11
LOCATIONS – PRIZES & AWARDS –
PRODUCTION PROCESSES
– NEWS AND INFORMATION
racks are initially transported through
the connecting passage to the convey-
ing system. The machine operator
sends the required data set of the
respective workpiece carrier to the
process control level via WLAN. The
system then feeds the, as yet, uncoat-
ed parts to the selected systems and
processes with the aid of a marshalling
area. Further racks are held in the wait-
ing accumulators, ensuring the efficient
removal of the coated product carriers.
In other words, up to 200 racks can be
deployed in the logistics and production
installations at the same time. Further
workpiece carriers are located in the
pre-treatment area. This enables con-
tinuous production at high cycle speeds
without costly idle periods and down-
time.
Once the coating procedure has been
completed, the industrial truck removes
the racks from the return conveyor
belts. In the dedicated packing and
shipping area, the components are sub-
jected to various quality checks, which
can be converted, adapted or extended
at any time to meet customer needs. If
deemed necessary, the quality assur-
ance processes also make use of the
SCHERDEL
Group’s
enormous accrued
knowledge of materials and incorporate
its metalworking principles in the com-
prehensive services provided by OFTM.
Improved ergonomics – sustain-
able energy concepts
Manufacturing plants can sometimes
give a bad impression and demoralise
their workforce when permanent expo-
sure to intense noise leads to stress
responses. The plant management at
OFTM therefore decided to have rough-
ly 2,000 square metres of walls and
ceiling fitted out with soundproofing
material. This enables staff to work in a
more concentrated fashion in a less
stressful environment. The noise pro-
tection principle is based on perforated
corrugated panels which catch the
sound before it is absorbed by acoustic
mats beneath the panels.
Sustainable solutions, which apply the
principles of Industry 4.0, have also
been integrated in the overall energy
concept. The underfloor heating instal-
lation, for example, utilises waste heat,
and energy-saving LED light strips pro-
vide uniform high-quality illumination
without shadow effect. Besides reduc-
ing the level of required electricity and
heat, the design of the energy manage-
ment system also guarantees that all
the consumers can be recorded and
controlled. All the data obtained here
serves as the foundation upon which
future improvements are based.
Needless to say, a number of steps
are still required before all targets of
Industry 4.0 are met. Nonetheless, the
investments delivered by OFTM once
again demonstrate the high level of
innovative capacity within the
SCHERDEL
Group
. Despite the exten-
sive product range of uncoated parts
and varying batch sizes, it has still been
possible to retain the high quality of the
production processes using an effective
and environmentally sensitive approach
– in the true spirit of customer satisfac-
tion.
(dk/cs)
Industrial trucks are used to transport the heavy
racks.
Definition of Industry 4.0
The term Industry 4.0
stands for the fourth industrial
revolution, a new level of or-
ganisation and control of the
whole value chain and the
entire life cycle of products.
The phases of this cycle are
oriented to the demand of the
individual customer and
range from the idea, order,
construction and develop-
ment, and delivery of the
product to the end customer,
to recycling, including all re-
lated services.
The basis is the availability
of all relevant information in
real time through the connec-
tivity of all instances that par-
ticipate in the value chain, as
well as the ability to deduct
the optimum value chain
processes from this data.
Through the interaction of hu-
mans, objects and systems, a
dynamic, real time optimised
and self-organising value
chain will evolve. This value
chain will cross company bor-
ders and can be optimised for
different business aims, such
as costs, availability and re-
source consumption.
(Source: Platform Industry 4.0
dated 05.07.2013)
s Industry 4.0
materials handling technology and intelligent infrastructure
