KraussMaffei Build Their Biggest Production Plant

KraussMaffei is investing around four million euros in its biggest production plant - located in Allach on the outskirts of Munich. The company is building and equipping a new surface treatment centre to replace the existing paint shop. The innovative centre is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2009 - to the benefit of customers of the world's biggest plastics machinery company. Dr. Dietmar Straub, CEO of KraussMaffei AG, emphasizes: "This major investment is signposting the way forward. The new system will guarantee our customers the very highest quality - KraussMaffei is demonstrating its confidence by investing massively in the future of our main plant in Munich."

Shorter throughput times

The goal was to use intelligent synchronization to paint individual machine parts and assemblies and return them to the assembly line as they are needed. To achieve this KraussMaffei is building an innovative surface treatment centre at its Munich plant. The practical concept will enable KraussMaffei to cut throughput times while delivering even higher surface quality. The Surface Treatment Centre will consist of two separate units: an indexing system and a combined unit. The detail specification phase was concluded in close collaboration between KraussMaffei and Rippert Anlagentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, based in Herzebrock-Clarholz/North Rhine-Westphalia. Rippert will also be responsible for the construction of the system. The systems engineering company with around 300 employees has been producing and installing painting and filtering systems, and industrial ventilation units, for around 40 years. One core competence is complex painting systems that include pretreatment, powder coating and drying. Norbert Schmeller, the Rippert specialist responsible for the project, points out, "A project of this magnitude is an excellent reference project for Rippert".

Overhead conveyor for parts up to 32 tonnes

In the indexing system, KraussMaffei can paint machine components up to four metres long, three metres wide, three metres high and weighing up to 32 tonnes. The parts are fed into the system on an overhead conveyor. The basic step-by-step processing concept is analogous to the way the company builds its injection moulding machines - KraussMaffei has already converted its assembly lines to synchronized flow. The combined unit will be used to paint parts that are too big for the indexing system. This unit can handle parts up to twelve metres long and up to 80 tonnes in weight. Both units in the new Surface Treatment Centre are engineered to reduce emissions and water consumption, emphasizing KraussMaffei's concern for environmental protection.