speedfactor

Production data provides added valueRemoteLine as a cloud application

Service in Middle KingdomStrong and fast across 9.5 million km²

Service – the supreme discipline: Campaign for satisfied customersin the long term

The CHIRON Group customer magazine 01.2019

Dear customers and friends of the CHIRON Group,

2018 was a successful year for us: Our revenue increased by 7%. You welcomed our world firsts, the CHIRON FZ/DZ 16 and the STAMA MT 733, with open arms, as well as our new ConditionLine and ProtectLine software systems. And the con-struction of our new factories in Neuhausen and Taicang/China is well under way.

We have taken all of these measures with you, our customers, in mind. We want to help you become even more successful with the support of our machining centers. This includes maximum availability and operational reliability. That’s what our service stands for. As part of our CHIRON Group Service Strategy 2021, we are developing our classic and digital services with even more emphasis on your requirements. We have a clear goal: To provide the best possible service. Anywhere, any time. To discover exactly what we have planned, read the interview with Frank Geiselhart, who, as the new Head of Service within the CHIRON Group, will manage and coordinate all activities across the Group. He will be supported by the Service Managers at CHIRON, STAMA, SCHERER and our sites throughout the world. We’re using the example of CHIRON China to demonstrate how our teams work on site to guarantee maximum machine availability.

Also in this edition: 40 years of SCHERER, user reports from Germany, China and Spain and the new machining centers at CHIRON and STAMA. We’ll also be telling you about »Retrofit digital« with CMS and the new benefits you can reap from your production data via cloud applications in an IoT platform.

We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to meeting you in May at the OPEN HOUSE at CHIRON and STAMA.

The Executive Board of the CHIRON Group

Vanessa Hellwing Dr. Markus Flik Wolfgang Ehrk

INTRO 4 AMB 2018, outlook 2019

6 News & events 8 Modernization with CMS

IMPULSE 10 RemoteLine as a cloud application

14 New CHIRON 16 series 16 New STAMA MT 733 series

18 CHIRON Group service campaign

INTOUCH 22 CHIRON Group service in China

24 Seven FZ 15 W at Anhui Ruilin 26 14 STAMA machining centers for Kehua

28 Strategic partnership Fagor Ederlan – SCHERER

30 Automation at HF-Bearbeitungstechnik

INSIDE 34 40 years of SCHERER

36 Interview with Vanessa Hellwing

38 From apprentice to product manager

Destination Industry 4.0Modernization with CMS

Intelligent automation conceptOutput tripled at HF-Bearbeitungstechnik

Turning proactive action into a pleasant surpriseCHIRON Group starts service campaign

To improve readability, plural pronouns are used here to refer to a singular subject of any gender.

How to turn data into added valueRemoteLine as a cloud application

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CONTENTS 3

This invitation was prominently placed on the CHIRON Group stand at the AMB in Stuttgart and could be seen from far away. It proved highly effective, as the stand attracted more visitors than ever before: a record! »We received a huge amount of positive feedback to not one but three world firsts. The quality of the con-tacts made was also promising,« comments Sales Director Bernd Hilgarth. »The AMB Fair was a resounding success!«

As the leading international trade fair and main event for metalworking, AMB 2018 offered the

ideal setting for the three world premieres. Visi-tors – including shareholders Toni Driesch and Stephan Hoberg – were able to experience the single-spindle CHIRON FZ 16 S five axis, the dou-ble-spindle CHIRON DZ 16 W and the STAMA MT 733 two for complete machining live in action.The new SmartLine modules and the new Touch-Line operating system were another area of in-terest. The industry professionals in attendance at IMTS 2018 in Chicago were also clearly im-pressed by the new DZ 16 W, and the team from CHIRON America held many in-depth discussions with potential customers.

Welcome to the world premiere!

In 2019, the CHIRON Group will again be represented around the globe at all of the major trade fairs. The STAMA OPEN HOUSE in Schlierbach and the CHIRON OPEN HOUSE in Tutt- lingen will also be taking place in May. Here, CHIRON will be presenting the first application for the »MindSphere« IoT operating system: RemoteLine for online diagnostics and remote monitoring of the machine condition in the cloud – anywhere and any time (more on page 10 onwards). STAMA is focusing on MT technology and the stable milling and turning of difficult to machine materials. The company will be presenting new groundbreaking solutions and strate-gies for dynamic and precise production processes in com-plete machining. The highlight for the Asian market will be the opening of the new CHIRON China factory in Taicang on May 28, 2019.

AMB 2018, OUTLOOK 2019 _

INTRO4 5

SAVE THE DATE

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

»Show us what you’ve got! Show us what you can do!«: That was the challenge laid down at the start of the competition, in which the competitors not only had to demonstrate their milling skills and produce different workpieces single- handedly based on drawings, but had to do so under the critical eye of the judg-ing panel and trade fair audience. Tim Baur, who is in his fourth year of training as an industrial mechanic, mastered this challenge, as did budding cutting me-chanic Fabian Hipp. In a tough competition against four other competitors, they both showed what they could do when it came to programming and operating state-of-the-art machine tools.

Each competitor had to deliver three test modules while keeping an eye on time and the quality of the workpieces. After four intense days, the results were in: Fabian Hipp did superbly, coming in fourth place … and Tim Baur is the new Ger-man CNC milling champion! A huge well done! And good luck, as his victory in Stuttgart qualifies Tim Baur for Team Germany and therefore for the WorldSkills 2019 competition in the Russian city of Kazan. Good thing that CHIRON Head of Training Herbert Mattes is also a WorldSkills expert with extensive experience as a master trainer – just what he needs!

05.03. – 08.03. INDUSTRIE Lyon Lyon, France14.03. – 17.03. CWIEME Xi’an, China21.03. MAV Innovationsforum Böblingen, Germany26.03. – 29.03. METALWORKING Minsk, Belarus27.03. – 29.03. MACHINEERING Brussels, Belgium28.03. Workshop »FZ/DZ 16« Kaltenkirchen, Germany28.03. – 30.03. MECSPE Parma, Italy

11.04. Workshop »Automotive« Paniówki, Poland 15.04. – 20.04. CIMT Beijing, China

07.05. – 09.05. OPEN HOUSE STAMA Schlierbach, Germany08.05. – 10.05. OPEN HOUSE CHIRON Tuttlingen, Germany14.05. VDW Symposium Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam14.05. – 17.05. MACH-TECH Budapest, Hungary14.05. – 17.05. METAL SHOW & TIB Bucharest, Romania14.05. – 17.05. PRODEX Basel, Switzerland21.05. – 24.05. MOULDING EXPO Stuttgart, Germany 27.05. – 31.05. METALLOOBRABOTKA Moscow, Russia

04.06. – 07.06. ITM/MACH-TOOL Poznań, Poland05.06. – 07.06. Paul Horn Technologietage Tübingen, Germany18.06. – 21.06. EPMT Geneva, Switzerland

Three cheers for the champion!

Events 2019

MM Award 2018 for ProtectLineSTAMA MT 733 shortlisted

»Competitor WorldSkills Germany«: Although Tim Baur and Fabian Hipp could not see the text on their backs, they could definitely feel the pres-sure to succeed before the competi-tion, taking place at the AMB trade fair, started. After all, they were pit-ting themselves against Germany’s brightest trainees in a bid to bring home another title for CHIRON.

We will also be attending numerous trade fairs and exhibitions this year. Why not pay us a visit?

To view the topics covered and for further information regarding our workshops, visit www.chiron.de/events

NEWS & EVENTS _

INTRO

On the first day of the AMB trade fair in Stuttgart, MM Maschinenmarkt recognized special innovations from the metalworking industry, together with supporting technol-ogies, with the presentation of the MM Award. Five compa-nies were awarded the coveted prize, which was judged by a panel of experts in four categories. The STAMA MT 733 was one of the top three machine tools shortlisted and the CHIRON Group received the award for ProtectLine, the new SmartLine module for protection against collisions, in the Industrial Software & Engineering category.

At the awards ceremony (from left): Roger Schöpf, Head of Applications, Dr. Ulrich Heller, Head of Software Development, and Pascal Schröder, Development Coordinator for Digitalization.

Photos: Werner Kuhnle

September 16 – 21EMO Hanover

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Retrofit digital

Flexible, digital production: Not easy in a het-erogeneous production environment with both new and older machines. Some are automated, others aren’t. Some are networked, others are not yet capable of »communicating«. And that’s why it is essential that the machinery is modernized: An increasing number of different parts, smaller batch sizes, shorter product life cycles and the faster introduction of new prod-ucts are increasing the pressure from sales markets and turning the Industry 4.0 vision into a reality.

How can this be implemented cost-effectively? How can existing machines be integrated into IT and handling systems? How can they be incorpo-rated into a concept for digitally controlled pro-duction? And how can this be done as simply as possible?

The first priority are future-proof machines that hold their value. Anyone using machining cen-ters from CHIRON, STAMA or SCHERER is working from a good starting point. Even if the machines are older, they can be made fit for flexible, order-driven, fast-response production. In com-parison to a completely new investment, this lowers project costs, increases the cost-effec-tiveness of the measures and minimizes risks.

And all the more so, as modernization only in-volves integration costs in the direct machine environment. Foundations, floor space alloca-tion, machine peripherals, operator and mainte-nance expertise, NC programs, equipment, spare parts, tools – many of these retain their value.

Manufacturer and retrofit expertise combined: CMSCMS is responsible for retrofitting all machines for the three brands. As a company of the CHIRON Group, CMS has full access to the respective man-ufacturer expertise and all design documenta-tion. The specialists from Neuhausen ob Eck also have more than 18 years’ experience and have already modernized more than 1000 systems. Their range of services spans from ensuring availability by replacing parts susceptible to failure and wear to complete overhauls right through to turnkey projects and retrofits for sim-ulation-optimized lines. Managing Director Rui Böninger outlines the function of CMS within the Group: »Support from the manufacturer throughout the service life of the machines is one of the standards of quality of the CHIRON Group and is an important criterion when it comes to purchasing. The services we offer secure the value of such an investment in the long term and guarantee a high level of sustainability.«

Networked production with existing machinesThe key to flexible, digital production is the mod-ernization of the control system. The machines become »intelligent«, are able to process larger data volumes faster and are quick to respond. The latest CNC software also provides better sup-port for operators and the production techno- logy used and enables shorter cycles and greater productivity. And all this without increasing the forward feed speeds and consequently wear during machining. The most important consider-ation, however, is connectivity. Modernized ma-chines are much easier to integrate into CAD-CAM process chains, machine assemblies and han-dling systems – all the way through to robot integration.

Once existing machines are equipped with the latest control system, they can be integrated into IT systems and »Machine-to-Machine« com-munication just as easily as new machines. Pro-duction planning and control, quality monitor-ing, parts tracking, parts program and tool management, condition monitoring and energy management: The complete software support of a digital factory is now available for all the established and trusted tools.

Opening up further potential with SmartLine »Retrofit digital« also enables the integration of the following modules from the CHIRON Group SmartLine range: RemoteLine for remote service in real time, for direct communication between machine and service – at CHIRON, STAMA and SCHERER.

A smart step towards Industry 4.0: Modernizations by CMS are making the machining centers at CHIRON, STAMA and SCHERER both cost-effective and fit for flexible, fast-response and digitalized production.

»Modernization is a process. We provide long-term support for our customers and their machines. This includes digitalized production.«

Rui Böninger Managing Director of CMS

DataLine for machine and process diagnostics directly on the system’s touch panel or remotely via PC, tablet or smartphone.ProcessLine for digital simulation, for planning, testing and verifying processes.

CMS has a comprehensive pool of retrofit ma-chines in various stages of expansion available to buy or hire. These systems are quickly avail-able and can be specified in line with customer specifications. This also benefits customers who have not yet used machines from CHIRON, STAMA or SCHERER.

MODERNIZATION WITH CMS _

INTRO

The basis for »communicative« existing machines: An up-to-date control system

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IMPULSE _

REMOTELINE AS A CLOUD APPLICATION

How to turn

What’s new with RemoteLine as a cloud application?

Digitalization and the transformation of relevant IoT data into productive business results: That is the objective of the cloud-based version of RemoteLine. Designed for powerful industrial applications, the new version enables remote access in the event of servicing and also connects products, systems and machines. Also new: All systems with Fanuc control system can also now be integrated. With Remote-Line as a cloud application, data produced by edge comput-ing or by the sensors directly on the machining centers from CHIRON, STAMA and SCHERER can be used for compre-hensive analyses and innovative digital services. In this way, the Internet of Things (IoT) is creating greater effi-ciency in production.

Each machine produces not only real parts, but also data. Huge volumes of data. So which data is worth collecting and analyzing? How can these data be correlated? How can advantages for indi- vidual customers be developed on the basis of this data? And who should evaluate the data?

Only the machine manufacturers can answer these questions. According to Peter Albrecht, Platform Connection Coordinator at CHIRON, »It’s not about collecting random information big-data style and then deciding where to start. We know which data is of interest for our customers in a world of increasingly digitalized production. This data is manufacturer- and machine-specific. In the control system world at CHIRON, STAMA and SCHERER, there is already plenty of data that describes the main-tenance condition, quantities or the status of the NC axes. This is the invaluable information that we are preparing for our customers and making available in the cloud, on the IoT platform.«

Data added valueinto

Collecting and evaluating data and generating added value – a hot topic. This is particularly the case with private users: Their purchasing behavior is analyzed right down to the smallest detail in order to offer them the right products. A smartphone only has a handful of sensors that can provide the necessary data. A machining center, on the other hand, can have several hundred. Add to that several thousand data points, derived from the dynamic behavior of the control and regulation systems. In total, then, countless possible sources for large-scale data analysis. With enormous potential for more productive, more efficient and faster production through connection to an IoT platform.

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IoT-platform

RemoteLine

Tenant customer

TenantCHIRON Group

RemoteLine: By consolidating the machine data into several views, users can monitor machines at various sites. Each tenant (contractual partner) has a protected area and has the option of releasing data to other tenants.

Sophisticated, flexible, trendsetting: SmartLine in the cloudThere are many IoT platforms for developing digital services. For the next step in RemoteLine, the connection to a cloud, the CHIRON Group will start to work with Siemens MindSphere. »The open IoT operating system is perfectly aligned with the requirements of machine manu-facturers and operators, is currently at the highest stage of develop-ment and offers the highest degree of flexibility for the future,« says Dr. Ulrich Heller, Head of Software Development CHIRON Group. »With MindSphere, we are offering our customers unprecedented advan-tages. The platform also represents the continuous further develop-ment of the tried-and-tested ePS network services in the cloud.«

From small businesses to global players: Making use of the entire data potentialExperience and expertise in the recording, gathering and processing of data directly at the machine: That is the core competence of the CHIRON Group. The SmartLine portfolio was developed on the basis of »edge computing«. With a scalable concept, from the machine to the

factory into the cloud, according to precise customer requirements. In contrast to this, IoT applications need the cloud. The full potential can only be exploited through the transfer of data between the customer and CHIRON, STAMA or SCHERER. The further processing and long-term evaluation of the data take place in the cloud and a »dashboard« displays all of the information that has been gathered in a clear format. This enables users to view machine conditions, for example, at any time, anywhere in the world, on a PC, laptop or smartphone.

The key advantage of IoT applications: Both small and medium-sized companies can utilize the full added value provided by their data. Simply, quickly and at manageable costs. An app from the CHIRON Group, used, for example, for condition monitoring or tool man-agement, is bought through the App Store, installed in the customer’s MindSphere via

IMPULSE _

REMOTELINE AS A CLOUD APPLICATION

plug-and-play and is instantly ready to use. Users can either start straight away with the full version or download a limited trial version as an introduction. As well as condition monitoring and tool manage-ment, there are further applications that promote the operation of machining centers in a cloud environment. Examples of these include visualization of the machine location, OEE considerations and access to future innovations.

Top priority: Data securityAn important consideration for companies is the security of their high-ly sensitive data. The transfer of data into the cloud – or more specifi-cally into the CHIRON Group area within the platform – takes place with the highest possible degree of security via SSL encryption. Cus-tomers can define the rights for data transfer and access themselves. Another factor in guaranteeing a high degree of security: Siemens continuously monitors the entire system and regularly updates secu-rity standards. In contrast to many other storage locations, the data stored in the cloud is therefore extremely well protected against unauthorized access.

Increasing efficiency, reducing downtimes – with RemoteLineIn addition to remote access in the event of servicing, the CHIRON Group also offers an app (»Manage My Machine«) that can be used to display and manage the machine data from all systems that are connected with MindSphere in the customer’s environment in the local or global machine park. An alarm monitoring system notifies the user of critical machine data, combines this data for the purposes of more detailed analyses and provides the basis for increased productivity, reliability and availability of machining centers. The CHIRON Group will be presenting the new version of the RemoteLine for online diagnostics at the CHIRON OPEN HOUSE in May and EMO 2019 in September.

»Users can exploit the full potential of their data at a low cost and gain a competitive advantage with the knowledge obtained.«

Dr. Ulrich HellerHead of Software Development CHIRON Group

Peter Albrecht, Platform Connection Coordinator CHIRON

Peter Albrecht

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»Certain sectors, such as the automotive industry, aerospace and medical technolo-gy, have an increasing demand for machine tools that have simply never been available in this form before,« explains Dr. Markus Flik, in an interview with the German trade journal GP: Ganzheitliche Produktion. CHIRON’s response: The FZ 16 S five axis and DZ 16 W machining centers.

»The requirements for the manufacturing equip-ment used for metal-cutting work are becoming more and more stringent: Higher strength mate-rials are increasingly being used, the tolerance bands are narrower, the requirements for pro-cess capability are higher – existing machine tools are no longer able to achieve all of this to a sufficient degree,« says Dr. Flik, explaining the background to the development of the 16 series. The machining centers are precisely aligned with current and future customer requirements: Precision, dynamics and a high-quality surface finish on increasingly complex workpieces. In addition to this, the modular concept facilitates a configuration that precisely matches specifica-tions. Whether a five-axis swivel rotary table or workpiece changer, one or two spindles, with ball screw or in the dynamic+ version with linear drives, with or without automation: The end re-sult is a perfect system that works even more efficiently thanks to supplementary packages with the ConditionLine, DataLine and ProtectLine software modules.

FZ/DZ 16: Best values in dynamics and precision

Up to 162 toolsfor highly complex workpieces and partsmanufacturing with a large number ofvariants; including long and large tools

Simultaneous loading and unloading of tools thanks to the loading and unloading area arranged at the side

High static and dynamic rigidityMineral-cast machine bed with new gantry design, two Y-axis drives and short spindle start and stop times

Low thermal expansion of the machine thanks to actively cooled components

Intuitive TouchLine operating system with context-sensitive information; monitoring of the machine conditiondirectly on the control panel thanks to IO-Link and PROFINET

Reliable tool changeover thanks to chain drive near tool changeposition, adjustable chain tension and covered magazine rollers

Machining of large workpieces with a diameter of up to 700 mm and a weight of up to 360 kg

»La precisione è la nostra passione«Precision is our passion: The company motto of Galba S.r.l, with headquarters in Cellatica, Italy, is already perfectly aligned with the new CHIRON machining centers. Specialists in precision ma-chining for the automotive, hydraulics, earth-moving and marine industries, Galba uses around 50 machines from Tuttlingen. In late 2017, the company formulated clear specifications for investment in new systems for producing series of up to a million parts for the automotive indus-try and smaller series for precision mechanics. The objective was to lower the costs per part, improve quality and increase the technical avail-ability of the machines to gain competitive ad-vantages. CHIRON was able to meet these speci-fications at exactly the right time with the 16 series. Galba opted for a DZ 16 W test machine and was able not only to improve the surface finish of the products, but also to reduce the cycle time by 25 percent. Results that more than met their high expectations.The next edition will feature a report from speedfactor on how the new CHIRON machining center is proving itself in three-shift operation, what the automation concept looks like and which SmartLine modules have been integrated.

IMPULSE _

NEW CHIRON 16 SERIES

The single-spindle FZ 16 S five axis – designed for special requirements in terms of accuracy and

productivity in 5-axis machining.

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IMPULSE _

NEW STAMA MT 733 SERIES

Stable: Gantry design for significantly higher thermal, static and dynamic stability

Modular: MT 733 one with one working chamber, a milling spindle and a turning spindle. MT 733 one plus with additional counter spindle for six-sided machining. MT 733 two and two plus with two independent working chambers

Precise: Galaxie® drive for high-performance five-axis simultaneous machining with excellent long-term precision

Complete: Milling and turning from the bar and chuck – fully automated from blank to finished part in five steps

Both one and the other: Flexible in series production, productive from batch sizes of just a single part

Numerous: Internal 36- or 64-way tool magazine per working chamber, can be extended with background magazine

User-friendly: Intuitive, guided operation via TouchLine

Wherever expensive components are machined for long periods, the following rule always applies: First part = good part. With each new series, the customer needs to be sure that the first part is dimensionally stable. This is only possible with a stable machining process. Practice shows that the new MT 733 series from STAMA is exactly made for this.

»Rethinking complete machining while staying true to our DNA. In other words, improving the properties of our milling-turning centers in such a way that we can continue to offer our custom-ers the best solution with our MT concept,« says STAMA Sales Manager Gerhard Ulmer, explaining the background to development. With the new MT 733 series, STAMA is anticipating the increas-ing requirements of the market for greater flex-ibility, productivity and quality. According to Gerhard Ulmer, the new 733 series is especially

Practice shows: Better complete machining

well-suited »for high-precision components requiring multiple machining steps and tools, for example the basic body of cutting tools, parts for a car’s fuel injection system or components for a turbocharger.« One-to-one comparison tests of various industry-specific workpieces confirm that the overall concept of the 733 series is inherently coherent: Productivity increases of 15 to 30 percent have been realized! It’s not only in-house where milling and turning processes are more stable, dynamic and precise. During the development phase, a requirement for drives in the B-axis gave rise to intensive collaboration with a potential supplier – WITTENSTEIN SE. Spe-cifically, this work focused on the Galaxie® drive system, nominated for the Deutscher Zukunfts-preis (German Future Award). During the course of the collaboration, WITTENSTEIN also recog-nized properties in the new STAMA MT concept that opened up completely new approaches to solutions for the production of their own prod-ucts with regard to process reliability and pro-ductivity. While developing the new series, a technology partnership was therefore born which was set to be mutually beneficial in terms of customer relationships.

Successful start-up phaseThe new MT 733 two has been with WITTENSTEIN since July. During the current start-up phase, it is producing a complete component in a single working cycle, something that would previously have been the work of several machines. The next speedfactor edition will feature a report from on what has improved at WITTENSTEIN thanks to the MT solution, how the new philoso-phy of complete machining is working in prac-tice plus technical data and facts.

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IMPULSE _

CHIRON GROUP SERVICE CAMPAIGN

»Professional service starts with the individual. It is consistently aligned with the current and future requirements of our customers.«Frank GeiselhartHead of Service CHIRON Group

Mr. Geiselhart, you have been Head of Service within the CHIRON Group since 1 October 2018 and have since been engaged in intensive dialogue with the Executive Board and key members of staff in the Service depart-ment. What overall impression did you get?Definitely a positive one! We cover 26 countries with 500 service specialists worldwide. We work hard in the Service department and everyone plays their part. With Paul Buschle at CHIRON, Frank Egidi at SCHERER, Alexander Dörner at STAMA, Joshua Green at CHIRON America, Roy Yang at CHIRON China and further Service Managers on-site, we have a highly motivated leadership and muchto look forward to together.

The first workshop on the CHIRON Group Service Strategy took place in November 2018. What were the main topics covered?First of all, the importance of our services. Our customers expect more than a fast response. It‘s all about being proactive, being close to our customers and satisfyingadditional needs. We achieve this on the one hand, by offering new products that guarantee optimum machineavailability and enhance the »classic« services on site. On the other hand, we want to offer each customer the exact services that suit their production environment. Whether it‘s smart services, individual service agreements, retro- fits or modernizations, the objective is to provide our customers with the best possible advice and support and to do our best to make sure they are always pleasantly surprised :).

As Head of Service within the CHIRON Group, you are the one »holding the reins«. Are there any loose ends that need to be tied up?What we‘re not yet using to their full potential are the synergies that come from the Group and the shared points of support for the individual companies. The key words

here are uniform interfaces and processes. All Service employees worldwide should be working with the same systems and tools and share the same understanding of service. We are working on this intensively. When we are working at the same high level internally, we can respond more efficiently and quickly to our customers.

So synergies are one important aspect, are there any more?Yes. In our Service Strategy, we have defined several areas to focus on in order to raise ourselves and our services above the competition. Our digitalization campaigns play a significant role here. The digitalization of processes, the digital connection of our machines enables us to be close to our customers, even if we are geographically separated by a long distance.

From July 1, 2019, you will also be responsible for service at CHIRON Werke. How do you intend to take on this »dual role«?That‘s correct, but not entirely. Paul Buschle, who has been Head of Service at CHIRON for many years, will be retiring in May 2020. From July this year he will be my deputy. That means that we will have just under a year to work together intensively. It also means that I can draw on his many years of experience at CHIRON and benefit from his invaluable support.

Is there anything that every Service employee in the CHIRON Group should take to heart? A motto perhaps? Yes, but not just every employee. The same also applies to the management team and to me: Professional, custo- mer-oriented service starts with the individual. Every interaction influences how our services are perceived. The better we behave – whether in direct contact with others or internally – the more our enthusiasm will translate into customer loyalty.

Looking ahead. Individual offers. A consistently high level and top qualified employees worldwide. Optimum spare parts availability. Innovative digital services. These are the central aspects of the straategy the CHIRON Group is following until 2021 to further develop its services – with the objective of long-term customer satisfaction and shared growth.

Personal facts

Frank Geiselhart has been Head of Service within the CHIRON Group since October 1, 2018. In this newly created position, he coordinates and is responsible for all service activities worldwide. He has ten years’ experience in inter-nal service management; after training as an industrial mechanic and qualifying as Dipl.-Ing. Mechanical Engi-neering (FH), he began his career as a support engineer in the Customer Service department at KUKA Roboter GmbH. He subsequently became a team leader in Key Customer Support and Head of Customer Care. He then worked in Shanghai as Director of Customer Service for the Asia/Pacific region. Finally, as Vice President, he was responsible for worldwide customer service at KUKA Industries GmbH.

Act proactively, surprise positively

Final question: During the Service Strategy workshop, you and your colleagues engaged in a change of perspective and examined CHIRON Group‘s services from the customer‘s point of view. What does the »ideal service« look like?Quite simple: As a customer, I expect the best service for my machine. Price, performance and quality must match. My designated contact should offer sound advice, understand my needs down to the minutest detail. And, importantly, be able to think ahead. I want him to offer me the ideal solutions to the challenges I face. In short, I want him to offer me real added value. It‘s not about individual services, but a coherent overall package for greater productivity and increased machine availability.

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IMPULSE _

CHIRON GROUP SERVICE CAMPAIGN

Four minds, one goal: Satisfied customers

Paul Buschle, Frank Egidi, Alexander Dörner, Joshua Green: Like Roy Yang (p. 22/23), the four service managers follow the same objective as the CHIRON Group’s global service staff: Satisfied customers in the long term. Each of the four contributes a different pool of experience and sets his own priorities. All of which make up the quality of CHIRON Group Services.

The new Head of Services in Alzenau has been part of the team since August 2018. Frank Egidi initially completed an appren-ticeship as an electrician before studying mecha-tronics and graduating as a Dipl.-Ing. From 2015, he was employed by RMG Messtechnik GmbH in Butzbach, Hesse. His first job for the market leader in products, systems and services for nat-ural gas measurement was as a service engineer. He then became team leader for technical sup-port and assembly and finally worked as the Head of Field Service. From spare parts logistics to management of returns, repairs and warran-ties, deployment planning, coordination and optimization of service processes: Frank Egidi can handle the full range of service management tasks in mechanical engineering. He is convinced: »At SCHERER we have the experience and knowl-edge to offer the right services at the right time. And that’s exactly what creates satisfaction.«

Now Head of Service, Paul Buschle has played a cru-cial role in the establishment and expansion of the department over 40 years. In 1977, he was the first service engineer for NC machines at CHIRON, and today he manages a department with more than 140 employees. In recent years, the big issue has been the development of a lean, fast and efficient service organization. Focusing all service processes on the customer, establishing a clear structure, training service engineers in a standardized process, ensuring maximum availability in the event of incidents: Paul Buschle has invested a lot of time and com-mitment in establishing the right environment for smooth, perfectly coordinated processes. As the deputy of the Head of Service at CHIRON, Frank Geiselhart, he still has a lot planned before his retirement in summer 2020: »Ten years ago, I was a passionate advocate of remote service and now I’m enthusiastic about the possibilities that we can offer our customers with digital services.«

The qualified Dipl.-Ing. (BA) Elektrotechnik with MBA has more than ten years of experience in the responsibility of international service orga-nizations. Since January 2018, Alexander Dörner and his team of around 70 employees have al-ready achieved a lot. The new spare parts per-formance team ensures more efficient collection of information and a targeted flow of informa-tion. In addition, targeted service consulting skills have been built up, enabling better plan-ning and cost control by customers thanks to a machine check. These measures are also part of the »Life Cycle Service Management« planned for implementation in 2019 for all brands of the CHIRON Group. Whether as a global player or an SME: Following its presentation at the AMB 2018, the new service concept has met with consis-tently positive feedback. »Since we define the life cycle of a tool machine in four phases, we are able to offer customers targeted support and provide them with the best individual service solution.« For Alexander Dörner, a coordinated procedure of this kind is »the right step towards high customer satisfaction in the long term«.

Ten years at Parker Hannifin in Forsyth Park Drive, and now just four minutes fur-

ther down the road at CHIRON in Withers Cove Park Drive: For Joshua Green, almost nothing has changed about his drive to the office. But his role is different: At Parker Hannifin, the world’s larg-est provider of components and systems for drive technology, he was a product manager with global responsibility for high-performance AC drives. Since February 2018, however, he has been Head of Service at CHIRON America. He brings with him a wealth of experience in me-chanical engineering and automation, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a Master of Business Administration. From Charlotte in North Carolina, Joshua Green and his team of around 25 employees support custom-ers throughout North America, offering a one-stop service for all systems from CHIRON, STAMA and SCHERER. Joshua Green sees potential for further growth of the Service depart-ment both through digital ser-vices and through support of the new machining centers: »The response to our trade fair presentation of the CHIRON DZ 16 W was very positive.«

»Quick, lean, efficient: That’s how service should be. And we’ve put a lot into achieving that.«Paul Buschle Head of Service CHIRON

»The right services at the right time: That’s what creates satisfaction.« Frank Egidi Head of Service SCHERER

»Delivering the ideal solution to changing re-quirements. In all phases of the machine life cycle.« Alexander Dörner Head of Service STAMA

»Whether Seattle or San Diego, Austin or Augusta: We’re almost there!« Joshua Green Head of Service CHIRON America

Paul Buschle

Alexander Dörner

Frank Egidi

Joshua Green

20 21

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CHIRON GROUP SERVICE IN CHINA

Strong and fast across 9.5 million square kilometers

In 2015, the Chinese government published the first ver-sion of the »Made in China 2025« high-tech strategy and in 2018 the plan was updated to reflect new trends and challenges in the manufacturing industry. Xin Guobin, Vice Minister for Industry and Information Technology said: »China is already one of the world’s biggest producers of more than 220 types of product. But we still face a major challenge in the production of reliable core components, with many products not yet reaching the desired high stan-dards. The new plan should act as a guideline for compa-nies, helping them to develop innovations and modernize their systems.«

Extensive range of professional servicesTo implement this ambitious strategy, customers not only need the right machines, but also coordinated services. From commissioning of new systems to condition-opti-mized maintenance, reconditioning and upgrades, spare parts service, technical training courses, optimization of processes, greater quality in product processing: The expe-rienced service team at CHIRON China, which now consists of 30 staff, covers the full spectrum for a current stock of over 1500 tool machines. For Head of Service Roy Yang, »Made in China 2025« is a big opportunity for further growth and the acquisition of new customers: »We already have the right answer to the increasing requirements – intelligent services.«

Quick response, reliable delivery, competent training Respond to every service request within 24 hours, or even faster if possible: This challenge is met by the teams at the nine service support points day after day. From Beijing in the north to Changsha in the south, from Chengdu in the west to Taicang in the east. At present, the average re-sponse time is around 16 hours, and the service hotline is accessible 24/7. The teams initially provide support through remote diagnostics, followed by on-site service if required  – if necessary also with the help of the experts from Tutt- lingen, Schlierbach and Alzenau. For cases requiring urgent assistance, there is an emergency service. In addition, CHIRON China has a central database with all drawings and data for the machines by CHIRON, STAMA and SCHERER, so that any data lost during production incidents can be recov-ered quickly. Spare parts are also supplied as quickly as possible – they are kept in stock in the modern warehouse in Taicang and are delivered by selected service providers. Another plus point for customers in the largest growth market in the world: Practical training and courses for opti-mized use of the machining centers.

»We already have the right answer to the increasing require-ments associated with the implementation of the ›Made in CHINA 2025‹ strategy – intelligent services.«

Number of service employees

Planned number of service employees

Strength and determination, recognition of opportunities, keeping a clear head in difficult situations, targeted fishing in familiar and unknown waters, following the right path: These characteristics attributed to the gray heron in China perfectly match the service provided by CHIRON China. A lot has been invested there in recent years, in order to become a strong partner in the fourth largest country in the world: Responding quickly and decisively in the event of incidents and being able to provide customers with the right path to networked, digitalized produc-tion through targeted solutions.

Roy YangHead of Service CHIRON China

BEIJINGDALIAN

SHANGHAI

HOTLINE TEAM

WUXICHENGDU WUHAN

HEFEI

CHANGSHATAICANG

22 23

According to Xin Chu, Director of the Technology Center of Anhui Ruilin Precision Technology Corp, there are other criteria in addition to stability and efficiency: »The quality of our prod-ucts must also be right. We also consider the price, the cycle time, the energy consumption, the labor and maintenance costs and the operating convenience of the machine.«

CHIRON Taicang was able to meet the requirements set out by this company from Anqing in central China, which specializes in precision casting and car components, with a total of seven FZ 15 W machining centers. The high-speed machines manu-facture valve plates for automatic transmissions – and can do this 50 percent more efficiently than before. This significant improvement is due to, on the one hand, their outstanding clamping device and, on the other, to their basket tool changer (0°/180°) with 20 slots, which works extremely quickly.

Another advantage for CHIRON, according to Director Xin Chu, is the service: »The CHIRON China team in Taicang is quick and highly qualified; we really value that. Their expertise in main-tenance and repair is a benchmark in the Chinese market.« In the future, Anhui Ruilin plans to focus even more intensively on the manufacture of precision core components for the auto-motive sector – and CHIRON systems are set to play an import-ant role in this.

Doubling production speedStability and efficiency: These are the key criteria according to which machining centers are selected at Anhui Ruilin. For example, seven FZ 15 W machining centers from CHIRON.

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SEVEN FZ 15 W AT ANHUI RUILIN

»CHIRON is our reliable partner. In future, we will also collaborate closely and extensively for machines, technology, resources and other aspects.«

Xin ChuDirector of the Technology Center at Anhui Ruilin

Anhui Ruilin Technology Corp.

Anhui Ruilin Precision Technology Corp. is a Chinese high-tech company with 400 employees and a focus on precision casting and machining of automotive parts and components. Anhui Ruilin offers national and international manu- facturers research, development, production and sales all from one source.

www.ahrljk.com

ANQING, CN

24 25

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14 STAMA MACHINING CENTERS FOR KEHUA

Outstanding TWIN and MT solutions for Kehua Holdings

Kehua Holdings Co., Ltd. manufactures turbocharger com-ponents for prestigious customers such as BorgWarner, Mitsubishi, Continental and the IHI Corporation at its site at Liyang, 250 km east of Shanghai. Its requirements are correspondingly demanding, says Gu Jinlin, Manager of the Kehua Technology Research and Development Center: »Depending on their functional principle, the operating conditions for turbochargers are extremely complex and demanding. The components used must be highly precise, and our systems need to work with a corresponding de-gree of accuracy. Our processes also have to be optimized as far as possible; the key principle is cost-benefit.«

These are strong arguments for STAMA and for an invest-ment in 14 double-spindle machining and mill-turn cen-ters, which have been in use since October 2015. Two MC 538 TWINs machine the turbocharger turbine housing made from heat-resistant solid stainless steel; twelve MT 831 TWINs mill and turn the gray cast iron bearing hous-ing. The major order was helped along by Andreas Maier, STAMA Sales Engineer for China. Area Sales Manager for China Yangpeng Zhang, who has been part of the STAMA team since 2017, concisely summarizes the advantages of the Schlierbach systems over those of the competition: »As one of the leading worldwide suppliers of highly produc-tive turnkey solutions in the automotive sector, we were ideally placed to fulfill Kehua’s specifications: To reduce production costs and raise precision and efficiency.«

With its STAMA centers, Andreas Maier believes that Kehua is »ideally pre-pared for the future, for further rapid growth, as well as for the increasing demands made by the automotive in-dustry.« The service team is well-posi-tioned to ensure this carries on. The direct proximity to customers, exten-sive process knowledge and a service concept tailored to the life cycles of the machines ensure high availability in daily operation. »We are able to act quickly and efficiently when incidents occur, because we already have the service solution in stock, so to speak,« said the managing STAMA Service Engi-neer Ibrahim Coskun from Liyang.

»The properties of the STAMA double-spindle machining centers have proven themselves in practice and have brought our company great economic advantages.«Gu Jinlin Manager of the Kehua Research and Development Center

Founded in 2002, Kehua Holdings Co., Ltd. specializes in the development and production of turbocharger components, hydraulic pumps/valves and machine fittings. It’s main market is China, but Kehua also exports to the USA, Europe, Japan, South Korea and other countries. Kehua has around 2500 employees and has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since January 5, 2019.

www.khmm.com.cn/en

STAMA has received the »Favorable Comment Award by the User« from Vogel Verlag publishers for the performance of the MT 831 TWIN at Kehua – the prize for special recognition of machine performance by the customer. Here is STAMA Sales Engineer William Ma at the award ceremony.

Kehua Holdings Co. Lt.

LIYANG, CN

26 27

Mr. Ott, the first system for Fagor Ederlan was already delivered in 2012. What persuaded the customer to choose SCHERER?Well, we really listened to the customer and understood his require-ments. Our objective is to use the experience on both sides – Fagor Ederlan knows their parts, we know our machines – to put together an ideal complete package. For the best quality at competitive prices.

Since 2016, the relationship has gone up a level; SCHERER is a strategic partner for some specific products. How have you achieved this status?The quality and performance of the machines has to be right, of course. What is much more important, however, is trust… and we’ve gained that over the years by constantly supporting the customer and keeping to agreements and delivery times. And, very important-ly, to offer a quick and uncomplicated solution to any problems that arise. In short: Fagor Ederlan knows it is in good hands with us.

How is the strategic partnership working out for you; how does SCHERER stand to benefit?It’s a real »win-win« situation. Fagor Ederlan orders specific work-pieces directly from us and only from us. We also receive an over-view of new projects at the end of the year, together with order dates and delivery deadlines. This gives us planning reliability and the projected orders have always come in as stated so far.

The most recent project was for a major order of 30 systems. How is the project progressing? The order was for 30 virtually identical single-spindle VDZ 420 XL CNC vertical lathes for Fagor Ederlan Group. The machines always produce in a compound and fully automated. The majority of the systems are already in production, others are under construction or in the final acceptance.

Were there particular requirements for this major project and, if so, how has SCHERER fulfilled these?We developed a solution with a robot cell together with the cus- tomer, and then implemented it here in Alzenau. This will provide the flexibility for varying orders, especially small runs, to be machined with minimal tooling time.

One final question: What is next on the agenda for Fagor Ederlan?We will find out during the next technology meeting. These meet-ings take place at the EDERTEK development center at regular intervals. This means that we are always up-to-date with what the market is demanding of the customer – and can supply systems which are designed to meet these specifications exactly. Both SCHERER and Fagor Ederlan are growing and developing further – and we are working together every day, not only to keep up with technological developments which are essential for remaining competitive, but also to drive these developments.

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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FAGOR EDERLAN – SCHERER

Fagor Ederlan Group

The Fagor Ederlan Group, based in Esko-riatza in the Basque Country between Bilbao and San Sebastián, is an industrial cooperative. It is a leading provi-der specializing in the manufacture of brake disks and drums, as well as components for powertrain and chassis applications. Its customer base includes all the major car manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. The Group is present in all key market regions, with 20 plants worldwide: Asia, Europe, South America, the USA and Mexico. Fagor Ederlan, which has 4100 employees, is also part of the MONDRAGON Corporation with 266 companies and cooperatives and a workforce of over 80,000 worldwide.

www.fagorederlan.com

ESKORIATZA, ES

SCHERER has been a strategic partner of Fagor Ederlan since 2016. The latest project for the Spanish automotive supplier is a major order of 30 single-spindle CNC vertical lathing machines. To learn more about this project, speedfactor asked Alexander Ott, Area Sales Manager for South America, Southern Europe and the NAFTA countries, a few questions.

30for Fagor Ederlan

»The strategic partnership is a real win-win situation.«

Alexander Ott, Area Sales Manager for South

America, Southern Europe and NAFTA countries at SCHERER

28 29

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AUTOMATION AT HF-BEARBEITUNGSTECHNIK

Efficient production with fewer personnel at the machines: To achieve this, HF-Bearbeitungstechnik invested in an overall concept from CHIRON. With two series 18 machining centers, robot automation and ProcessLine simulation software – for faster set-up, fewer downtimes and optimal use of the machines.

Intelligent concept for auto nomous production

While Hammerwerk Fridingen brings glowing blanks into the desired shape using huge steel presses, work at HF-Bearbeitungstechnik is calmer, focusing on fine motor skills. Here, the previously forged parts are finish-machined. »We handle the complete process, from design and reshaping to the final installable part,« said Operations Manager Alexan-der Schwaiger. This turnkey competence is highly valued by customers from a wide range of industries – from the automotive and railway industry to aerospace and mechanical en-gineering.

30 31

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AUTOMATION AT HF-BEARBEITUNGSTECHNIK

The aim: Autonomous productionSome time ago, HF-Bearbeitungstechnik received an order to design, produce and machine two mirror-inverted console parts. The cus-tomer, a reputable car manufacturer, wanted to start with production as soon as possible and have large quantities produced over several years. »So, we had to extend our machinery fleet with five-axis CNC milling machines. These machines should work largely autono- mously,« said Rudolf Schmid, Process Planning Manager, summarizing the requirements of different providers.

The solution: A coherent overall concept from CHIRONCHIRON was awarded the contract for the project: »We really liked the overall concept, the price was right and, with CHIRON, we were also able to adhere to the tight time frame,« said Schmid, justifying the decision. He also named two further important criteria: »In the past, we have had good experiences with CHIRON machining centers, and we know that we can rely on their service.«

The basis for autonomous production: Two machining centers, one robotThe largely autonomous production of automotive parts started in 2017 with an 18 series machining center from CHIRON, an FZ 18 FX with 20 tools, plus an associated handling robot with double gripper. The robot takes the blank from the belt and positions itself in front of the machine. When the panel opens, it removes the finished part and positions the new workpiece. The arm pulls back, the door closes, the part is clamped, the positioning checked and machining begins. In the meantime, the robot has already placed the removed, finished product on the belt again, and it is then checked and packed. In February 2018, the system was expanded: The robot now also supplies a second five-axis machining center of the same type, but with 70 tools. »The machines synchronize themselves auto-matically,« reports Claudia Bobolot, responsible for robot programming at CHIRON. »Each machining center requests the robot in such a way that it is ready with the new blank at the exact same time as another part is finished. A machine only has to wait during start-up. After that, the two machines automatically work offset against each other.« The robot cur-rently picks up both workpieces with the same gripper. However, according to Rudolf Schmid, the combination of two milling centers plus one robot »still leaves room for improvement. If the order structure changes, we can machine different parts weighing up to 20 kg, with the robot automatically changing grippers in the meantime.«

The result: Triple output at reduced costsFor HF-Bearbeitungstechnik, the decision for automation was unavoidable if competitive prices were to be maintained. The solution has already paid for itself, said Rudolf Schmid: »We are saving 80 percent of the personnel costs that would have been incurred at the machines. The robot is on hand when it is need-ed, minimizing downtimes. And: It can also supply the machining centers at night.« Both factors have helped to increase output threefold. Despite fewer staff members working at the systems, automation has had no negative impact on employment. On the contrary, according to the Process Planning Manager, »it helps to strengthen our market position and fill our order books. So we need even more qualified personnel.«

Thomas Marquardt, Head of Automation at CHIRON, also stresses the importance of autonomous production in high-wage countries in particular: »We currently supply half of our turnkey machines with automation solutions, and a further quarter can be upgraded if required. In total, we have already implemented 450 automation solutions, with a clearly rising trend.«

Further determining factor for optimization: ProcessLineThe use of ProcessLine, a module of the SmartLine portfolio, has ensured an ef-ficient process from the outset at HF-Bearbeitungstechnik. With the integrated CAD/CAM and simulation software, the complete production process can be pro-grammed and simulated in advance. »You can see in 3D whether the process is working reliably and where there are still hitches,« said Richard Mink, Team Leader for CAD/CAM & Simulation at CHIRON, summarizing the advantages of ProcessLine. Once the user has tared everything in the simulation, ProcessLine uses the CHIRON post-processor to generate the NC code for machine control. This shortens the programming time and, above all, the set-up time. In addition, rationalization options can be tested in advance with ProcessLine, evaluated and consequently implemented more quickly and reliably.

»The overall package presented by CHIRON

impressed us. The price was right and we were

able to adhere to the tight time frame. And we

also know that we can rely on CHIRON service.«

Rudolf SchmidProcess Planning Manager at

HF-Bearbeitungstechnik

HF-Bearbeitungstechnik

HF-Bearbeitungstechnik GmbH is a company of the Hammerwerk Fridingen Group with a total of over 570 employees. Its scope of services includes all current procedures for mechanical machining of metal materials: Turning, milling, grinding, intermeshing, surface treatment, assembly, heat treatment. All operations of the Group are certified to IATF 16949:2016 and aerospace standard EN 9100:2009.

www.hammerwerk.de

FRIDINGEN,DE

1 A glance at the autonomous factory: The machining centers »communicate« with the robot and are supplied with new workpieces with precision.

2 The project participants chatting (from left):Johann Redl from CHIRON field service, Alexander Schwaiger, Manager of HF-Bearbeitungstechnik, then Richard Mink, Team Leader for CAD/CAM & Simulation and Thomas Marquardt, Head of Automation (both CHIRON).

3 Automated overall system from CHIRON with two five-axis FZ 18 FX machining centers and robot.

4 Maximum precision: the mirror-inverted console parts that are produced autonomously on the system.

5 The robot supplies both machining centers in alternation, and the machines automatically work offset from each other.

32 33

1978198119862005200720122015

Alzenau

INSIDE _

40 YEARS OF SCHERER NEW EMPLOYEES ON THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AT SCHERER _

INSIDE

40 Years of SCHERERNew to the team:Head of Sales Orhan Elbizim …Orhan Elbizim joined the manage-ment team of SCHERER on January 1. He is a graduate in mechanical engi-neering with a focus on materials engineering. Before switching to SCHERER, he was Sales Engineer at LTM Tool Systems, International Area Sales Manager at SHW Werkzeugmaschinen and, most recently, Furniture Sales Manager for Russia, Central and East-ern Europe at Lectra Germany. »We are delighted to have Orhan Elbizim on board – a leader with a technical background and extensive experience in sales,« said SCHERER Managing Director, Dr. Michael Eckerle. Also new in the management team is Head of Service Frank Egidi – more about him on pages 20/21.

On January 1, the SCHERER manage-ment welcomed another manager to its ranks, Dr.-Ing. Manuel Tröndle. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe (TH) before completing a doctorate in the field of production engineering. His first job was at OTEC Präzisionsfinish GmbH where he managed the Design and Development area. Dr. Tröndle then became Head of Technology at DVS Universal Grinding GmbH, a manufac-turer of combination machinery for hard-fine machining. His new role in Alzenau focuses on the development of new machines for even more efficient production. For this Dr. Tröndle brings a solid scientific basis and a wealth of ex-perience in mechanical engineering.

40 years of SCHERER: More than one reason to be proud of what we‘ve achieved! Founded in 1978, the CHIRON Group company is now in demand worldwide as a mechanical en-gineering company with 215 employees. At the Alzenau site, SCHERER develops and builds highly productive and precise CNC vertical lathes and shaft turning centers for customers from the automotive industry, aerospace and mechanical engineering. SCHERER is also internationally in

18

215Employees share in success

> 1.500Delivered lathes and shaft turning centers

Customers in countries

10International representations

9000Square meters of operating area

Takeover of the company Feinbau as the basis for today‘s mechanical engineering

Purchase of a second production hallThe number of employees rises to 80

SCHERER Feinbau becomes a member of the CHIRON Group

Move to the new building in Alzenau

Construction of a new hall and relocation to the Frankenstraße site

demand as an expert in handling systems and automation solutions. In his speech on the occasion of the anniversary, Managing Director Dr. Michael Eckerle thanked all the em-ployees for their contribution to the company‘s success story: »Our strongest asset is the people who work here. We also want to celebrate our 50th and 60th anniversaries together, expand our position in the market and make our contribution to the future success of the CHIRON Group.«

Foundation of SCHERER in MömbrisReconditioning of tool machines

Extension of production with Hall 3 Award of »Bavaria‘s Best 50«

… and Head of Development Dr. Manuel Tröndle

3 %

89 %

Other 8 %

65% Export share 2018

Automotive industry

Mechanical Engineering

SF

2018 Sales by

Industry

34 35

The management teams of the CHIRON Group and CHIRON Werke are once again complete: Vanessa Hellwing is the new Chief Financial Officer and will ensure that the planned growth is accompanied by increased profitability thanks to well-integrated financial processes.

Ms. Hellwing, you have been CFO of the CHIRON Group and CHIRON Werke since October 22, 2018. What made you want to join the CHIRON team?CHIRON is a remarkably healthy company with technologi-cally impressive products that also has the best conditions for sailing through times of economic crisis in safe waters. It benefits from exceptional and professional leadership, comprising shareholders, administrative boards, the exec- utive board and the management team. In addition to this, the CHIRON Group is investing massively in the future to help secure global growth and keep products at the state of the art. The importance of the Service division has also

Personal facts

Vanessa Hellwing began her career with a dual study program at Siemens AG and, following integration work in the USA, lead the commercial team for generator production. After working in large industrial compressor manu-facturing operations and as an acqui-sition specialist in China, she was ap-pointed Head of Controlling of the global compressor business. At the age of 29, she assumed her first posi-tion as CFO of a company in Denmark. Following this, she moved to the Czech Republic, where she estab-lished a Shared Service Center for Sie-mens that now has 650 employees. Most recently, she held the position of Service Unit CFO at thyssenkrupp In-dustrial Solutions AG with revenue in excess of €800 million.

Welcome, Vanessa Hellwing!

been clearly recognized and corresponding structures established. So is any further impetus required to join this company and this Group?

How exactly does your new position differ from your previous ones; are there any different priorities?My previous position as CFO of a Service division for industrial systems essentially had a start-up character. Processes and structures – in terms of IT yet also cultural  – first had to be set up here. CHIRON, on the other hand, is a »seasoned« company with sound processes and a good IT basis. I see my role at CHIRON as enabling greater flexibility while at the same time guaranteeing stable processes and rules.

You have lived and worked in China, Denmark and the Czech Republic. What did you take away from these stays abroad?Well, I could talk about this for ages. One thing I did learnin these different countries: Different cultures require different management styles. Right or wrong and good or bad only exist in a very narrow-minded view. In Denmark, for example, the boss is more of a moderator that aims to bring about team decisions. However, integrating your team heavily in your decision-making processes is seen

as a weakness in China – and sometimes also in Germany. In Germany and the Czech Republic, people generally expect the boss to be the one to switch the lights off at the end of the day and be the company‘s best employee. This led to friction with the works council when I was working in Denmark, as they were clear that managers should also act as role models with regard to work/life balance and would otherwise be mocked for inefficiency.

You are clearly very busy as a manager, so how do you ensure a healthy work/life balance? What do you do in your spare time to relax and recover? After ten hours of full concentration and strain, the quality of your work begins to suffer and you are no longer as efficient. It is often impossible to avoid long days, some-times even at weekends, but the key here is not to adopt short-term thinking. In the long term, stressed, overtired and tense managers are of little use to the company. You are demonstrably more efficient at work if you regularly invest time in exercise and find social balance with family and friends. Healthy nutrition, enough sleep ... even if you still have small children, work-life balance can sometimes become really stressful. ;-)

»CHIRON invests massively in the future – for global growth. The importance of services has also already been clearly recognized and established. So is any further impetus required to join this company and this Group?«

INSIDE _

INTERVIEW WITH VANESSA HELLWING36 37

INSIDE _

GROWTH POTENTIAL AT THE CHIRON GROUP

Mr. Hellstern, you have now been with the company for 20 years, completed your apprenticeship as a mechatronics engineer at CHIRON and then moved more and more towards service. Why?The mechatronics apprenticeship is deliberately designed so that service is an option. The tasks are very varied and it offers good prospects. Dealing with new challenges appeals to me. Even in assembly I preferred the most complex machines. The straight path isn‘t necessarily the one for me. I like getting to grips with different tasks and sometimes also delve deeper into a topic.

During your time in service, you spent a while at CHIRON America. Are there differences from Germany?Yes and no. The service quality is absolutely the same – and so it should be. But one big difference is the distances. One day you‘re standing in El Paso in your shorts, and the next you need a down jacket in New Hampshire. And if a custo- mer is located near Niagara Falls, that‘s perhaps no bad thing!

What did you take away from your ten years in service, in internal services, field service and supporting key accounts?That no two problems are the same. In internal services, I worked for a long time with three service engineers essentially providing »service within service« for 450 machines around Tuttlingen. I learned to adapt quickly to new circumstances and to develop solutions outside the box. And also to stay calm. Action for the sake of doing something does not lead to good results. The market is demonst-rating this at the moment, with the issue of digitalization: There‘s lots happening here that has no clear customer benefit.

CHIRON MAKES THE FUTURE. That‘s the motto of the apprenticeship commu- nication. But what will this future look like? What opportunities will be available to the dedicated young talents? These are questions that Johannes Hellstern can answer. He joined CHIRON as a mecha-tronics apprentice and is now the Digital Services Product Manager of the CHIRON Group.

Speaking of customer benefit: What digital services are you currently working on and what is the benefit for the customer? Our SmartServices are based on the SmartLine portfolio. For this purpose, we are currently developing suitable offers in three areas: EfficiencyServices, ConditionServices, ProductivityServices. Efficiency is about optimizing reactive maintenance. The starting point for ConditionServices is ConditionLine and DataLine, with the keywords being ConditionMonitoring and individual, status- oriented maintenance management. For ProductivityServices, we are looking at overall performance, and the aim is to achieve optimized production with correspondingly designed processes.

As Product Manager, you are the interface between research & development, IT, sales, marketing. How do you bring the different concepts together? I don‘t have to, we all do it together. Our companies are service-oriented. In developing our digital services, we are working closer together than ever before. Digital services are a Group project, and so the program team is an interdisciplinary team.

If you like variety in your professional life: What do you do in your free time?Family comes first. Otherwise, I am a snowboarding enthusiast, on the runs or, if the conditions are right, even off-piste. I also find these kinds of »rides« in unknown terrain exciting in my new position. To stick with the metaphor – I like thinking off-piste. I also play drums to clear my head!

Legal notice

Publisher CHIRON Group SE

Editorial Alice Regermanagement CHIRON Werke GmbH & Co. KG

Editorial team We would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this publication: Peter Albrecht Melanie Buschle Frank Geiselhart Sabine Gruber Sabrina Halmer Dr. Ulrich Heller Johannes Hellstern Claudia Herd Bernd Hilgarth Jennifer Maniura Christina Messmer Alexander Ott Johann Redl Rainer Schopp Sandra Sulaj Peter Wustrow Michelle Xu

Design de-signbar VISUELLE KOMMUNIKATION 78647 Trossingen, Germany

Text Marisa Arzt Text + Konzept 70197 Stuttgart, Germany

Translation STAR Deutschland GmbH 71063 Sindelfingen, Germany

Printing braun druck & medien GmbH 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany

Frequency Twice a year in Germanof publication and English

Total circulation 21,000 copies

Editorial address CHIRON Group SE Kreuzstraße 75 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany Phone +49 (0)7461 940-3325 kommunikation@chiron.de

Copyright© CHIRON Group SE, all rights reserved

Picture credits U1/U4 ronstik@istock.com 8/9 OlivierLeMoal@ adobestock.com artida@shutterstock.com 10/11 solarseven@istock.com wayra@istock.com 24 trodler1@adobestock.com 28 HelloRFZcool@ shutterstock.com 30 vegefox.com@istock.com

From apprentice to product manager to …

Career highlights

1999 Apprenticeship as mechatronics engineer

2003 Mechatronics Engineer and Foreman in assembly at CHIRON

2005 Service employee in CHIRON internal and field service

2014 Support of key accounts in Service 2016 Technical Trainer at CHIRON

2018 Digital Services Product Manager CHIRON Group

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Members of the CHIRON Group www.chiron-group.com