, Novamet Specialty Products Corporation, which is still hugely beneficial to the business to date.
By 2008, the company had experienced sustained growth, leading to it become a limited company under the name Hart Materials Ltd. This broadened Hart’s customer base beyond coating applications, and increased their product range to over one hundred different powders, flakes, and chemicals. Hart Materials continued to thrive for the next 13 years, working primarily with industrial customers and becoming widely recognised for their expertise within the Novamet materials range. Upon reaching the 40 years milestone, it was then time for a new chapter of Hart Materials…
The Story of PI-KEM Hart
In 2021 with a desire to expand, and recognising the similarities between the two businesses, PI-KEM acquired Hart Materials, launching PI-KEM Hart. This provided an exciting opportunity to enter new research areas, expand product ranges, and reaching more industrial customers.
PI-KEM Hart specialises in nickel-based products, offering a variety of forms such as nickel powders, oxides, flakes (in various grades), and nickel-coated graphite. These products support a wide range of applications across many different industries:
- Nickel Electroforming
- EMI and RFI Shielding
- Solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolyser cells
- Nickle-based batteries
- Magnetic applications
- Decorative coatings
- Coloured glass
Reflecting on The Last Four Years
Over the last 4 years we have been able to strengthen our position with our key supply partners such as Novamet Specialty Products and Potters Industries, and acquire new a distributorship of Ultra Fine Specialty Products - a manufacturer of high-quality metal and alloy powders through gas atomization, primarily used in metal injection molding and additive manufacturing.
Bringing Hart Materials into the PI-KEM Group as PI-KEM Hart was a strategic move that significantly expanded our reach. Hart Materials brought with it an established network of industrial customers, allowing us to deepen our engagement with them. This acquisition also enabled PI-KEM Hart to extend its offerings to academic customers, aligning with our mission to serve both sectors. This expanded network strengthens our position as a key supplier for both academic and industrial needs.
The formation of PI-KEM Hart has led us to pursue ISO-9001 accreditation for both PI-KEM and PI-KEM Hart. This decision was driven by the requirements of existing Hart Materials customers.
ISO-9001 is an internationally recognised standard for quality management, and holding this accreditation is our commitment to consistently supply high-quality products and continually improve our services. We worked with Malcolm Gibbs from Q&A Management Services Ltd to design our initial ISO system.
The focussed PI-KEM Hart team comprises of four colleagues with expert knowledge of our metal powders and granules. These are: Colin Rouse - Managing Director, Jade Westwood - Sales Support Manager, Dr William Rowlands - Business Development Manager and Emma Shott - Executive Assistant.
Our team has an in-depth understanding of our products ranges, and their strong relationships with key contacts at Novamet and Ultra Fine ensure that all customer enquiries are answered with confidence.
PI-KEM Hart is underpinned by the wider PI-KEM team, including operations, customer service, accounts and marketing with each of these teams playing a crucial role in supporting the core PI-KEM Hart team. Collectively, the departments work in together to support PI-KEM Hart's mission of delivering outstanding customer service and value.
Hart Materials Founder – Dr. Tony Hart
Sadly, Tony passed away in 2022, however his legacy lives on within PI-KEM Hart and through our customers who continue to push boundaries within the scientific industry.
Tony, an industrial chemist, graduated with a Higher Doctorate Degree in Technology. His academic credentials proved to be a strong foundation and he quickly became a chemical and metallurgical industry expert, working with the European Committee for Surface Treatment, The Institute of Materials Finishing, and the Surface Engineering Association, to name but a few.
Commenting on his admission of Fellow of ‘The Royal Society of Chemistry’ on 17th June 2016:
“I am delighted to receive this grade of membership with a body as important and prestigious as the ‘The Royal Society of Chemistry’. Since my childhood, the only career that I have ever been interested in, was that of an industrial chemist. I still have a love for this discipline and a pride in the huge range of improvements that chemistry has made to the wellbeing of the human race.”
Major initiatives under his direction included setting up and chairing the Nickel Working Group and, as a world expert in nickel electroforming, he pushed the boundaries of development, for which he won several awards.
As an author of over fifty technical publications and owner of six patents, Tony was a ‘hands-on scientist with a distinct inventive spark’ and aimed to drive innovation forward by combining technical expertise and commercial know-how.
Looking to the Future
As we celebrate this Hart anniversary, we reflect on our journey of growth, collaboration, and commitment to delivering high-performance materials for advanced technology applications. Our dedicated team continues to support our global customer base, ensuring material quality and ‘right first time’ service excellence. PI-KEM Hart is excited to continue building on our successes and contribute to our customers innovations through the supply of high-quality materials. We look forward to continuing our relationships with current customers and suppliers, as well as having the opportunity to develop new ones.
Discover HERE how PI-KEM Hart can support your projects with our extensive range of products and expertise.
Learn more about Novamet Specialty Products
Learn more about Potters Industries
Learn more about Ultra Fine Specialty Products
