When grinding work is required in series production, not much can be done without automation: manual grinding is too expensive, but also no longer meets today's demands for precision and reproducibility. However, the exact grinding of parts made of different materials is a science in itself. This also requires the manufacturer of automated grinding machines, grinding systems and production lines for automated grinding to have specific knowledge of the grinding process, the appropriate grinding techniques and the appropriate grinding process. "The demands on quality have increased enormously," explains Rudi Reidl, Head of the Surface Technology Department at EVVA Sicherheitstechnologie. "Our locking systems must be absolutely reliable and have a flawless appearance. This means that we need very good surfaces." The grinding of profile cylinders and padlocks gave him a headache. The workpieces were processed by hand in various steps on different machines. "That took too long, and we weren't always satisfied with the surface quality," says Rudi Reidl.

The EVVA company was founded in Vienna in 1919. The first patent for a cylinder padlock followed 18 years later, and the path towards security technology was paved. Internationalization began at the end of the 1970s with the expansion of exports. Today, the company is represented by ten branches in Europe. Research and development plays an important role. It is also pushing for oil- and water-free production of its products in order to conserve resources. The security technology manufacturer employs 460 people at its headquarters in Vienna and 750 across Europe, processing around 700 tons of material every year. Two million security cylinders and 600 million individual parts are manufactured each year. EVVA delivers to over 50 countries worldwide. The strength of the Austrians lies in the combination of mechanical and electronic security know-how. Mechanical systems still account for the majority of sales, while the proportion of electronics is expected to rise to 20 percent in the medium term.

Process reliability is the top priority
As part of their research, the Viennese soon came across the automation specialist SHL in Böttingen. The Austrians had a clear idea of what the specifications should include. "High process reliability, very good workpiece surfaces and improved delivery performance. It was also important for us to keep the added value in-house," explains Reidl. The engineers from Böttingen took a close look at the processes, developed initial concepts and carried out grinding tests in Böttingen. Six months after the initial discussions, a sanding system with a six-axis industrial robot for automatically guiding profiled workpieces, including a safety environment, paternoster, sanding units and protective housing, was created. After a short briefing, the system went into operation in summer 2017.