"ASCO has a solution for every problem"

Mr Vogt, you are the managing director of ‘VT-Strahltechnik’. Please introduce yourself briefly. How long have you been with the company and what motivates you?
My name is Tobias Vogt. I am 32 years old and live in the rural village of Gnutz in Schleswig-Holstein. I am in a relationship and have a 9-month-old son. ‘VT-Strahltechnik’ has been in existence since March 2015. I have been running the company entirely on my own since the start of 2022. Even during my apprenticeship, it was clear to me that I wanted to set up and run my own business. The decision to specialise in this field was finalised when I restored my Golf 1; I was so impressed by sandblasting and dry ice blasting that I wanted to make it my profession.

Give us an overview of your company. What is the core business of “VT-Strahltechnik” and what sets you apart from the competition?
Our core business is currently sandblasting and dry ice blasting. Dry ice production was a brand-new addition in July 2024. We aim to build this into another pillar of our business.
What sets us apart is that we never turn a customer away. We fulfil all requests, regardless of the size of the blasting object. The customer is definitely king with us.

You have hired an ASCO P28i dry ice pelletiser from us. Why did you opt for the ‘ASCO Carefree’ rental model for dry ice production, and how satisfied are you with it?
We chose it because the competition could not offer us a comparable deal. We feel that ASCO provides us with highly competent advice and that we are in good hands. It’s a partnership on equal terms, which makes the collaboration extremely pleasant and friendly.
We deliberately chose to rent rather than buy a pelletiser, as the technology often develops rapidly and this allows us to switch to a newer model – or perhaps even a larger one – once the rental period ends.

What advantages do you see in in-house dry ice production?
Flexibility is undoubtedly the top priority. With a constant supply of fresh dry ice, nothing stands in the way of efficient work. In the event of bottlenecks in day-to-day operations, we can react quickly and produce fresh dry ice within a few hours. If required, we also deliver to customers.

Who are your main customers?
We as a company and other dry ice blasting customers, as well as various firms specialising in refrigerated shipping, freshness preservation, etc.

How would you rate ASCO’s support in planning and the ongoing management of your dry ice production?
The support from our contact at ASCO is outstanding. We receive comprehensive input and support on every issue. ASCO offers a solution for every problem and stands out for its straightforward and very helpful staff. It’s simply a pleasure to work with this company.

What opportunities do you see for expanding your business with ASCO?
In the near future, we would like to commission another pelletiser and also purchase dry ice blasting equipment from ASCO. It is important to us to get everything from a single source.

Finally: Can you share a particular customer experience or memory relating to dry ice that has stayed with you?
A defining experience was the two-year bureaucratic process with the planning authority regarding the approval for our dry ice production. The first time we pressed our own dry ice after receiving the green light was like winning the lottery and will always remain in my memory.