Is your hunger for innovation stilled at Machineering?

A top edition, the organizers called it. Machineering could count on a strong turnout, with as many as 6,552 visitors. In addition, 753 students from (higher) technical education joined. They could get a taste of what automation and digitalization can mean for their processes. Because the scarcity of personnel and the need for more sustainability force everyone who wants to grow to look to technology for answers. There was no shortage of demos at the fair, and for those who wanted to delve theoretically into these topics, there were also the well attended Expert Classes, with the highlight being the big technology debate that, you guessed it, had robotization and digitization of the manufacturing industry as its theme. Metaalvak was there and sounded out the main trends on the exhibition floor.  

The manufacturing industry in Europe is back on the map more than ever. Whether it is reshoring, onshoring or nearshoring, there is a clear trend to have pieces made as close as possible again. Under our own roof or with trusted suppliers. But the only way to break even on costs is to look at automation (and by extension robotization) and digitization. And, of course, looking at ways to reduce costs. Because things must also be smarter and more economical in the coming years. 

Back from the road

Even among the exhibitors on the show floor, reshoring was clearly a theme. Indeed, Belgian sheet metal working specialist LVD signed on for the first time in a long time. Sales director Kurt Debbaut was delighted to be back: "Over the past few years we have achieved brilliant results internationally. Now it is time to show ourselves again to our home market, with the second generation increasingly prominent." Among other things, it showed a working robot cell that takes pieces from art to part in twenty minutes. 

But software is also increasingly important in this story and is winning projects today. "As a one-stop shop supplier of sheet metal working machines, we have the technology to connect all processes. 'Shaping the flows is not our motto since the Blech for nothing."

Gripping more flexibly than ever

With robots, of course, come grippers. A lot of manufacturers showed their wares at Machineering. There too, there has been a great deal of evolution in recent years. Grippers can handle more and more variation and, in other words, make automation possible in high mix, low volume production. Schunk had two new toppers in the range: the EGK and EGU. Not to worry for those who have not yet seen them at work, they are coming soon to a robot manufacturer near you with a major launch event (see later in this magazine). 

They are also convinced at Zimmer Group that continuing to innovate is the way forward. "We like to think along with our customers," indicates regional manager Bram Vandromme. "About how we can make their applications better. Since Zimmer Group designs and produces its entire range itself, both a solution with standard products and a solution with customization are possible. With more than 1,400 employees, we make sure it can be done. That the customer gets a working system the way he wants it."

E-commerce

So with a few booth visits, all the themes of the fair are immediately clear: how to smartly automate, robotize and digitize. One company that has made this its showpiece is 247TailorSteel. With thoroughly automated and digitized processes, it has established itself as an e-commerce specialist in sheet metal working. Area sales manager Boris Hoffmann: "We have not been a stranger to the Belgian market for a long time, but that wow feeling about what we can do and how fast we can do it remains. We are still growing exponentially and once the doors of our Hooglede branch open in September, that will get another boost."

Customer focus

In the middle of Palace 8, there was a reversal in approach. This time, V.A.C Machines did not let its machines speak, but its customers. Because behind every powerful machine are the 101 practical examples that prove exactly how much added value a piece of technology can bring. Visitors could sit down at the cozy discussion tables for a snack, a drink, but especially for movies with a lot of beautiful sheet metal working technology. Managing director Karel Vincke: "If we are growing, it is because we can make our customers grow. That's why they are central." 

A similar story at Yamazaki Mazak, which had also left its machines at home for the occasion. There, after those difficult corona years, everything was back to networking. Unconcerned and without mouth masks, that was long overdue. A formula that caught on, because the orange brigade had so many people over, that they also took up the aisle. They already know for next time: a bigger stand please.

Ready for AM

So more than enough interest still, in machining. But what about 3D printing? Is it taking off in Belgium? 

According to Siemens at least, it did. It showed a demo on how the teeth of gears can be repaired using additive manufacturing. The heart of the machine? Sinumerik One. Head of digitalization hub Central Europe and Americas Ronny Maes shows us around: "Such an application fits perfectly with the demand for more sustainability. You save a lot of material by choosing repair. Moreover, it can be done with a lot less energy, because AM requires less power than a typical machining machine, but with the same end result. With our demo, we want to open eyes to think about how things can be done differently."

Making a difference with passion and skill

Compared to the previous edition, the exhibitors there showed remarkably more machines under chip. At DMG-Mori, among others, there were still some nice machines running in the shop window. At Wouters Cutting and Welding there were continuous demonstrations of plasma and waterjet cutting. It attracted a lot of visitors, because WCW also specifically targets SMEs with its machine choices. And they still want to invest. Managing Director Nic Wouters: "Clients want to move forward and they have to keep renewing their machinery. But they look at it differently now: an investment in a machine is increasingly an investment in the total picture of technology, software and service. With now eleven technicians, we can really make a difference. This is how we really make a difference. If you master the material and work with passion every day, the rest will come naturally." Or how technology is actually a story of people after all. ■

Machineering digital
After reading this article, do you somewhat regret not being able to attend in person? Or did you not have enough seconds in an hour during your trade show visit to have seen and done everything? Then you can turn back the clock, so to speak, to the end of March. Because organizer IndustrialFairs has also provided an online component, with the platformMachineering Digital. There you can purposefully look up exhibitor technology, connect with exhibitors and rewatch all Expert Classes and debates on demand. But you can also find them on YouTube. This is how efficient digitalization can be.