Constant innovation in linear technology

is keen to be both proactive and reactive to the needs of its customers, with the main thrust of its offer centred on sharing its knowledge of automation.

Impressive product portfolio

The product range offered by Rocla in the domestic market is focused on its warehouse trucks and CAT counterbalance trucks, which are widely considered to be among the best-built trucks in the industry. The company is also one of the world’s leading suppliers of AGV systems and has maintained this position since the early 1980s. In addition to trucks, Rocla’s services provide added value to its clients in the form of a wide range of services that help to maintain their fleet.

As the only developers and providers of what Rocla call ‘intralogistic solutions’, the companys delivers an ‘intelligent combination of automation and warehouse trucks that saves time, reduces costs and increases productivity’. This is achieved by analysing the customers’ processes using tools such as the Rocla Visual Assistant and the new Rocla ATX, an automated truck for pallet transfers, and then delivering the most suitable solution.

Rocla AGVs are a durable, flexible and modular solution with short delivery and ROI times. They use a common platform with features such as functional modularity, serial manufacture and award-winning design. The modular structure of Rocla’s AGV family combines tried-and-tested technology and functionality with the ability to meet specific customer demands.

Furthermore, since the spring of 2013 Rocla has been manufacturing electric counterbalance trucks in Finland for the first time in its history. This includes both Cat Lift Trucks and Mitsubishi Forklift trucks. This was owing to the fact that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had shut down its factory in Holland and moved the manufacturing of electric counterbalance trucks to Rocla. This has allowed Rocla to increase its annual production by about 2500 trucks.

Rocla expects to enjoy continued success as it utilises the opportunities of being part of the Mitsubishi family, while working to further develop its methods for educating customers and potential customers about the cost- and time-saving advantages of introducing increased automation. n

Schneeberger is a global leader in the development of linear guide technology products for the mechanical engineering industry. Philip Yorke talked to Adrian Fuscher, the company’s president, about its latest products and its move into new niche market sectors.

Schneeberger was founded in Switzerland in 1923 and is a privately owned company managed by its third generation family. The world’s first linear guideways were conceived and developed by Scneeberger almost 90 years ago, establishing the foundation for the advanced linear technology systems that exist today. The company’s original guidelines for the construction of linear aims defined the modern criteria for load-bearing capacity, reliability and economy, thus setting the industry standards that are still subscribed to throughout the world today.

The spirit of innovation, technically superior products and uncompromising quality remain the company’s key maxims. Today Schneeberger is a global operator that employs more than 800 people worldwide, with offices and manufacturing facilities in Switzerland, Italy, USA, Japan, China, the Czech Republic, India, Germany and, more recently, Singapore and Korea.

Raising the bar on quality and efficiency

Today Schneebereger offers a diverse range of quality products and services to its global OEM customers in the machine tool, solar energy and semiconductor industries, as well as to those in the electronic and medical technology sectors. The company develops and manufactures linear bearings, profiled guideways, measuring systems, gear racks and slides. In addition, it produces positioning systems and mineral casting products. Schneeberger’s capacity for innovation and technical development allows it to develop complex miniature guideways for a number of niche markets, including micromanufacturing and machining, biotechnology, medical technology nano-technology, robotics and optical industries.

The company continues to lead the world in its specialised high-technology disciplines through continuous investment in R&D and the development of new manufacturing technology. Mr Fuscher said, “At the heart of everything we do is innovation, and our new smaller bearings are a good example of this; they have been developed especially for handling automation applications, which is a big market and a growth segment for us. We are also planning to expand our capacity by doubling the facilities that are involved in electrical applications and rail and carriage products. Another key focus is our investment in high levels of automation and reduc-