The flexible manufacturing system from Hermle AG in the house of the customer Connova AG in CH-Villmergen; right, the 5 axis CNC high-power machining centre C 50 U, left of which is the connected robot and workpiece magazine system RS3; on the far left is the workpiece/pallet setup station

Jon Andri Jörg, CEO of Connova AG, on the service spectrum of the employees of this specialist team, numbering now around 59: "We see ourselves as a partner who accompanies customer needs in composites throughout the entire process: engineering, selection of material, CNC manufacturing of models, moulds and tools and CNC machining of the laminated components, right up to maintenance and repair of the tools and components. We have great expertise in selecting and determining of materials such as carbon, GFK, Kevlar or natural fibres and possess the ability and know-how for all manufacturing and machining processes. Particularly mechanical machining is of great importance in a time of great developments in the use of special composite components. It is therefore a decisive advantage for us to be able to prove expert knowledge, from CNC expertise to manufacturing of moulds and tools, including, particularly relevant today, 3 to 5 axis machining of composite components. Despite the fact that we have a particular special status, we have to produce economically, in order to remain in competition for our customers." This becomes clear if we consider - in accordance with the longer model cycles in the car industry - that manufacturing contracts for composite components can mean production of several thousand pieces over several years, produced and delivered in batches, in accordance with JIT criteria. For this reason, Connova AG invested 15 months ago in a flexible manufacturing system from Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG, D-78559 Gosheim. The acquisition was preceded by a detailed evaluation process with test machining, at the end of which Hermle emerged the clear winner. In addition to reproducible machining precision and dynamics in multi-axis complete machining, expertise in system solutions and high performance in direct service were convincing aspects.

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