Shorter cycle times, flexible batch size machining and greater component quality are all demands that increase the pressure on the metalworking industry to innovate. Key sectors, such as the automotive industry, are changing rapidly. That tailor-made production solutions play an important role in this, is demonstrated by the machine builders at EMAG on Stand A17 in Hall 17 of this year’s METAV in Düsseldorf. Their technology provides an example of how to boost productivity.

How close innovation and the success of a company are connected is clearly illustrated by a study PricewaterhouseCooper (pwc) undertook last year. It established that the growth rate of the most innovative companies increased at a speed 16 percent faster than that of the rest. Against this background, this year’s METAV represents an important platform for the specialists from EMAG. As Jürgen Müller, Managing Director of EMAG Salach GmbH explains: “We want to emphasise the important role innovative production technologies play in the key sectors – for instance in the automotive industry and in power engineering. The manufacture of chucked components, shafts and similar workpieces allows for gigantic leaps in component quality and productivity.“

The starting point for this is the pick-up automation, as perfected – over the last few years – by EMAG. All the turning machines and grinders shown at the exhibition feature this integrated automation concept, where the main spindle conveys the workpieces into the tooling zone of the machine quicker, with greater precision and with a higher degree of process integrity than any other solution:

• The VL 2 Vertical Pick-Up Turning Machine for soft and hard turning, available at an advantageous price-performance ratio. It guarantees a massive reduction in the production costs for small chucked components.
• The VL 3 Vertical Pick-Up Turning Centre is characterised by its high degree of precision and minimal resetting times in the machining of chucked components (using a chuck with 160 mm diameter).  
• The VT 4-4 Vertical Turning Machine impresses with its 4-axis high-performance processing capability. Shafts of up to 1050 mm length and 200 mm diameter are here machined from two sides and at high speed.  
• The VTC 100 GT Vertical Turning and Grinding Centre combines grinding and upstream turning processes in a single setup, massively increasing the machining quality for chucked components with a diameter of up to 100 mm.
• The eldec MIND-M is a compact, highly precise and very reliable component hardening system and an ideal solution for the simpler heat treatment job.

“This selection offers an ideal overview of the extensive EMAG knowhow“, explains Jürgen Müller. “All these systems can be used for the implementation of demanding machining work – and at a massive cost saving. We also offer this type of quality for a large variety of applications. And we are very much looking forward to welcoming our visitors at the METAV.”