Optimum solution for a series production job

For machinery producers, it’s always a rather special design challenge when manufacturers are seeking an optimum solution for a series production job. Possible choices include rotary table systems, transfer centres or CNC units. At the EMO Hannover 2013, there will be an abundance of solutions for this purpose on show, not least from MAG, G?ppingen, and the Swiss Starrag Group.

“A line’s useful lifetime is 20 years, but a workpiece lasts for only seven: this means the production system is going to see at least three generations of components” is how Dr. Manfred Berger, President Automotive Europe at MAG Europe GmbH from G?ppingen, describes the tricky job profile involved. The company meets these requirements from its customers for modern-day production systems in most cases with versatile manufacturing systems based on single and twin-spindle CNC units, which, says Manfred Berger “are commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as machining centres”.

The CNC unit dominates

At MAG, the CNC units continue to dominate, accounting for about 90 per cent of machinery sales. When difficult components are involved, specialised machines are used. “The trend nowadays is definitely towards aluminium workpieces for cars, and thus lighter metal-cutting with CNC units”, the expert explains. “We make particular use of transfer machines in cases where workpieces of grey cast iron have to be produced in very large quantities.” For these components (batch size >600,000 a year) and aluminium workpieces (> one million a year) with limited part diversity, he adds, not only transfer lines but also rotary machines operate very efficiently with high levels of productivity. Transfer centres are specialised solutions, offering a high level of productivity thanks to their multiple-spindle design, coupled with the flexibility of a travelling device. Drill heads and devices can be easily changed over. To quote Manfred Berger: “Transfer centres thus marry the productivity of a transfer machine to the flexibility of a CNC unit. They are ideally suited for use with high workpiece volumes and limited part diversity.”

But what will visitors to the EMO Hannover 2013 see on MAG’s stand, what “machine variant” will be showcased? Manfred Berger is unable and unwilling to divulge any details, but he’s at least prepared to reveal some trends: “Within the framework of our “Intelligent investment – efficient production” initiative, we shall at the EMO Hannover 2013 also be progressing the in-depth efficacy of our foresightful corporate planning, ouNike Jordan Super Fly 4