New machines in AL-KO Airtech production
They are true giants: Two punching machines, each 21 meters wide, and two associated seven-meter-high storage towers are raising production at AL-KO Airtech in Jettingen-Scheppach to a new level. “As part of a comprehensive modernization of our production, we purchased the two high-tech punching machines,” explains Bernd Mesterom, Senior Manager Industrial Engineering at AL-KO Airtech.
From small parts to oversized formats
According to the manufacturer Trumpf, the fastest punching machines in the world punch parts for the air ventilation and extraction systems of AL-KO Air Technology and AL-KO Extraction Technology from galvanized or stainless steel sheets. These also include small parts and oversize formats. “In total, we can produce several hundred thousand different parts with the machines,” says Mesterom.
The TruPunch 5000s are fully automated, receiving their orders directly from the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system and planning how to divide the parts on the raw panels, which can be up to 4000 mm wide, with minimized scrap. They are equipped with an automatic tool changer, are loaded automatically from the storage towers and allow unmanned lights-out operation overnight. And they barcode each part for complete traceability.
Higher output
“With the two new machines, we are significantly increasing our throughput in production and we are giving ourselves further scope for capacity increases,” emphasizes Bernd Mesterom. In addition, precision and surface quality are increasing even further.
The purchase of the punching machines is part of a major investment program at AL-KO Airtech that extends into 2023 and will end with the complete digitalization of the entire production process.