FACE TO FACE
The company is continuing to expand its activities in artificial intelligence( AI), with its vision to become“ the leading user and leading provider of AI solutions in our industry.” It has been strengthening and coordinating its AI activities with a new competence centre to make internal processes more efficient, with the help of AI.
The sheet metal specialist recognises AI’ s potential for increasing productivity in, for example, software development and administrative areas. It also continues to bring more AI innovations to market for its customers in the machine tool, laser technology and electronics sectors. This included the launch of a solution for the automated sorting of 2D laser-cut parts using SortMaster Vision last October at the EuroBLECH exhibition in Hanover( Germany). This enables a robot to autonomously recognize separated metal parts using AIsupported image recognition.
Dr. Stephan Mayer( centre) and Dr. Hagen Zimer( right) debated AI at INTECH.
“ AI is a‘ must-have’ for today’ s manufacturers,” explained Dr. Stephan Mayer, TRUMPF CEO for Machine Tools, at INTECH.“ There is a lot of commoditisation globally in today’ s hardware( machines, lasers and optics etc.). So, the next step is how to leverage this technology and make it more‘ intelligent’. AI integrated into TRUMPF machines can achieve this. With global labour shortages affecting manufacturers worldwide, automation and AIenabled machinery can help to plug the gaps and differentiate our customers’ production operations. AI is already helping to make automation more robust( using assisted vision applications, for example), with no manual programming needed.”
“ AI is a tool that we use to make our customers more successful,” agreed Dr. Hagen Zimer, TRUMPF CEO for Laser Technology, explaining how the company uses software, sensors and data mining to help its customers to streamline and refine their production operations.“ We want to use AI to eventually guarantee the quality of our customers’ shopfloor operations.”
However, AI is also a disruptive technology that will engender changes to the way that manufacturers, such as TRUMPF, operate and will affect business models. Both Mayer and Zimer outlined some of the challenges with the technology( around acceptance, compliance etc.). That said, there are still numerous applications for AI in sheet metal production. Sheet metal manufacturers need high levels of quality, productivity and machine run-time. AI-analysed data gives TRUMPF a window into each of these areas, which it flags to customers and immediately acts upon.
Reliable data is key to AI learning capabilities and TRUMPF has accordingly invested significantly in data gathering and data security over the last few years. The first step was to standardise( TRUMPF chose the OPC-UA industry standard) to gather the data and connect its machinery to the internet.
“ Today, we have connected over 6,000 machines online and receive continuous data in real-time. One key benefit of this, as we are demonstrating here at INTECH, is the remote performance-monitoring function. We use AI algorithms to examine the machine data in real-time and can use this to diagnose and correct any issues. This is important because it moves us and our customers into more of a preventive performance management and preventive maintenance environment,” highlighted Stephan Mayer.
Looking into the future, both men see hightech AI camera systems eventually replacing sophisticated sensor systems in machinery.
Laser technology in focus
Electromobility
Without digitally networked lasers, optics, sensors and software, many past and future innovations in electromobility would not be possible. Laser plays a crucial role in the production of electric cars. It speeds up the production of electric motors, makes it possible to weld copper connections in the vehicle’ s high-performance electronics, and provides greater power and range for the electric car’ s battery. TRUMPF is a partner to all major battery and electric car manufacturers in Asia, Europe and the USA.
“ TRUMPF offers laser applications for the entire process chain of battery production as well as for the production of electric motors and for the high-performance electronics of electric cars. We serve the entire spectrum,” confirmed Johannes Bührle, Director Global Business Development & Global Battery Sales, TRUMPF.
E-mobility has been a success story for TRUMPF with some e-car manufacturers ordering triple-digit numbers of TRUMPF lasers. So, what are the laser applications in electric mobility? The battery is the most expensive part of an electric car. To be more competitive, manufacturers need to produce batteries more cheaply.
Battery pack housing.
Car parts processed by TRUMPF lasers.
Battery pack housings.
Battery pack display.
ISMR May 2025 | ismr. net | 29