Mechanical Engineering. Digital production from Thuringia.
Mechanical engineering is the fastest-growing industry in Thuringia despite ever in- tensifying competition. This clearly shows that the state offers excellent conditions for generating innovations and launching internationally successful products. Im- plementing automation strategies enables local companies to assert their leading position in the global market place.
Mechanical engineering in Thuringia at a glance1: Seize the opportunities that our >> 440 companies2 region offers. >> Around 18,000 employees Benefit from a first class business location in the heart of Eu- >> Sales of over € 3.1 billion rope, from highly skilled workers and a world-class research in- >> Export share of 42.8 % frastructure. >> 50,000 students, including 19,000 on engineering courses We provide full-service support for any investment >> Attractive customers, suppliers and co- project – from site search to project implementation and operation partners of the metalworking future expansions. Please contact us. industry are located nearby. www.invest-in-thuringia.de/en/industries- Source: 1 Thuringia State Statistical Office, 2 own computations based on LEG-UTD technologies/industryprofilemechanicalengineering/ FerMeTh – the Cluster for Produc- tion Engineering and Metalworking in Thuringia The FerMeTh serves as a coopera- tion platform for firms operating in the Thuringia metalworking indus- try. It helps them sustain their com- petitiveness and so secure their long-term market opportunities.
Mittelstand 4.0 Main production areas Competence Center Ilmenau The concept of „Mittelstand 4.0“ Core Special machine Specialist stands for „Industrial IoT for me- competences: engineering focused on: areas: dium-sized businesses“. The com- >> Laser Technology >> Automation Technology >> Fine- and Micromechanics petence center in Ilmenau show- >> Rapid Tooling >> Modern Tool and Mold >> Precision Parts cases real-life demonstration and >> Robotics Making >> Mechatronics implementation projects, thus of- >> Additive Manufacturing >> Software and Hardware >> Automation/Machine Learning fering a hands-on approach to digi- >> Machining >> Assisted Robotics talization. It supports local compa- >> Metal Processing >> Service Robotics >> Materials Technology and >> MSR and Sensor Technology nies to set up automated solutions Textile Processing in response to the practical chal- lenges they are facing. Five model factories located in Ilmenau, Jena, Innovation through cooperation. Schmalkalden and Sondershausen show examples of digital produc- The Thuringia Center for Mechanical Engineering (ThZM) tion solutions and invite other en- trepreneurs to try them out. acts as an innovation partner for modern mechanical engineering technologies. It supports industrial com- panies in all stages of their process and production chain and finds expert cooperation partners for solving their research and development projects.
Research organizations participating in the ThZM: >> GFE Society for Production Engineer- >> Schmalkalden University of Applied ing and Development Schmalkalden Sciences www.gfe-net.de www.hs-schmalkalden.de/en >> Günter Köhler Institute of Joining Tech- “Made in Germany stands for nology and Materials Testing, Jena These bodies support businesses the German culture of quality www.ifw-jena.de in all phases of product develop- >> Ilmenau University of Technology ment – from the initial idea to market and excellence. Our produc- www.tu-ilmenau.de readiness. tion in Thuringia embod- >> Ernst Abbe University of Applied www.maschinenbau-thueringen.de ies this culture. In Thuring- Sciences, Jena ia, we have integrated our www.eah-jena.de award-winning EXPRESSIT Areas of expertise of the ThZM e-commerce Platform into a state-of-the-art manufactur- ing environment.”
Stephen Eddowes, CEO of Delta Shelving Systems GmbH Versatile production Interactive assis- Adaptive process and methods and manu- tance systems for versatile quality control facturing chains production Specialized and highly motivated workforce. Thuringia offers mechanical engineering firms a pool of qualified personnel of outstanding quality – from excellently skilled workers in all the necessary technical professions to highly qualified graduate engineers and software developers.
University education Basic and further training
Thuringia’s technically oriented universities are continuing with the state’s long To ensure that the mechanical engineer- engineering traditions. In the 2018/2019 winter semester alone, not less than ing sector continues to have a sufficient 1,200 students were enrolled on mechanical engineering courses. Ilmenau Universi- pool of skilled labor in the future, Thur- ty of Technology and Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences have repeatedly ingia places a strong focus on qualifica- achieved leading positions in the university rankings of the German weekly newspa- tion. Young people can train for skills, per “DIE ZEIT” and the Centre for University Development (CHE). for example, in the fields of metal cut- ting, mechanical and plant engineering Study programs: Mehnert Lab Erfurt and tool and mold making. Bachelor and Master courses in Me- The idea of the Mehnert Lab is to gain chanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Au- practical experience in handling the ma- Selected training vocations: tomation Technology, Production Tech- chines. That‘s why, in addition to new >> Cutting machine operator nology as well as Neuroinformatics and media, the Mehnert Lab primarily uses >> Industrial mechanic Cognitive Robotics are offered by the fol- their customers‘ original machines. Dur- >> Metalworker lowing universities: ing training, the participants learn how >> Ilmenau University of Technology to deal with challenges they will face on Thuringia also specifically promotes and >> Schmalkalden University of the job – but under expert guidance and supports training cooperations in the Applied Sciences without the time pressure of an ongo- metalworking sector. For example, busi- >> Ernst Abbe University of Applied ing production process. This is how we nesses and vocational training insti- Sciences Jena combine theory and practice under re- tutes have formed alliances at region- >> Bauhaus-Universität Weimar al-world conditions to create a lasting al and local level to be able to train more >> Erfurt University of Applied Sciences experience. young people and retrainees. The Cham- >> University of Cooperative Education bers of Industry and Commerce (CIC’s) Gera-Eisenach www.mehnert.de and Chambers of Craft Trades also offer >> University of Applied Sciences further training programs. Nordhausen WIS – the further training information “There is a tradition of mechanical system of the CIC: engineering in Thuringia, which www.wis.ihk.de manifests itself in the form of inno- vative products. It is the supply of Further training activities offered by the Erfurt Chamber of Craft Trades: good and skilled labor that was a www.hwk-erfurt.de decisive factor for us.”
Horst Keller, CEO of Horsch Maschinen GmbH Success made in Thuringia Selected companies
Thuringia offers outstanding innovation and growth oppor- avateramedical Mechatronics GmbH, tunities for firms working in special machine construction Ilmenau Batix Software GmbH, Saalfeld and robotics. This is clearly demonstrated by the following Deckel Maho Seebach GmbH, Seebach companies that have successfully implemented automation Diebold Nixdorf Technology GmbH, I concepts. lmenau Drehtechnik Jakusch GmbH, Saalfeld 3D-Schilling GmbH A4 motorway, the plant displays great FCT Ingenieurkeramik GmbH, Frankenblick For more than 20 years, 3D-Schilling from potential for further growth and and ad- Sondershausen has been offering rap- ditional production expansion. Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Ilmenau id prototyping and rapid manufacturing GKN Sinter Metals GmbH, using various technologies like stereo li- MetraLabs GmbH Bad Langensalza thography, laser sintering, vacuum cast- MetraLabs are specialists in mobile ser- Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH, Weimar ing as well as prototypes from original vice robotics with long-term experience. Häcker Automation GmbH, materials, tool making and engineering In 2007, the company launched the first Waltershausen services. interactive shopping robot in the world. Jenoptik AG, Geschäftsbereich Since then, MetraLabs has developed Laser- und Materialbearbeitung, Jena Bystronic Maschinenbau GmbH over 250 robots for various applications Kaeser Kompressoren AG, Gera Bystronic is a Swiss company with worldwide. Collectively, their robots have Kern Technik GmbH & Co. KG, worldwide operations, supplying accumulated more than 70,000 km of Schleusingen application-compliant systems and driving experience. Lehmuth GmbH, Meiningen services for laser and water jet cut- LPKF SolarQuipment GmbH, Suhl ting processes and bending technolo- Schuler Pressen GmbH, branch N3 Engine Overhaul Services GmbH & gy. Every consumer comes into indirect “Umformtechnik Erfurt” Co. KG, Arnstadt contact with the bending machines pro- Umformtechnik Erfurt is a subsidiary RSP GmbH, Saalfeld duced by about 200 employees at the of the Schuler Group in Europe devoted ruhlamat GmbH, Marksuhl production and development center in exclusively to production and service. Samag Saalfelder Gotha. It is here that, among many other It manufactures systems for the Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH, Saalfeld things, aircraft components, automobile automotive, supplier, electrical and Schubert & Salzer Feinguß Lobenstein parts and even washing machine panels domestic appliance industries. Its GmbH, Bad Lobenstein are formed. products range from welding compo- Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics nents of up to 230 tonnes in weight to Machinery GmbH, Wiehe HORSCH Maschinen GmbH mechanical machining and installations SOMAG AG, Jena In Ronneburg near Gera, HORSCH oper- involving a variety of mechanically driv- VACOM Vakuum Komponenten & Mess- ates one of the most modern production en presses as well as complex plants technik GmbH, Großlöbichau facilities for agricultural machinery in and machinery. ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Gotha Europe. Located directly adjacent to the
Your LEG Service State Development Corporation of Thuringia (LEG Thüringen) Our consulting services are Dept. Investment, International Phone +49 361 5603-450 free. Simply set an appointment Business and Cluster Promotion Fax +49 361 5603-328 with our experienced investor Mainzerhofstrasse 12 [email protected] service team. 99084 Erfurt/Germany www.invest-in-thuringia.de/en
Picture Credit: LEG Thüringen, ThZM, Fotolia/Jeanette Dietl, Delta Shelving, HORSCH Maschinen GmbH, Fotolia/Nataliya Hora, Müller Weingarten AG, TU Ilmenau, ifw Jena, HS Schmalkalden
Version 06/2019