When Industry 4.0 took off in Germany it rapidly made it to the headlines. With the digital agenda of the federal government it received highest political priority. But where stands Industry 4.0 in reality? By Dipl-Ing Nikolaus Fecht and Dr Andreas Thoss on behalf of EuroBLECH.
The Performer S notcher is capable of producing laminations for electric motors and generators in a variety of sizes—it can notch blanks with diameters of 80 to 1,800 millimetres.
Schuler is focusing in particular on new growth markets in China and other emerging markets. In spring this year, the company’s acquisition of a majority stake in Chinese press manufacturer Yadon is expected to be finally closed. The necessary approval from China’s anti-trust authorities has now been received.
Schuler has just announced that they have received an order for a press facility by Japanese heat exchangers manufacturers Hisaka, for their production site in Malaysia this year. The 15,000 tonne hydraulic press is expected to begin operations by the middle of next year.
Schuler’s Crossbar Robot 4.0 receives prestigious Red Dot Award for product design.
The Red Dot Award in the category “Industry, Machines and Robot Technology” went to the press manufacturer Schuler. An international jury of experts chose the Crossbar Robot 4.0 ahead of more than 4,900 other entries. The award will be officially presented at a gala evening inside the Red Dot Design Museum at UNESCO world heritage site Zeche Zollverein, Essen, on June 29, 2015.
The Hydraulic division of Schuler Service has received its third major order within twelve months: the modernization of nine tryout presses for the Toolmaking department of AUDI AG. The lines were supplied in 1998 by press manufacturer Müller Weingarten, which Schuler acquired in 2007.
Göppingen, Germany: The press manufacturer Schuler has recorded growth in new orders of 2.6 percent to €1.19 billion (US$1.31 billion) in its fiscal year 2014. “We achieved significant growth in Asia, including one of the largest orders in our 175-year history. We also received major orders in new market segments, such as equipment for the production of large pipes,” stated the company’s CEO Stefan Klebert. The Asian market accounted for 34.1 percent of total new orders and was the second-largest sales market after Europe (45.9 percent).
As part of an investment program totalling over €90 million, the company is investing some €10 million to build a demonstration centre in Tianjin, some 150 km south-east of Beijing. The reason behind building this centre in China is simple.
“There is growing interest in China for presses with our modern ServoDirect Technology,” stated Mr Klebert. The company said that the centre will be one of eight customer centres around the world.
China plays a central role in the company’s strategy and is the source of one third of its revenues. The company aims to serve the mid-price segment in Asia better in future “as we see huge growth potential here,” said Mr Klebert.
Schuler's Crossbar Robots are used to transfer parts from one stage of a press line to the next. They can remove up to four parts at a time from the die, change their orientation where necessary, and place them directly into the next die.
The manufacturer says the robot is suitable for automating conventional mechanical and hydraulic press lines - also for loading and unloading - as well as for retrofitting existing lines.
A modified drive system with two motors and transmission has boosted the robot's speed - and halved its weight: making the 'artificial arm' some 20 percent more dynamic. The maximum load (including tooling), however, has remained unchanged at 90 kilograms.
The robot is based on a six-axis industrial robot, to which Schuler's engineers have added a further two axes. These represent the hand of the robot arm and the horizontal drive, thus increasing maneuverability, flexibility and output.
