HELLER WerkTage 2011: Impressively practice-oriented and benefit-oriented

WerkTage held at the headquarters of Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH in Nürtingen has become an institution that never fails to leave a lasting impressing on its visitors. For the fourth time now, Heller again welcomed more than 450 visitors to Nürtingen for this in-house event which took place from 13 to 15 July, 2011 under the motto “Treffpunkt Praxis” (Meeting place for experts).

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This year’s WerkTage again focused on intensive technical discussions with technology experts, guided plant tours and demonstrations at the company’s own TechnologyCenter. In contrast to other comparable events, Heller’s intention was to provide much more than just information. That is why Marketing Director Marcus Kurringer believes that one of highlights of this year’s event was that customers for the first time had the opportunity to give their own presentations. “Heller is offering practice-oriented complete solutions for a wide range of different industries. The manufacturing solutions these industries require are just as diverse. That is why it was important to us to show our visitors new approaches to enhance competitiveness by example of projects implemented at our customers’ production facilities.” On 13 July, Josef Zrinski, Managing Director of Zrinski AG in Wurmlingen, presented one such real-life example to visitors. His presentation focused on the feasibility of precise machining of small batches at high-volume prices in aerospace and medical engineering. Franz Zehetmeier, Director of the Leistungszentrum Hydraulik of F.X. Meiller Fahrzeug- und Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG in Munich showed how 24/7 production and automation solutions can help to increase productivity. Topics discussed on 14 July were no less interesting. The first speaker was Hans-Jürgen Rinner, Production Manager at Albert Handtmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG. He explained how sustainable productivity is achieved at the company’s plant in Biberach by adequate organisation and the use of flexible manufacturing systems. Following the presentation, Rainer Schlagenhauf, Managing Director of Power-Hydraulik GmbH in Sulz took a critical look at energy efficiency and presented practical measures for achieving energy savings on a machining centre whilst optimising the deep-hole drilling process. On 15 July, Roland Bernhard, Head of Maintenance at MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH demonstrated how to maintain the availability of the machines whilst assuring and increasing quality through continual and organised maintenance in his presentation titled „Total Productive Maintenance“: goals, strategies and activities in maintenance.” Stefan Seeger, Production Manager at Arburg GmbH & Co. KG in Lossburg concluded the presentations with a special treat: his presentation was titled „One Piece Flow“ with a vast diversity of parts and minimal batch sizes. The presentation focussed on how Arburg managed to reduce the company’s delivery times by 50 % whilst doubling the range of machines and quadruplicating the variants machined.

 

Process competence live

As in previous years, visitors to WerkTage 2011 again had the opportunity to participate in three guided plant tours focussing on application assembly, production and sub-assembly installation as well as large-part production and final assembly. The high performance of Heller’s 4-axis and 5-axis machining centres was demonstrated at the company’s TechnologyCenter. Among the processes presented was high-performance machining of cast iron including the use of an out-facing slide on a horizontal machining centre model H 6000. Machining of a herringbone-toothed gear was demonstrated live on 5-axis machining centre model MCH 280-C and by means of simulation on a virtual machine. Visitors also had the chance to see simultaneous 5-axis machining of intake ports in aluminium and plastic parts on an FT 4000 equipped with Heidenhain control and fork head.

There was much going on at the 2011 edition of Heller WerkTage, which again proved to be an impressive event. The technical and solution-oriented input and the exchange of experience with the speakers and other experts are sure to guarantee that Nürtingen will again be a meeting place for experts in 2012.

 

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