Automation and Handling are the focus of the METAV Web Sessions

Automation and handling are increasingly gaining in significance as mega trends in industrial manufacturing. The problem of skilled workers is becoming ever more serious, especially in these difficult times when many companies are under pressure from high costs. At the same time, there are enormously high demands on the quality of products, meaning that businesses are now well advised to consider automation.  

"We know from a recent VDMA survey that almost one in four machine manufacturers (23 per cent) will have to adjust capacity levels," says Dr Wilfried Schäfer, Executive Director of the METAV organiser VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association) in Frankfurt am Main. When business picks up again, many companies will then find it difficult to process orders quickly enough and at the required quality level. In such times, having a consistent automation strategy can be essential for survival. Against this background, the question of automation could soon become even more pressing.  

Ten companies will be presenting their solutions as part of the Automation and Handling Theme Days in the third edition of the METAV Web Sessions on 3 and 4 November 2020. These include Allmatic-Jakob clamping systems, Erowa System Technologien/Certa Systems, Gressel, Halter CNC Automation, HandlingTech Automations-Systeme, Industrie Partner, Isra Vision, Müller Maschinentechnik and Zeltwanger Automation. They all specialise in this particular field and are looking to inspire their customers with their solutions and offers. Jörg Franz, Head of Project Planning at the special-purpose machine builder Industrie-Partner GmbH in Coswig, Germany, will be presenting the company's newly developed robot automation kit, for example. "It enables robot-supported sorting, assembly, cleaning and measuring of parts weighing up to 5 kg using standardised, individually combinable function modules. It is aimed at producers of serial products in all sectors, from mechanical engineering and battery cell production to automotive and aerospace." Also taking part is Halter CNC Automation based in Hoevelaken in the Netherlands: Area Sales Manager Oliver Löffler will be showcasing a software tool that allows customers to calculate the payback time of their investment on the basis of their own particular parameters. "We use the app when advising our customers about our machine loading systems. The resulting calculation provides on-the-spot answers to any questions concerning the expected returns following an acquisition," he explains.  

The Automation and Handling Theme Days are aimed at users from the entire industry. Each presentation lasts 30 minutes and is followed by a 15-minute chat session in which participants can ask questions and discuss issues. In addition, it is also possible to arrange a video chat with the speaker to discuss specific questions in a one-on-one conversation away from the general audience.

On request, METAV Web Session participants can obtain a certificate of participation as documentation of their further training. There has been strong uptake of this attractive and valuable service feature.

Source and photo: VDW