European Correspondent Barbara Schulz’s recent visit to U.S. shops revealed some of the technologies American manufacturers apply and the challenges they face as they work to become more globally competitive.
The Fraunhofer Institute has developed a retrofit solution to upgrade production systems with network capability, enabling users of older machines to reap the benefits of data-driven manufacturing.
The company highlighted its facility expansions and new cutting tool technologies during a recent open house at its global headquarters in Tübingen, Germany.
This new modular handling system for Hermle machine tools is designed for shops that don’t necessarily need a complex and expensive robotic system, and it converts stand-alone machines into flexible manufacturing cells.