Schneider Kunststofftechnik has invested a total of around 700,000 euros and increased its machinery from 13 to 17 injection molding machines - including two all-electric injection molding machines and two fully automated production cells with three articulated robots. The expansion and modernization measures have enabled Schneider to increase its production capacity by around a third.

"Our existing customers are asking for larger quantities and potential new customers are also increasingly approaching us. As a future-oriented family business, it was only logical for us to take the step of expanding and modernizing our production facilities," explains Drita Schneider, Managing Director of Schneider. The company manufactures technical plastic parts for customers in the automotive, mechanical engineering, packaging and sensor technology sectors.

Automatic production cells with articulated robots

The highlight of the modernized machinery are three innovative robots. The advantage of the new fully automated production cells with integrated articulated arm robots is obvious: "Previously, we worked in two shifts. Now we can run three shifts a day, which results in an increase in capacity of around a third," explains plant manager Reinhard Fendt. Two of the three robot machines produce plastic parts for cartridges. "Previously, we produced around 10,000 of these parts per day. The robots can now produce up to 15,000 a day," continues Fendt. The third robot system produces keys and was purchased specifically for an order from a new customer. The machine produces 2.5 million keys per year and is expected to do so for ten years.

The modernization and increasing automation is not at the expense of the employees. "On the contrary: all employees will continue to work for us - with the small difference that we can now simply make even larger orders and thus also secure jobs in the long term with the investment," says Drita Schneider. The Allgäu-based family business employs 19 people in production.

In addition to increasing capacity, Schneider is also pursuing an ecological goal with the modernization of its production facilities, namely that of saving energy. According to the manufacturer, the use of an all-electric injection molding machine alone saves up to 25 percent electricity compared to the conventional hydraulic version. The family-owned company has also set up a new environmental and energy management system that is certified to both ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. Schneider is also a participant in the Bavarian Environmental Package, an agreement between the Bavarian state government and Bavarian industry on cooperative environmental protection. The aims of the environmental package are to conserve resources, avoid waste and waste water and save_CO2. as