A shared language connects. This also applies to machines in the industrial Internet of Things. The easier the sharing of information, the more efficient the work. VDW has therefore developed umati (universal machine tool interface) together with TRUMPF and 16 other project partners. A universal interface that securely, seamlessly and effortlessly integrates machine tools and equipment into customer-specific and user-specific IT ecosystems. It is a standard for users in Germany and all over the world, opening up new opportunities for the Industry 4.0 era.
Smart Factory – your route to networked production
Efficient, transparent and optimally networked!
Overview
Solution finder
Step by step
Pain Points
Our Smart Factories
Success stories
Smart Factory portfolio
Smart Factory – What is it?
A Smart Factory is a production environment in which people, machines, automation and software work together in perfect harmony. The notion of the ideal Industry 4.0 production landscape presents a major challenge to many sheet metal processing companies. Before a highly efficient, flexible and transparent shop floor that satisfies even the strictest of requirements can be achieved, one thing usually comes first: the clean up. Because "chaos" cannot be digitalised. We help you bring order to your production processes and take the next logical step in the technological evolution: consistent networking of the material flow, information flow, automation and process optimisation.
What is Industry 4.0?
Digital connectivity is at the heart of Industry 4.0, offering enormous potential to increase flexibility and productivity through manufacturing technology computerisation and digital business platform development. Digital connectivity links different components within and beyond a production facility. The factory of the future optimises processes in the long term and drastically shortens processes.
What is a Smart Factory?
What specific advantages does a Smart Factory have? Smart networking makes production transparent. Sheet metal processors then always know what is happening and can plan better. Indirect processes are optimised. Digital factory operators have faster and more flexible production and their processes can be better managed. This is crucial, especially for smaller lot sizes. The basis of the Smart Factory's communications is the Internet of Things (IoT). Everything communicates with everything else in the "Internet of Things". The product communicates the information required for production to the smart factory.
Our path to the Smart Factory
Smart Factory customers get tailor-made solutions in three steps according to their specific needs: from a simple start or step-by-step adaptation through to fully networked systems. Regardless of the current situation of customers, the goal on the path to a completely networked Smart Factory is clear: to bring greater transparency, flexibility and, most importantly, economy to the entire process.
Smart factory solutions that are as individual as you are
Regardless of whether you are already taking big steps or are just starting out on the path to your company's connected future, the goal is clear: to be prepared for increasing complexity and decreasing lot sizes in sheet metal processing. But what is the best way to go about it? We work collaboratively to shape the future of your production, transforming challenges into opportunities. Get in touch with us today!
The potential of Industry 4.0: How do machines in the Smart Factory communicate with each other?
Smart processes – Smart Factory
Smart factory solutions that are as individual as you are
Regardless of whether you are already taking big steps or are just starting out on the path to your company's connected future, the goal is clear: to be prepared for increasing complexity and decreasing lot sizes in sheet metal processing. But what is the best way to go about it? We work collaboratively to shape the future of your production, transforming challenges into opportunities. Get in touch with us today!
Find the right manufacturing solution for you by answering three questions
Click through and get your results – ready to kickstart tomorrow's production.
Industry
Which industry do you work in?
Construction
Construction machinery, compressors, building construction, elevators, facade engineering, steel and metal building trade
Appliance and apparatus engineering
Electrical cabinets, ovens (commercial), electronics, batteries, semi-conductors
Household appliances
White goods
Interior fittings
Furniture, fittings, shop fixtures, lamps
Agriculture
Agriculture machinery
Mechanical/systems engineering
Machine tools, assembly lines, automation systems
Medical technology
Laboratory technology, technical equipment, instruments
Safety equipment
Defence technology, military airplanes and vehicles, arms industry
Transportation
Passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, ships, airplanes, trains
Utility engineering
Air conditioning and energy technology, heating engineering
No specific industry
Contract manufacturer for no specific industry
Other
Step by step into the digital future
Regardless of whether you are already taking big steps or are just starting out on the path to your company's connected future, the goal is clear: to be ready for increasing complexity and decreasing batch sizes in sheet metal processing. You can achieve your Smart Factory step by step with our innovative world of solutions. Different paths can be taken because Smart Factory components can be combined to create your own tailored solution. We will be happy to guide you on the way.
Starting out
No two production systems are ever the same. Your introduction to the Smart Factory therefore needs to be tailor-made. Lay the foundations for your Smart Factory using machines equipped for connectivity as standard. Our experienced Smart Factory experts work with you to develop the optimum procedure for your needs. The main objective is to create transparency in production and identify possible optimisations.
Step-by-step adaptation
Getting everything under control makes taking the step into automated production is worthwhile. Turn your production into a Smart Factory by using automated machines and autonomous manufacturing cells embedded within a production system that increases automation and boosts productivity. Employees can then focus on their core tasks, which boosts motivation and increases the quality of parts. Automated production saves space and allows better utilisation of machines.
Fully networked
The end result is an integrated production system from order to delivery. With a complete system, highly efficient production will always be possible in your Smart Factory. modular solutions from TRUMPF support you and help to give your processes greater transparency, flexibility and, most importantly, profitability. Our experienced Smart Factory experts work with you to develop the optimal Industry 4.0 package for your requirements.
Download the white paper now and explore solutions!
What our consultants say
Make sheet metal processing easier for you
Small batch sizes, large product variety, demanding customers: On this page we take a close look at the problems that make life difficult for sheet metal processors like you - and how we can help you to change that. Until your production works exactly the way you want it to.
Smart factory solutions that are as individual as you are
Regardless of whether you are already taking big steps or are just starting out on the path to your company's connected future, the goal is clear: to be prepared for increasing complexity and decreasing lot sizes in sheet metal processing. But what is the best way to go about it? We work collaboratively to shape the future of your production, transforming challenges into opportunities. Get in touch with us today!
Overcome the shortage of skilled workers
When there is a lack of skilled workers for welding and bending, orders cannot be fulfilled. Quality and reliable delivery become a game of chance. You end up taking care of operational emergencies instead of focusing on your strategic growth. As well as personnel planning, finances or purchasing. How to stop this vicious cycle? By automating routine tasks, you free up your team for activities that add value. Software can help semi-skilled personnel operate machines safely. In the next section you will find ways in which you can alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.
Small lot sizes
Small lot sizes cause big problems for sheet metal workers: rejects, error rates and time expenditure are high. For economic production, the upstream and downstream processes must also be put to the test. The goal: to process orders faster, to produce even small quantities in high quality - and to work profitably. There is often a lack of transparency about the order status and the workload. This makes it difficult to provide customized and quick offers for a micro batch. Linking production to an ERP system can help. Software support facilitates self-organization on the shop floor and shortens programming times. Read more about how to get small lot sizes under control step by step.
Lack of financing options
Growth requires investment. But the road to credit is often lengthy. This is where financing with us - as a manufacturer - comes in handy: easier lending, longer payment terms and planning reliability go hand in hand. Because we are sheet metal processors ourselves and know your market. If your regular bank refuses because order volumes are uncertain or the initial investment seems too high, please get in touch with us. Whether leasing or purchasing: TRUMPF Bank supports you in good times and bad. That's why we offer, for example, seasonal instalment models or repayment based on utilization. We have put together some financing options for you below.
Smart factory solutions that are as individual as you are
Regardless of whether you are already taking big steps or are just starting out on the path to your company's connected future, the goal is clear: to be prepared for increasing complexity and decreasing lot sizes in sheet metal processing. But what is the best way to go about it? We work collaboratively to shape the future of your production, transforming challenges into opportunities. Get in touch with us today!
Lack of transparency & efficiency
What is the order status? Where are the parts? What is the utilization level? Every day, all of these questions are costing you time - and therefore profit. You can neither plan your existing resources accurately nor answer customer questions about the order status in detail. Coupled with ever shorter delivery times, your utilization and efficiency decrease. But there is another way: With transparent production planning, you have an overview of all current orders and your capacity utilization. Key figures replace gut feeling, and on this basis you use your resources in the best possible way. The result: Better prices and higher profit.
Higher material costs
Material ties up a great deal of capital. High purchase prices and a lack of storage capacity limit your scope. In addition, financially strong online marketplaces are sinking prices on the market. But there are ways to counteract this. For example, by cleverly expanding storage areas in order to buy cheaply and compensate for material shortages. By gaining transparency over orders and inventory. By using material credits. By using intelligent functions to increase your good part rate and lower the cost of parts. We would be happy to advise you on these and other solutions.
High customer expectations
Even for a batch size of 1, your customers expect smooth processes, real-time information and decreasing costs. You, in turn, want higher profits, higher throughput and more latitude in calculations. How can you achieve a win-win situation? Cost-saving processes for all batch sizes, transparency about capacity utilisation and processes, and cost-reducing automation can help. When you always have the right information, at the right time, there is no need for interruptions and time spent searching. You can increase your throughput by shortening upstream and downstream processes. And better calculation options give you latitude in pricing. Discover the possibilities:
The TRUMPF Smart Factories
No two productions are the same, no two development trajectories are alike. Not even the markets are identical in which our customers are active. This is why we make the factory of the future come alive, right where our customers are: whether in Europe, America or Asia – we demonstrate how a networked production actually works in real life in our Smart Factories on three continents. In TRUMPF's Smart Factories, the interaction of staff, machines, automation and software has already been perfected and these elements are fully networked. But regardless of whether our visitors are just starting out, want to expand step by step or would like to become fully networked, we meet them where they are today. Our Smart Factory Consultants analyse the process chains of each customer and on this basis, optimise all sequences on the shop floor. In line with the motto: our customers' success is a success for TRUMPF as well.
Our Smart Factory sites
Chicago, USA
The Chicago site is a natural fit for the Smart Factory. Around 40 per cent of the sheet metal processing industry in the USA is located in the states directly surrounding it. Our US-American customers there experience how the Smart Factory provides support with sorting to fully autonomous production. The integrated cutting and bending cells are a highlight. A skywalk also makes it possible to gain understanding of the production systems with their flow of material and information as an entire system.
Find out moreDitzingen, Germany
What does perfectly networked production look like? In our smart factory at our headquarters in Ditzingen, you can see for yourself how 22 machines interact seamlessly across all process steps in a production hall measuring 6,000 m². Experience the perfect symbiosis of fully integrated machines, third-party solutions, manual workstations, smart factory flow and software that sets your production in motion. Arrange an appointment now and get a live glimpse of the future!
Find out moreTaicang, China
Chinese customers can witness the production world of tomorrow for themselves at our production site in Taicang. From laser cutting, bending and punching to laser welding – we make the whole process chain come alive and demonstrate to visitors which customised solutions we can offer for networking. A fully automated production line as well as the TruTops Fab production system were introduced in Taicang in 2017. The intelligent digital upgrade propelled the production there to the next level, providing transparency on the shop floor.
Find out more
