A success story: with future-oriented handling systems

Bernhard Kirchgäßner: Leiter Automatische Bestückung bei SEW-EURODRIVE (Copyright: ASYS Group)

For many years, the ASYS Group and SEW-EURODRIVE have enjoyed a close and successful partnership characterized by trust, innovation and joint successes. SEW-EURODRIVE, one of the world's leading manufacturers of electric motors and drive technologies, is once again investing in highly developed automation solutions from ASYS. A total of eight future-oriented and automated SMD production lines are now in operation in the Bruchsal production halls, with the complete handling portfolio, such as buffer systems, transport systems, loaders and unloaders, as well as laser marking systems and the intelligent line software, coming from ASYS.

Over the years, the cooperation between ASYS and SEW-EURODRIVE has not only led to successful projects, but also to innovative solutions and mutual improvements. “The trusting relationship with ASYS is based on mutual understanding and a commitment to continuous development. Thanks to ASYS automation solutions, we have taken our production capacity and flexibility to a new level. We have connected our production to the ASYS host computer. The ASYS software enables us to change over our SMD production lines to a new product without downtime – and in a fully automated process. The high level of automation and standardization of the machines enables us to quickly adapt to different production requirements. This enables us to react flexibly to constantly changing market requirements,” says Bernhard Kirchgäßner, Head of the Automatic Placement Department at SEW-EURODRIVE.

Seamless product changeover without downtime

The ASYS software ensures that a product changeover is carried out efficiently and without interruption. The first product of the new batch follows directly after the last product of the current batch. The individual system components are converted one after the other and independently load the product-specific data, such as the product width, without any manual intervention. This eliminates the downtime that used to be required when the production line ran empty during a product change. In practice, this means that several different products can be manufactured on the line at the same time, significantly increasing both capacity and flexibility in production. Thanks to this modularity, it is possible to manufacture over 1000 different products on one line. The line can be converted to a new product without downtime. This flexibility is particularly possible due to the high standardization and automation of the ASYS systems, which are implemented in both the hardware and software.

Why is it worth investing in high-quality handling?

Handling systems have a decisive influence on the performance of the entire SMD line. The failure of just one system can bring the entire line to a standstill. The ASYS handling modules form the heart of the eight highly automated SMD lines at SEW-EURODRIVE. The company uses over 100 ASYS handling systems in its production halls in Bruchsal. Sustainable – with more than 70,000 handling machines installed worldwide – the ASYS Group is shaping the SMD manufacturing landscape. The handling modules have an availability of 99.5% per machine. This minimizes downtime and guarantees continuous production – free of interruptions. Intelligent and reliable solutions optimize workflows and processes in the production line, enable a smooth flow of materials, reduce waiting times and thus contribute to an increase in overall efficiency and throughput. In addition, ASYS handling machines are among the most sustainable on the market: their quality is particularly evident in the lifespan and scalability of the machines. The systems can be flexibly adapted to growing challenges.

“We would like to thank SEW-EURODRIVE for the many years of trusting cooperation. We look forward to continuing to set new standards and further expanding our cooperation in the future – with passion, precision and a clear vision,” emphasizes Matthias Volz, Sales Manager at the ASYS Group.