By David Vink, European Plastics News
Oberding-Schwaig, Germany -- Machinery producer KraussMaffei AG has doubled the production area of its KraussMaffei Automation subsidiary in Oberding-Schwaig, near Munich, Germany, to 18 500 sq.ft (1720 sq.m) from 7210 sq.ft.
KM press officer Markus Betsche told European Plastics News, prior to an exclusive visit to the plant, that the company started robot and automation system assembly operations on 1 Nov.
Thomas Marufke, sales and commercial manager at KraussMaffei Automation, said KM also has a 6460 sq.ft plant in the northern German town of Schwerin, close to the Baltic Sea. The Schwerin plant was set up in 2001 and assembles larger linear robot automation systems with payload capability above 25 kg.
Marufke added that KM Automation also offers a "framed solution" that is often delivered overseas. These kinds of systems have a robot, conveyor and test equipment fitted within a frame which is designed to fit snugly into a standard shipment container. This plug-and-produce solution simplifies the teach-in process, according to the company.
Marufke also said that as the complexity of automation systems has increased, so has the need for testing, monitoring and control systems. For example, applying an airbag net to an instrument panel requires data to be collected in order to ensure that only one net, no less or more, is applied.
He also mentioned that there are differences to be taken into account depending on whether the parts are hot or cold. And he pointed out that handling of unstable materials such as handling, cutting and folding textile claddings for plastic parts is one of the more demanding type of task handled by KM Automation systems.
KM Automation supplies systems based on either fast linear robots or so-called industry robots, namely articulated arm multi-axial versions, which are used for more complex tasks.
Marufke says while industry robots are supplied by several robot producers, it requires KM Automation capability to fully integrate such robots into KraussMaffei complete injection moulding production cells.
PIC: Opening the new assembly hall 8 Dec (r-l): Thomas Marufke, Dr Karlheinz Bourdon, Josef Neureder, Mayor Helmut
Lackner, District Administrator Martin Bayerstorfer, Martin Strasser.
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