Which advantages do digital solutions bring production machine operators? How must user interfaces be designed, to enable ideal machine operation? And what role can additive manufacturing play in machine construction?
These questions were the focus of the so-called FutureLAB at the Grinding Symposium. Technology presentations and lectures as well as the presentation of partner companies and suppliers were other focal points of the conference, organized by the UNITED GRINDING Group with great success. Over 1500 visitors from all over the world, including customers of the Group and international trade journalists, attended the three-day event in Thun, Switzerland.
The manufacturer of precision machines for grinding, eroding, lasering and combination machining invited guests to the Grinding Symposium for the fourth time since 2004. Traditionally, the focus of the Symposium is on metalworking technologies as well as general topics of the manufacturing industry. The FutureLAB was part of the Symposium for the first time in 2019. "Our aim in presenting these future technologies is to create a dialog with our customers and to discover more about their individual expectations and requirements," explains Chief Technology Officer Christoph Plüss.
From production and research
The 16 lectures given at the Symposium by internationally renowned experts from science and practice covered a broad range of topics. In addition to the opportunities and challenges in the cooperation of human and machine or the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the manufacturing industry, there were also practical production topics, such as practical experiences with the innovative WireDress® dressing technology from the UNITED GRINDING Group.
In the 13 technology presentations and the Customer Care presentation visitors were able to experience the latest machines and solutions of the eight company brands – from the MÄGERLE MFP 30, a world innovation for machining aircraft engine blades, to the European premiere of the STUDER S31 for machining very long workpieces; from the extensive services offered by the Group's Customer Care department through to the production of ultra hard tools using laser on an EWAG LASER LINE ULTRA, which was presented at the Symposium in a webshop solution in cooperation with a customer. Experts from the UNITED GRINDING Group presented the machines and applications to visitors alternating between German, English, French and Italian.
Thanks to our customers
The technology presentations were arranged in a large circle in the halls of Thun Expo. In the center of this circle was a large coffee bar, which was used by visitors from all over the world for lively discussions. Because in addition to the extensive information provided, exchange between the Group, its customers and international experts was at the center of the event. The evening events, which took place in the nearby Kursaal in Bern, also provided an opportunity for exchange. While coming together to eat, drink and enjoy an exceptional entertainment program, the participants entered into conversation, crossing national and language boundaries. "The Grinding Symposium and the evening events in particular are also a thank you to our customers – for their trust, their loyalty and their suggestions," emphasized CEO Stephan Nell.
About UNITED GRINDING North America, Inc.
With nearly 200 employees across the U.S., Canada and Mexico and a new 110,000-sq.-ft. headquarters in Miamisburg, Ohio, UNITED GRINDING North America, Inc., strives to increase its customers' competitiveness through grinding and ultra-precision finishing solutions for the manufacturing industry, backed by single-source customer care. The company's surface and profile, cylindrical and tool grinding technology groups cultivate a partnership-based relationship throughout the region, selling, automating, rebuilding and supporting precision machines for grinding, eroding, laser ablation, combination machining and measuring under the MÄGERLE, BLOHM, JUNG, STUDER, SCHAUDT, MIKROSA, WALTER and EWAG brands. A subsidiary of the UNITED GRINDING GROUP, the company holds ISO 9001 certification to assure quality in development, production, shipping and support operations. UNITED GRINDING North America, Inc., also holds International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Registration. Learn more at grinding.com.