AE2RMO – european agency for overhaul and reconstruction of machine tools

A machine tool becomes “quickly” obsolete, nevertheless its life can be extended and its performance improved by the installation of new equipment.

The evolution of production and technological developments, make it a less competitive tool. It is not always possible to renew the machine pool and the overhaul and reconstruction of a machine may be the solution. Moreover this allows companies keeping tools, machine environment, structure and some components.

Working from A to Z
Only specialists having extensive experience and technical resources are able to guarantee interventions from design to construction of complete overhaul and reconstruction of machines.

Federation of specialists
AE2RMO brings together important players of overhaul-reconstruction of machine-tools throughout a European Agency. The possibilities of exchanging technical and commercial information between different members guarantee the reunification of various skills around a same project.

Kind of machines to be overhauled

• milling machine
• boring machine
• grinding machine
• horizontal lathe
• vertical lathe

Alternative to a new machine
According to the programmed intervention, savings can reach 30 to 60% compared to a new investment.

www.ae2rmo.eu

Service and overhaul for ENC and Deco…

..and much more! In fall 2010 we presented R. Frein CNC Service as being specialized in the supply of spare parts for ENC and Deco machines. Today, with the opening of his workshop dedicated to completely overhaul machines, the service provider offers a still broader range to its customers and potential customers. Meeting with the director Mr. Frein.

After 6 years of presence in the market as a quality provider for service, spare parts and rehabilitation of CNC machines, the company takes an important step since it now offers full overhaul (after a fire, for example) in its new premises. Mr. Frein says: “The complete overhaul in our new workshop can be done for a customer or insurance, but we also offer the possibility to buy old machines for restoration to the original state and resale”. The range of services becomes larger. Who are the customers? How? Why?

A dozen machines in overhaul
With an area of 300 m2 of workshop, the company may fully overhaul a dozen machines in parallel. During my visit, five machines having suffered a fire were pending and two machines belonging to R. Frein CNC Service were being overhauled. “We have also almost 200 m2 for offices and stocks” says the Director. And stock is what differentiates the company. We can talk about spindles for ENC machines, ball screws for Deco or bearings; for example, the stock is available and allows a rapid response in the market. The overhaul of spindle and tool holders as well as standard exchanges are always provided in the repair shop (that has also been moved to Delémont).

R. Frein CNC Service activities

• Service
• Spare parts
• Overhaul on site
• Complete overhaul in the company’s workshop (new 2012)
• Purchase, overhaul, sale (new 2012)

for ENC and Deco machines (other machines on demand)

To be discover at the Siams 2012
For the first time in its history the company will be present at the Siams. Mr. Frein explains: “We offer a wide range of solutions and many customers do not know all of our services. A visit on our booth will be an opportunity for visitors to see all of our skills and their benefits at a glance”.

R. Frein CNC Service Sàrl
Les Places 38
CH-2855 Glovelier
Tél. +41 79 753 55 06
Fax. +41 32 426 91 86
info@frein-cnc-service.ch
www.frein-cnc-service.ch

We will publish a full story in our next issue.

Industrial environmental protection through energy efficiency

In industrial applications, environmental protection often has to give way to commercial interests although both interests may be connected by means of targeted improvements in the fields of energy efficiency. This definitely makes sense not just for technical reasons but also since the number of norms and standards is rocketing upwards.

LTA Air Filter type AC 3001 with EC blower

LTA pursues two strategies pertaining to the suction of machine tools in close cooperation with the machine and plant manufacturers.

High efficiency electrostatic filters
For the separation of aerosols, electrostatic filter systems are favored for the reasons below. Not only are such systems characterized by a very high efficiency (up to 99% in new condition), but they also function with filter elements which are completely regenerative and almost free of pressure-loss. This allows for reducing the output of the conveyor blowers to a minimum while the disposal costs are limited to the drain water when cleaning the filters. The fact that just minimum cooling lubricant is lost during the transition into the gaseous state when using electrostatic separation is another positive effect.

Custom-made filters
Applications where the electrostatic filter can only be used in a limited way, are equipped with “custom-tailored” mechanical filter systems. In such cases, the flow conditions must be optimized in order to realize 100% suction with low volume flow rates.  Such optimizations then make it possible to grant the capture of the aerosols with minimum energy input while simultaneously extending the life of the filter elements to a maximum. As expansion stages, the filter systems by LTA may also be equipped with EC blowers which are distinguished by their very high efficiency.

Optimised ROI
The company presents a sample calculation for 2-shift operation and approx. 4,000 operating hours per year. At this point, savings reach 39% and the amortization after 1.3 years or 5,400 operating hours.

To know more you can visit the company at GrindTec on Hall 5, booth 5101

LTA Lufttechnik GmbH
Junkerstraße 2
77787 Nordrach,  Germany
Phone +49 (0)7838 84-245
Fax +49 (0)7838 84-308
info@lta.de
www.lta.de

SIAMS and World Medtech Forum Lucerne partner for medical technologies

New episode in the recent evolutions on the Swiss (micro)technical exhibition’s landscape: the unexpected move of mediSiams to Lucerne. This year is a very special one for Siams SA as there will be both Siams and Medisiams the same year!

The organisers announced yesterday that mediSiams will be encapsulated into the World Medtech Forum in Lucerne (WMTF) from 25 to 27 September 2012. A strategic partnership has been concluded to offer a good potential of grow and international visibility to mediSiams, the trade show of the Arc jurassien dedicated to the production means in microtechnology.

The organisers. i.e. Medical Cluster, Medtech Switzerland, Messe Luzern AG and Siams SA create a superb platform to promote medical technologies and strengthen the Swiss pole of excellence for research, development and manufacture of medical products. The four partners work to make the World Medtech Forum Lucerne a compelling global event for the field of medical technology.

Open to the world
For companies active in manufacturing in medical sectors, going to Lucerne and benefitting from a very large programme of added value will allow them to maximize their participation. For French speaking companies, the move also opens a little bit more their presence to German speaking area of Switzerland (and to the world indeed).

A programme like no other
I discussed with Peter Biedermann, CEO of Medical Cluster yesterday and the organisers aim high: they work to create an event like the Davos Forum dedicated to medical. In fact, it is even more than that as the WMTF is complemented by a very professional and targeted trade show. Mr. Biedermann is convinced that the WMTF will become a “must attend” for any company active in high precision medical design and manufacturing from all around the world.

For more information:
Patrick Linder, Head of communication Siams SA
Patrick.Linder@Siams.ch
+41 (0) 32 492 70 10
+41 (0) 78 819 85 87

We will come back on the programme of the WMTF and the move of mediSiams soon.

One-stop shopping for manufacturers of special-purpose machinery

“To buy or to make it by yourself”. Engineers in the fields of special-purpose machinery and assembly automation no longer face this issue in their day-to-day business — if they know about Misumi.

“One-stop shopping” at Misumi: Even for simple components, several parts are required. Finding all with the same source is very efficient and cost effective.

Standard components such as guides and stoppers are used in a wide range of industrial applications. Stoppers, for example, consist of a block with two fine threads and mounting holes, a damper, a stopper bolt and two tightening screws. This parts list entails a complex procurement process for a relatively simple component — requesting a quote and placing an order with two suppliers, waiting for the goods to arrive and conducting quality control after receipt, as well as carrying out invoice verification and accounting processes. The stopper block is manufactured externally; this also involves creating and sending a drawing. Three supply sources and various working steps — this workload can be considerably reduced by procuring parts from Misumi Europe GmbH, the full-range supplier of mechanical standard, purchased and custom-made parts from Schwalbach, Germany. Because cost-effective manufacturing starts small.

Produced on demand
All the necessary components can be found in the comprehensive two-volume main catalogue “Mechanical Components for Special Purpose Machinery and Assembly Automation” 2011/2012, as well as in the eCatalog on the Misumi website. Length, width, height, bores, threads, load capacity — the online configuration tool allows visitors to tailor the components to order. The corresponding CAD models for such orders are available for immediate download, along with binding prices and delivery times. If all the details are correct, the order can be placed directly via the eShop.

To help its customers stay focused
For EUR 56.32, for example, the complete component can be ready for assembly within eight working days. Free delivery is available within Germany; Misumi does not apply any minimum quantity charges or minimum order values. Alongside the good-value, quality components, the administrative cost is reduced considerably. Thanks to the reduction in the workload and the time required, various departments have more capacity to focus on their core business.

Misumi Europa GmbH
Katharina-Paulus-Str. 6
65824 Schwalbach/Ts., Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 61 96 77 46 0
Fax +49 (0) 61 96 77 46 360
www.misumi-europe.com

Prime showcase for nanotechnology in Switzerland

The Swiss NanoConvention 2012 will bring together Swiss and international leaders from science and industry in the field of «nano», key figures in innovation and technology, entrepreneurs, investors, administrators and politicians.

The Swiss NanoConvention 2012 will be a platform for connecting people, networking, debating and exchanging ideas – or even generating new ones. Key players will be able to gather the best available information on the potential, but also on the risks of one of the key emerging technologies of the 21st century, and its opportunities for innovative technologies, products and services.

 

22-24 May 2012 in Lausanne

The Swiss NanoConvention 2012 is the place to

• meet international and Swiss experts in Nanotech
• listen and discuss about Nanotech for Energy, Life sciences, ICT, Consumer Products and Air & Water Quality
• exchange on safety issues of Nanotech

The Swiss NanoConvention 2012 will be held in parallel with the new industrial fair on High Precision and Microtechnology Lausannetec and include many satellite events:

• CTI Micro-Nano Event
• Investment Forum NanoCom
• NanoDiaRA Workshop
• iCAN Swiss Qualification
• meet@nano Brokerage Event

More information on www.swissnanoconvention.ch

Swiss Nanoconvention
c/o FSRM
Ruelle DuPeyrou 4
2000 Neuchâtel
T. +41 (0)32 720 09 00
F. +41 (0)32 720 09 90
info@swissnanoconvention.ch

The solution for prototypes and small series

In our issue number 375, we wrote about Proto Labs, the “Amazon.com” of subcontracting. In this article we emphasized the novelty of this service largely based on the web and embedded intelligence of “supercomputers” of the company to respond very quickly to all solicitations. We also introduced the “virtual and dehumanized” aspects that some clients could feel. About a year has passed and we met with Mr. Bernard Faure, responsible for France, Switzerland and Belgium as well as Richard Vaughan European marketing responsible to see the evolution of the company and the perceptions of users and potential. [[Don’t miss the full article in our next issue]].

The company is specialized in the realization of prototypes and small series by milling and injection molding with very short deadlines and in “good material”. Proto Labs has three production centers, one in the US, one in Japan and one in England to serve Europe.

Reactivity as competitive asset
If customers are less accustomed to order online in Europe than in the US, the benefits in terms of speed and flexibility are so high that Proto Labs’s business thrives well. Mr Faure says: “The decision to work with Proto Labs is generally taken under the pressure of deadlines and often our customers start with a few parts to challenge us. As the calculations are largely automated and rely on our knowledge base which is complemented every day, the response time is very fast for quotations. In the case of an order everything is already prepared and we can start to produce at once”. The reactivity of the company is so high that production’s time corresponds to a standard response time to a request for quotation on the market. Mr. Faure adds: “We are officially announcing a maximum 24-hour response time for quotations, but in the vast majority of cases we respond within hours. Production then requires from 24 hours to three weeks depending on technical possibilities and choices of the customers”.

New staff for the French speaking markets
To deal with the growth of its activity in France, Switzerland and Belgium, the company has reinforced its teams, including a Customer Support Engineer  specialised in plastics industry who comes from the world of molds design and manufacturing. Bernard Faure adds: “Thanks to the experience of our support engineer and his knowledge of “this world”, French speaking customers of Proto Labs will benefit from advanced technical support directly in French”.

Word-of-mouth to the service of the company
Once one has tasted Proto Labs services, it becomes very difficult to do without. Indeed the computer system allows customers to validate the design of their parts directly, then the company’s reactivity can help them reduce time to market. M Faure says: “Word-of-mouth is very positive for Proto Labs. It is not uncommon that engineers who change of companies resume working with us with their new company while the former continues to use our services”. The only constraint to spreading this way of doing? The company is forced to overcome the apprehension of the online order and must of course keep its promises in terms of reactivity and quality. Mr. Vaughan concludes: “We are organized to ensure this responsiveness; our deadlines are naturally met, even if they seem extraordinary for the market”.

To support activities across Europe, Proto Labs has sales and technical support offices in France and Germany.
For more information
Proto labs
Bernard Faure
Savoie-Technolac
18 Allée du Lac St. André
73382 Le Bourget du Lac Cédex
France
Phone +33 (0) 479 65 46 50  Fax +33 (0) 479 65 46 51
bernard.faure@protolabs.fr

In the UK:  richard.vaughan@protolabs.co.uk

First cut – CNC machining: www.firstcut.eu
Protomold – Injection: www.protomold.fr

From the project to industrialisation: The one-stop service

Today in almost all areas, men-machine interfaces use electronic devices and require always more advanced skills in “electronic development and industrialization”. In the industry, a breakdown often means “loss of production”, therefore manufacturers of machines and appliances must offer electronic solutions of high quality. We met with Mr. Patrick Roy, head of sales and Marketing at Cloos Electronic, specialist of custom electronic solutions supplier.

“The trend today is very often that the customer contacts us with a more or less clear idea and we determine together the specifications of the electronic card and even its integration into its cabinet” – P. Roy

The activities of the company are mainly grouped into three areas for which Cloos Electronic can provide a complete service ranging from development to set up including every step of production. These three fields are:

• electric cabinets
• electronic cards
• electronic apparatus and various accessories.

The company of le Locle is one of the few in Switzerland able to provide all these services under one roof and the company’s skills are largely recognized. True architect, Cloos Electronic positions itself as a partner of its customers to help them manage all aspects at any moments of the life of their products.

Outsourcing is no longer a problem
For a company an outsourcing project can quickly become a jigsaw puzzle, between non-updated procedures available internally, lack of transparency or retention of information, it is sometimes difficult to assign part of its operations to an external partner. With Cloos Electronic, the realization of the technical file is an element which made the success of the company. In this regard Mr. Roy says: “When a customer wishes to outsource part or all of its production, our specialists are going to work in the customer’s company to really understand its needs and build the technical file. It will be our knowledge base to ensure quality work”. Once this step passed, Cloos Electronic offers a secure gateway to its customers that can connect to the ERP system and track the progress of their orders in real time.

High-end products
Reactivity and skills of Cloos Electronic let the company deal with all requests in batch sizes that goes with high-end products. In terms of price the company has nothing to envy to its European or Asian competition. Finally Mr. Roy says: “We are clearly in an expansion phase, we have streamlined our workflow, increased our production capacity, and many companies will soon benefit from our services”.

You too?

Cloos Electronic
Jambe Ducommun 8
CH – 2400 Le Locle
Tel. +41 32 931 74 74
Fax +41 32 931 74 78
Patrick.roy@cloos.ch
www.cloos.ch

We will publish a detailled article on Coos Electronic in a further issue of Eurotec.

Tornos unveils a new website

At the recent EMO in Hannover the Swiss company presented quite a lot of novelties regarding machines and solutions, today the producer unveils a new website, evolution or revolution? We called Brice Renggli Head of Marketing to chat about it.

At first glance the new website seems full of information but we can find our way quite efficiently. Those willing to find quick information about a machine will be satisfied as well as those looking for investor relations information. But there is more as the website also includes basic information on Swiss type turning, milling and also surface processing (as a new addition in the company’s product portfolio) or tips and tricks.

Why a new website
“It’s been a while since we completely changed our website (read: more than 5 years; i.e. quite a long time on the web) and we wanted to offer our products a nice and efficient actualized showcase” says Brice Renggli.

Quick interview
Eurotec: Your new website comprises more than 1’000 pages per language, isn’t it a weak point to find the information quickly?
Brice Renggli: In fact the amount of information is not really relevant on that case, either you have a good system of navigation or you don’t have it. In developing this new website we’ve had some clear objectives and a better access to information was our top priority.

Eurotec: What are the main differences for customers?
Brice Renggli: As I said above, first a far better ergonomics and way to find information, then better quality on every media (like video) and with better users experiences on any device (smartphones for instance). They can also use a search function that works very well, again to ensure quick access to the information.

Eurotec: Do you have a system open to the future… and how often will you make the website evolve?
Brice Renggli: The system we have chosen allows us to be very active and it is our aim to make it alive indeed. Regarding the future, we have a lot of projects to give more value to visitors and customers. We think about password protected accesses with dedicated content and much more, but it’s too early to discuss about these.

Tornos completely renews its image on the web, it’s worth paying them a visit. We will come back on new services as soon as we know more.

TORNOS S.A.
Rue Industrielle 111
CH-2740 MOUTIER
Suisse
Tel. +41 32 494 44 44
Fax +41 32 494 49 03
www.tornos.com

Making Laser marking as easy as printing

Trumpf has become the first manufacturer of laser marking systems to connect a laser directly to SAP R/3 via a standard printer interface. TruMark marking lasers can now be hooked up and integrated with SAP systems just as easily as conventional inkjet and toner printers.

TruMark marking lasers can now be connected and integrated with SAP systems just as easily as standard inkjet and toner printers. Photo: Trumpf Group

The connection is established using the driver interface for printers included in the SAP® Printer Vendor program. The marking laser takes on the role of a printer, with the surface of the workpiece replacing the label or paper. This allows users to work from within the SAP system to apply company logos, model designations, codes and serial numbers to parts using a laser – without requiring any programming skills or additional software. The laser parameters required for a wide range of materials are included as part of the marking software package.

No additional software or hardware
Support for the SAP standard eliminates the need to invest in and maintain additional hardware and software, and direct marking of parts minimizes the use of consumables by applying the labeling information directly to the parts themselves. The surface markings are robust and durable and are designed to last for the duration of the product’s service life.
The decision to use a standard interface hugely simplifies the integration process. Trumpf’s new SAP driver is the perfect tool for customers with business models which use SAP to process orders immediately prior to dispatch, moving from the webshop to the labeling stage without switching between multiple media.

For further information about the company, please visit www.trumpf.com

Trumpf GmbH + Co. KG
Johann-Maus-Straße 2
71254 Ditzingen
Germany