Sumitomo expands Markt Indersdorf site

Sumitomo has expanded its machinery in all areas of production, both parts/component production and the assembly of (precision) gearboxes, investing several million euros in the process. The order situation and industrial customer requirements made it necessary to produce even more specific components and increase overall capacity. Sumitomo will thus also counteract last year's tight supply situation across all suppliers due to the shortage of parts and the upswing. The acquisitions and the associated changes in production processes will enable Sumitomo to double its annual production and assembly in the Motion Control Drives (MCD) segment. The topic of digitalization is also being driven forward in the expansion. The aim is to make production and assembly as paperless as possible. This includes equipping the entire production, assembly and storage areas with Wi-Fi and monitors for digital and wireless measurement data acquisition.

Complex machinery and specific machining centers

In total, highly specialized (cylindrical) grinding machines for different, specific machining scenarios are being purchased for the MCD and Drive production areas. Among other things, the grinding of internal contours of pin rings in precision gearboxes, cycloidal profiles of cams, eccentrics, flange packs and output shafts (external) will be refined. In addition, three new turning machining centers were installed in the semi-finished product production for Drive, the production of drive shafts and carriers as well as modular mounting flanges for Fine Cyclo. Additional test benches were procured and existing ones equipped with the latest software.

The measures also required a high degree of logistical precision work, as the conversion took place during ongoing production operations and the machines had to be integrated into the existing buildings. Sumitomo used this conversion process to install a new concrete floor with adapted reinforcement (iron & steel) and a new floor covering. The issue of statics played a special role here.

The investments paid off after a short time and led, among other things, to the optimization of the logical flow of parts handling. Shorter and optimized routes have increased efficiency and reduced delivery times to below the market level. Sumitomo's own precision gearboxes are installed in some of the machines: KX Twin 260, Yaskawa robots with precision gearboxes. This means that the gearboxes that are already installed in the existing machines in the machine park will have additional sister gearboxes in the new machines.

New buildings also in the investment plan

In addition to expanding the machine park, Sumitomo is building an intermediate hall structure and creating additional storage space and storage options without racking to improve material flow and logistics. The previously open space between the Drive and MCD areas will be roofed over and become a complete, heated part of the building with its own entrance and connections to the two production halls.

Ecology is also a major concern for the gearbox specialist. At Sumitomo, every machine stands in a kind of tub. In addition, a cleanliness film is inserted to ensure that no substances can escape and enter the environment.

In addition, preparations for the construction of a new global R&D center for MCD products are in full swing. The ground-breaking ceremony for this took place on November 19 in Markt Indersdorf.