Manufacturing solutions for emerging markets

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the world economy will grow by 3.5% this year, with the impetus coming less from Europe but rather more from dynamic, newly industrialised countries. One example is the automotive industry. According to the association for the German automotive industry (VDA) China’s share of the market in passenger cars increased by 59% and that of Brazil by 18% during the first few months of 2013. The same market is also growing apace in India and Russia. For a long time, new production facilities have been planned or are under construction, providing great opportunities for the mechanical engineering industry – as the example of EMAG proves. Specialists are developing turnkey manufacturing systems that are tailor-made to suit specific market conditions, with the new production facilities in particular gaining massively from the activity.

Whether automotive or energy supply industry, the development of industrial key sectors within the BRIC states (Brazil, Russia, India, China) has a direct influence on the mechanical engineering industry, as it is this branch that, in the end, has to supply the necessary manufacturing solutions. There are numerous indicators for this. For instance, according to Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad will – over the next three years – will see an investment of €3 billion (US$39 billion) in six assembly facilities and fifteen sub-supply companies for the national automotive industry, with more international sub-suppliers also establishing outlets in the market.  Similar activities are reported from Brazil. According to Anfavea, the country’s automobile association, about US$22 billion are to be invested in production between now and 2015. In India, economic growth is generally attracting “an abundance of investment projects in the country’s infrastructure, as well as in new industrial complexes,” states GTAI.

That the German mechanical engineering industry is prepared for such a dynamic development and the opportunities it provides can be seen in the textbook case of EMAG. Their specialists see themselves as “partners in solutions” for the metalworking industry. Such an approach is of great importance, especially in the emerging markets. “As it happens, we don’t just deliver a machine tool. We deliver closely pinpointed manufacturing solutions that are, in every respect, tailor-made to customer requirements”, explains Dieter Kollmar, Managing Director of EMAG Holding GmbH. “This applies, of course, to typical factors such as batch sizes, component variants or, more generally, the flexibility of the processes applied. At the same time, we determine locally the technologies, automation equipment, interfaces and control systems required. “The advantages for the customer are obvious, especially so where an existing production line is extended or where a manufacturing facility has to be created from scratch in a new market place. Our manufacturing systems are always from a single source.“ Even complex processes with peripheral machines and equipment are presented as turnkey projects, thus considerably reducing the efforts of local production planners.

Highly effective space saver
That this requirement is an important part of an impressive development becomes clear with the VL 2 and the VT 2-4 machines. The VL 2 is a pick-up turning machine with which the EMAG engineers are fulfilling a combination of two extreme demands: highest possible output rates on the smallest possible footprint. “This is a truly all-important aspect”, confirms Dieter Kollmar. “Although the floor space requirement for this vertical turning machine is just about 5 square meters, it is of an all-embracing specification, including fully comprehensive automation concept with conveyor belt,New Balance Mens Shoes