Fast and environment-friendly coating
The new process for extreme high-speed laser deposition welding (Ehla) is a genuine success story: intensive development in Aachen from 2012, consistent implementation and testing of the system technology in the Netherlands followed by industrial implementation in China. And on 21 September 2018, the process developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in…
Mobilising maintenance through digitalisation
The Smart Factory and the related digitalisation offer wide-ranging potential for long-term and predictive maintenance. But what are the benefits for companies? And what are the prerequisites for ensuring that the data necessary for planning, processing and documenting maintenance measures is exchanged reliably? What is certain is that maintenance staff are by definition production service…
umati – Launch of a global brand
For over a year now, the VDW has been working with eight member companies and five control manufacturers to create an open interface for connecting machine tools to higher-level IT systems. The project originally operated under the somewhat unwieldy title “Connectivity for Industry 4.0”. VDW eventually launched the umati brand for the project at AMB…
IMTS 2018 shows high procurement levels in North America
The IMTS (International Machine Tool Show), the largest and most important metalworking event in North America, took place in mid-September in Chicago. The US machine tool association AMT, the organiser of the event, captured the success with headlines such as “Booming manufacturing economy” and “Visitors have capital and are ready to invest!” A broad range…
Euroblech 2018 draws to successful conclusion
Euroblech 2018, the 25th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition, came to an end after four days on 26 October. A total of 56,300 visitors from all over the world travelled to Hanover to pick up information on and invest in innovative products and digital technologies for sheet metal processing from 1,507 exhibitors from 40…
umati for everyone – How do I benefit and how can I get involved?
umati will only be accepted as a standard if as many companies as possible use it. The umati presentation at the AMB (including press conference and stand) was complemented by a well attended information event for VDW members. The aim was to provide information first-hand. Dr. Alexander Broos from the VDW explained the background to…
AMB impresses on every count
1,553 exhibitors, more than 91,000 visitors and of course Messe Stuttgart itself can look back on a successful AMB 2018. All the global market leaders presented their production innovations on more than 120,000 gross square metres of exhibition space spread across ten halls – and the AMB proved once again just how much Stuttgart has…
JIMTOF 2018 breaks new records
The 29th Japanese International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF) was held from 1 to 6 November 2018 in Tokyo and broke a number of records. The main topic of this year’s event was “CONNECT by Technology of the Future”. Accordingly, the Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity played central roles. As usual, the VDW was on…
VDW organising first US symposia
The VDW is holding its first two technology symposia in the USA at the beginning of December 2018: in Detroit, Michigan, on December 4 and in Charlotte, North Carolina on December 6. Both regions are home to large numbers of machine tool users. This makes them of great interest to VDW members. The theme is “Innovations…
Your Ticket to the World of Metalworking
Initially planned for September, the production of membership cards had to be postponed by a few weeks. Design adjustments, technical test runs and internal adjustments were to ensure the best possible combination of quality and functionality, yet put us – and our members – to a test of patience. However, the long wait has been…