2019 Award Winners
Award-winning project: Innovative manufacturing system for the production of highly complex, surface-sensitive components
Project partners: Optik-Elektro Huber GmbH, Mühlacker | Steinbeis Transfer Center Production and Organization, Pforzheim
In many technical fields of application, there is a strong trend towards miniaturisation and the integration of an ever-increasing number of technical functions into the products used. This goes hand in hand with the demand for the highest quality and functionality, particularly in sensitive fields of application such as aerospace and medical technology.
Optik-Elektro Huber GmbH, based in Enzberg near Mühlacker, specialises in the manufacture of highly complex, small-volume mechanical components used in the aforementioned sectors. For example, the company manufactures components for valves that must function flawlessly at low temperatures of up to minus 100°C. As elastomer seals cannot be used at these temperatures, the sealing function must be ensured by metallic contact surfaces where metal seals securely against metal. This can only be guaranteed by surfaces with the lowest possible roughness values and the highest precision.
To meet these requirements, a new process was developed in collaboration with the Steinbeis Transfer Centre for Production and Organisation in Pforzheim, which eliminates any potential negative effects arising from the processes involved, from machining right through to packaging ready for dispatch.
The basis of the fully automated process is a self-contained production cell, in which the components to be manufactured undergo individual part handling, thereby reliably preventing any damage to the surfaces caused by accidental contact between the components. At the heart of the system is an innovative cleaning system in which the relevant parameters affecting the cleaning process (temperature, cleaning time, mechanical cleaning assistance and use of chemicals) are selected in such a way that, despite the use of a highly environmentally friendly cleaning agent, all installed processes can run in parallel with the machining time of the components. This ensures the highest quality at minimal cost. In addition to the technological development and implementation of the system, the project also involved the development of a marketing strategy to expand the scope of application of the new technology, which is being implemented in a targeted manner. Through this project, both partners demonstrate that an integrated approach and close collaboration between academia and industry can give rise to innovative technologies and concepts that secure long-term competitiveness. In recognition of this achievement, the project has been awarded the Steinbeis Foundation’s Transfer Prize – the Löhn Prize.