Product category:
Robotics, Handling and Storage
News Release from: Wittmann UK
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 July 2006
Wittmann expands materials handling
Wittmann has opened a dedicated office and production facility in Vienna, Austria to accommodate its rapidly expanding material handling division.
Leading supplier of plastics automation and materials handling systems, Wittmann has opened a dedicated office and production facility in Vienna, Austria to accommodate its rapidly expanding material handling division After six months of construction, in which the necessary adaptation work in and around the facility was completed, material handling and dryer manufacturing is now fully moved into the new factory along with Sales and RandD functions
The new facility allows optimised inventory management as well as the realisation of an improved production flow for the complete range of material handling products including Drymax dryers, Silmax hoppers and Feedmax loaders.
The result is lower production costs and therefore, extremely competitive prices and shorter delivery times.
The factory includes over 3,100 m2 (33,400 sq ft.) of office and production space for the development, design, manufacturing and sale of the complete material handling product line.
Manufacturing consists of controls, cabinetry, assembly and testing along with product inventory and spare parts.
In addition, the new Wittmann materials handling facility includes a fully self-contained climate controlled test room for the setup of dryers in year round uniform climate conditions and performance testing in extreme ambient air surroundings.
Internationally the development of Wittmann's Material Handling products is mutually shared with other subsidiaries in the group, e.g Canada (Nucon Wittmann) and Germany (Wittmann-Germany).
The close international cooperation in RandD allows the exchange of ideas and the inflow of regional product demands into the overall product design, resulting in improved features of the final product.
The expansion of the material handling department in Vienna was implemented and realised at the same time as the new production plant in Kunshan, China and plant expansions in Torrington, CT, USA and Mosonmagyarovar, Hungary.
"Our award-winning materials handling equipment is better by design, functionality and performance," says Barry Hill, managing director of Wittmann UK, leading supplier of ancillary equipment to the plastics processing sector.
"This equipment is one of the best investments any plastics processor could make".
"Most of all - and thanks to recent corporate investment - our materials handling solutions are now also extremely affordable".
"Now is the time to buy".
Barry typically faces some frustrations in getting the Wittmann materials message through.
"In perceptual terms, and because of our history, we often tend to be badged as a robotics and automation supplier".
"True, our automation reputation and expertise is well deserved but our materials handling know-how and delivery now needs to step out of the shadows".
Wittmann materials handling equipment has been created by the plastics sector for the plastics sector and does the job like no other.
In the larger US market, this superior performance has been recognised with a steady stream of industry awards.
"Just like our robots", says Barry, "the equipment delivers in spades, and - thanks to our low-cost production centres around the world - we can now make it available to the industry at the most competitive prices".
On occasions in the UK, Barry has to tackle the misperception that Wittmann equipment is expensive: "Nothing in fact is further from the truth", he says.
"and smart moulders are taking advantage of it".
And with Wittmann production from China and Eastern Europe now about to come online at full stream, the company is 'without a doubt one of the most cost-effective suppliers throughout the world.'.
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