INDUSTRY NEWS Deep drawing in focus
Automotive supplier , Zhenjiang Xianfeng Automobile Components Co ., Ltd ., has ordered its third and fourth machine from Schuler . The scope of delivery includes a 400-ton servo press and a 1,250-ton linkdrive press to produce deep drawn parts for motor housings . They will be manufactured at Schuler ’ s production site in China , supported by specialists in Germany and Brazil .
The 1250-ton line is the largest one for Xianfeng so far . It all started back in 2016 with a 160-ton press together with a Bihler machine , followed two years later by another link drive machine with 800 tons of press force . In between , it also ordered dies from Schuler subsidiary , Aweba .
“ The servo press features two exclusively electronically synchronised drive trains in an opposite arrangement , which makes the machine more dynamic . In addition , the pressure points are further out , increasing the possible eccentric load . The 400-ton and 1250-ton machine are both IoT-ready to increase productivity and support the customer ’ s demand for a digital intelligent
stamping workshop in the future . The company wants to more than double its sales and create new performance heights by 2025 , according to its slogan ‘ Dare to be the first , Venture to be the best !’” Schuler told ISMR .
Xianfeng was established in 2002 and employs around 200 people in Jiangsu , Zhenjiang . Four workshops , an office building and a multi-functional building cover a floor space of approximately 40,000 square metres there . Xianfeng is also a partner for customers such as Bosch ; Continental ; Brose ; Tesla ; BYD and Greatwall .
Schuler offers customised technology in all areas of forming , from the networked press to press shop planning . In addition to presses , its products include automation ; dies ; process expertise and service for the entire metalworking industry . Its Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking forming technology .
Automotive supplier , Zhenjiang Xianfeng , has ordered its third and fourth Schuler servo press and mechanical press ( pictured ).
Founded in 1839 at its headquarters at Göppingen , Germany , Schuler has approx . 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe , China and the Americas , as well as service companies in more than 40 countries . The company is part of the international technology group , ANDRITZ . n
www . xfelectronic . com . cn
www . schulergroup . com / stamping _ cutting
KUKA Innovation Award 2024 is open
The new round of the KUKA Innovation Award calls for creativity in robotics for the skilled trades .
“ The best teams can implement their ideas with a KUKA robot , present them at a large trade show and win € 20,000 at the end . Apply now !” German robotics specialist , KUKA explained .
“ The motto of the annual innovation competition in 2024 is ‘ Robots for the People ’. What challenges in craft businesses can robots solve ? Which new interactive applications are possible ? Research teams and young entrepreneurs from all over the world are invited to submit creative and innovative ideas on collaborative robotics for small and medium-sized enterprises ,” it continued .
Concepts can be submitted to KUKA until the end of June 2023 . An international jury of experts will evaluate the best ideas and select the finalists . They will then implement their ideas with the sensitive KUKA lightweight robot LBR iisy and the new KUKA iiQKA operating and ecosystem . The robot will be provided free of charge throughout the competition . Finalists will also receive training and coaching throughout the competition .
“ The final of the Innovation Award traditionally takes place at a major trade show . There , the
KUKA ’ s iiQKA . OS operating system with robot .
teams present their applications to a large professional audience from industry and research as well as media representatives and investors . At the end of the trade show , the winner of the € 20,000 prize is chosen ,” said KUKA .
“ Many tasks in small and medium-sized , craft-related companies are not automated yet . The finalists ’ contribution shall simplify the engineering , set-up and programming or execution of tasks and processes for companies and craftsmen . In that way , the iiQKA and the LBR iisy should be made usable as a flexible tool for machine tending , glue dispensing , quality inspection or other typical automation tasks . Unleash your creativity
and revolutionize how people interact and use robots in their daily work life ,” continued KUKA .
“ Send us your innovative idea , describing use cases where robots today face major challenges in interacting with their real-world environment , including human-robot collaboration . The focus should be on introducing and demonstrating new and interactive methods to personalise and improve usability with our robot . The introduced concept should be versatile and in no way limited to one technical approach to solving a specific use case . Participants are encouraged to present ideas that may lead to or are already close to commercialisation ,” it added .
Applications ( on PDF with max . 12 pages in English ) will be accepted by e-mail to innovationaward @ kuka . com up to 28 June 2023 .
The LBR iisy is a cobot for all production areas . It uses the iiQKA . OS operating system , making it easy to install , configure and program . Tasks can be taught by manual guidance . Using the smart teach pendant , smartPAD pro , any additional programming tasks are , said KUKA , “ as easy as using a smartphone .” n
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