Digitalisation increases production efficiency

Marcel Spadini, Geschäftsführer der Arburg AG, Schweiz: „Auf der Swiss Plastics Expo zeigen wir, was Arburg als Branchenvorreiter zu Produktionseffizienz, Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit bietet.“ (Foto: ARBURG) / Marcel Spadini, Managing Director of Arburg AG, Switzerland: “At the Swiss Plastics Expo 2020, we will be showcasing what Arburg has to offer as the industry pioneer in terms of production efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability.” (Photo: ARBURG)

Das Kundenportal „arburgXworld“ ist international in 18 Sprachen und mit neuen Apps und Funktionen verfügbar. (Foto: ARBURG) / The “arburgXworld” customer portal is available internationally in 18 languages and features new apps and functions. (Photo: ARBURG)

Flexible Serienfertigung „on demand“: Eine Turnkey-Anlage rund um einen vertikalen Allrounder 375 V und einen platzsparend angeordneten Sechs-Achs-Roboter produziert auf der Swiss Plastics Expo 2020 elastische Spannseile auf Kundenwunsch. (Foto: ARBURG) / Flexible high-volume production on demand: a turnkey system built around a vertical Allrounder 375 V and a six-axis robot in a space-saving configuration will produce different variants of elastic tension straps according to customer requirements at the Swiss Plastics Expo 2020. (Photo: ARBURG)

- arburgXworld: comprehensive range of digital products and services
- Customer portal: new apps offering significant added value
- IT-networked turnkey system: multi-variant injection moulding on demand

Arburg is an industry pioneer in the fields of production efficiency, digitalisation and sustainability. The company will be in attendance at the Swiss Plastics Expo from 21 to 23 January 2020 in Lucerne, Switzerland at stand C1061 in hall 1. They will be showcasing “arburgXworld” as well as an IT-networked turnkey system enabling flexible and efficient injection moulding production. “arburgXworld” incorporates the customer portal of the same name as well as all digital products and services.

“For our customers, digitalisation and automation are essential when it comes to maintaining and enhancing their production efficiency, innovative strength and competitive edge,” states Marcel Spadini, Managing Director of Arburg AG in Switzerland. “Through our ‘arburgXworld’ range and the customer portal of the same name, we offer significant added value – from support with machine design and provision of digital services, right the way through to online ordering of our new Allrounder 270 S compact. With a tension strap application, we also clearly demonstrate how demands for increased customisation and flexibility in high-volume production can be met in a commercially viable way.”

Customer portal contains a multitude of valuable apps

The basic version of the Arburg customer portal includes four free apps – “Machine Center”, “Service Center2, “Shop” and “Calendar”. As of the K trade fair 2019, “arburgXworld” has been available internationally in 18 languages and offers further new functionalities and paid apps which provide users with significant added value and which will be presented live at the trade fair. These include:

- “Self Service”: this interactive app helps users analyse machine malfunctions and downtimes themselves. The paid expansion stage provides self-help with guided problem analysis.
- “Virtual Control”: this enables the machine controller to be simulated to create data sets, optimise sequences and train employees.
- “Configuration”: this tool enables products such as the new Allrounder 270 S compact to be customised to include defined options and ordered online on the basis of agreed conditions – a simple, secure and menu-driven solution.
- “Machine Finder”: this machine design app is used to find the best Allrounder for the application in question. For example, the optimum cylinder is calculated based on process and material-related data.
- “Data Decoder”: here, important parameters for a machine data set can be displayed in readable format and saved either as a csv or xlsx file.

Further options include the “Process Dashboard” and the “Machine Dashboard” which are used to document production processes and display status information and indicators for individual machines.

Flexible turnkey system: injection moulded parts on demand

As a “smart” exhibit, a compact turnkey system built around a vertical Allrounder 375 V produces various types of elastic tension straps on demand from shot to shot – without any need for conversion, thanks to a clever product and mould design and Industry 4.0 components. The customer requirements are integrated into the running injection moulding process online. Visitors will be able to choose between elastic tension straps of three different lengths in three colours and with three different end piece combinations, entering their variant of choice directly at a terminal. After the order has been transferred to the central Selogica control system, the tension strap is cut to the selected length and handled by a space-saving six-axis robot located within the machine installation area. It places the ends of the strap in the cavities of the 4-cavity mould, where hook/hook, hook/eyelet or eyelet/eyelet combinations are moulded in a cycle time of about 40 seconds. In industrial practice, such a system would be ideal for cable assembly in the automotive industry, for example.

Four Arburg presentations to form part of the innovation symposium

At the Swiss Plastics Expo 2020, Arburg will also be well represented at the “Innovation Symposium” by four experts: Lukas Pawelczyk, Head of Freeformer Sales, and Bertram Stern, Packaging and Circular Economy Manager, will be presenting showcases on additive manufacturing and circular economy. Manuel Wöhrle, Senior Sales Manager Lightweight, and Andreas Reich, Head of the Turnkey department, will also be delivering keynote presentations on the topics of lightweight construction and Industry 4.0.