Euroguss 2020

•••6••• Innovationen New possibilities thanks to Digitisation Suppliers and researchers are bringing digital solutions into the market Suppliers to the die casting in- dustry provide digital technology that makes the most of machin- ery performance. According to the die casting machine construc- tion company Bühler, many of the company’s customers are inter- ested in digitisation activities that can reduce unplanned downtime – and the financial losses linked to it. Bühler’s “Predictive Analytics” method is based on the analysis of data which are supplied from vari- ous sensors installed inside a die casting cell and enables to moni- tor the performance in real-time. Anomalies, poor performance and developments are revealed and it is possible to predict where a failure is likely to occur before it actually occurs. The data analysis can be carried out in the cloud made available from Bühler or in the user’s own network. For all types of die casting machines, the Cast Quality Control System (CQC) from Electronics GmbH is suitable, for example. The universally appli- cable measuring and monitoring system is also based on sensors that are installed at certain points of the die casting cell and meas- ure various functions such as the clamping cylinder pressure, the plunger movements, the move- ments of the mould during the injection process and the deair- ing of die casting tools. The ma- chine and process data collected by sensors during production pro- vide not only indications of the technical condition of production systems, but ultimately help to optimise and sustainably increase the Overall Equipment Effective- ness (OEE). The Fraunhofer Institute for Man- ufacturing Technology and Ad- vanced Materials (IFAM) concen- trates, among other things, on combining die cast components with digitisation technologies. The “Casttronics Technology” developed by IFAM includes RFID transponders which are cast di- rectly into die cast components made from aluminium and a soft- ware which can be used to read out, manage and analyse the tran- sponder data. This makes it possi- ble to permanently mark parts, to protect them against plagiarism and to follow the entire “supply chain” of the parts frommanufac- ture through use to recycling. In order to be able to optimally use digital technologies in a die cast- ing foundry, its business opera- tions must be holistically captured by figures. This includes trans- forming data into knowledge, understanding interrelationships and utilising the findings for the manufacturing process. Franz-Josef Wöstmann, Head of Department Casting Technology and Lightweight Construction at IFAM, goes yet another step fur- ther and recommends foundry- men to use Industry 4.0 as a basis for additional new activities. In an interview he said that only if one can use the data also for further functions and user benefits after the production, he will be able to differentiate himself from the market. For this purpose, it is nec- essary to understand the data that can be obtained and to use the interface with customers as a platform for new services. The afore-mentioned “Casttronics technology” and the digitisation of the die cast components also open up the opportunity to ex- ploit their data and to extend the value chain. Connected machines and Big Data can improve processes. Photo: NuernbergMesse Besucherrekord bei der Euroguss 2018 Mit einem neuen Besucherrekord schloss die Euro- guss nach drei Messetagen am 18. Januar 2018. Schnee, Regen, Sturmböen und das damit verbunde- ne Verkehrschaos in weiten Teilen Deutschlands und Europas konnten rund 15 000 Fachbesucher (2016: 12 032 Fachbesucher) nicht davon abhalten nach Nürnberg zu ihrer Druckguss-Fachmesse zu kommen. Mehr als die Hälfte der 641 Aussteller der Euroguss 2018 kamen aus dem Ausland (54 Prozent). Neben Deutschland (297 Aussteller) zählen zu den europäi- schen Top-Ausstellerländern Italien (128 Aussteller), Türkei (23 Aussteller), Spanien (19 Aussteller), Öster- reich und die Tschechische Republik (je 14 Aussteller). Sie zeigten ein breites Fachangebot – angefangen bei Druckgussteilen über Materialien, Öfen, Gießmaschi- nen und Formen bis hin zur Guss-Nachbehandlung, Qualitätskontrolle sowie Forschung und Entwick- lung. Die Fachbesucher – überwiegend Fertigungs- spezialisten, Entwickler und Einkäufer aus der Automobil(zuliefer)industrie und weiteren Branchen – reisten aus mehr als 60 Ländern nach Nürnberg. Der Anteil der internationalen Fachbesucher stieg nochmal deutlich. Die stärksten Besuchernationen kamen aus Europa: Dies waren nach Deutschland vor allem Italien, Österreich, die Tschechische Republik, die Türkei, Polen, Spanien, die Schweiz und Frank- reich. 94 Prozent der Fachbesucher zeigten sich mit dem Fachangebot der Euroguss zufrieden. New Family Member Euroguss Mexico launches in Guadalajara in autumn 2020 Following a successful start last year in the form of an exhibitor pavilion, Euroguss Mexico will ce- lebrate another premiere at the Expo Guadalajara exhibition ve- nue inNovember 2020. Strong in- terest and lively participation last year encouraged NürnbergMesse to organize a stand-alone trade fair in Mexico, and to adapt the successful Euroguss concept to lo- cal market needs. The range of products and services covers the whole spectrum of light metal casting. NürnbergMesse is thus launching into another promising and lucrative market for die-cas- ting and light metal casting, wide- ning its existing product family in the process. The market for light metal casting in Mexico has grown massively in recent years, partly on account of strong demand from the automo- tive industry. Total sales are fore- cast to reach approximately USD 1.8 billion in 2020. Revenue from aluminium casting in the automo- tive sector is expected to show annual growth of about eight percent by 2020, ten percent on average for magnesium compo- nents and two percent for zinc. Suppliers are attracted by the production plants of prominent automakers like Audi, BMW, VW, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, but Mexico’s economic region is also bolstered by free trade agree- ments with the US and Europe, for example. Buyers for light me- tal casting are not limited to the automotive sector: other fields of industry like aviation and the elec- tronics sector are among other major customers with prospects of positive development for the coming years. Mexico is a fast-growing market. Photo Jorge Aguilar Continued from page 1