Preharnessed and ready to fit
Standard energy supply systems help machine tool manufactures remain competitive, says Justin Leonard.
The machine tool industry in the UK holds a key position in general mechanical engineering.
Everything from space telescopes to toy trains, from artificial hip joints to mobile phones are manufactured directly or indirectly using machine tools.
The focus is increasingly on cost reduction driven by competition from the Far East.
With their tailored parts and systems, especially preharnessed energy supply systems (ReadyChain), Igus UK gives the machine tool manufacturing industry tools that will help increase competitiveness for the future.
The demands of machine tools in terms of flexibility and productivity are ever increasing.
These challenges can only be resolved by intelligent automation concepts.
The trend is increasingly aimed at an integrated approach.
This extends from the acquisition costs to the total costs for the complete service life of the machine, and includes the availability and the ease of operation.
This means that early co-operation between the subsystem supplier and the machine manufacturer can be crucial for market success.
The answer lies in standardisation.
With the help of preharnessed energy supply systems, assembly times decrease and storage costs drop to zero.
Capacity fluctuations can therefore be easily managed.
The machine manufacturer passes on the entire procurement process for all of the necessary special parts, sheet-metal panels, machined parts and hydraulic components, to allow provision of the full turnkey system on the required delivery date.
The machine tool manufacturing industry, which mainly consists of small and medium-sised companies, can use ReadyChain energy supply systems to reduce assembly times of several months to a few days, and can thus keep ahead of the game.
Igus will be exhibiting on Stand 5080 in Hall 5 at MACH, to support the machine tool industry in the UK.
Examples of Igus ReadyChains will be on display, and fully qualified Igus engineers will be on hand to discuss energy chain and polymer bearing requirements, as well as demonstrating the latest products from Igus.
Drinks and light refreshments will be served throughout the show.
Justin Leonard is Energy Chain Systems Director at Igus UK based in Northampton.
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