PRODUCT REVIEWS
Productivity increase through digitalisation
Schuler and AutoForm , market specialists in their respective fields , have announced their collaboration combining AutoForm ’ s Digital Twin and Schuler ’ s Digital Suite technologies . The two companies will join forces to share their expertise and develop new digital pressshop solutions . These new solutions will be designed to enable customers to eliminate the gap between the virtual and physical worlds i . e . between simulation and the press shop , to further increase productivity .
“ By combining AutoForm ’ s finite elementbased simulation technology , which enables users to efficiently engineer and design robust stamping processes , together with sensor data generated by the press , optimal control parameters for each stamped part can be determined . Control parameters calculated by AutoForm software can then be transferred to Schuler ’ s software . In this way , the full range of the press adjustment capabilities can be applied to optimally control the production process ,” explained software specialist , AutoForm .
By employing the latest Industry 4.0 strategies and leveraging extensive engineering process expertise , these new solutions are designed to enable Schuler and
( L-R ) Domenico Iacavelli ( CEO , Schuler Group ) and Olivier Leteurtre ( CEO of the AutoForm Group ).
AutoForm customers to achieve much greater efficiency in the press shop . According to both companies , the collaboration will enable stampers and automotive part producers to employ real-time press line control strategies , taking them one step further towards ’ zerofailure production ’.
Domenico Iacovelli , CEO of the Schuler Group , stated : “ I am glad that we have initiated a collaboration with AutoForm . By combining AutoForm ’ s Digital Twin and Schuler ’ s Digital Suite technologies , we will enable our customers to integrate the data from engineering all the way through to the press shop operations .”
Olivier Leteurtre , CEO of the AutoForm
Group , added : “ With the combined solution , customers will not only make a smooth and optimised ramp-up but also real-time correction during production cruise to ensure constant high quality , downtime reduction and scrap decrease .”
Schuler offers customer-specific technology in all areas of metalforming – from networked presses to press shop planning . Its product portfolio also includes automation , dies , process expertise and service for the entire metalforming industry . Schuler ’ s Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking metalforming technology . Presses from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries .
AutoForm offers software solutions for sheet-metalforming and BiW assembly process . It is a leading provider of software for product manufacturability , tool and material cost calculation , die face design and virtual stamping as well as BiW assembly process optimisation . n
. schulergroup . com
Lasers crucial for medical technology
Sheet-metal specialist TRUMPF has become an important partner for medical technology manufacturers .
“ Innovative medical devices cannot be manufactured without laser technology . With our lasers , medical technology manufacturers can continue to improve their products . This enables even gentler treatment options for patients ,” said Bernd Block , Medical Technology Industry Manager , TRUMPF . The high-tech company will showcase various laser applications for medical technology at its Medical Photonics in-house trade show .
“ Our laser systems enable manufacturers of medical devices and medical components to process even the smallest of components precisely , flexibly and with consistently high quality . They also enable the use of advanced and biocompatible materials . Medical device manufacturers implement a whole range of applications with technology from TRUMPF such as the welding of pacemakers , cutting of stents and cannulas , marking of reusable surgical instruments or 3D printing of artificial joints and dental implants ,” it told ISMR . The sheet-metal specialist not only
supplies lasers to the medical technology industry , but also provides ongoing support , advising medical technology manufacturers on every phase of product development , from concept to series production .
“ Medical technology manufacturers can test their applications in TRUMPF ’ s laser application centres , for example , and do not have to build their own pilot plants for this purpose ,” said Block . He went on to add that mature manufacturing processes were important . The medical and healthcare industry places high demands on products . For example , medical products must be particularly robust and functional , while complying with numerous material specifications and legal requirements and standards .
A major trend in the medical technology industry is the automation of in-house manufacturing . “ This is particularly evident in the production of high-risk products such as pacemakers . Medical technology manufacturers need standard machines that can be automated , such as those offered by us ,” explained Block .
For example , medical technology manufacturers can very easily combine the company ’ s laser systems with cobots in their production . These robots , which can work with humans without a protective enclosure , load and unload the laser systems with components . Monotonous and physically strenuous movements are therefore eliminated for the machine operators . n