PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE - HEKUMA GmbH

High Performance ³ Customization with a Maximum in Flexibility

Press Contact Klaus Wanner HEKUMA GmbH Head of Sales & Marketing Freisinger Str. 3B Phone: +49 8165 633 -300 85386 Eching, Germany eMail: [email protected] www.hekuma.com

Eching – May 2015

High Performance ³ - Customization with a Maximum in Flexibility

With its new modular HEKUflex concept, HEKUMA is now introducing an option to provide higher flexibility in automation systems while at the same time making the entire production cycle leaner and increasing its efficiency.

Saving costs, increasing productivity, more efficiency - the most important reasons why the modular principle is becoming more and more popular, particularly in the technology sector. Whether equipping hardware or software, implementing new interfaces or converting complete product cycles: Integrating singular, self-contained function groups in a centrally controlled system offers a host of advantages in various R&D and production environments - and especially in automation technology. Here in particular, mechanical engineers and machine operators benefit greatly from integrating various function groups and thus can take advantage of the modular principle.

HEKUMA introduces the new modular principle HEKUflex at FAKUMA 2015 HEKUMA, a manufacturer of high-performance automation systems from Bavaria, Germany, shows how modularity principles can be adapted when developing individually customized high- performance systems. In the planning stage since 2013, the newly developed HEKUflex concept

03252b99d8cb2252691fd50ec7483300.docx 1 of 6 PRESS RELEASE was presented for the first time in Europe at FAKUMA 2015, that was held from October 13 - 17th, 2015 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Both technically and historically, widely based expertise has been available to implement such a high-level concept. HEKUMA has been developing high-performance systems for over forty years, working hand-in-hand and quite successfully with customers from the medical devices and automotive industry and also with manufacturers of consumer goods. As a consequence: "Realizing modular concepts that function on an integrated level can only ever be seen as a means to an end", according to Klaus Wanner, Director of Sales & Marketing at HEKUMA. "In fact, our focus will always be on the needs of our customer. That is to say: keeping investment volumes as lean and predictable as possible, lead times short and at the same time ensuring that the equipment supplies the highest possible productivity while maintaining high quality and safety standards. In particular, HEKUMA stands for a combination of high performance and the best quality available in the market."

Transferring traditional designs to HEKUflex "Modular design while giving equal priority to focusing on customers" - this was the idea that defined the combined requirements in the decision process. First, it needed to be determined whether it was even possible to transfer conventional design structures to modular principles so as to continue to guarantee one of the company's main USPs - the widely diversified integration options based on specific customer needs to match existing function modules. Was it even possible under these circumstances to transfer the modular approach to custom machines as they had been manufactured in the past? Could the goal of reduced costs and increased efficiency for manufacturers and operators really be maintained long-term? Or would there be any other factors or effects that would pose obstacles in the future? And of course: Which existing function groups could even be standardized and in what form? As an example for realizing HEKUflex, the HEKUMA developers chose an injection mold take out automation system with downstream functional steps. First, they defined a variety of module sizes that could be combined with each other based on the available function groups. Added to that were the standards in which the various automation functions were defined and which also provided a framework for the materials. In view of the industries, in which the company does

03252b99d8cb2252691fd50ec7483300.docx 2 of 6 PRESS RELEASE business, HEKUMA decided on the following design versions: Glass, stainless steel and coated materials. Positive side-effect: The system's design obviously benefits from the choice of material and straight-forward clean arrangement of the modules. Not only is the system functionally well- designed, it is also great looking!

Decentralized controller concept for the modules To keep up with decentralization efforts, the modular design required considerably more demanding solutions. Existing control concepts needed to be restructured in order to work well with the more independent modules and their functions. If the goal is to easily integrate, replace or combine modular elements, then the classic "control center" will no longer do the trick and the units must instead be controlled individually. The interfaces, design sizes and control unit were set up so that additional production and inspection processes can be integrated into the overall process. But, in addition to that: Component inspections, welding and packaging processes can be extracted from the overall process without requiring any significant consequences, such as substantial software modifications and programming efforts or which would adversely impact central control of the overall system. At this stage, it is still unclear whether this additional expenditure in the cost of research and material (or limiting to fixed sizes and standards) would adversely impact the development of sophisticated customized systems based on customer specifications. Jakob Kammerloher, Technical Director at HEKUMA, adds: "We quickly understood that the benefits would definitely outweigh any negatives in the long run. Even if, of course, we do have to deal with the development costs short term: Long term, the cost reductions and increased efficiency that HEKUflex offers will make up for it - for us as the manufacturer, but especially also for the operator." Plus, he adds: "Once HEKUflex has firmly established itself, not only will the engineering effort be significantly lower, but it will take much less time to install the equipment." Which means: The customer loses very little time from the moment that an order is placed until the system is ready for initial operation: Time, which generally can be used to start up production more quickly and thus boosting sales revenue.

HEKUflex offers a wide range of advantages

03252b99d8cb2252691fd50ec7483300.docx 3 of 6 PRESS RELEASE The effects of standardization with HEKUflex are noticeable in the entire engineering process, from development to after sales. While identical modules are used to a larger extent, manufacturers and operators alike already benefit from the repetition rate and the lower product- related engineering effort. The time needed for commissioning and training can be significantly reduced. Because the operating concept remains the same, this makes the introduction into system operation much easier. Any malfunctions can be quickly fixed because of the greater range of experience. Moreover, the amount of effort needed to program and commission the system can also be lowered significantly. Instead of the laborious process to program a system from scratch, as required for a customized machine set up in the traditional manner, the individual modules only need to be configured, as they work mostly independently based on the standard software of the module. HEKUflex shows comparable benefits where troubleshooting is concerned and (as, for example, in the field of medical technology) when conducting qualification and validation processes, where the malfunctions relate to the machine itself. Because the operator already has extensive experience, typically a great deal of time can be saved when fixing any potential malfunctions, irrespective of whether the service and repair measures are performed externally or internally. Because of the flexible architecture, systems can easily be upgraded or downsized (for example, when converting to spare parts production only), or when replacing and/or re-using modules. In addition to the sheer number of smaller advantages, HEKUMA's CEO Bernahrd Rupke views the adaptability and flexibility of the HEKUflex to be the most important benefit, which he feels generates real added value for the customer in the long run. "This allows the operator to expand or downsize the system any way he wants and to therefore adjust it to the current production needs. The operator can react more quickly to changes in the market and saves costs at the same time. This alone makes the modular design of HEKUflex the wave of the future!"

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Overall view of the system: For the trade fair, HEKUMA realized three modules: Logo and Slogan of the modular principle HEKUflex: take out, camera check and packaging for pipette Both are evolved from ideas of HEKUMA employees tips

Transfer Module: Camara Module: The transfer station takes the pipette tips from the Each shuttle is moved over the camera, so that each gripper and put them into the shuttle system pipette tip can be checked “on-the-fly”.

Transfer to packaging module: As the final step, the pipette tips are pack in racks. The packaging module shows most of the flexibility of HEKUflex.

03252b99d8cb2252691fd50ec7483300.docx 5 of 6 PRESS RELEASE About HEKUMA:

www.hekuma.com

HEKUMA (Eching, Germany) is part of the elexis Group. We create a sustainable competitive advantage with our innovative ideas and exciting technology in high-performance automation for customers in the plastics industry. With our dedication and ambition, we have established ourselves as a competent systems manufacturer and proudly look back on more than 40 years of experience. We offer complex grippers for high-performance insert and take-out systems for injection molding processes with upstream and downstream automation. In addition, we consider our capability to develop turnkey solutions and production concepts, such as Sigma inside and HEKUflex to be one of our core competencies. We focus on the medical and automotive technology markets as well as the consumer goods industry.

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PRESS RELEASE - HEKUMA Gmbh