Full up for two whole days, the recent open house at Zimmer&Kreim GmbH & Co. KG (ZK) was a complete success. Visitor feedback indicated that the topics and the timing were well chosen. New technology was on display and new software solutions presented, with expert talks rounding out the convincing event.
H.J. Ostermann, a reputable regulatory expert, spoke about CE conformity for tools, addressing “burning issues for mould constructors” in the view of Helmut Neff, head of product and application technology at Zimmer&Kreim. “Automation—Yes or No, and How Well Does It Pay for Itself?” was the issue dealt with by Profs. Rüdiger Haas and Wolf-Immo Jutzler from the Institute of Materials and Processes at Karlsruhe University. And W. Dorlöchter, the experienced managing director of the mould manufacturing company Walther Wolf Formenbau, elucidated his own personal “Path of Automation Experience.”
The large number of machines and systems on show in the spacious ZK halls elicited considerable visitor enthusiasm. All types of machines, from the genius 602 to the genius 1200, were available for examination. Some were only partly constructed, allowing guests to have a glimpse at the special cast-mineral material, stainless steels and aluminium used in making a ZK machine.
A highlight was the gigantic setup of an automated cell using the Chameleon handling system. It was about 13 m long all together. A Fanuc articulated robot was used to operate two Makino EDM machines. Wolfgang Emert, CEO at Zimmer&Kreim, was referring to this system when he extolled his company’s market leadership in the area of cross-process and cross-manufacturer handling technology.
Visitors to the open house also learned a great deal about ZK’s adaptable software modules, which they observed in action and the effect of which in various processes they could appraise for themselves. Those attending AMB 2010, the metalworking show taking place in Stuttgart in September, will be able to have a similar experience.
Wolfgang Emert was very satisfied with the event. He reports that some of the “exciting meetings” held in Brensbach have turned into inquiries.
