(847) 934-4500

Contact us today:

Tag Archives: Press Release

The Press Shop of the Future Starts Today

Schuler’s Digitalization & Modernization Workshop provided innovative and practical solutions for creating a fully networked press shop

Canton, MI, March 2, 2023Schuler North America, subsidiary of Schuler Group GmbH, hosted a Digitalization & Modernization Workshop last week. The workshop was also the grand opening of Schuler’s Michigan Ave Service Facility.

Attendees included senior leaders, directors, and engineers from major OEM and Tier-One suppliers, the Supervisor from the Charter Township of Canton, Anne Marie Graham-Hudak, and senior editors from top trade publications.

Schuler’s Visual Die Protection (VDP) is a camera-based system designed to stop presses before damages or failures occur.

“We want our customers to take tangible information back to their shop and know that Schuler is available to support them in their digitalization journey,” states Kevin McAllister, President of Schuler North America. “I can safely say we achieved this objective based solely on the feedback we received. We will certainly host more workshops to support those that could not attend last week.”

Domenico Iacovelli, CEO of Schuler Group GmbH and Member of the Executive Board Andritz Group, and Kevin McAllister opened the workshop with a live press conference. Session topics included:

The Press Shop of the Future, presented by Tiago Vasconcellos, Sales Director at Schuler North America, identified key technologies used at Schuler’s Smart Press Shop that reshape costs, output, and carbon footprint. The Press Shop of the Future was instrumental in laying the foundation for the entire workshop as it provided attendees with the current market status and future expectations of digitalization.

Optimize Shop Floor Operations, presented by Andreas Gebele, Product Manager of Digital Automotive Solutions at Schuler Pressen GmbH, provided solutions to achieve increasements in availability, performance, and quality with Schuler’s Track & Trace, laser serialization, blank measurements, and downtime detection.

Protect Dies & Prevent Damages with VDP, presented by Samuel Czyzewski, Service & Digitalization Engineer at Schuler North America, included a live demo of Schuler’s Visual Die Protection (VDP) and the immediate ROI from the camera-based system’s capability to detect foreign objects, inspect processes, and monitor die functions.

The Shop Floor Tour, presented by Robert Tyler, Facility & Operations Manager at Schuler North America, gave attendees an inside look at the 32,000 sq. ft. facility’s 50-ton crane, in-house press pit for rebuilds and assembly, specialized equipment, and team of field service and engineering support at work.

Press Shop Planning with Cloud Solutions, presented by Andreas Gebele and Flavio Rudiger, Lead Digitalization Engineer at Schuler North America, included a live demo of Schuler’s machine applications that provide predictive maintenance to avoid efficiency losses and damage risks.

Schuler Connect provides remote service and troubleshooting support via smart glasses, smart phone, or tablet.

Get Proactive with Service Agreements, presented by Andy Osborn, Director of Modernization at Schuler North America, provided value-add predictive maintenance, remote service, and spare parts with Schuler’s Service Agreements. Two supporting topics included Schuler Smart Inspections, presented by Rodrigo DePaula Branco, Engineering Group Lead at Schuler North America, and Schuler Connect, a live demo of the smart glasses and application for safe and cost-effective remote support and troubleshooting, presented by Flavio Rudiger and Samuel Czyzewski.

Future Products, presented by Flavio Rudiger and Andreas Gebele, covered all Schuler Digital Suite products coming soon to the USA. Solutions included DIGISIM simulation software to increase productivity, Smart Assist to increase output, Smart Monitoring System (SMS) to detect machine stress from older equipment, Visual Quality Inspection (VQI) to detect part quality issues efficiently, and Service Portal to access contracts, warranties, technical equipment data, inspection protocols, service history, Schuler’s 24/7 helpline, and spare parts stock availability.

“The Digitalization & Modernization Workshop highlighted our local availability,” explains Telvi Zanin, Vice President of Service at Schuler North America. “Schuler North America has over 300 employees. We are the largest local OEM service support, and the grand opening of our new facility greatly enhances our capabilities for the local market.”

Website

Schuler’s Digital Suite

 

About Schuler Groupwww.schulergroup.com

Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming—from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, Schuler’s products include automation, dies, process know-how, and service for the entire metalworking industry. Schuler’s Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking forming technology and is continuously being developed to further improve line productivity and availability. Schuler customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance, and electrical industries. Schuler presses are minting coins for more than 180 countries. Founded in 1839 at the Göppingen, Germany headquarters, Schuler has approximately 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is part of the international technology group ANDRITZ.

Schuler’s global portfolio of world-renowned brands include BCN (Bliss Clearing Niagara) Technical Services, Müller Weingarten, Beutler, Umformtechnik Erfurt, SMG Pressen, Hydrap Pressen, Wilkins & Mitchell, Bêché, Spiertz Presses, Farina Presse, Liebergeld, Peltzer & Ehlers, Schleicher, and Sovema Group.

 

About Schuler North Americawww.schulergroup.com

Schuler North America (Schuler), headquartered in Canton, Michigan, is the North American subsidiary of Schuler Group. Schuler provides new equipment, spare parts, and a portfolio of lifecycle services for all press systems—including preventative maintenance, press shop design and optimization, turnkey installations, retrofits for existing systems, and localized production and service. Schuler’s best-in-class position in the metalworking and materials industry serves automotive manufacturers and tier suppliers, as well as home appliance, electronics, forging, and other industries.

Continue reading
Schuler’s Digital Suite provides manufacturers with a fully networked press shop for optimized production.

Schuler Presents the Press Shop of the Future

Schuler North America unveils digitalization and modernization best practices with an industry workshop and grand opening of new facility.

Schuler North America, subsidiary of Schuler Group GmbH, will host a Digitalization & Modernization Workshop on February 23, 2023. The workshop is also the grand opening of Schuler’s Michigan Ave Service Facility in Canton, Michigan.

Schuler will identify the press shop of the future and highlight key technologies that maximize overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), implement digitalization practices, and conduct smart press shop practices. Attendees will learn how the press shop of the future reshapes costs, output, and carbon footprint.

“Topics, and marketing buzz words, such as IIoT and digitalization have oversaturated the market,” states Telvi Zanin, VP of Service at Schuler North America. “Our Digitalization & Modernization Workshop provides the valued ‘how-to’ ingredient and is designed to help attendees build their own state-of-the-art press shop of the future.”

Schuler’s Digitalization & Modernization Workshop is a full, one-day event with various sessions that provide innovative and practical solutions for making press shops smarter. Session topics include:

  • The Press Shop of the Future
  • Optimize Shop Floor Operations
  • Protect Dies & Prevent Damages with VDP
  • Press Shop Planning with Cloud Solutions
  • Shop Floor Tour
  • Get Proactive with Service Agreements
  • Future Products
  • Cocktail Reception

The workshop also serves as the grand opening of Schuler’s Michigan Ave Service Facility. The facility is 32,000 sq. ft. and is equipped with a 50-ton crane, in-house press pit for rebuilds and assembly, specialized equipment, and full-time field service and engineering support hub.

“The Digitalization & Modernization Workshop is an opportunity to inform the market about Schuler’s Digital Suite solutions and how manufacturers can create a fully networked press shop. Concurrently, our new facility exemplifies Schuler’s capabilities to the local market,” explains Kevin McAllister, President of Schuler North America. “The Michigan Ave Service Facility enables reduced turnaround time for repairs, press rebuilds, and modernization projects. We created a convenient space for customer shipments, follow-ups, reviews, and buy-offs.”

The workshop and grand opening will begin with an on-site press conference and conclude with a cocktail reception for guests to meet with Schuler’s presenters and team of qualified experts.


Website

Schuler’s Digital Suite
Schuler Service
Schuler Modernization

About Schuler Groupwww.schulergroup.com

Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming—from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, Schuler’s products include automation, dies, process know-how, and service for the entire metalworking industry. Schuler’s Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking forming technology and is continuously being developed to further improve line productivity and availability. Schuler customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance, and electrical industries. Schuler presses are minting coins for more than 180 countries. Founded in 1839 at the Göppingen, Germany headquarters, Schuler has approximately 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is part of the international technology group ANDRITZ. 

Schuler’s global portfolio of world-renowned brands include BCN (Bliss Clearing Niagara) Technical Services, Müller Weingarten, Beutler, Umformtechnik Erfurt, SMG Pressen, Hydrap Pressen, Wilkins & Mitchell, Bêché, Spiertz Presses, Farina Presse, Liebergeld, Peltzer & Ehlers, Schleicher, and Sovema Group.

 

About Schuler North Americawww.schulergroup.com

Schuler North America (Schuler), headquartered in Canton, Michigan, is the North American subsidiary of Schuler Group. Schuler provides new equipment, spare parts, and a portfolio of lifecycle services for all press systems—including preventative maintenance, press shop design and optimization, turnkey installations, retrofits for existing systems, and localized production and service. Schuler’s best-in-class position in the metalworking and materials industry serves automotive manufacturers and tier suppliers, as well as home appliance, electronics, forging, and other industries.

Continue reading

Smart and Economical Laser Blanking Solutions

The technology offers maximum flexibility, efficiency and part quality, as well as material savings of up to one million USD per year 

Canton, Michigan, July 27, 2022 – A blanking line is usually made up of a coil line, an uncoiler, a threading unit, leveler, roll feed, the cutting area and the stacking unit. This holds true with laser blanking lines, but the material is cut by a laser cell instead of a shear or press. Justine Fonteyne, Schuler’s Area Sales Manager of the Americas, has recently explained the technology’s multiple advantages in an online seminar. 

There has been a rising interest for laser blanking lines, given the die-free blanking capabilities. Schuler has sold 15 worldwide, including five in North America. With the frequent changeover of new car models, vehicle manufactures are happy to avoid investing in expensive dies – especially new players within the EV market, for which ramp-up production may be slower. “And die change time costs production time,” Fonteyne underlined. Additionally, no dies equate to no die storage or maintenance, and less initial infrastructure investment as no heavy press foundation or loop pit is required. Apart from that, no noise or vibration is emitted. 

Schuler’s Justine Fonteyne explained the various advantages of laser blanking technology in an online seminar.

Overall equipment efficiency of up to 80 percent 

Because of Schuler’s Dynamic Flow Technology (DFT), Schuler’s laser blanking lines are also much faster than conventional stop and go laser cutting systems like flatbed lasers. The material runs continuously without the need to stop-and-start before cutting. The output can reach 45 parts per minute, depending on the geometry of the blank. Due to no die changes, the overall equipment efficiency (OEE) is up to 80 percent. 

“Depending on the part mix, Laser Blanking can be the cheapest way of blanking,” Fonteyne stated. “Due to digital nesting solutions, the technology has much greater material utilization.” In contrast to conventional lines, the parts can be designed independently from die restrictions. Also separation strips can be avoided with edge-to-edge nesting. Improvements in material utilization of an outer body part mix of approximately 1 percent quickly add up to material savings of up to one million USD per year.  

No wear of dies and presses 

Schuler’s laser blanking lines produce homogenous cutting edges with hardly any burr. “This is relevant for aluminum because the flitter in the die is reduced to almost zero,” Fonteyne explained. The rising number of high-strength steel pose further challenges to conventional lines regarding the wear of dies and presses, but the lasers are not affected by this at all. Schuler offers workshops for part simulation and optimization as well as business calculation. 

Fonteyne provided insight into Schuler’s Track & Trace solution that has already been implemented at the Smart Press Shop in Germany, a joint venture between Schuler and Porsche. “Being the first station for the material in the press shop, we start the tracking of the production data here,” said Fonteyne. “The production data is connected to every part and can be tracked easily and continuously. For example, data pertaining to the thickness of a blank or the amount of oil distributed can be transmitted to the press line in order to achieve a perfect forming process. 

Watch the complete video of the online seminar here: https://youtu.be/oC59OzaCW0c 

 
Listen to Carla Bailo, President & CEO of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), and Justine Fonteyne discuss laser blanking via CAR’s podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-car-podcast/episodes/Laser-blanking—featuring-Justine-Fonteyne-of-Schuler-Group-GmbH-e1krdmp/a-a8799jm 

Internet 

laserblanking.schulergroup.com 


About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com 

Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming—from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, our products include automation, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Schuler’s Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking forming technology and is continuously being developed to further improve line productivity and availability. Our customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electrical industries. Presses from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. Founded in 1839 at our headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler has approx. 5 000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is part of the international technology group ANDRITZ. 

For further information on Schuler Inc., North America, please contact: 

Jaime Bartholomai, Marketing & Communications Manager 
Schuler Incorporated 
7145 Commerce Blvd. 
Canton, MI 48187 USA 
Jaime.Bartholomai@schulergroup.com 

Continue reading

Schuler Looks Forward to Exhibiting at FABTECH 2021

In addition to the latest press technology, Schuler will demonstrate its “Digital Suite” solutions for networking forming technology

The “Digital Suite” solutions include, among others, "Schuler Connect" for fast assistance in resolving unforeseen problems. © Schuler
The “Digital Suite” solutions include, among others, “Schuler Connect” for fast assistance in resolving unforeseen problems. © Schuler

Canton, Michigan. August 25, 2021 – After a year off due to the pandemic, the FABTECH trade show will return to Chicago’s McCormick Place in September from the 13th through the 16th. At booth D46935, Schuler will not only present its latest servo and hydraulic press technology, but also its “Digital Suite” solutions for networking forming technology. They include, among others, “Visual Die Protection” which prevents unwanted production shutdowns and “Schuler Connect” which offers fast assistance in resolving unforeseen problems.

“Without a FABTECH show last year, we are especially looking forward to exhibiting in Chicago this September,” Kevin McAllister, President of Schuler North America, points out. “We will bring lots of exciting developments that we would love to show to our customers, because our solutions can really make their lives easier. As the largest service provider of any press supplier in North America, we’re anxious to highlight our service capabilities and offerings.”

Schuler’s “Cloud Solutions,” e.g., can be used to retrieve data on press forces and stroke rates. Cooling and lubrication circuits, temperatures and system pressures as well as power consumption are also recorded and visualized.  Schuler also recently established a new U.S. workshop with a 50-ton crane that significantly expands the service footprint, especially the ability to execute large modernization projects.


For more information, please visit:
https://digitalsuite.schulergroup.com

For further information on Schuler Inc., North America, please contact:

Kevin McAllister, President, North America
Schuler Incorporated
7145 Commerce Blvd.
Canton, MI 48187 USA
734-207-7200
Kevin.McAllister@schulergroup.com

About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com

Schuler offers customized first-rate technology in all areas of forming – from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to press, our product includes automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Our customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electronics industries. Press from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. When it comes to the digital transformation of the forming technology, we support our customers worldwide as a supplier of innovative system solutions. Founded in 1839 with headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler AG has about 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and America, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is part of the international technology group ANDRITZ.

Continue reading
It supplies the blanks for the servo press line in the Smart Press Shop with an output of 20 strokes per minute. © Schuler

Lasers cutting blanks for the Smart Press Shop

In addition to a servo press line, Porsche and Schuler operate a fully-connected press shop which features a state-of-the-art blanking line

Göppingen/Halle, 07/27/2021 – At the beginning of June, Porsche and Schuler began the operation of a fully-connected press shop in East German Halle (Saale). In addition to a servo press line with an output of up to 20 strokes per minute, the Smart Press Shop also features a state-of-the-art blanking line; a Laser Blanking Line 2.18 equipped with two cutting heads for processing strip material with a width of up to 1,880 mm.

Blanking lines with lasers do not require expensive and heavy blanking dies, which is why they are particularly suitable for the production of new parts or small batch sizes with frequent product changes. The continuously moving coil material is processed into blanks at high cutting speeds. Thanks to tooling-free scrap separation, a high output is also achieved. A gentle transport of sensitive materials, such as aluminum, is ensured, too.

The Laser Blanking Line is the ideal solution for the “Smart Press Shop” in Halle, which focuses on the production of aluminum outer skin parts in small batch sizes. By recording various measured values of the system as well as the coil material and by smart marking of the blank, the line which supplies the blanks for the servo press line forms the point of departure for a “Track and Trace” system.


www.schulergroup.com/laserblanking
www.smartpress.shop

For further information on Schuler Inc., North America, please contact:

Kevin McAllister, President, North America
Schuler Incorporated
7145 Commerce Blvd.
Canton, MI 48187 USA
734-207-7200
Kevin.McAllister@schulergroup.com

About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com

Schuler offers customized first-rate technology in all areas of forming – from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to press, our product includes automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Our customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electronics industries. Press from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. When it comes to the digital transformation of the forming technology, we support our customers worldwide as a supplier of innovative system solutions. Founded in 1839 with headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler AG has about 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and America, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is part of the international technology group ANDRITZ.

Continue reading

Reliable on-site service for Laser Blanking Lines

Customers can receive fast and efficient support for the new technology from local Schuler employees in the Americas

In the Americas, too, customers can receive fast and efficient support for the Schuler Laser Blanking Lines. © Schuler

The German press manufacturer Schuler has numerous manufacturing and service locations worldwide. This ensures that customers can receive fast and efficient support from local Schuler employees. In the Americas, for example, there are sites in the USA, Mexico, and Brazil, ready to support one of the company’s latest innovations: the Laser Blanking Line.

Laser blanking makes it possible to manufacture blanks completely without dies. Instead of using presses or shears, the geometries are cut by two or three high-precision laser heads. This has several advantages: no dies, die change, die storage or die maintenance, but also no costly press foundation and no loop pit. The technological development of laser performance, combined with intelligent line automation, enables Schuler to achieve cutting speeds of up to 100 meters per minute (approx. 328 ft/min).

The design of a Laser Blanking Line is very similar to a conventional press cutting line. “Simply said, the press is only replaced by a laser cell,” explains Oswald Schoenberger, Product Manager for Laser Blanking Lines. “Operators who already have experience with conventional blanking lines can learn to handle the system very quickly, but even the ones without blanking experience the system can be operated intuitively and reliably after completing our training program,” he continues.

Programming the lasers also requires no process know-how thanks to LBL Studio. The offline program is so intelligent that cutting contours for new parts are automatically created based on CAD files. The optimal cutting distribution of the lasers is taken into account and reliable predictions about the output can be calculated in advance. Of course, changes can be made manually at any time.

With several lines around the world and production experience since 2012, Schuler is by far the leader in terms of laser blanking lines. “This is also related to our strong local service,” explains Telvi Zanin, Vice President of Service. In addition to Europe and Asia, Schuler also has long established service and manufacturing locations in North America. Schuler Inc. was founded in 1978 in Columbus, Ohio, and now has its headquarters close to Detroit in Canton, Michigan.

“With our team of 80 qualified service employees we are ready to provide high quality technical support to all our customers in North America”, says Telvi. A team from the U.S. has been sent to the product centers in Europe to join the in-house assembly where they can learn firsthand the laser blanking technology. “Our trained employees can thus react quickly and provide optimal on-site service”, says Telvi. “In addition, remote service like with Schuler Connect offers the possibility of immediate assistance from our headquarters in Canton, Michigan or from our experts in Germany if required – for established products as well as for innovations such as the Laser Blanking Line.”


For more information, please visit:

www.schulergroup.com/laserblanking

About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com

Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming—from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, our products include automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Our customers include automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electrical engineering industries. Presses from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. When it comes to the digital transformation of forming technology, we support our customers worldwide as a supplier of innovative system solutions. Founded in 1839 at our headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler AG has approx. 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is majority-owned by the Austrian ANDRITZ Group.

For further information on Schuler Inc., North America, please contact:

Guido Broder, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

Schuler Incorporated
7145 Commerce Blvd.
Canton, MI 48187 USA
734-207-7200
Guido.Broder@schulergroup.com

Continue reading
The Australian Government's ambitious project requires large machines, such as the Droop+Rein gantry 110TT supplied by Starrag.

Starrag Supplies a Droop+Rein 5-Axis Gantry Machine With an 11-Meter (36 FT) Rotary Table to the Other Side of the World

The Australian Government (Commonwealth of Australia) selected French company Naval Group to deliver a fleet of 12 regionally superior submarines, to be known as the Attack Class, for the Royal Australian Navy. The Attack class fleet will be built in a modern submarine construction yard in Osborne, South Australia.


The Australian Government’s ambitious project requires large machines,
such as the Droop+Rein gantry 110TT supplied by Starrag.

The Future Submarine Program will deliver Australia a capability that can be built, operated and maintained autonomously, which maximizes opportunities for Australian industry throughout all phases of the program.

As the design of the Attack Class progresses, Naval Group continues to deliver on its commitment and achieve this goal in cooperation with their suppliers that now includes the Starrag Group. Dr Marcus Queins, Manager for the Large Parts Machining Systems business unit at Starrag, explains, “We are proud to be involved in this prestigious project in Australia.” Starrag has been selected to supply a Droop+Rein G 110TT HR100 C vertical gantry machine, capable of handling both large hull elements and high-precision components for submarine construction. With traversing paths of 14,000 x 13,000 x 3,500 mm (45.93 x 42.65 x 11.48 ft) in the X/Y/Z axes and an 11 m (36 ft) turntable, the gantry will be the largest machine tool ever put into service in Australia.

Starrag is collaborating with the Australian machine tool manufacturer H&H Machine Tools Australia to deliver this critical equipment. H&H will manufacture key components, supply qualified personnel to help install the gantry and provide technical support for the entire life cycle of the machine, securing an ongoing role in servicing and maintenance in the future. Starrag will provide H&H with the necessary expertise through onsite training and quality control, transferring critical skills and autonomous ability to Australian industry.

The contract was awarded following a complex selection process. Noting its many years of experience and its extensive, as well as technical, expertise in handling large, complicated projects, the Starrag Group was deemed a worthy selection for this contract. Few machine suppliers can manage an order of this magnitude from over 15,000 kilometers (9320 miles) away — but this was not a problem for the Starrag Group, as Australian sales partner H&H Machine Tool Solutions will facilitate local work, ensuring that everything runs smoothly onsite. A previous project carried out in South Australia, for which Starrag supplied four machines for aircraft construction, demonstrates a proven track record, in this regard.

Looking forward to collaborating in Australia: (from left to right) Marcus Queins, Head of the Large Parts Machining Systems business unit at Starrag; John Davis, CEO of Naval Group Australia; Thomas Hegmann, Managing Director of H&H Machine Tools Australia.

Gantry machine for precise heavy-duty cutting of large and heavy workpieces

The size and efficiency of the milling machine being supplied, which is also capable of turning components thanks to the integrated rotary table – tried and tested as part of the Dörries range of lathes from the Starrag Group – was of fundamental importance. The Droop+Rein G 110 TT HR100 C owes its high precision to features such as the hydrostatic guides in all linear axes, as well as the thermo-symmetrical design of the milling unit with its integrated C axis. Milling heads can be changed automatically via a head change interface. The team responsible selected five different machining heads to use on this project. The high-performance fork milling head features not only the ability to use the tool at any angle but also the necessary prerequisites for heavy-duty machining on five axes simultaneously. Alternatively, the machine can be used with one straight and one angled 100-kW (134HP) milling head with a torque of 7,500 Nm (5531 ft-lb). A turret and a horizontal facing head are available for turning operations on the components.

The large, multifunctional machine supplied by Starrag from its Bielefeld plant gives the operator optimum access. The operator can reach any point on the workpiece thanks to the spacious cabin, which travels along the gantry and features the latest Siemens operator panel. The cabin can reach a height of 8 m (26 ft) and be moved towards the center of the table.

The last but by no means the least decisive factor in favor of the Starrag Group was that, having already supplied machines to reference customers, the company could prove that the installed machine technology is very robust. This ensures that, with proper maintenance, the machine will be operational for the entire duration of the submarine project. The first of the Attack Class submarines will be delivered in the early 2030’s and continue into the early 2050’s.


Company profile:  Starrag

High-precision machine tools for greater productivity

Starrag Group is a global technology leader in manufacturing high-precision machine tools for milling, turning, boring and grinding workpieces of metallic, composite and ceramic materials. Principle customers are internationally active companies in the Aerospace, Energy, Transportation and Industrial sectors (Industrial Components, Luxury Goods, Med Tech). In addition to its portfolio of machine tools, Starrag Group provides integrated technology and maintenance services that significantly enhance customer quality and productivity.

The umbrella brand Starrag unites the product ranges Berthiez, Bumotec, Dörries, Droop+Rein, Ecospeed, Heckert, Scharmann, SIP, Starrag, TTL and WMW. Headquartered in Rorschach, Switzerland, the Starrag Group operates manufacturing plants in Switzerland, Germany, France, UK and India and has established a network of sales and service subsidiaries in the most important customer countries.

The shares of Starrag Group Holding AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

For further information:

Starrag
Michael Schedler
Head of Marketing
Tel. +49 2166 454 0
info@starrag.com
www.starrag.com

Continue reading

Schuler Accepts High One-Off Burdens on 2019 Earnings for Future Concept

With products like servo press lines, Schuler reached consolidated sales of € 1.136 billion in 2019. © Schuler

With products like servo press lines, Schuler reached consolidated sales of € 1.136 billion in 2019. © Schuler

As expected, the strategic realignment of press manufacturer Schuler resulted in high one-off burdens on earnings in 2019. Due to cyclical effects, new orders were down but performed much better than the German machine tool industry as a whole. Consolidated sales reached € 1.136 billion (prior year: € 1.212 billion). Earnings before interest, taxes and goodwill amortization (EBITA) fell to minus € 75.5 million (plus € 45.3 million).

As part of its future concept, Schuler invested heavily in 2019 in the restructuring of its manufacturing sites; in its focus on core competencies in press construction, automation and service; and in the strengthening of the Group’s innovation capabilities. The company has thus responded to the far-reaching structural changes taking place in the global automotive industry.

“Group’s inner strength permits extensive realignment”

“As a press manufacturer, Schuler is part of the dramatic transformation of the global automobile industry toward electromobility, autonomous vehicles, and digital networking. In 2019, we identified and began to implement the resulting strategic and structural consequences for our company,” stated CEO Domenico Iacovelli at the presentation of the company’s results for fiscal year 2019 in Göppingen, Germany.

“This obviously had a significant impact on earnings. However, there was no alternative. Schuler has the financial strength, the global footprint, and the technological quality to be able to withstand such a one-off burden for the workforce, the balance sheet, and earnings in a market environment characterized by challenging transformation processes and political risks. This makes us confident that we can expand our leading position in metalforming technology in the medium term and thus achieve better results once again,” added Iacovelli.

Normal operating business slightly profitable

Together with the previously announced writedowns on the intangible goodwill of subsidiaries AWEBA and Yadon, the structural measures to realign the company amounting to € 84 million, and other one-off items, Schuler recognized negative special items of almost € 96 million in 2019. Net income after taxes was minus € 121.9 million (plus € 13.5 million). In its normal operating business – in other words EBITA before restructuring costs – Schuler generated a slightly positive result of € 8.5 million in a very challenging business environment.

New orders well above one billion euros

In the future, Schuler will strengthen its offerings in the field smart networking, among others. © Schuler

In the future, Schuler will strengthen its offerings in the field smart networking, among others. © Schuler

Schuler started its fiscal year 2020 with an order backlog of € 868 (€ 926) million. New orders received in 2019 amounted to € 1.092 (€ 1.255) billion. Europe accounted for the largest share of new orders (€ 562 million, thereof Germany € 293 million), followed by the Americas region (€ 253 million), and China (€ 221 million). With a decline in consolidated new orders of 13 percent in 2019, Schuler performed much better than the German machine tool industry as a whole, which suffered a decline of 22 percent according to the latest figures of sector association VDW.

Schuler CFO Thomas Kamphausen explained that the company had borne the full load of costs incurred by its structural adjustments in 2019. “We do not anticipate any further significant additional special items in 2020. Major cost reductions resulting from our structural adjustments are to be expected as early as 2021,” he said. “As far as our regular business development in 2020 is concerned, it is too early to estimate any effects of the Corona virus disruptions on our revenue and profits at this point.”

At the end of 2019, Schuler’s equity ratio amounted to 35.4 (40.1) percent – and was thus still above the industry average. The number of Group employees fell to 6,276 (6,574). At year-end 2019, headcount in Germany amounted to 3,962 (4,195).

Future concept: focus, localization and innovation

Announced in summer 2019, Schuler’s future concept is based on three main pillars. As the name CORE suggests, Schuler will focus in the future on its core business of building cutting-edge presses, as well as the optimization and digitalization of automation systems for the manufacturing processes of its internationally operating clients in the automotive, industrial, hydraulic and other sectors. In addition, Schuler is systematically strengthening its offerings in the field of service and smart networking.

In 2019, Schuler sold its die construction unit for the production of car body panels to Deutsche Werkzeugbau, a company set up by a strategic investor group. However, its core business of cutting-edge die construction for customers in the metalforming industry was spun off from Schuler Pressen GmbH and established as a separate growth business under the umbrella of the AWEBA Group, a subsidiary of Schuler.

 

Schuler Innovation Rate 2019 grows to 45.4 percent

The second pillar of Schuler’s future concept is a significant acceleration of new development and time-to-market processes in the field of press construction. The Group’s calculation basis for this objective, the Schuler Innovation Rate (SIR), doubled to 45.4 (prior year: 22.9) percent in 2019. This figure indicates that current product innovations accounted for almost half of all new orders received in Schuler’s main business fields of Automotive, Hydraulic and Industry during the past fiscal year. This enabled Schuler to offset a large part of the reduced demand from the automobile industry for classic forming technology products.

The third pillar of the future concept is a strict focus on localizing production and added value. Together with Group investment Yadon, Schuler China mainly serves customers throughout Asia. Schuler’s Brazilian operations focus in particular on the North and Latin American markets. Germany remains the location for machines and equipment produced for Schuler’s European customers. The high quality standards at all sites create a manufacturing network which can flexibly balance out peaks in demand between the regions. Within Germany, Schuler has pooled its press production in Erfurt and is expanding its home base in Göppingen to become a central innovation site. In the coming months, an additional service center with its own production and assembly capabilities serving customers throughout Germany will also be set up in Göppingen.

Schuler Group at a glance (IFRS)Schuler Fiscal Table



About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com

Schuler offers customized first-rate technology in all areas of forming – from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to press, our product includes automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Our customers include automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electronics industries. Press from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. When it comes to the digital transformation of the forming technology, we support our customers worldwide as a supplier of innovative system solutions. In its fiscal year 2019, Schuler posted sales of € 1.136 billion. Founded in 1839 with headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler AG has about 6,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and America, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is majority-owned by the Austrian ANDRITZ Group.

  

For further information on Schuler Inc., North America, please contact:

Guido Broder, VP
Schuler Incorporated
7145 Commerce Blvd.
Canton, MI 48187 USA
734-207-7200
info@schulerinc.com
www.schulergroup.com

Continue reading

Dukane Announces Acquisition of Aurizon, LLC.

Dukane Booth at IDEA Show - Acquisition of AurizonDukane acquired all the assets and intellectual property of Aurizon, LLC in Kimberly, Wisconsin. Aurizon is a global leader in developing high-power rotary ultrasonic systems for converting nonwoven materials, bonding textiles & films and sealing packages. With 30+ years of R&D in product design and application experience, Aurizon holds a significant patent portfolio. These patents and the team’s experience have significantly improved the speed and capabilities of the ultrasonic continuous bonding process. Over the years, Dukane and Aurizon have worked together closely to develop a generator solution for continuous ultrasonic bonding, sealing and converting.  This collaboration advanced the core technology and application knowledge of Aurizon, Dukane and our customers.

This acquisition will create significant synergies and opportunities for Dukane and Aurizon, allowing both companies to share their technical expertise in the hygiene, personal care, medical disposable and packaging industries. For the hygiene market, Aurizon’s product line will expand with Dukane’s fixed (blade) sonotrode technology for customers who don’t require continuous rotary bonding.  For the packaging industry, both Dukane and Aurizon have developed several applications and will combine their sales and engineering efforts to better meet the demands of our packaging customers. Dukane’s product portfolio includes the ultrasonic, vibration welder, spin welders, laser welders, hot plate welders, hot gas welders and infrared welders. These products will now be complimented by Aurizon’s rotary ultrasonic technology. This addition to the product portfolio will be supported through Dukane’s worldwide sales and service network in conjunction with the team at Aurizon. With Dukane products installed at manufacturing facilities all over the world, Aurizon’s rotary ultrasonic technology will be a welcome addition for existing and future customers.

Dukane and Aurizon Banner - Acquisition of AurizonAurizon will continue sales, support, manufacturing and design at the Kimberly, Wisconsin facility. This facility houses a state-of-the-art application laboratory for rotary ultrasonic applications. The plan is to expand the capabilities of the lab to handle fixed blade horn technology as well. Moving forward, both Dukane’s and Aurizon’s electrical and mechanical engineering groups will be working together in bringing new products and advanced technologies to the market.

President and CEO of Dukane, Mike Johnston says, “I have personally worked with Aurizon’s team for over 25 years. Knowing their technical capabilities and seeing the products they have developed makes me very proud to have Aurizon part of the Dukane organization.  The rotary technology for continuous applications and Aurizon’s capabilities far exceed any supplier in the industry. Rotary technology expands Dukane’s current wide range of ultrasonic processes. Whatever your bonding needs, Dukane has a solution.”


For more information:

Dukane
2900 Dukane Drive
St. Charles, Illinois 60174 USA
Tel: (630) 797-4900
www.dukane.com

Contact:
 Shivani Singh
Marketing Associate
630-762-4325
ssingh@dukane.com

Continue reading

Suhner Has a New Location

Exterior View of New Suhner Building LocationSuhner is excited to announce that they have moved to a new marketing and sales office. Originally located in Buffalo Grove, the company’s new office is in Barrington, Illinois.

This new office has sample models of Suhner’s products such as their tapping and drilling units. In addition, they have real-world examples on the walls that show where the tapping and drilling units can be used and what they’re used in.

Mike Ricketts, the regional manager of the machining division, feels that the new office offers a more professional environment. He believes that “Customers can come into my office or sit down in the conference room and we can go through a presentation showing them what Suhner offers. Likewise, they can come in with their own presentation and let us know what their needs are.” This setup promotes open communication between the company and its customers.

In this location, Suhner runs two divisions. These are the machining division led by Mike Ricketts and the transmission division, led by Tom Dunn, the company’s national account representative. Dunn is a specialist in the field of orthopedic surgical tools. Suhner’s flex shafts have particular advances in the medical industry, as they do in the company’s primary automotive market for power windows, seats, side view mirrors and roof retraction.

The new office is only 30 minute away from O’Hare International Airport, a central location that allows Suhner to better serve its current and future customers.


For more information, please contact:

Mike Ricketts
Suhner Industrial Products
Regional Manager – Machining Division
777 Lake Zurich Road
Suite 110G
Barrington, IL 60010
Mobile: 224-545-2014
Email: mike.ricketts@suhner.com

Continue reading