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Is it true that your customers reduce machine down-
times with »flash«, resulting in significant tooling cost
savings? How does that work?
Yes, the practical experience of our customers using
»flash« makes clear how economical it is. It allows users
to see at a glance which tools the machines will need
over the next few hours. These are prepared on time
and the tools are exchanged, meaning they don’t have
to be stored at the machine. This means our customers
can reduce both warehouse space and tool circulation
step by step. This results in an enormous cost savings
for tools. The tools to be replaced on the machine are
available just in time for the next planed tool exchange.
With software solutions like these, is the manufacturing
industry finally joining other sectors in the 4.0 economy?
Well, we’re used to getting our information at the push
of a button and in real time in many areas of our lives.
Things are only different in production practice. In man
ufacturing environments people are often walking to
machines to determine the service life of a tool. In this
regard, there is certainly room for improvement in ma
chine construction. But the industry is quickly catching
up; software solutions like »flash« will be used more
and more frequently in the future, and automation solu
tions will be in even higher demand.
Mr. Zoller, do you offer other solutions for the smart
factory in addition to »flash«?
Yes, for instance the options presented in this maga
zine for digital data transfer from the presetter to the
CNC machine. But that’s certainly not all — we are a
leader in intelligent links between real and virtual tool
data. Another example is the “cost per part” module
(CPP), which allows customers to permanently optimize
tool usage and tool selection.
Mr. Zoller, do you model “4.0” in your own company?
We’ve always focused on efficient processes. We in
troduced document management worldwide 20 years
ago, allowing us to offer the same items almost simul
taneously on all markets on a daily basis. Our goal is to
increase productivity each year; this is the only way our
company can grow without increasing prices. In 2017, in
any case, one of our goals is to be better set up inter
nally for new challenges and to continue the process of
digitization.
Keyword Digitization: Threat or Opportunity?
Opportunity, of course! Digitization is finally arriving in
our industry, and we’re very happy it’s here. With our
products, we offer our customers awide range of ways to
work more efficiently. More and more CNC machines are
beingusedaround theworldwithwhichour solutionscan
communicate. Our products ensure the machines keep
running and never stand still. We are the only ones who
can use the opportunities digitization offers to further
develop ourselves. Of course, it’s also a race between
countries. In Asia for example, where I travel often, smart
factories are being built at record speed. The question
there is who has the best setup and who’s the fastest.
We are present on all markets, offering the right solu
tions for the various international requirements in a fast
and targeted manner.
Interview with Christoph Zoller,
Managing Director of E. Zoller GmbH & Co. KG
I NDUSTRY 4 . 0
35
Z.magazine 2017