REPORT - OTTO BIHLER GMBH & CO. KG
There‘s no such thing, as no can do Bihler production systems are 100% customer-specific, while great diversity in workpiece production determines daily activities. Because of this reason, Bihler needs flexible automation as well as versatile, fast, process-integrated and automated quality assurance. Since Otto Bihler developed the world‘s first automatic stamping and forming machine in1956, Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG has evolved into the globally leading producer of special machines. No matter what stamped and bent parts or assemblies customers want to manufacture, Bihler combines a wide variety of processes such as punching, bending, welding, threading, screwing, assembling, etc. into fully automated complete solutions on its fully automated machines. For the production of machine components, Bihler processes workpieces made of steel, hard metals, plastics, special copper alloys and ceramics in part sizes ranging from a few millimetres to over 3 meters in length.
Once a Bihler customer, always a Bihler customer Bihler technology can be found in a wide variety of industrial sectors such as the automotive industry, the electrical and electronics industry, household technology and medical technology. The company generates approx. 40% of its turnover from the automotive industry. This broad diversification is a challenge but also constitutes Bihler‘s core competence. More than 1,100 employees and a worldwide service and distribution network take care of the often decades-long partnerships with customers. High degree of parts mix, low volume This customer loyalty is the result of the highly individualized system designs. Almost all Bihler machines are unique, which means that many parts and components that are required are only produced once or twice and then never again. The machines are designed and manufactured precisely to meet customer requirements. „The resulting high degree of part diversity at a very low volume is one of the big challenges, not only for the design process, but also for automated production and quality assurance,“ explains Paul Höldrich, Production Manager at Otto Bihler. This is precisely the reason why Bihler relies on longstanding partnerships with suppliers and technology partners
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