AMB 2018

•••30••• Messewelten Digitalisation: there is still a lot to do IT providers will demonstrate how they are supporting machining production companies D igitalisation in metal cutting: this means that tools, clamp- ing systems and workpieces learn something new and communi- cate with other components in- volved in the process. How does actually this function in everyday production? And will it ultimately lead to a self-optimising machine tool? Answers and solutions to these questions will be provided at AMB 2018. There is still much room for im- provement in regard to digitali- sation. The Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW) certainly found this out during a survey that was recently conducted among medium-sized companies. “The proportion of medium-sized companies which successfully completed digitalisation projects in the last three years, i.e. 26 per cent, is much lower than previ- ously assumed.” A closer exami- nation reveals, however, that the R&D-intensive manufacturing in- dustry, which includes machine tool construction, is slightly bet- ter off here at 31 per cent. How- ever, this still primarily relates to investments in IT infrastructures and interfaces, as well as con- tacts with customers and suppli- ers. To date, only 19 per cent of the projects involve digitalisation of products and services. Still, ex- penditure on digitalisation in 2016 amounted to just under €14 bil- lion. The investment expenditure of medium-sized companies was €3.2 billion while investments in machine buildings, fixtures and fittings, and similar amounted to €169 billion. The main prob- lems are lack of IT skills, data se- curity, data protection, company and work organisation, and poor quality of Internet connections. However, the KfW urgently rec- ommends “further expansion of digitalisation in medium-sized German companies”. AMB, one of the five largest machine tool exhibitions in the world, will provide help in this respect. During the new Special show “Digital Way” IT provid- ers will specifically demonstrate how they are supporting machin- ing production companies on the road to Industry 4.0., the trade fair organiser Messe Stuttgart an- nounced. Metal cutting 4.0: digitalisation is a major topic at this year’s AMB. Photo: Westend61/F1online Besuchen Sie uns Halle 6 Stand A32 Wilhelmstrasse 119 D-35392 Gießen www.heyligenstaedt.de info@heyligenstaedt.de Fax: +49 641 60526 101 Phone: +49 641 60526 0 Premium Werkzeugmaschinen mit Tradition HEYLIGENSTAEDT Werkzeugmaschinen ist ein führender Traditions-Hersteller von Präzisions-Werkzeugma- schinen zum Drehen, Fräsen und Bohren von mittleren und großen Werkstücken aus Metall- und Verbundstof- fen. Zu dem Produktportfolio gehören sowohl multitechnologische Standard-Maschinen und hoch flexible Fertigungs-Systeme als auch Sondermaschinen für Spezialanwendungen. Zu den weltweiten Kunden zählen Großkonzerne aber auch kleine und mittelständige Unternehmen aus fast allen Branchen. Innovative Fertigungslösungen stehen im Vordergrund und bilden ein Maschinen-Programm das an Vielseitigkeit, Leistungsfähigkeit und Flexibilität keine Wünsche offen lässt. Heyligenstaedt Werkzeugmaschinen ist seit über 140 Jahren für seine Kunden ein kompetenter und zuverlässiger Partner für maßgeschnei- derte Fertigungslösungen die bekannt und gefragt sind wegen ihrer Präzision, Stabilität und Langlebigkeit. Heyligenstaedt RAVENSBURG KOLB