22 AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
Mobilising machine parts to meet modern manufacturing challenges
Stefan Pulver explains the advantages of getting components from a single source.
Stefan Pulver présente les avantages de l’obtention des composants auprès d’une seule source.
Stefan Pulver erklärt die Vorteile der Beschaffung von Komponenten aus einer einzigen Quelle.
tooling as well as special purpose machinery, such as semi- and fully-automated systems and assembly and testing systems. A wide range of mechanical components are used in VWH systems and a significant number are supplied by Misumi. The medium sized company, located in Herschbach between Cologne and Frankfurt, Germany, boasts 40 years of experience in machine building, with a major focus on the automotive industry. The company's product portfolio includes
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assembly equipment for airbag systems, car entry systems, leak testing systems and fuel systems. In addition, other customers from the domestic
appliances or telecommunications industries count on the all-in-one supplier from Herschbach. VWH offers a one- stop-shop for all services from research and development and manufacturing, to installation and the start of production and final acceptance. Any team of mechanical
and electrical designers, assemblers, and engineers work closely together in product development and production. Having strong vertical
integration with all the necessary machining operations ensures fast and flexible workflows. This is one important advantage over the competition. To continuously maintain
and utilise these advantages, VWH demands the same high level of flexibility, cost effectiveness, and short delivery times from its suppliers and partners. VWH uses Misumi
Europa GmbH to source its components. Given that Misumi’s Factory Automation catalogue contains over 60 000 items, arranged under 30
WH Vorrichtungs- und Werkzeugbau Herschbach GmbH specialises in the design and manufacture of injection mould
different categories, VWH estimate that they can source 70 per cent of their requirements directly from this one source. The relationship with Misumi offers VWH a
variety of advantages. Head of Design, Johannes Steudter points out that, ‘their product portfolio is much bigger than that of other vendors in Germany’, and, referring to product quality as well as product range, he explains further that, ‘50 per cent of some of our systems are based on Misumi components’. From his point of view, getting components
from a single source is very efficient because the workflow is optimised which saves time. There are other time savings also. VWH used
to produce some parts on their own: “Even for simple parts we had to create drawings, order raw materials, manufacture components, inspect, rework them if needed and carry out surface
Fig. 1. The required mechanical components are manifold. Misumi provides one-stop shopping.
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