From machine builder to process optimizer

At the occasion of an in-house exhibition Heinrich Georg GmbH demonstrated its innovative power and adaption ability in special machine engineering.

Kreuztal, November 14, 2018. On October 30^th, GEORG organized a “Tech Fair” in which more than 150 people from around the world participated. The special topics dealt with digitalization and its effect in customers’ production processes. By live demonstrations at real existing GEORG machines the medium size family owned company showed that it is already internationally well positioned in regards to digitalization and IoT in special plant and machinery.

The full day event was not only filled with presentations and speeches in the GEORG academy; at machines in two factory halls  the visitors could convince themselves to which high degree GEORG has already implemented digital technology and on which future technology the company is actually working.

As topics like “digital transformation”, “automation technology”, “predictive maintenance”, “condition monitoring” or “autonomous transport systems” are of equal general interest, the event was hosted by all three business division together for the first time.

High automation degrees and interconnectivity of single units inside a production line result in optimized production processes. By analyzing machine data (Big Data and Artificial Intelligence) GEORG products reduce maintenance intervals and by using latest communication technologies the specialists from Kreuztal support their clients “live” around the world.

For Mark Georg, CEO, digitalization is more than just a hype: “As a family owned enterprise we are planning long term and have already decided to use the chances of digital transformation early and consequently. Although we have by far not yet reached our goal, already today by using the interlinked systems, high volume of data information and our world spanning communication network, our customers can produce much more efficient and secure their competitiveness.”

By demonstrations on various types of machines GEORG demonstrated how far digitalization has been implemented already:

• complex algorithms evaluate a large number of machine data and give recommendations for optimum operation mode and preventive maintenance.
• Using “connected service” GEORG employees in Kreuztal have direct access to their machines all  over the world and do assist customers during their work via chat functions whilst their counterpart at site can produce live videos via tablet about the actual situation of the line.
• The GEORG-App allows to follow-up each production and productivity status of the machine at any time.
• Handling robots stack sheets for power transformers, which require highest precision and high material output, fully automatically.
• Autonomously driving transport platform for loads of up to 120 kg using laser scanners for orientation; they don’t need neither rails nor floor embedded cables.

In the last years GEORG has undertaken the step from a pure machine builder to a digital company. Most of the innovations have been developed inhouse. Cooperations with the Siegen University, RWTH Aachen, Fraunhofer Institute and other partner companies light the way into the future. Experts from different science fields discuss at GEORG’s Denkwerk, a concept that had been developed in 2015 already, about future challenges, tentative future technologies and new business models.

During a panel discussion with participants from the steel industry Mark Georg underlined that the efforts in organization development of his highly diversified company have shown good results already. “Besides the enormous chances which we see in new technologies, we also had a look on optimizing working structures and processes in a way of a flexible cooperation considering the changes in technology and society.”

The Tech Fair offered a wide angle view as well: Dr. Eric Klemp, Head of voestalpine Additive Manufacturing Center GmbH, showed chances and limits of another future technology, which at present is widely discussed in mechanical engineering: Additive manufacturing will soon revolutionize the production of complex shaped parts.

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