Extrusion International 5-2016

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Extrusion International 5/2016 41
Reifenhäuser: Setting The New Standards
Realizing intelligent production thanks to industry 4.0. At K
2016 in Düsseldorf, Reifenhäuser, the world's largest ma-
nufacturer of extrusion equipment, will demonstrate what the
company means by "Setting The New Standards". For eight
days (19 - 26 October 2016), customers have an opportunity
to visit Reifenhäuser (hall 17, stand C 22) and experience how
they can further increase productivity and efficiency with In-
dustry 4.0.
Intelligent and more economical production:
Empowered by Industry 4.0
Even if the term Industry 4.0 has been around for a while, many
companies still consider it to be a dream of the future. There are
vastly different interpretations of how Industry 4.0 can be im-
plemented on a practical level today and how companies can
profit from it here and now. No one could any longer afford to
ignore Industry 4.0, explained CEO Bernd Reifenhäuser during
the K 2016 preview in Düsseldorf: "Intelligent networking and
digitalization of the processes and of production, especially in
the plastics industry, poses a great challenge to our customers -
as it does to us. At the same time, however, it offers unbelieva-
ble opportunities."
Ultimately it is about continuing what has been a central topic
for Reifenhäuser as a company for more than 35 years: Auto-
mation. Industry 4.0 facilitates significant increases in producti-
vity and efficiency, and thus in economic viability. "As the largest
manufacturer of extrusion systems, we are well aware of our re-
sponsibility and have therefore prepped our team to make the
digital future of extrusion a reality for our customers", said
Bernd Reifenhäuser. "We think within the business model of our
customers and optimize their operational performance."
As an approach to implementing an innovative Industry 4.0 pro-
duction environment, Reifenhäuser Group has established its
Reifenhäuser Digital Business Platform. To this end, Reifenhäu-
ser not only consolidated the entire company group's know-
how, but has for some time been employing experts in the field
of digitalization and is building up new competencies in fields
like data analytics. Because big data not only means large
amounts of data, but most of all one thing: The opportunity to
draw the right conclusions from this data. In this way, the pro-
cesses within production can be distinctly optimized in many pla-
ces.
Data turns into valuable information
Reifenhäuser will continue to place people in the center: With its
new operation center, Reifenhäuser offers a sustainable inter-
face between the employee and the production line. The intui-
tive and context-sensitive design makes operation of the lines
easier. The result: Quicker operation and fewer mistakes. The
markedly increased user-friendliness leads to an increase in pro-
ductivity.
In addition, the Reifenhäuser Performance Cockpit converts
countless numbers and data into valuable information on the
processes within the line. This enables optimal analysis of a line's
performance. From the relevant key performance indicators for
shift supervisors up to the clear presentation of the line perfor-
mance for the management. You don't even have to be on site
for real-time analysis as the evaluations can be accessed in the
office, at home or while away on a business trip.
Combined with modern algorithms, the line's sensor technology
delivers even more: The diagnostic center can, for example, in-
form on parts that are due for replacement soon. This makes
production downtimes due to late replacement of wear parts a
thing of the past. System faults can also be identified as quickly
as possible in this way.
The examples illustrate how Industry 4.0 enables intelligent pro-
duction. Even if it is still a long way to go before lines automa-
tically download the relevant data for retooling and production
optimization for a product change from the cloud. Up to a point
where only the desired product and the required raw material
needs to be entered. All of the rest - including all production pa-
rameters and settings - is done by the line itself.
With the Reifenhäuser new applications, customers will already
benefit now from the advantages of Industry 4.0. That means
maximum machine performance, less scrap and optimized qua-
lity. "Industry 4.0 empowers our customers to make their busi-
ness even more profitable. For this reason, we are continually
reinventing ourselves," explained Bernd Reifenhäuser at the K
2016 preview in Düsseldorf.
With its Reifenhäuser Digital Business Platform, Reifenhäuser
claims all the relevant topics for implementing intelligent pro-
duction and enables customers to realize the potential of Indu-
stry 4.0. A range of products and the Reifenhäuser vision of
intelligent production is going on display at K 2016. Setting The
New Standard in this digital age.
Hall 17, Booth C22