Product category:
Handling and automation equipment
News Release from: Wittmann UK
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 May 2006
Progress for robots and automation group
Wittmann's slogan "Progress through Innovation" is as descriptive as it can be, even 30 years after founding of the company by Dr Werner Wittmann.
Wittmann's slogan "Progress through Innovation" is as descriptive as it can be, even 30 years after founding of the company by Dr Werner Wittmann The company celebrated its 30th Anniversary as part of the Chinaplas 2006 show in Shanghai
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 3 Sep 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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With a consolidated revenue of EUR 125 million and 800 employees, Wittmann is today among the worldwide leading manufacturers of peripheral equipment for the plastics industry.
In retrospect, Dr Werner Wittmann pointed out that the successful development of the Wittmann Group has been a result of the extremely dynamic growth of the automation and peripheral equipment market.
For example, robot prices have been almost halved over the last 10 years.
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During this same period Wittmann was able to more than triple its production numbers as automation can be employed economically in more processes due to the lower cost.
These price reductions were achieved through innovative product development and - as a consequence of a greater number of units, increasing serial lot sizes - optimized production processes.
Through the use of even less expensive and higher performing microprocessors, storage devices and the incredible development of servo drives and motors, the performance of the robots has increased multiple times.
Critical for the growth of the Wittmann Group was the early decision to widen the product offering.
Today, Wittmann is able to offer complete packages of peripheral equipment "around the plastic processing machine".
In addition to robots and automation systems the package includes centralized material handling and drying systems, beside-the-press dryers and integrated loaders, temperature controllers and water flow regulators, as well as granulators for the recycling of material.
Because of the uniform user interface across the different products, training time for the operators can be minimized and service offered from one hand.
The increasing demand for complete systems reinforces the benefits of this strategy.
The opening of new markets, e.g Eastern and Central Europe, Mexico, Asia and especially China, has added to the growth and created both new export markets as well as very competitive production and procurement opportunities.
Wittmann recognized the benefits offered by local markets early on with the establishment of production plants in Austria, Germany, France, USA and Canada.
A new production plant was later opened in Hungary allowing for economical production of the small to medium sized robots as well as sprue pickers.
In the past year a production plant was opened in China in order to supply the Asian market with short delivery times and to make use of the competitive production costs.
On the occasion of Chinaplas 2006 Wittmann invited editors to tour the new production plant located in Kunshan, approximately 1 hour from Shanghai, which includes 5,000 m2 of production and office space.
It is equipped with the same state-of-the-art production machines and quality inspection tools, like the other Wittmann manufacturing plants.
The production currently includes robots, granulators and temperature controllers and will within this year, include dryers and loaders.
In order to facilitate the increased production capacity, the plant will be expanded within the next few months by an additional space of 2,200 m2.
The very strong interest of visitors at the Wittmann booth during the Chinaplas show underlined the positive mood which reflects the general development of China currently.
This is determined by the rapidly increasing build-up of production capacities for injection molded parts for mobile phones, notebooks, automotive parts and various consumer products.
Also, China prefers in an increasing way, flexible solutions for robots and automation systems.
This offers Wittmann a chance to prove its incredible automation know-how and superior product design.
Equally for the material supply and drying, more and more central systems are used in order to minimize operator interference and mistakes.
Wittmann was able to plan, install and successfully start-up several big central systems in China.
Wittmann reinforces the importance of the build-up of the Asian markets, by celebrating their 30th Anniversary in Shanghai.
Besides the outstanding market position Wittmann enjoys in Europe and North America the subsidiary in China was founded on the basis of developing a significantly stronger presence in this fascinating market.
Through production plants in Europe, USA and Asia, as well as a worldwide operating sales and service network, Wittmann is well prepared for the challenges of the next 30 years and will take every opportunity to expand further.
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