Baltic Metalworking June-July-August 2018

June-July-August 4/2018

METALWORKING

BALTIC

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The Magazine of Baltic Metalworking Industry

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Dear Readers, We dare say that the beautiful start of this summer has given many people the opportunity to enjoy their days off. Although the weather is good, there is no shortage of work and useful activities. As many of you probably know, we have attended the BaltTechnika 2018 Exhibition, so we share our impressions in this edition.

Local exhibitions normally are not large, but it is encouraging to note that such events take place, conferences are arranged, important issues are raised and dialogues provoked. Only sharing information, innovations and concerns might help us to develop ourselves and learn from each other. Many thanks to everyone who visited us at the exhibition and stopped for a chat. We are pleased that the magazine is becoming more and more recognizable and welcome by everyone.

BECOME

VISIBLE

For your reference – this is the fourth edition of the magazine. In autumn, we will release two more editions of this year's magazine, which will be very intense.

We will attend even four exhibitions! It is important to give prominence to two exhibitions - ALIHANKINTA 2018 Subcontracting Fair (Finland) and Elmia Subcontractor (Sweden) - that are relevant for many Baltic metal processing companies. The subcontracting type of exhibitions is a direct and easy way to find new customers or partners, and immediately reach the curious audience.

Accordingly, it is here where the investors / clients from Scandinavia, the favourites of the Baltic States, will seek partners offering quality services or products.

We will attend both exhibitions; therefore, we encourage you to appear on this autumn’s edition and not to miss a great opportunity to introduce yourself to the Finnish and Swedish markets. Of course, we will meet each other at both Instrutec Exhibition in Tallinn and Tech Industry in Riga, so be active, attend the exhibitions, take interest in technologies and have innovative skills.

We wish everyone a wonderful holiday! Make a sharp come-back and let's meet in autumn!

Baltic Metalworking team

BALTIC METALWORKING Subscribe: info@balticmetalworking.com www.balticmetalworking.com issuu.com/balticmetalworking Circulation 6000 printed units How to reach us Published by Baltmedus UAB, Europos pr. 122, LT-46351 Kaunas, Lithuania. +370 37 430401 +370 67767176

www.balticmetalworking.com

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CONTENTS

BALTIC

METALWORKING JUNE/JULY 4/2018

8 Balttechnika 2018 from futuristic solutions to practical consulting and new contracts

12

All - directional turning goes inside out

14 PMK - the experts of colossal steel structures 17 Innovation - a key to success the case of UAB Ignetas 21 Opel from sewing machines to cars 24

Cut costs and boost productivity with new tread forming tap

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BALTIC

METALWORKING

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PARTICIPATING IN

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FROM FUTURISTIC SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICAL CONSULTING AND NEW CONTRACTS

D

igitalisation and the robotisation of the engineering industry, the fourth industrial revolution, the role of clusters in the economy, the very latest equipment and innovative industrial solutions – these were the main themes discussed by engineering specialists who gathered at the Balttechnika Exhibition held in Litexpo, the biggest exhibition and congress centre in the Baltic countries, on May 16-18.

What science can offer to business, which innovations are being developed and implemented in Lithuania, what can be learned from other European countries when preparing for the fourth industrial revolution – answers to all these questions could be found not only at the exhibition stands but also at dozens of international events.

This year’s exhibition focused substantial attention on the establishment and development of clusters, and the first Baltic Cluster Forum 2018 was held, attracting specialists at the international level.

processes and adaptation will benefit more.

How employees and managers of companies should prepare themselves for these unavoidable changes, where to start from and which specific steps to take were under discussion at the international conference “Adding value with Industry 4.0” held during the exhibition. Infobalt, the German and Baltic Chambers of Commerce and the Lithuanian Engineering Industries Association (LINPRA) organised the event, which served as a platform for foreign experts and representatives of Lithuanian companies thatEVENTS: have already launched changes to share their · The 3rd International Conference experiences.

"Adding Value with Industry 4.0" • Baltic Cluster Forum Investment in education and cyber 2018 security • B2B Matchmaking Event Other seminars and trainings for specialists Lithuanian• business has been facing a serious challenge

for a while now – the shortage of labour. This means searching for ways to compete on the global market when emigration is immense, while the general standard of livFourth industrial revolution is not a choice ing and wages in the country are growing. According to experts, the answer is clear – increase productivity and The topic of the fourth industrial revolution, which pri- efficiency by investing in automation, robotisation and marily means the digitalisation, automation and roboti- IT solutions.

SPECIALISTS, BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. sation not only of the economy but of all fields of life, has “Lithuania has the capacities and resources to become a been widely discussed for quite a while, but in practice it highly competitive country when facing the fourth indusis only now gaining momentum. trial revolution,” said Infobalt Director Paulius Vertelka.

Specialists note that the word revolution is crucial. First “We have companies developing innovations, a strong inVENUE: Lithuanian andfield Congress Centrethe LITEXPO, of all, it means that Exhibition not a single of industry, econ- formation technology sector and strong manufacturing.

ORGANISER Laisves Ave. 5, LT-04215 Vilnius, Lithuania omy, even culture can expect to avoid these fundamental All we need to do is to make the right preparations for the changes.

Not only what and how we manufacture and changes and to LITEXPO understand that modernisation is changMORE INFORMATION AT: WWW.LITEXPO.LT how webalttechnika@litexpo.lt work will change, but also our way of life and way ing rather than destroying jobs.Lithuanian We areExhibition becoming more E-mail: and Congress Mobile phone: +370 67682So deliberations on whether of thinking will be 615 affected. efficient and simpler, which suggests one Centre of the major LITEXPO or not to take part in the fourth revolution are not very challenges we have to overcome – preparing employees meaningful, as there is no choice, and those who will be and redistributing human resources, changing and imthe most active and capable of proper management of the proving their skills.”

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For this reason, a lot of attention at the conference was devoted to cyber security, which has been named as one of the biggest challenges of the digital era.

“According to data from the National Cyber Security Centre, the number of registered cyber incidents in public communication networks was 10% higher than it was in 2016, while the total number of investigated incidents was nearly 55,000,” noted Virginijus Valevičius, head of the Industrial Management and Automation Unit at Phoenix Contact, a company that provides cyber security solutions. “Moreover, many companies, in particular privately owned ones, in order to protect their goodwill withhold information about the cyberattacks they have been exposed to, so it is quite difficult to define actual numbers. We can still see a large number of companies waiting for ‘better times’ before they can take care of their cyber security.”

comprehensive thinking and ensure the effective operation of the cluster, encouraging results – all this can hardly be achieved without a coordination process,” said the guest of the Baltic Forum of Clusters, which is organised by the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA).

Clusters are becoming more actively established in Lithuania and the other Baltic countries, but they still have to search for their place under the sun. In Lithuania, very small, small and medium-sized enterprises are the most active in the clustering process, while the greatest numbers of clusters operate in the fields of manufacturing and engineering, ICT, energy, construction and the creative sector. It is estimated that nearly one third of clusters are already engaged in inter-sectoral activities.

Clusters still searching for their place

Among the 80 exhibitors at the Balttechnika Exhibition, Lithuanian and foreign specialists had the opportunity to learn about the potential of eight schools of higher education in Lithuania – and their latest inventions and innovative solutions that have helped them to win international competitions.

Visitors could see various means of transport here, from pneumobiles running on compressed air to electric gokarts, as well as technologies for water purification or air purification.

At this exhibition held for the 26th time, every specialist from the engineering industry could discover fascinating and also practically useful solutions for business. Various events, meetings, negotiations and new international contacts revealed not just the vitality of the country’s engineering industry but also its readiness to face future challenges.

Clusters are playing an ever-increasing role in the European economy, and their weight and importance were in particular emphasised during the recent economic recession, which demanded not only transformation but also a demonstration of how flexible cooperation between science and business can be. Once a leader with clear vision emerges, others will follow.

One such leader is a guest at the Baltic Cluster Forum 2018, Bianca Dragomir from Spain, who was named as the best manager of a cluster in Europe in 2016.

“A cluster must have one leader, a champion, who can see opportunities for cooperation and growth where nobody else does and who will find a common language with decision makers of all sectors: science, business, society, government, and will be involved in the processes of forming cluster-friendlier policies. This head must have

www.balticmetalworking.com

Potential of companies and higher schools

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Balttechnika exhibition of manufacturing, innovations and engineering solutions, 2018

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DENMARK

All-directional turning goes inside out PrimeTurning™ now available for internal turning operations

F

ollowing last year’s launch of PrimeTurning™ methodology and tools for external turning operations, Sandvik Coromant is now introducing a dedicated CoroTurn® Prime SL head that makes this groundbreaking process available for internal turning operations. The new SL head will cater for the needs of oil and gas, aerospace and other manufacturers machining diameters in excess of 90 mm (3.5 inch), and overhangs up to 8-10xD.

“The inside-out machining capability provided by the CoroTurn Prime SL head solution in combination with PrimeTurning techniques, promotes excellent chip evacuation and chip control,” states Hakan Ericksson, Product Manager - General Turning, Sandvik Coromant. “In turn, manufacturers can achieve an excellent surface finish, matched by high productivity, longer tool life and high machine utilisation.”

In contrast to conventional internal turning, PrimeTurning sees the tool enter the material at the chuck end of the component and remove metal as it travels back out towards the bore exit (inside-out direction). This allows for the application of a small entering angle that offers significant productivity gains. However, if required, another variant is also available with a reversed tip seat that makes it pos-

CoroTurn Prime SL SL B-Type Internal Turning

sible to perform PrimeTurning in the opposite direction (outside-in).

There are two insert types for internal PrimeTurning: A-type for profiling, finishing and light roughing; and B-type for roughing to finishing operations.

Speed and feed rates can effectively be doubled with PrimeTurning. This is because the small entering angle and higher lead angle create thinner, wider chips that spread the load and heat away from the nose radius, resulting in increased cutting data and/or tool life. Furthermore, as cutting is performed in the direction moving away from the shoulder, there is no danger of chip jamming, a common and highly undesirable effect of conventional internal turning.

a wide range of tool combinations from a small inventory of adaptors and cutting heads. SL heads are available in 40 mm (1.575 inch) diameter, and fit with solid steel bars and carbide bars, as well as with Silent ToolsTM damped boring bars for vibration-free internal machining.

In a further development, Sandvik Coromant can now offer the new -H3 geometry to eliminate any concerns about chip control, which can be challenging when machining low-carbon and high-strength steels. The -H3 geometry is available for B-type inserts in grades GC4325, GC1115 and H13A. For more information please visit: w w w.sandvik.coromant.com/en-gb/campaigns/ primeturning

With CoroTurn Prime SL heads, customers can create 12 |

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TORQUE WRENCHES UP TO 15.000Nm: •BATTERY •PNEUMATIC •ELECTRIC CONTACT US FOR A DEMO!

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LITHUANIA

3d

truss

PMK – the experts of colossal steel structures

L

ithuanian company „Pramoninės metalo konstrukcijos“ (hereinafter – PMK) was established in 2010 in Kaunas.

Over almost a decade a strong PMK team of reliable and experienced professionals became capable to cope with any sort of challenge in production, processing and installation of metal structures. Company‘s key to success – work quality, continuous skills developing and the right attitude to reliable partnership with customers from different countries and markets.

Masters of bulky non-standard constructions PMK company produces ordinary metal structures for residential and non-residential buildings, industrial steel structures, hydrotechnical and engineering equipments, engineering structures for railroads, ship repair service platforms, reservoirs, offshore structures for oil and gas industry etc.

One of our greatest strengths – manufacturing of non-standard bulky steel constructions according to individual customer‘s drawings or (if required) projects, drawn up by PMK. Currently PMK employs more than 80 highly qualified, experienced professionals. The variety of metal processing services provided by the company and it‘s capacity of production allow us to satisfy the needs of the most demanding customers.

Certified for the highest execution class Metal processing is performed strictly complying with international specifications and standards. The manufacturing as well is carried out under LST EN 1090-2 requirements, so long-lasting experience in producing such heavy-duty structures ensures high quality of production and timely execution of works.

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Trimble

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This year PMK has received the certificate of the highest possible certified execution class EXC4 according to the EN 1090-1 compliance class. It is well known that only a few companies are permited to produce such structures.

Flexible terms and conditions for customer One of PMK‘s major advantages – we can offer excepwww.balticmetalworking.com

tionally flexible terms for the production of metal structures. Large production facilities and powerful lifting equipment enable producing of bulky heavy steel structures.

For our customers these factors are priceless – it helps to significantly accelerate installation process, save costs and implement complicated technical solutions. These are the reasons why PMK has earned customers trust in Baltic countries, EU, Scandinavian countries and even in such distant countries as South African Republic.

The company‘s portfolio of successfully implemented projects includes plants, shopping malls, bridges, sport complexes, railways systems, towers, tanks and other construction works for industry and even recreation.

Complex projects might be repeated PMK‘s technical capacity and experience were perfect-

Trimble ly revealed by implementing the one of the most complex projects – overpass in Marijampolė‘s city, Lithuania.

It was the reconstruction of two-level crossroads with railroad in Marijampole by installing a pedestrian crossing. The overlay of the overpass was designed with three separate openings, freely supported spatial steel trusses.

The greatest challenge in this project was the longest inseparable truss of 33 meters in length and 3.4 meters in width and height. After successful implementation of this project, another very similar viaduct appeared in Mari-

Viaduct

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in Labanoras Regional Park. The height of this tower is 36 meters, the total weight of the constructions exceeded 40 tons, the structure consists of more than 300 separate parts.

It is pretty complicated to describe the entire construction of tower as there were no precise reference points, clear geometric shapes, the radiuses of the tower were different. During production, it was necessary to continuously inspect and make an intermediate assembly in order to make sure the geometry of the tower was correct.

PMK was able to solve all the difficulties and produced all tower constructions which were successfully set up.

Experience and modern technologies collide In 2017-2018 PMK was entrusted with task to produce the major part of the steel structures in one of the largest newly built supermarket in the Baltics. The most complex part of this task was to produce the main and secondary spatial trusses. The total weight of the spatial structure exceeded 500 tons.

The main PMK‘s task was to ensure that spatial Trusses (connecting in space at 6 points) would be successfully assembled and maintain the designed dimensions per more than 80 meters. During the production process, PMK team was looking for solutions how to maintain the process in the most effective way. For this issue one of the latest BIM gadgets – „Trimble Connect“ was used.

Undoubtly, with the help of modern 3D technology PMK perfectly implemented this project as well. *** Customers trust, exclusive projects with different challenges encourages for further development of PMK activities.

Therefore, company is always open for new partnership opportunities and challenging projects.

Observation tower

INFO

jampolė, and, obviously, the production was entrusted to PMK. Observation tower in Regional Park PMK was also responsible for implementing one of the most visited places in Lithuania - the observation tower

Pramoninės metalo konstrukcijos UAB +370 699 28206 pm@pm.lt www.pmkonstrukcijos.lt www.ok-vise.com/distrubutors

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Art. No. to order P3310 P3315 Depth gauge rod Flat Round Length of jaw 40 mm Execution Length of cross tips 16 mm • zero setting at any • ABS function Digit increment 0.01 mm position • 11mm LCD display Measuring range 0-150 mm • mm/inch changeover • Protection class IP67 • AUTO OFF Contact us: +37037291567 | info@mtcenter.fi | www.mtcenter.lt , NG in Estonia FREE SH IP PI ia an hu Lit & a Latvi

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LITHUANIA

INNOVATION - A KEY TO SUCCESS THE CASE OF UAB IGNETAS

C

ould you please briefly introduce UAB Ignetas? What are your manufacturing/designing capacities?

UAB Ignetas has been founded in year 2003 as a small company for local needs. Today Ignetas produce over 10 million products per year and constantly enters in new fields of manufacturing technology.

As a known industry leader, we’re used to work with all types of customers - local or global, large or small. Exceptional quality is the foundation of our company, and is the driving force behind all decisions; whether it’s which materials to purchase or the best way to serve our customers.

What do you think are the main factors that differentiate your company from the competition?

Attitude; quality; delivery on time; maximum focus on every customer; keeping up with newest technologies in the market.

What is one thing about the company that you are proudest of?

One step ahead our competitors in technological advancement.

UAB Ignetas is quite advanced in terms of innovation. How

Tadas Dumasius Commercial Director

do the manufacturing facilities and robotized processes help to create new standards, products and innovation?

When we started to invest in newest technology we have been afraid of the amount of money needed to invest.

Our economic analysis suggested that the company will start to benefit from it within few years but it was hard to believe. In the first year we realized that we are getting huge quality improvement in our products and customers asked us to produce more complex products. Now we get both – better financial returns and much higher qual-

packing line designed by company

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Ignetas

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Assembly ity. This experience boosted our company’s confidence and now we are preparing to manufacture whole products instead of separate parts.

Ignetas is a family business. How does it work for you?

What challenges and synergies do you face by working shoulder to shoulder with family members?

Family associates with feelings, business associate with interests. Sometimes it is hard to separate feelings and interests. However, we have the same goal, so we are forced to row the boat in the same direction. In the beginning we saw more cons than pros as we worked all together.

Now we see more possibilities. We have differences in personalities, genders and even generations. But now we see each other strengths and use it to achieve common goal. Family business creates a family like atmosphere at work so all our colleagues are like big family for us. I

line designed by company

Ignetas

think you will never trust other people as much as your family members. At the moment I am on holidays and I’m much more relaxed because I know my sister is backing up at the office and doing excellent job. I hope she feels the same.

Can you name some unexpected facts about UAB Ignetas?

You can find a stand of our company in Vilnius International Airport. We present ourselves and our services at the EXPO Center – industrial business exhibition of the Baltic States. A lot of visitors share that our stand is quite popular and very attractive. We created is to reflect our company – it is automated, interactive and fun – a hand of a robot gives out our business cards to interested passengers. Everyone is welcome to come and visit before a flight! Also our company name represent my sister Igne and me Tadas thats why we are Ignetas.

What are your future plans for the upcoming years?

We will be one of the first companies in Lithuania that uses solar power for our own needs. Company also plans to produce our own automated product for industry which is a big challenge for a small company. We try to keep steady growth for our company. First years it is easier as few hundred thousand products gives huge impact in your growth. As the company gets bigger you have to produce much higher volumes or start to produce more complex and more expensive products to keep the same pace.

I believe we will be able to make both of it.

Welding 18 |

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line automated by engineers of

Ignetas www.balticmetalworking.com

Electric

This year (2018) the Baltic States are celebrating 100 years of Independence. What is your wish for your partners and colleagues in metalworking industry?

I believe that people in Baltic states are very creative and very diligent. Our generation is already changed the face of Baltic states. I wish for all of us to be more confident, rely on our people and world level technology. Respect and collaborate with each other and try to see more part-

injection moulding machines

- Arburg

ners in each other rather than competitors.

INFO Ignetas UAB +370 617 04341 info@ignetas.lt www.ignetas.lt

Export Partners UAB +370 605 01097 info@expocenter.lt www.expocenter.lt

www.ok-vise.com/distrubutors

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“art deco” dashboard styling of the Admiral copyrights of the photograph: www.autoprova.be

FROM SEWING MACHINES TO CARS Giedrius Drukteinis

A

dam Opel (1837-1895) liked to sew. And there was nothing unmanly in this hobby – at all times, the best tailors of the world were men. The only unusual thing here is that we know Opel’s name as the name of a car, although Adam Opel himself did see none of them in his life.

He was born in Rüsselsheim, near Frankfurt, in the family of the oldest blacksmith of the city. In those days, being the oldest son meant he had to inherit his father’s business for which he had been prepared for 20 years.

However, Rüsselsheim was a vibrant city; a crossroad of commercial roads and the constant flow of people traveling through shook the imagination of Adam Opel. After reaching adulthood, he increasingly began to argue with his father about his future, demanding permission to look around the wide world, and found an influential ally, the mother, who encouraged the head of the family to let the older son out. Once he received the permit from the city government to leave (this was the order), in 1857 Adam Opel moved to Belgium. Having a blacksmith’s specialty was a valuable thing in those days, so he worked in Liège and Brussels, where he wrote letters to his mother saying that “working in one place is as dull as working with his father.” In 1858 Adam Opel arrived at the European capital of culture and industry of those times – Paris. www.balticmetalworking.com

He worked there as a baker, and then as a blacksmith in a company manufacturing safes. But then at the World Exposition in Paris he saw a thing that became his passion for the rest of his life – the sewing machine.

In Europe, an industrial revolution had already begun, and the world market seemed to be limitless for such things (and it was the sewing machine that made millions of people millionaires, such as Isaac Singer, a person that is well-known for the older generation). Adam Opel was educated enough to quickly grasp the principle of the sewing machine, but the first models seemed quite primitive and imperfect to him. In order to go deeper into their production secrets Adam Opel started working for “F Journaux-Leblond”, the company that produced the most beautiful sewing machines at the time (and now they are the world’s most wanted sewing machines of collectors).

Later, he moved to a bigger company –“Huguenin & Reimann” which was the first massive producer of sewing machines, and there he acquired necessary drawings and tools.

In 1859, Adam called his younger brother George to come to Paris to jointly learn about the sewing machine manufacturing business. Brothers quickly agreed that Adam would return to Germany and start production, while George stayed in Paris to follow the latest trends in this market.

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Adam’s enthusiasm to manufacture sewing machines was evaluated indifferently by his father, he did not give the requested money, so Adam Opel had to undertake the repair of the locks again. In the evenings, after work, he was still preparing to start his own business and in the light of the oil lamp he was building his first sewing machine. Father, a little melted by his elder’s enthusiasm, asked his brother to let Adam use his abandoned cowshed, where Adam set up his workshop in 1861. His uncle even gave Adam a loan to order spare parts and tools through George that were not possible to get in Germany.

Adam Opel had to hurry up – the sewing machines were rapidly expanding across Europe. At the beginning of 1862, he demonstrated his first set-up machine to his family. No one knew what an empire would grow from this presentation. Only his father Phillip was sadly aware that nobody wanted to take over his blacksmith business because his family, he saw, found a new passion...

Opel Nahmaschinen, the production of which began in a cowshed, quickly became a commodity. In 1865, a well-known businessman and industrialist, Adam Opel, married his girlfriend Sophia from a wealthy family, whose dowry and personal enthusiasm for sewing machines resulted in a two-story Opel Sewing Machine plant near Rüsselsheim Railway Station in 1867 with steam engines that supplied power. In 1870, the mass production

Opel bicycle copyrights of the photograph: w

of the first Opel sewing machine Sophia began and then they spread all over the world and piled the Opel family with the greatest wealth.

In 1885, the plant already employed 300 people, and Adam Opel himself began looking for new investment opportunities. One day he saw what indigenous called “velocipedes” in Paris and feeling surprised by their enthusiasm for them encouraged him to make a bicycle drawing by eye and bring it to Germany. He got few necessary parts from England, and in 1886, when the number of manufactured sewing machines reached 20 thousands, Adam Opel released his first bike (in fact, from a modern point of view – a very ancient one – with a big wheel in front and a little one behind).

However, when he tried to drive, he quickly tumbled down and knocked his hand. Full of frustration Adam Opel said he would never have dealings with these “bone-breakers” again. Fortunately, two factors soon have changed his mind – all five sons of Adam Opel: Carl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich and Ludwig wanted their own bikes, and secondly, as the calculations showed, “velocipedes” were easier to produce and to sell with much higher profits than sewing machines.

In 1887, Adam Opel sent his eldest son name Carl to England to dig into bike production secrets and asked him to send samples of the latest models back home. At that time, he himself opened a separate bicycle and tricycle production workshop at his own factory. In two years, Opel bikes have spread throughout Germany, and due to their dura-

Opel built sewing machines until the outbreak of WWI copyrights of the photograph: www.autoprova.be

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bility and design, soon they deserved all the best recommendations: “If you want the best and most up-to-date, buy Opel.” All of Opel’s sons have become great racers who have consistently participated in popular bike races, thus celebrating the family brand.

Adam Opel had no opportunity to see the continuity of his brand development. He died in 1895, leaving his business to his wife Sophie and two elderly sons. There were already one and a half thousand people in the factory at that time, half the millions of sewing machines were built there, and the other half were bicycles.

As it turned out, his widow Sophia was not-so-less entrepreneur and an www.coolspotters.com industrialist as her deceased husband.

Having evaluated the rapidly expanding innovation of cars, in 1899, she became a business partner with another blacksmith from Rüsselsheim – Friedrich Lutzmann, who founded a car workshop, where the first Opel car named Opel Patent Motor Car, System Lutzmann has been produced. After two years of production of several dozen cars, Opel became the partner of the French automobile maker Darracq S A, and have jointly produced a simple two-cylinder car model named Opel Darracq. In effect, Opel supplied them with metal hulls only.

The partnership with the French was over in 1906, when Opel had already had enough experience to start mass production of their own cars.

In 1907, the Rüsselsheim factory of sewing machines and bicycles was rebuilt to adapt it to the production of cars.

In 1911, the number of manufactured Opel sewing machines exceeded a million units, but the fire destroyed the whole factory, encroaching on the universal feast. Opel brothers have, however, decided not to reopen the production of sewing machines, and to concentrate their efforts on cars and bicycles only (motorcycles were also included in that category).

In 1913, Opel has become the largest automobile manufacturer in Germany. Opel cars were cheap and reliable, and this helped to survive the post-war German inflation. In

1924, there was the first conveyor built in Germany and the Opel Laubfrosch (“Wooden Frog”) model drew down from it. This typical green car had same results to Germany like Henry Ford to America – the car was not a luxury option anymore, it then became available to everyone.

Opel Laubfrosch which at that time costed around 1990 mark, basically inspired Adolf Hitler’s plans to create his own Volkswagen. A million units of Wood Frogs was launched before the start of the Second World War. In 1928, Opel repeatedly became the largest auto producer in Germany. However, the Great Depression began, and in 1929-1931 Adam Opel AG was sold to the American giant General Motors. GM opened new foreign markets for Opel, and in 1936 Opel became the largest automotive manufacturer in Europe. In the same year, Opel brothers sold their bicycle factory to NSU Company. Since then, Opel was the largest manufacturer of bicycles in Germany, with four thousand bikes per day (about 2.5 million bikes were sold with the Opel brand, however their production was discontinued).

Today, General Motors concern stills owns Opel and produces around one million cars per year.

Opel admiral copyrights of the photograph: www.autoprova.be

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June-July-August 4/2018

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DENMARK

Cut costs and boost productivity with new thread forming tap Faster machining times, chip-free tapping, fewer stoppages Cutting tool and tooling system specialist Sandvik Coromant has launched a new thread forming tap optimised for ISO P steel machining which is designed to boost productivity, particularly in the automotive industry. The CoroTap® 400 achieves this by offering chip-free tapping as well as faster machining times and stronger threads through reduced torque and an optimised geometry. tool spindle which facilitates increased cutting speeds and, in turn, improves productivity. As a result, the CoroTap 400 offers the customer such key benefits as greater process security, fewer machine stoppages, reduced cost per hole and improved tool life for better process planning.

Made with a new grade of substrate and coating, the new thread forming tap gives machine tool operators peace of mind through its high-level reliability and its adaptability for use with lower torque spindle machines. For senior managers in the automotive industry, the tap satisfies their green light machining demands while extremely high levels of repeatability and predictability afford them extra confidence in relation to mainCoroTap 400 action

T

he automotive industry has extremely high requirements when it comes to safeguarding quality and it has implemented robust and rigorous processes for this reason. The new tap has been created to meet those exacting demands by ensuring superior thread quality, improved process security and longer tool life, resulting in a combination of greater efficiency and reduced costs – in comparison tests, the CoroTap 400 delivered a significantly more secure and stable tap than its competitors while achieving cutting speeds up to 50 per cent faster.Among the main features of the new tap is an optimised lobe profile designed specifically for ISO P applications. By increasing the number of lobes on the tap and giving it a shorter thread length, Sandvik Coromant has reduced torque at the machine

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4/2018 June-July-August

CoroTap 400 side large and small

taining the highest possible production standards.

Offering a more consistent and reliable threading process, the CoroTap 400 has been designed with a geometry that can reduce the force required for machining a steel component by up to 30 per cent. At the same time, the tap’s working life can be up to twice as long as similar thread forming tools.

Designed to be used on steels up to 330 HB in conjunction with such drills as Sandvik Coromant’s CoroDwww.balticmetalworking.com

rill 860, the new tap is ideal for machining such automotive components as connecting rods, wheel hubs, crank shafts, axles, gears and transmissions. Not restricted to the automotive industry, however, the CoroTap 400 is also perfectly suited to rail or general engineering applications, where it can improve productivity and cut costs when forming threads in rail wheels, flanges, rivets, housings, boom cylinders, tubes and a wide range of other components.

For more information please visit: www.sandvik.coromant.com/en-gb/products/corotap_400 CoroTap 400 application

Multi-Rail RM Combo-Rail Multi-Rail RH Grid Fixturing Blank Fixturing Clamp modules Stop modules Riser blocks Side guides

Hydraulic Clamping

Sales: www.ok-vise.com/distributors

www.ok-vise.com BALTIC

METALWORKING

Exibition stand at Vilnius airport

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June-July-August 4/2018

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HIGH PERFORMANCE LUBRICANTS MADE IN GERMANY

Oest products cover all metalworking technologies: water miscible and non-water miscible cooling lubricants for machining with defined and non-defined cutting edges, spray mist lubricants for minimum quantity applications as well as forming lubricants with a variety of different formulations for sheet metal, tube and massive forming.

PARTNERS WANTED As an internationally expanding company we are constantly looking for new distribution partners. Design your success with brand quality by Oest! You not only benefit from top products, but also you can rely on strong support.

Please contact Pavel Kozelek, Country Manager Eastern Europe, +420 778 030 630, pavel.kozelek@oestgroup.com

www.oestgroup.com