TRUMPF Express 1/14

1/14
Seldom more beautiful
Multi-colored combines and fashionable
furniture come from Thailand
Better and better
Hans Tekeser wants perfect parts —
that requires serious investments
More precise bending
A diligent robot works for
Sigrid and Roland Deeg
free
your
thoughts
at Kmh, martina Kammann
makes room for
new ideas for tubes
sp e c ial
INTEcH 2014
l
Entr y-leve l
ve
e
-l
and top
s
e
in
mach
17
eXpreSS 1/14
special
INTEcH 2014
Entry-level
and top- level
machines
coVer StorY
20 Promoting ideas
tube manufacturing
if you enjoy your work, your performance
8
will be better, finds martina Kammann. She
creates a basis for this at Kmh every day.
topicS
8 Made in thailand
14
Thailand’s manufacturers go in for attractive
designs — for both combines and shelf systems.
12 Route of Fame
Cyclists and hikers in Great Britain now come face
to face with prominent people, depicted in steel.
The Laser Process job shop created them.
14 “If you want quality, you
have to buy quality”
20
Cheap? No such thing for Hans Tekesert!
His components meet the highest standards,
as does his machinery.
24 Not without our robot
Sigrid and Roland Deeg run a picture-book
company. Their latest bending cell provides
matching parts to make sure it stays this way.
24
reguLar featureS
04
28
30
2
Express 1/14
panorama
characterS
gLobaL VieW
30
32
creDitS
cLoSing point
to the point
Ready,
steady,
grow!
The number of success stories written in our industry
is quite impressive. The subjects of those stories are,
for example, fledgling one-man operations that today
employ a hundred or more — or small companies that
have developed a solid footing in a special niche. The
protagonists are many and varied — from manufacturers of custom products to job shops specializing in
long manufacturing runs. There’s one thing that all of
them have in common: the ability to adapt — again and
again — to changes in the market and in customer expectations. They respond with new ideas, strategies and
technologies.
Hans Tekeser is one of them. As a supplier to the
automotive industry, he counters cost pressures with
quality — in both his products and his machines (page
14). Sigrid and Roland Deeg have to deliver precision
bent components quickly. They produce them, around
the clock, with the TruBend Cell 7000 (page 24). And
Martin Krämer’s entry into laser business brought him
an upswing in business. Seeking to add volume and
flexibility to his production, he progressed from his
TruLaser 1030 to a TruLaser 5030 fiber after just a short
period of time. Having selected the BrightLine fiber option, he now uses a solid-state laser to cut even thick
sheet metal with superior results (page 17).
Fitting all these success stories is the saying — “Ready,
steady, grow” — selected as the title for our INTECH
in-house trade show. Among the products being displayed is the newly developed TruBend Series 3000,
with which our customers can bend metal both more
quickly and more reliably. To help those making
their initial steps, we have simplified operation of
the TruLaser 1030 fiber even further. Anyone who
wants to work tube and pipe can now do this on the
TruLaser 3030 fiber, just by adding the RotoLas option. Let yourself be inspired — by the innovations at
INTECH and the success stories in this issue.
Mathias Kammüller, Dr. Eng.
Head of the TRUMPF
Machine Tool Division
Express 1/14
3
PANORAMA
The 124 meter tall spire for One World
Trade Center was built using 500 tons of hot-rolled,
hollow steel profiles.
1
FIGURE
The “Singapore Flyer” Ferris wheel is the largest of
its kind. Its rim is connected to the hub with 112 steel
cables, each eight centimeters thick.
7,300
tons is the weight of the steel structure for the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Each tower of the Golden Gate Bridge is held
together with an estimated 600,000 rivets.
The Burj Khalifa was erected on a platform made of
reinforced concrete and roughly 7,000 square meters
in size. It rests on 750 concrete piles reaching as far
as 50 meters deep into the ground.
A sweet surprise
ESC Burg gets a special present with its TruLaser 8000
Thanks to its impressive dimensions, the TruLaser 8000 can even cut and automobile sectors. This stainless steel specialist inaugurated its new
sheet metal that is up to 16 meters in length. “There were two reasons for TruLaser 8000 at a summer festival. Guests and employees alike were
investing in this XXL machine. One is its capability to cut large-format amazed to see what Friedhelm Hermes, a member of the TRUMPF sales
components in a single piece. The other is its high cutting rate,” explains staff, had brought along to the party: a cake, almost two meters long, in
Rene Friedrich, Deputy Manager at ESC Burg GmbH’s center of com- the shape of the XXL laser machine. “As the TruLaser 8000 is a special
petence for contours.
machine, we wanted to give our customer a very special present on the
Using a machine with a pallet changer 12 meters long, the company— occasion of its commissioning,” stated Hermes, who used to be a master
headquartered near Magdeburg, Germany — manufactures components baker and whipped up the sweet surprise himself.
with many different geometries, from stainless steel between one and 25
millimeters thick. The customer base includes stamping plants that make > Additional information: www.esc-burg.de
floor plates for boilers and companies in the mechanical engineering www.trumpf-machines.com/2d-laser
Absolutely true to the original, right
down to the last detail: TRUMPF
sales representative Friedhelm
Hermes shared a cake in the form
of the TruLaser 8000.
The TruLaser 8000
can – depending on
its configuration – cut
sheet metal up to 16
meters in length.
4
Express 1/14
panorama
Thanks to the
ultra-short pulsed
laser, the camel
can now go
through the eye of
a needle.
wafer-thin
maximum
performance
a trio of researchers adapted ultra-short pulsed lasers for mass
production and has been awarded the german future prize
They have transformed the ultra-short pulsed laser into
a new tool for industrial manufacturing: Dr. Dirk Sutter,
R & D manager at TRUMPF in Schramberg and responsible
for ultra-short pulsed lasers, Dr. Jens König of Bosch, and
Prof. Stefan Nolte of both Friedrich-Schiller University in
Jena and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics, also
in Jena. At the beginning of December 2013, German President Joachim Gauck awarded the prestigious German Future Prize to these three researchers in recognition of their
project “Production with light flashes — Ultra-short pulsed
lasers for industrial mass production”. This prize is awarded
annually for superior and, at the same time, economically viable developments in technology and innovation. Its
amazing properties and practically unlimited applications
2
TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG; Prof. Dr. Georg Müller-Christ, Bosch
QUEsTIoNs
are the distinguishing marks of the
prize-winning technology. The ultrashort pulsed laser which, in the blink
of an eye, emits up to 24,000 pulses at incredibly high energy is able to process almost
any material — gently, accurately, and at high productivity. It drills ultrafine holes in injection valves,
cuts medical stents from tubes, and trims shatterproof
touchscreens for smartphone displays; it structures the
surfaces of thin-film solar cells. It can also cut through
ultrathin plastic film, brittle ceramic components and even
diamonds.
> Additional information: www.deutscher-zukunftspreis.de/en
Prof. Georg Müller-Christ, Ph.D., professor of business
administration and, in particular, sustainable management
at the University of Bremen, Germany.
> What is sustainable management?
> What benefits does sustainable management offer businesses?
Senior managers act sustainably by considering
what effects their actions will have on their
resources’ origins whenever they make a decision.
Will the tangible and intangible resources required
for one’s own business still be available tomorrow?
Or are available resources being consumed in a
relatively careless fashion?
A few short-term cost advantages resulting from increased efficiency are usually one-time effects,
quickly forgotten next year. And new revenues can hardly be expected, since many customers simply
do not recognize the company's commitment to sustainability. However, sustainability will make
companies more robust in the long term, because disruptions in resource input can be anticipated
in good time and alternatives identified. A clever company is one that aims for success not only from
the marketing viewpoint, but also in terms of resource use. It is the duty of sustainable management
to recognize and preserve the ecological, economic and social fabric of a company. At times this
contravenes the idea of making a fast buck in the marketplace.
> Additional information: www.wiwi.uni-bremen.de/gmc
> Additional information: [email protected]
Express 1/14
5
TRUMPF continues
to strengthen its
position in China
with its majority
shareholding in JFY
(photo on the left).
Following the
acquisition of machine
manufacturers
Codatto, panel
bending machines
(see photo below) are
to become part of the
TRUMPF line.
A growing family
New machines from Italy and China. The TRUMPF Group has two new members
The TRUMPF Group has a new member. At the
end of November 2013, the Italian company
Codatto International S.p.a joined the Group.
This specialist in panel bending machines,
located in the small northern Italian town of
Lonigo near Vicenza, employs 40
and recorded sales of some
five million euros in
the 2012 business
year. Panel bending capabilities
complement
TRUMPF ’s press
voices
6
Express 1/14
Machine Company Ltd. (JFY) and acquired
majority holdings in the company of about
72 per cent. JFY produces machine tools for
processing sheet metal and in China is considered to be the market leader in punching machines and press brakes, in terms of units produced. With its majority shareholding in JFY
and the additional brand name, TRUMPF is
continuing to strengthen its position in China
and, via existing marketing channels, in other
emerging economies.
> Additional information: www.codatto.com/en
How important is modern technology for you?
Brian Hayes,
Lamson & Goodnow
Norio Oonishi,
Kawasaki Rolling
Stock Component Co.
“We work with modern lasers, robots
and CNC grinders. At the same time,
it is important for me to remember
our heritage and maintain our handmade products. Tradition and modern
machinery — to me, that’s a perfect fit.”
“The key to success abroad lies in outdoing local vendors in terms of quality,
costs and delivery time. For this reason
it is important for us to constantly focus
on technological innovations and to find
ways to enhance efficiency.”
Christel Schreiber,
MKS Metallbau
Schreiber GmbH
“In recent years we have invested in
a variety of technologies. We have to
keep up with the state of the art. If a
new technology promises to respond
more readily to customer needs, then
we invest.”
TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG; Steve Adams; Kai Corporation; KD Busch; Andreas Hermann
3
brakes. It offers major advantages when handling large metal sheets and leaves hardly any
blemishes on the material. In the future, Codatto machines are to be offered as part of the
TRUMPF brand, for the time destined primarily for the German, Austrian, Swiss and
Italian markets. Back in October, TRUMPF engaged
in close cooperation
with Chinese machine tool manufacturers Jiangsu
Jinfangyuan CNC
panorama
Large
components
are easier
to mark using a
mobile unit.
Mobile marking
trumpf brings the laser to the workpiece
Permanent marking, reliable traceability, great flexibility. These are the most significant advantages of laser marking. Customers can now use this technology in
a portable concept, thanks to the TRUMPF Mobile Marker. The user wheels this
compact device alongside the workpiece and can then mark it with logos, barcodes,
QR codes and graphics. The TruMark 5010 Mobile Marker really comes into its own
when marking large and heavy components, since they do not need to be moved.
Not only is manual operation possible; it can easily be integrated in production lines.
Thanks to its intelligent sensors, the Mobile Marker marks metallic components in
accordance with Laser Safety Class 1.
> Additional information: www.trumpf-laser.com
Pooled research
trumpf supports the research campus at rWth university
a precise cut
panel cutters make production
hall builders Seiler work faster
Whenever pre-fabricated buildings are
needed, that’s the time to call in Reinhard
Seiler and his crew. The primary materials for Hallen- und Gewerbebau Seiler
GmbH are sandwich panels, trimmed
with the new TRUMPF panel cutter. The
crew uses a TruTool TPC 15 to cut window and door apertures on site. There’s
not much time to spare; the building
has to be up and running in three weeks.
Read how they manage to do this by going
to: www.mastersofsheetmetal.com/seiler
Nineteen research clusters on 00,000 square
meters of real estate. This is the basic data on
the new campus, to be set up at RWTH University in Aachen in the coming years. The
purpose is to generate new international cooperation between universities and industry.
The intention is to become the largest technology-oriented campus in Europe. TRUMPF
is in on the action, too. The company supplied a TruLaser 5030, a TruBend 5085, and a
TruDisk 001 for a robot unit in the demon-
stration factory within the Logistics Cluster. This factory will show the entire sheet
metal processing chain and other production methods. The building housing the
Logistics Cluster is highly transparent and
provides a clear view of the production facilities and research laboratories. The aim is
to bring logistic effects to life in a realistic
production and IT environment. TRUMPF
also intends to participate in the planned
Photonics Cluster.
The rooms in
the Logistics
Cluster are
open and
transparent in
their design.
Express 1/14
7
The bright and colorful
combines by Kittisak
Yokubon are very
popular with the Thai
rice farmers.
Made in thailand
thai agricultural machinery and image Steel furniture manufacture equipment and furniture “made in
thailand”. both companies put their faith in lean processes, creative ideas, and appealing designs.
8
Express 1/14
nationaL report
Image Steel Furniture; Thai Agricultural Machinery; Thawatchai Kahatairat
Sarayut
Pisolpool looks
to the future
with confidence.
Stylish furniture
at a good price is
in great demand
in Thailand.
It is seldom that agricultural implements cause a stir. But anyone who is at the heart of the fertile rice growing area. “We can quickly deliver our
watches the self-propelled combine harvester built by Thai Agricultural products into the neighboring regions, too — to the north and the northMachinery (TAMCO) as it cruises the rice fields in Thailand is instantly east of Thailand. In addition, the city of Phitsanulok is a gateway to the
fascinated. In their red and yellow livery, these brightly colored machines AEC market.” 95 percent of his customers are entrepreneurs, working as
gleam from afar.
subcontractors to farmers. Mr. Kittisak ships his attractive and colorful
They bring something of a carnival mood to the rice field. “Colorful prod- combine harvesters to as far away as Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Camucts are much in demand among our customers,” emphasizes Mr. Kittisak bodia, Laos, Myanmar and Ghana.
Yokubon, Executive Vice President at this agricultural machinery maker.
From his office at the headquarters in Phitsanulok, 370 kilometers growing with combines
north of Bangkok, Mr. Kittisak gazes out the window across the com- Thai customers want innovative and efficient machines. Mr. Kittisak sees
pany’s extensive grounds.
this as a clear mission: “We give our customers the tool they need for
In terms of logistics, this is the perfect site for him and his firm, since success,” he says quite self-assuredly. “They want absolute reliability in
he is close to his customers. This city, with its population of more than our products.” That is one reason why he assigns topmost priority to
one million residents, is located in the central region of Thailand and thus customer-oriented product development.
Express 1/14
9
The combines in the TAMCO
advertising videos metamorphose
into super-machines.
The concept is bearing fruit. Since its founding in 1991, TAMCO has
grown to a staff of more than 300. And in its many years in operation,
it has become evident that more and more successful customers are using
TAMCO’s innovative and effective machines to work the paddy fields in
Thailand. That is further backing up the mission of TAMCO.
Lean and flexible
A glance at the manufacturing operations reveals the basis for success:
modern concepts. “We recently introduced the Toyota Production System. Implementing that concept makes efficiency, flexibility and lean
processes especially important to us,” says Mr. Kittisak. This requires
machines that fit into the concept. TAMCO works with the so-called
“pull system” — the company produces parts only when they are needed.
This helps reduce inventories and has a relevant effect on batch size. “That
makes the TruLaser 3030 perfect for us. We can respond to changes in
production quantities quickly, flexibly, and without any great amount of
effort for set-up.”
He was also convinced by the high quality in every part leaving the machine. This is especially important for the TAMCO combines, since they
have to withstand tough conditions. The rice fields are sometimes dry
and sandy, sometimes wet and muddy. That makes rugged and durable
components the measure of all things. Modern production equipment
helps even the most complex components live up to what the manufacturer promises.
promoting creativity
Getting started in laser technology also brought with it greater design
latitude. “That triggered a major step forward in creativity.” Mr. Kittisak
supports this with carefully tailored training courses. One example involved a TRUMPF workshop on part design at the Phitsanulok site. Employees from manufacturing, design and management learned what the
TruLaser 3030 and the TruBend 3120 could do. “We wanted our people
to think outside the box — in an intense exchange with the TRUMPF experts,” says Mr. Kittisak.
nifty furniture
Colorful combines from Phitsanulok
Who:
Thai Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd., Phitsanulok, Thailand.
Founded in 1991, 300 employees.
What:
The company produces colorful, self-propelled combine
harvesters for rice farming, primarily for the domestic market,
but also shipping to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar and Ghana
How:
TruLaser 3030, 2 x TruBend 3120
10 Express 1/14
Change of scene: 530 kilometers to the south, we see Mr. Sarayut
Pisolpool in his office in Rayong. On the surface, his work seems to have
little in common with that of Mr. Kittisak. Instead of rugged harvesters,
his company — Image Steel Furniture — produces fashionable furniture.
Design plays a major role here. In his shelves, cabinets, tables, beds and
chairs he turns to a combination of wood and sheet metal. “We attach
great importance to design, quality and affordable prices. That gives us a
competitive advantage,” says Mr. Sarayut, who has headed up Image Steel
Furniture Co., Ltd. since it was founded in February of 2012. The product
line includes tables with a futuristic, flowing air, finished in many colors,
together with shelves featuring clear lines. “For us, design is especially
important, since only a few manufacturers in Thailand now offer modern
and high-quality furniture made of wood and sheet metal.”
mYanmar
nationaL report
LaoS
Phitsanulok
T H A I L A N D
68.2 million people live in a country covering 513,120 square kilometers // 45.6 percent of the Thai people are between 25 and 54
years of age // In 2012, GDP rose by 6.4 percent in real terms. In
2013, the growth rate reached only 3 percent // As of the start
of 2013, the minimum daily wage is 300 bahts or about 6.86
euros // 91 of 1,000 residents had a landline in 2012 while, by
comparison, 1,203 had mobile service; 265 used the Internet.
BANGKOK
Rayong
camboDia
more quality, less time
To make sure that the furniture satisfies every
quality demand, Mr. Sarayut decided on machines by
TRUMPF when setting up his metalworking operations.
Image Steel Furniture makes all the sheet metal parts itself,
using a TruLaser 3030, a TruBend 3120 and a TruPunch 3000.
“These machines open up many design options. Moreover, they are
very easy to operate,” says Mr. Sarayut on a tour through the new production buildings.
A SheetMaster is now assisting in production by reducing throughput
times. “We also need less staff.” This is how Mr. Sarayut has boosted efficiency and safety in manufacturing operations and can serve his customers “with an enviable degree of savvy”, as he describes his strategy.
capitalizing on opportunities
With its 60 employees, this Thai furniture manufacturer currently rings
up annual sales of 7.5 million euros. 30 percent of production output goes
to private customers, the retail trade, and to major construction projects.
Image Steel Furniture exports the remainder to Japan, France, Italy and
Malta. The nearby port of Laem Chabang simplifies logistics.
In short, the initial situation is good. That is important, since there are
many competitors. In addition, Thailand’s economy is wavering. Does
this mean difficult times for furniture makers? Mr. Sarayut keeps a cool
head. “I think that we can profit from the situation. Because the Thais
will modify their buying patterns and spend less money for unimportant
things,” he says with full confidence. “Designer furniture at reasonable
prices represents a good alternative here.” He already has the target in
his sights: “I want to make Image Steel Furniture into a renowned brand
and the most important furniture maker in Thailand.”
> Please direct your questions to:
Carina Albrecht, Phone: +65 65 71-8007
e-mail: [email protected]
Image Steel Furniture
exports this colorful
furniture all the way
to Europe.
Designer furniture from Rayong
Who:
Image Steel Furniture Co., Ltd., Rayong, Thailand. Founded
in 2012, 60 employees. www.imagefurniture.net
What:
This manufacturer builds modern, high-quality wood
and metal furniture for customers in Thailand, Japan, France,
Italy and Malta
How:
TruLaser 3030 , TruBend 3120, TruPunch 3000 with
SheetMaster
Express 1/14
11
a Sheet metaL traiL
route
of fame
This portrait bench can
be found in Kenilworth.
The three characters
that were chosen are
John Kemp Starley, who
is considered to be the
inventor of the modern
bicycle, Helen Martin, the
most generous benefactor
of the University of
Warwick, and Edward
Langley Fardon, a
whitesmith and pioneer
in bicycle design.
12 Express 1/14
celebs made of steel
line cycling and walking
routes across the uK.
a Sheet metaL traiL
from Corten steel. “Cutting the statues, prior to welding took about an
hour,” says managing director David Lindsey. “We completed the project
over a period of three years.” Using a TruLaser 500 with a 6-kilowatt
laser, some of the silhouettes the company manufactured are singer
Tom Jones, actor Richard Burton, and monarch Henry VIII.
They all adorn cycling paths in communities across the
UK — and transform walks and cycling tours into discovery excursions.
www.laserprocess.co.uk
Chandra Prasad/Sustrans
Anyone who’s travelling by foot or bicycle in Dartford might possibly
run into Rolling Stones’ singer Mick Jagger — or at least his likeness
in steel. This image is found at the edge of a path in his hometown.
Together with more than 250 life-sized sculptures of well-known
personalities, it is part of a project entitled “The Portrait Bench”.
Sustrans, a not-for-profit organization promoting sustainable
mobility, launched the project and commissioned Laser
Process, a job shop in Cannock, to fabricate the celebrities
Express 1/14 13
INTERVIEW
“If you want quality, you
have to buy quality”
“Cheap machines can never produce high-quality products,” says Hans Tekeser. That’s
why he buys a new, top-value machine every year. He tells us why this always pays off.
Herr Tekeser, your company works primarily as a supplier to and propose the ideal solution. Since we have such a broad
the automobile industry. Isn’t it a bit risky working for just one operating base, I don’t need to worry about whether a cersector, especially one that’s under such great cost pressures?
tain machine is fully utilized. Instead, I can look for the best
You experience this pressure everywhere, now that U.S. ra- solution for the customer.
tionalization trend has reached us in Europe. However, we
have been doing business with the automobile industry for Which technologies do you combine?
quite a few years and realize that we always have to take In addition to classical sheet metal processing such as
the first step. That is why we are always among the forerun- punching, laser welding and cutting, along with bending,
ners when it comes to new technologies and combinations of one of our specialties is deep drawing. We construct the
technologies. By doing so, we definitely exert an influence on tools needed for this operation in our own shop. Important
part design. If, for instance, a customer has a requirement for strategic customers have been won over by a combination
2,000 parts with highly complex geometry, but the tooling of all these processes. We are thus able to beat our Chinese
is likely to cost 50,000 euros, we first ask whether that is the competitors’ prices — and that sometimes surprises us, too.
right approach — and then offer the customer alternatives.
But you see in our case that great manufacturing depth is an
essential factor in acquiring orders.
Quite unusual for a supplier to get so deeply involved in engineering and design …
On average, you have purchased one new machine every year
That may be, but we have the expertise that’s needed. Con- to date. What is behind this high investment frequency?
sequently, our customers are normally open to our propos- Today we process everything from 0.1 millimeter spring steel
als. I have both engineering and commercial backgrounds. to 25 millimeter mild steel. The volumes range from one-off
This lets me sit down with the customer, discuss how a part prototypes to runs involving millions of parts. To be able
could be manufactured more economically, and calculate — to offer such a range, you need to have the right machinery.
right then and there — precisely how much it will cost. It So whenever we see that a new investment is likely to win
always helps to have all our machines and processing tech- over new customers — or better serve existing ones, then we
niques in the back of my mind. I can sort out the options spend some money. So far, our production hall contains sev14 Express 1/14
Hans Tekeser is
convinced that
success needs a
secure base.
Detlef Göckeritz
“In 2003 alone we
invested three
million euros.”
Express 1/14 15
interVieW
eral press brakes, a TruMatic 000 punch laser machine, as
well as laser cutting machines. The line of machines also
reflects the fact that automation is becoming increasingly
important. This is why we have high hopes that the TruBend
Cell 7000, purchased towards the end of 2013, will have a
beneficial effect on our bending operations. The TruLaser
Cell 700 helps us with our laser cutting and welding operations thanks to its extremely fast work rate, its great flexibility, and the resulting short production times.
What convinces you most about TRUMPF?
TRUMPF fascinated me from the word go. The frankness
of the people and their readiness to help and be on call for
their customers — day and night — impress me greatly. And
then, of course, there is the high-quality technology that
they deliver. I have seen how competitors struggle with other machines. Calculations based on trying to manufacture
high-quality products with cheap machines never bear fruit.
10 years of Alzner Automotive
It was in 2004 that Hans Tekeser took his first steps towards
self-employment by opening an office specializing in project
management and component design. Soon he started making
prototypes himself instead of farming out the work. In the
same year the graduate business administrator and mechanical
engineer set up his own manufacturing facility in an old printing
shop located in Grafenau, a town in the German state of BadenWürttemberg. He received his first mass-production orders in 2005
and the company was already employing 30 by the end of the year.
In 2006, Alzner Automotive started making tools. The company
continued to grow; Tekeser invested in new machines and moved
to new premises with more floor space. Today Alzner Automotive
employs 160 and supplies customers all around the world.
Your order books are well filled; you are working three shifts.
What are your intentions for the future?
After a period of rapid growth, consolidation will be next
on the program. Structures will first have to catch up, to
ensure that growth can be sustained. However, this certainly does not mean standing still. This year alone we
have invested over three million euros in presses and a
TruBend Cell 7000. Additionally, we are always on the lookout for new business opportunities and customers. An example of this is our commitment to electro-mobility. We
are currently producing retainer brackets for high-voltage
batteries — a market which is sure to expand.
Where do you see the greatest challenges to a successful future?
The difficulty is primarily in finding good personnel. At the
moment, the labor market is unable to offer us the number
of qualified people we need, especially in toolmaking. That is
why we are currently training five young people. In addition,
we have repeatedly retrained employees from other vocations. Whenever I see a mechanic or a fitter who I think has
greater capabilities, he will be given more challenging tasks
and thus become more deeply involved with the company.
> Please direct your questions to:
Achim Greiser, Phone: + 49 (0) 7156 303-30396
e-mail: [email protected]
16 Express 1/14
Anything associated with cars
Who:
Alzner Automotive GmbH, Grafenau, Germany.
Founded 2004, 160 employees.
www.alzner-automotive.de
What:
With its ingenious technology blend, this subcontractor supplies high-quality parts and components,
primarily to the automobile industry
How:
TruLaser 2525, TruMatic 6000, TruLaser Cell 7040,
TruBend Cell 7000, TruBend 7036, TruBend 5130,
TruBend 5085, TrumaBend V 85
.sPeCIaL INteCH
2014
!
w
o
r
g
,
y
d
a
e
t
s
,
y
d
a
Re
er
30. Af t
0
1
r
e
s
TruL a
nt
ou wa
w it h a
y
d
f
I
e
t
.
r
r
e
a
er st
0 fib
d.
ser 5 03
in Kräm
ou ne e
a
t
y
L
r
a
g
u
r
n
i
T
M
to a
er y th
omer
has ev
graded
P F cu s t
p
n
M
u
o
i
U
t
e
i
R
h
b
T
s,
ex h i
m o nt h
NTEcH
I
e
h
ju s t 3 6
t
,
w s u it
t o fo ll o
TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG
truLaser series 1000
Straightforward assembly, short commissioning time, and simple operation. Many people
entering the field of laser cutting find the TruLaser Series 1000 to be the ideal starting machine.
These machines have now become even more convincing with improved user-friendliness.
It is now possible, for example, to automatically specify micro-joints at the machine’s controls.
And at the touch of a button, the operator can select any one of three dynamic modes. As before,
the wide viewing window allows unrestricted supervision of the process, across almost the
entire width of the machine. Interior lighting can be installed at both ends, if need be.
The entry-level
machine — now even
more convenient
Express 1/14
17
The laser cutting machines in the
TruLaser Series 3000 are real allrounders in 2D processing. They
excel with their flexibility, reliability, and a diversity of automation
solutions. Available now for the
TruLaser 3030 fiber is a  kW laser —
the TruDisk 001. Thanks to its
greater power, customers can cut
mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum up to 20 millimeters thick, and
nonferrous metals as thick as  millimeters. Also new: You can now
transition from flat processing to
tube processing with the help of the
RotoLas accessory. A flexible external support lends absolute reliability when guiding many different
tubes and profiles. The TruTops Tube
programming system accurately
calculates cutting speeds and travel movements along all the axes.
This paves the way for complex
piercing and cutting work and for
excellent cuts at the corners of rectangular tubes.
performance at
the highest level
The new TruLaser 500 — optionally
available with a 6 or  kW TruFlow
laser — stands for the greatest possible productivity and efficiency.
With the world’s most efficient
CO2 laser, the TruLaser 500 offers an excellent energy situation.
Among other things, its optimized high-frequency excitation
reduces energy consumption by
30 percent. Unchanged — with a
working range of up to 6 meters
on the X-axis — are its enormous
joint speeds and positioning dynamics. The U-axis ensures constant component quality over the
entire operational range, while
the smart nozzle automation option guarantees process reliability
during lights-out operations. For
those with extreme quality demands, BrightLine increases the
working thickness for aluminum
up to 15 millimeters and stainless
steel up to 25 millimeters.
truPunch 3000
more laser power and
optional tube processing
truLaser 5060
truLaser 3030 fiber
SpeciaL intech 2014
efficient
and reliable
The facelift undertaken for the
TruPunch 3000 has set new benchmarks for punching work. A large
part removal flap, designed for
quick and sure discharge, is now
standard on this model. Large formats can now be processed without having to reposition them,
thanks to a longer transverse rail.
This boosts precision and reduces non-productive periods. Also
new is the SheetMaster Compact,
making for an economical launch
of automated procedures. Smart
Functions guarantee maximum
process reliability in every application. Smart Unload will identify
jammed parts and automatically
rectify the situation.
BrightLine
BrightLine makes
for mirror-smooth
cutting faces.
18 Express 1/14
The best edge quality on thick sheet metal
BrightLine, a special cutting process, lets operators cut through thick
stainless and mild steel with excellent results. Especially in stainless
steel, the BrightLine fusion cut leaves a superb cutting edge.
The smoothness of the surface, the perpendicularity of the
cutting edge, and burr-free corners represent substantial
improvements when compared with standard cutting methods. The
result is a mirror-finish edge, with no touch-up work. The latest variation, the BrightLine fiber, is no less than revolutionary.
It ensures high-quality cutting when using a solidstate laser, even with thick sheet metal.
SpeciaL intech 2014
Developed anew, from the ground up
truBend series 3000
Numerous innovations characterize the new
TruBend Series 3000. Among them are the new,
transparent and self-explanatory multi-touch
control concept and unrestricted use of the entire
bending length. Automatic crowning is one feature
that makes sure that the angle is the same, all along
the length. The TruBend 3100, with its press power
of 1,000 kN, will be the first machine of the series
introduced at the INTECH exhibition. The high joint
speeds make this the fastest press brake in its class.
Machines in the TruBend Series 3000 can, depending on the application, be equipped
with two-, four-, or five-axis backgauges.
The time-tested and further improved
BendGuard system with its sensormonitored optical beam array makes
for maximum safety and short set-up
times. Differing tool clamping systems are available for all the machines in
the TruBend Series 3000. Among
them are a quick-clamp system
and manual or automatic hydraulic tool clamps.
TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG, KD Busch
www.intech.trumpf.com
With the change from a TruLaser 1030 to the
TruLaser 5030 fiber, we have climbed to the
first division in 2D laser cutting. Our productivity has
improved by a factor of four to five. And we are even
better in thin sheet metal. I am fascinated at how the
BrightLine fiber option has pushed back the boundaries
of physics and made it possible, even with the solid-state
laser, to cut stainless steel up to 25 millimeters thick — at
great quality. The machine’s reliability is no less impressive,
reaching as high as 99.9 percent in our operations. Since
its installation in May 2013, the TruLaser 5030
fiber has let us win over many new customers.
> Martin Krämer [email protected]
Express 1/14 19
“I think that if you are
sometimes redundant as
a manager, then you
are doing a good job.”
Customers
ordering
special parts
receive them
just as quickly
as standard
components —
that is Martina
Kammann’s
declared
intention.
20 Express 1/14
tube manufacturing
Promoting ideas
martina Kammann loves going to work and wants her employees to feel the same way.
Dirk Egelkamp
how does she achieve this? With flat hierarchies and plenty of room for ideas.
For Martina Kammann it is important to enjoy doing something — during working hours, too: “We spend a lot of time
here in the company, so it makes sense that we take pleasure
in our work,” she emphasizes. Sounds good and perhaps
at the same time a little strange coming from the mouth
of a CEO. She has held this position at KMH-Kammann
Metallbau GmbH in Bassum, Germany, 25 kilometers south
of Bremen, for the last 15 years now. Her parents founded the
company in 196 and began manufacturing straight tubes,
shaped tubes and distribution systems for bulk commodities.
“My father always felt that a good relationship between labor and management was essential,” emphasizes Kammann.
These values live on to the present day in the company’s flat
hierarchies and the friendly cooperation among colleagues
at KMH. “It goes without saying that we have to earn money,
but the human aspect should never take a back seat.” Kammann puts her most important concern in a nutshell — and
does so just this simply.
more freedom, more responsibility
She herself prefers to stay in the background rather than
stand in the limelight. “I think that if you are sometimes redundant as a manager, then you are doing a good job.” She
gladly gives her 140 employees the latitude needed for their
own ideas and creativity. Perhaps more than other companies do. “In many areas there is a relatively broad degree of
discretion. This, however, means that the individual workers
have to shoulder much greater responsibility,” emphasizes
Express 1/14 21
Kammann. She adds that finding people who are prepared
to present and implement their own ideas is not a simple
job. “But fortunately we have a large number of dedicated
employees in our firm.”
tailor-made tubes
KMH’s tubes and systems are to be found wherever dust has
to be extracted by suction or products need to be conveyed
with slight pressure. This can happen right across the board:
in the animal fodder and foodstuffs industries, chemicals and
pharmaceuticals, mill and plant construction, ventilation and
environmental technology, and the semiconductor industry.
This is true not only in Germany. KMH exports 40 per cent of
its products — primarily to countries in Europe.
KMH’s customers can choose between 20,000 different
standard products. If they can’t find exactly what they need,
the company will make it for them. Some 20 per cent of the
parts are customized products. “Tailor-made items are very
important, because they let us offer customer-oriented solutions,” explains Kammann. Lots of plants are so complex that a
standard item is not up to the job. “If we are able to supply individualized components just as quickly, flexibly, and at the same
quality, then we will always be a step ahead of the competition.”
processes,” says the CEO. In the old facility, our production
section had to adapt to the space on hand. Now, everything
is geared to meeting production requirements. Her team is
now able to supply special parts within a day or two.
A Stopa storage system that holds the sheet metal for
the TruLaser 5030 and TruLaser 3030 also contributes to
smooth operations. Components are first cut on the laser
machines, then bent on tube rollers, and finally welded. It is
the precision of the machine that plays the most important
role in the selection. To ensure that the welding seams hold
up later, the edges must fit precisely and cleanly and tolerances must be maintained. Additionally, KMH cuts precise
apertures in finished tubes using the RotoLas option on the
TruLaser 3030. This ensures that forked and transitional
pieces later fit like a glove. “When the company was founded, we cut our components with plasma equipment,” says
Kammann with a smile. “That would be inconceivable today.”
precise craftsmanship
The Bassum-based company normally processes standard
steel and various stainless alloys from one to four millimeters in thickness. Many of the operations are still performed manually: “Basically, ours is still a skilled craft,” says
Kammann. “There are already plenty of jobs to do by maredesigning processes
chine, but we still perform a large number of operations by
To make sure this works, she continuously invests in new hand.” This is due primarily to the many different geometrimachinery and plant. Her largest investment to date was cal shapes that the company deals with. They make automaerecting a completely new facility in 2009. “That was an im- tion difficult. “For the next few years there is definitely no
portant step for us. It gave us an opportunity to optimize way to do without skilled workers who can take action as
our operations and increase efficiency with clearly defined appropriate to the moment.” Kammann is sure of this.
22 Express 1/14
TUBE MANUFACTURING
Martina
Kammann gives
her employees
enough room
for their own
ideas. This
promotes not
only creativity,
but a pleasant
working
atmosphere,
as well.
At the beginning of her career, business administrator Martina Kammann would hardly have thought she would be so
deeply involved in technology today. Her resolute response
to any questions about whether she always knew she was going to follow her parents in company management is: “Not
one little bit!” Once she completed her training as an industrial clerk, her parents asked whether she might consider
working in the administrative office at KMH. She was skeptical at first, but then agreed. She has never regretted the
decision. Even though it wasn’t always easy at the beginning.
“After a short period I switched to the purchasing department. At that time there were many elderly gentlemen out
in the field who were very skeptical about a young woman
occupying this position — especially one with no technical
experience,” remembers Kammann. “Plenty of snide comments were made.” Today she can only smile at that memory.
“It goes without saying that
we have to earn money, but
the human aspect should
never take a back seat.”
Male? Female? Human!
Is her management style different from that employed by
men? Martina Kammann shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t
think there is really all that much difference between men
and women in management. We women might react more
intuitively and sensitively.” Skepticism about her being the
company’s CEO is something she has hardly encountered in
recent years. She has grown into her role, her industry, and
the world of technology. “And the industrial sector is certainly never boring,” she says with a laugh.
> Please direct your questions to:
Karl Schmidt, Phone: + 49 (0) 7156 303-31497
e-mail: [email protected]
A rousing success
Who: KMH-Kammann Metallbau GmbH, Bassum, Germany. Founded in 1986,
140 employees. www.kmh.net
What: The company supplies its global customers with tubes joined with flanges
or clamping rings, components and systems for air extraction and to convey
all kinds of bulk goods
How: TruLaser 5030, TruLaser 3030 with RotoLas, TrumaBend V 170,
Stopa storage system
Express 1/14 23
“To be perfectly frank about it:
Parts produced automatically are
better parts.” Roland Deeg
24 Express 1/14
AUTOMATION
N
ot without
our robot
Sigrid and Roland Deeg are big fans of automation.
Not because they want to cut staff levels, but
because it helps them get better employees.
Outside it smells of farmland, inside of metal. The Roland Deeg GmbH
facility is surrounded by fields and meadows. It is located on the slope
of the small Kirchberg industrial estate in the Hohenlohe district — that
remarkable boom region in the rural, northeastern area of Baden-Württemberg, where farmers and industry managers meet at the baker’s shop
every morning. There are more market leaders than towns here and behind every bend in the lane you’ll find an entrepreneur organizing his
global business operations: packaging technology, mechanical engineering, ventilators, assembly technology, even jeans. This makes the perfect
setting for a classical job shop like Roland Deeg GmbH.
The company has positioned itself in the market as an all-rounder in
sheet metal. It offers laser-cutting, bending, welding and milling, along
with assembly and logistics. CEO Roland Deeg says: “We want to offer
our customers everything from a single source and in so doing generate in-house as much added value as possible.” The business landscape
in the Hohenlohe region is reflected in his customer base: mainly traditional mechanical engineering, packaging technology, construction machinery — and occasionally the automobile industry.
The tally after eight hours
Deeg employs 140 and runs a three-shift operation. At the entrance to
the production hall you will find 2D laser cutting machines working
their way through steel, stainless or aluminum. Every time a finished
part is removed, a LiftMaster feeds the machines anew. In other parts
of the building, you can hear the crackling of hand-held welding torches or see workers loading milling machines or packing products. Inside
the hall you can see how the facility has steadily grown over the years.
There seem to be passages and stairways leading to annexes everywhere.
One area is reserved for bending work. Workers perform manual
bending on seven TruBend machines. Next to them, BendMaster robots
feed three other machines: a TruBend 5230, a TrumaBend V 130 X, and a
TruBend Cell 7000. In its bending cell, this job shop processes small items
Express 1/14 25
AUTOMATION
“Younger people, in particular,
are not interested in tending a
machine all day. But they just
love programming robots.”
in monthly volumes of 50 per order and upwards.
Roland Deeg is standing on a landing, watching
his press brakes. “I decided to go for automated
bending years ago. The main reason is simple:
volumes,” he says. “A good press brake operator
performs some 150 operations in the first hour of
his shift, while the robot only manages 100. But
when you add up the numbers at the end of an
eight-hour shift, the robot will always be lengths
ahead. It just doesn’t get tired.” Deeg’s TruBend
Cell, for instance, produces a good 20 percent
faster than a highly skilled worker. And Deeg
is delighted that it turns out parts for hours on
end, without a worker having to intervene — because there is a shortage of qualified labor.
Lures for skilled labor
It is difficult to entice qualified workers to move
to Kirchberg with its 4,100 inhabitants. The region has a jobless rate of just 2.9 percent, which
is as good as full employment. Competition for
qualified staff is fierce. “Many well-qualified people prefer to join the really big companies here
because they believe that their jobs are much
more secure than ours,” says Deeg. “And more
often than not we are unable to pay the same
high wages that the large firms do.” Bending specialists are especially hard to find. This vocation
is exacting; abstract spatial visualization and unabated concentration are much sought after. But
it is physically strenuous, too, especially where
large sheets of metal are involved. It is hardly un26 Express 1/14
usual for a press brake operator to have moved to supply everything with a perfect surface.”
dozens of tons by the end of his shift. “This is His BendMaster machines help him achieve
hard on your joints and is the kind of tough job this. “Robots perform bending operations with
hardly anybody wants anymore,” says Roland an enormous degree of precision —and process
Deeg. “Automation closes this manpower gap every single part to the same high level. Accuand, at the same time, makes a contribution to- rate electric drives in the TruBend Cell 7000
ward establishing an ergonomic working envi- ensure great angular precision. To be perfectronment.” His wife, Sigrid Deeg — who runs the ly frank about it: Parts produced automatically
company together with her husband, adds: “Au- are better parts.” Sensors and image processing,
tomated machinery compensates for the lack of such as those used in automated bending, preskilled workers but also attracts them. Younger vent mistakes that humans make. Sigrid Deeg
people, in particular, are not interested in tend- explains: “A typical error, for instance, is for a
ing a machine all day. But they just love pro- bending operator to mix up left- and right-hand
gramming robots.” This is how the machinery parts and to hold the sheet metal the wrong way
can can give the well-trained staff the latitude round. Automation keeps this from happening.”
they need to apply their knowledge elsewhere in This also simplifies the next step, which is doca sensible way. In addition, the company is doing umentation, because you are always aware of
its part to combat the lack of skilled workers; it the performance data and the exact number of
is currently training 25 apprentices in six differ- components processed.
Though the Deegs own a medium-sized job
ent vocations.
shop, they do not find it odd to place such emOne hundred percent good parts
phasis on automation. “Without this guaranThe work performed by the Deegs has changed teed quality and the high manufacturing speeds,
a lot over recent years. All their customers have we wouldn’t be able to manage at all,” says
in the meantime adopted just-in-time produc- Roland Deeg. “There is no question about furtion. This demands that job shops achieve a ther expanding our automated processes in the
high degree of flexibility. Furthermore, quality future.”
requirements are becoming ever more stringent.
For Roland Deeg, this is yet another reason to
acquire automated machinery. “To name just > Please direct your questions to:
Tanja Tenhaf, Phone: +49 (0) 7156 303-30447
one example, a scratch on a sheet metal part used
e-mail: [email protected]
to be completely irrelevant. Nowadays we have
KD Busch
Sigrid Deeg
automation
Roland Deeg’s customers
demand precision bent
parts. He can supply
them with his automated
machines.
An efficient family company
Who:
Roland Deeg GmbH, Kirchberg (Jagst), Germany. Founded in 1996,
140 employees. www.deeg-bleche.de
What:
Laser cutting, bending, welding and assembly — this job shop supplies
highly accurate sheet metal components to a wide variety of industries
How:
TruBend Cell 7000, TruBend 5230, TruBend 5085, TrumaBend V 170,
TrumaBend V 50, TrumaBend V 320, 2 x TrumaBend V 130 X,
TruLaser 5040, TruLaser 5030, 2 x TruLaser 3040, TruLaser 3030,
TruLaser Cell 1005, TruLaser Weld 3010 and TruLaser Robot 5020
in a laser network
He simply struck out on his own
XXXXXXX
“sensors and image processing,
such as those used in automated
bending, prevent mistakes
that humans make.” Sigrid Deeg
Actually, the history of Roland Deeg
GmbH began with a disappointment. Roland Deeg was working as
a master fitter in a company manufacturing construction machines. He
was planning to set up a new sheet
metal processing line in collaboration
with TRUMPF. However, his company
abandoned the project shortly before
its completion. “I thought it a shame
to let all the good work go to waste,”
explains Deeg. Since giving up was
not an option, he and his wife decided
to go it alone. His intention was to set
himself up in business with the same
concept. His boss had no objections
and by 1996 he was ready to go. An
outside investor built a production
facility for them on the outskirts of
Kirchberg. The Deegs purchased a
TruLaser 3030 laser cutting machine.
Sigrid Deeg remembers: “That was
a real adventure. We spent all our
savings on our first machine and even
took out a mortgage on our house.”
She ran the office while her husband
made the early-morning delivery
rounds and then returned to work at
the machine. “We had an Excel list
of potential customers. I kept calling
them up. Roland drove all around the
region, introducing himself”.
While talking about the launch phase,
Roland und Sigrid Deeg keep smiling
at each other. “We must have been a
bit mad back then,” their faces seem to
say. Success was not long in coming.
Six months later, they bought a press
brake and hired their first employees.
“We expanded our workforce by ten
new employees every year and built
an addition to the shop every two
years — right down to the present
day,” says Roland Deeg.
Express 1/14 27
characterS
“My objects can alter the appearance of the rooms in
which they hang — and they can do this again and again.”
28 Express 1/14
characterS
Multi-facetted designer
gosia Warrink’s metal objects d'art have two sides.
tell us,
Mrs. warrink …
Gosia Warrink
and this designer's work has a multitude of aspects.
“Art is such a big word,” says Gosia Warrink. She ishing. “I made many of the tools myself. My
prefers to call herself a designer rather than an father is an engineer and helped me develop
artist. And yet she does create individual metal them,” she says. Gosia Warrink cooperates with
objects, largely by hand, none of which resem- service providers when she creates large-scale
bles any other. In her hands, copper or steel wire metal objects d'art. They carry out her detailed
is transformed into fragile-looking wire images instructions whenever stamping or laser work
reminiscent of sophisticated fashion sketches. is involved. The designer herself adds the finishShe turns copper with its reddish glow or alu- ing touches — such as polishing, painting, oximinum plate with its cool look into silhouettes dizing and sealing.
to adorn any wall, following animal or female
motifs. Reduced forms, precisely cut out, are in experimentation is part of the job
contrast to playful details such as the herring- To prepare for working with metals, Gosia
bone patterns we know from the fashion world. Warrink did a lot of experimentation and deOne distinctive feature of the work performed veloped many of her own techniques. “Espeby this Berlin resident is that the works can be cially when oxidizing metals, I apply some very
viewed from both sides. If one side is spotless unusual methods, some I had never heard of
white or neon-colored, then the other side will before,” she says. The reason for this is that she
surprise the viewer with a clear metal surface or seldom uses chemicals for her sheet metal work
organic oxidation. “I found it important to stay but prefers substances bought from drugstores,
away from the conventional, single-sided per- supermarkets or Asian food stores. They lend
ception of images. My objects are multifaceted. a special patina to her works of
They can alter the appearance of the rooms in art and make every design
which they hang — and they can do this again unique — because she never
knows for certain what the
and again,” declares this woman of 39.
results will be.
open to change
Her wire images begin
Gosia Warrink was born in Poland and studied with a freehand sketch and a
German and linguistics in Warsaw. She moved detailed computer drawing.
to Germany in 1995 when she was awarded a Then she prepares a full-size
scholarship in Berlin; she continued her stud- paper template. “And that’s
ies there. “I have always had many interests. I when I start bending. Someprobably inherited my weakness for design times things turn out comand art from my mother, who taught art,” she pletely different from what I
relates. This is why, after graduating, she went had envisaged in my origion to study a second subject, visual communi- nal draft. If the metal plays
cation, at the University of Art in Berlin. Not along, however, I let artistic
a detour but a happy coincidence, feels Gosia liberty run its course and
Warrink, because she now combines language forget all about the draft,” she
and art in many of her projects.
explains. And this brings us
She worked with a variety of materials dur- back to her as a person. Accepting
ing her art studies. She loves cutting out silhou- changes, always being inquisitive as to where
ettes and enjoys drawing — techniques which her developments are likely to lead, and unshe adapts for her metalwork. She frequently derstanding them as an opportunity are all
uses jewelers’ tools to work metals. She has very important to her. In design, in art, in life.
machines to do the rougher work, such as pol- www.gosia-gallery.com
… what do you see as your greatest
strength? And your greatest
weakness?
I am a very creative person and have plenty
of ideas. However, I am also very much of
a perfectionist — too much so at times — in
everything I do.
… how would you characterize
yourself in a few words?
Inquisitive, creative, emotional, and always
on the lookout for the unique. I do not like
anything mediocre, am headstrong and
determined.
… where do you get your energy?
My son and my work give me most of my
strength. I simply love what I do and feel
it is my great fortune not to have found a
vocation but a calling. My family, yoga and
sunshine also give me energy.
… what would you take with you to
the proverbial desert
island?
My son, my beloved
camera and my Icoon
pictorial dictionary.
Just in case I found
there were natives on
the island with whom I
could communicate.
Gosia Warrink lends a special
patina to her works of art
with substances bought from
drugstores, supermarkets or
Asian food stores.
Express 1/14 29
a gLobaL VieW
Lovely sounds Alphorns are traditionally made of wood, but in
musicology are actually classified as brass instruments. The first written
evidence of an alphorn appeared in a Swiss document in 1527. Currently
some 1,800 organized alphorn players are registered with the Swiss Yodeling
Association. And the world record holder also comes from Switzerland. The
winning instrument, measuring 47 meters in length, belongs to Josef Stocker —
who admittedly shares this title with Peter Wutherich from the USA.
creDitS
TRUMPF Express 1/14
Magazine for sheet Metal Processing
Published by
TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
Johann-Maus-Straße 2, 71254 Ditzingen,
Germany, www.trumpf.com
Lean processes
Responsible for content
Mathias Kammüller, Dr. Eng.
Editor-in-chief
Evelyn Konrad
+49 (0) 7156 303 – 30 428
[email protected]
trumpf took its first step abroad in 1963 by founding a
subsidiary in Switzerland. today, the baar facility employs 250
in the sales and service departments responsible for trumpf products
trumpf locations worldwide. the production plant in grüsch employs
550 and manufactures power tools and machines in the truLaser Series
3000 and 5000, as well as the trumark Laser and the trumark Station.
Edited by
Gernot Walter, Maximilien Brice
in Switzerland. additionally, it supplies components and assemblies to
pr+co GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
Norbert Hiller, Julia Schmidt
Layout and production
pr+co GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany
Gernot Walter
Tanja Haller
Reproduction
Reprotechnik Herzog GmbH,
Stuttgart, Germany
hurtling particles Close to Meyrin in the
Swiss canton of Geneva, particles are accelerated
to almost the speed of light in the Large
Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest particle
accelerator in the world. The acceleration
ring has a circumference of 26,659 meters.
The European Organization for Nuclear
Research (CERN) uses the LHC to
investigate the composition of
matter. Scientists detected the so-called Higgs boson, named
after Peter Higgs, who predicted its existence. Physicists
Higgs and François Englert were awarded the Nobel Prize for
Physics in 2013 in recognition of this prediction.
a versatile classic
Almost every NASA astronaut has
one in his spacesuit: a red Swiss
pocket knife. It was originally
developed for the army, but
the “pocket tool” has
been further developed
and, depending on the
model involved, can also
contain a gadget used
by anglers to remove fish
scales, or a divot tool used by
golfers. The Wenger Giant Knife 2007,
boasting 81 tools and 141 functions, is the
largest. It weighs 1.3 kilograms — and is hardly
suitable for your trouser pocket.
30 Express 1/14
a small
squad
The Papal Swiss
Guard is the smallest
army in the world.
It consists of 110
soldiers and is responsible for the pope’s
personal safety. The
first Swiss mercenaries
entered the Vatican’s
services on January 2,
1506. The “home-guard”
has been in existence
since 1800 without interruption. Applicants must
be between the age of 19
and 30, at least 1.74 meters
tall and athletic, and must
have successfully attended
the Swiss Army’s basic
training school.
> Additional information: www.ch.trumpf.com
Printed by
frechdruck GmbH,
Stuttgart, Germany
contributors
Florian Burkhardt
Julian Stutz
Monika Unkelbach
Translation
Stewart Lindemann,
Wuppertal, Germany
Photography
KD Busch
Dirk Egelkamp
Detlef Göckeritz
Thawatchai Kahatairat
Illustration
Gernot Walter
Printed on paper from sustainable sources.
BrightLine fiber:
Breakthrough in laser cutting.
Through thick and thin with the solid-state laser: the new BrightLine fiber option now lets you achieve excellent cut quality when
processing thick sheets and the ultimate in productivity when processing thin sheets. Using one and the same machine to process
your entire range of parts, you can look forward to impressive edge quality with stainless steel up to 25 mm thick, the tiniest contours, much easier removal of parts – combined with maximum productivity when cutting thin sheets. No more compromises!
www.trumpf.com
M.studio/Fotolia
What can we do for you today?
Exceptional creations? That’s never a problem with knives
by Lamson & Goodnow. Each one is the product of 176
years of expertise. Even today, this U.S. manufacturer ships
its products from the same buildings in which the company was founded. “We want to produce the finest quality — handcrafted knives at fair prices, destined to become
heirloom pieces down the line,” emphasizes CEO Brian
Hayes. This traditional forge is home to machines that have
more than a century on the clock, standing right next to
a TruLaser 1030 fiber and a TruMark Station 5000. They
ensure exact contours and apply the company’s logo to
the blade. This merger of the latest technology and ageold tradition is well received by professional and amateur cooks all over the world.
www.lamsonsharp.com