move

The magazine for customers and partners of WITTENSTEIN AG

mechatronic drive technology –thinking fast forward
April 2016

cymex® 5 opens up new horizons

				

		

for drive design

move

The magazine for customers and partners of WITTENSTEIN AG

Contents

Masthead
Publisher:
WITTENSTEIN AG
Walter-Wittenstein-Str. 1
97999 Igersheim / Germany
Phone: +49 7931 493-0
www.wittenstein.de
move@wittenstein.de
Editorial content:
Sabine Maier,Manager Press & Public Relations(Responsible under press law)
Issue:
16 / April 2016
Circulation:
German: 4500 copies
English: 1800 copies
Production:
IMMAGIS
Franziskanergasse 1
97070 Würzburg / Germany
Picture credits:
Pages 14-17: F. Zimmermann GmbH (3)Page 19: DMT Drehmaschinen GmbH
Page 25: SECKLER AG (1)All rights reserved. This document may
not be reprinted or electronically distributed without the express permission of
the publisher.

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cymex® 5 opens up new horizons
WITTENSTEIN Group

10

Electromobile drive technology
WITTENSTEIN Group14

Rack-and-pinion system for linear motion control
WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbH

18

Galaxie® Drive System “gets the right twist”

20

When servo technology offers crystal clear benefits
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH24

TPM+ servo actuators enhance performance
WITTENSTEIN motion control GmbH

26

Bespoke gearheads from a single supplier
WITTENSTEIN bastian GmbH30

No chance for germs
Hygienic design by WITTENSTEIN

34

On the road in Peru

38

Trade fair calendar 2016

Dear readers,▶▶ If you press this button on your DVD player, it means you
want to “fast forward”. Our motto for the Hannover Messe 2016
describes the forces that drive us forward. The ability to anticipate tomorrow’s developments today and shape the future bypioneering new technologies: “mechatronic drive technology –thinking fast forward”. We look forward to introducing you to an
exciting mix of topics at our booth in Hall 15, Stand F08, which
will once again underline our claim to be a driver of innovation
in mechatronic drive technology.

When the Hannover Messe opens its doors, the new
WITTENSTEIN fiscal year 2016/17 will be just a few weeks
old. Our crystal ball reveals rather blurred business prospects for the future – in today’s difficult international climate
it is all the more important for a family owned firm like the
WITTENSTEIN Group to face the complex challenges optimally equipped. On April 1, 2016, the Management Board was
supplemented by four new members, all internal appointees:
Dr. Anna-Katharina Wittenstein, Dr. Dirk Haft, Erik Roßmeißl
and Dr. Bernd Schimpf.

cymex® 5, our completely revised sizing software, now includes
a powerful “Optimizer”. The bottom line: a time saving of up to Together with Karl-Heinz Schwarz, I have been paving the way
60% for your designers to calculate possible variants! The first for this generational change in leadership over the last few years.
lead customers have already confirmed that three years of in- On March 31, Mr. Schwarz stepped down from the Management
tensive development work were worth the effort.
Board and has now left the company after almost thirty years.
His contribution to the WITTENSTEIN Group’s globally visible
Satisfied customers – you – laid the foundation for our success success is grounded to a large extent in his extraordinary huin the fiscal year just ended: we are proud to report new record manity, dedication and loyalty during the last three decades.
sales in the region of 300 million euros. We have continued to I too plan to relinquish my Board responsibilities in the autumn –grow worldwide and we now employ more staff than ever be- by then, my role at WITTENSTEIN as a “bridge-builder for thefore. A new subsidiary was recently established in Turkey, for next generation at a successful family run firm” will have been
example.
fulfilled.

Professor Dieter Spath
Chairman of the Board and CEO WITTENSTEIN AG

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WITTENSTEIN Groupcymex® 5 opens up new horizons
for drive design
Developed and thought through to the last detail by WITTENSTEIN alpha,tested by lead customers and judged to be perfect – cymex® 5, the new
sizing software, is exactly what users have been longing for.

The diverse functions of cymex® 5 allow drive trains to be engineered
with unbeatable efficiency. Felix Zeeb, a mechanical engineer at
OPTIMA consumer GmbH and one of the lead customers who
agreed to test the software thoroughly upfront of the market launch,
will testify to this: “cymex® 5 is efficiency engineering. To me, itmeans clear structures, clear specs, a clear goal, simple and intuitive to use – and fun.”argument for Jürgen Blümel, System Development Filling Machinesat SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH: “cymex® 5 gives us significantly
more options. We can map several axes at once. The software is aquantum leap. In the past, each axis was separate, which meant first
one file, then the next, with data all over the place. Today, we candefine and save the complete machine in a single project file – it’sperfect.”

Several possible entry levels, multiple design options
Users can choose between several possible entry levels when theyembark on a design project. “You can get started with the software
via the motion profile, for instance, the load case or the mechanismof a machine”, explains Timo Markert, Product Manager at WITTENSTEIN alpha and one of the software’s chief architects. “It enablesprecise simulations of motions and loads because you can selectall a drive’s most common basic applications as well as the mostfrequent movement kinematics and machine mechanisms directly. A
crankshaft, telescope and centre winder are now integrated over andabove the applications already implemented in cymex® 3.” cymex® 5
makes the designer’s work much easier because several axes andvariants can now be analyzed and evaluated simultaneously in a single project – a time saving of up to sixty percent. This is a crucial

Customizable and intuitive
With cymex® 5, each user can design and save their “own” GUI layout with different windows and freely positionable toolbars intuitively
and individually. Max Windholz, Senior Manager Standardization at
SOMIC Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, cannot praise theease of use too highly: “I like the cymex® 5 GUI a lot. You get used
to it very fast. It’s very intuitive. For ordinary users who work with it
every day, it’s brilliant.”

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The cymex® 5 success formula
To support the configuration of drive trains, cymex® 5 has accessto a regularly updated database containing around 14,000 motor
versions from more than 50 different manufacturers plus more than
8000 WITTENSTEIN alpha gearheads and 200 combinations of

WITTENSTEIN linear systems. It isn’t just this huge database thatis responsible for the functionally optimized drive trains which can
now be designed with cymex® 5, however; WITTENSTEIN can also
draw on more than thirty years of expertise in drive technology. Felix
Breitmar, System Development Filling Machines at SIG Combibloc
GmbH, clearly notices the benefits of this interaction whenever heworks with the sizing tool: “In my opinion, it makes a big difference
that all of WITTENSTEIN’s experience has gone directly into the software. And I also find it fascinating that everything was developed
in-house, to leverage the full advantage of that amassed experience.”

important when it comes to drive design and documentation – andthat’s what we get from cymex® 5.”“Optimizer” for more power density and energy efficiency
cymex® 5 is shipped with an “Optimizer” that is the only one of its
kind to date for sizing software. Timo Markert: “If you want to identify
downsizing potential, you can read out a machine’s existing controller
parameters, import them into cymex® 5 and optimize the drive train’s
energy efficiency”. Furthermore, in specific load cases, the Optimizer
also knows whether a smaller sized motor / gearhead unit could be
used instead, for example, without compromising performance.

Master-slave function for sizing mutually tensioned drives
The fundamentally new master-slave function, so far exclusive tocymex® 5, is a good example here. Two electrically preloaded drives
can now be mapped for the first time. “The mutual tensioning between the master and slave eliminates backlash in the drive train,increases the machine’s stiffness and ultimately also lets you design
it with higher dynamics”, Timo Markert explains.

Drive design without language barriers
cymex® 5 can be used in any of eleven European and Asian fonts or
languages. The calculation documentation and product data sheetsreflect this impressive linguistic diversity. This is a significant aspect
for Nils Varrelmann, a mechanical designer at Broetje Automation
GmbH: “The more languages are available, the better it is for us andour end customers. China is currently a very big market for us andso are Japan and the U.S. That’s why internationality is particularly

User friendliness, versatility, internationality,
downsizing, energy efficiency –that’s what the cymex® 5 sizing softwareis all about.

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4

1

2

3

1 The cymex® 5 sizing software is a new, multifunctional tool thatenables bespoke drive trains to be designed reliably, economically andenergy efficiently.
2 Drives optimized for specific loads and motions are designed withunerring reliability with cymex® 5 – with information, warnings anderror messages if individual components are overloaded, for example.

6 move5

3 With cymex® 5, each user can design and customize their own GUI
layout with optional windows and freely positionable toolbars. This
personal look & feel can also be saved permanently as the default forfollow-up projects.
4 The optional “Optimizer” – the only one of its kind to date in sizing
software – identifies downsizing potential and permits more energy
efficient drive trains.

WITTENSTEIN GroupUp to 60% time saving
cymex® 5 makes the designer’s work much easier because several axes
and variants can now be analyzed and evaluated simultaneously in asingle project – a time saving of up to sixty percent.

7

5 Thanks to the Profiler function in cymex® 5, the input parametersof motion profiles can be described in detail and motion and load data
represented on a graph.
6 Complete and always up to date: the cymex® 5 database comprises around 14,000 motor versions from more than 50 different
manufacturers plus more than 8000 WITTENSTEIN alpha gearheads
and 200 combinations of WITTENSTEIN linear systems with all relevant
technical specifications.
7 At the end of the sizing process, the user can generate the complete
calculation documentation directly, create data sheets and display
2D or 3D CAD data of selected components – in any of eleven different
languages.

6

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Tested by lead customers and judged tobe perfect: cymex® 5

Jürgen Blümel, SIG Combibloc:“cymex® 5 is a quantum leap.”

Max Windholz, SOMIC:“I like the cymex® 5 GUI a lot. You
get used to it very fast.”

Felix Breitmar, SIG Combibloc:“In my opinion, it makes a big difference
that all of WITTENSTEIN’s experiencehas gone directly into the software.”Nils Varrelmann, Broetje Automation: “Internationality
is particularly important for us when it comes to drive
design and documentation.”

8 moveWITTENSTEIN Group»cymex® 5 marks a quantum leap in terms of user
friendliness and performance compared to allother tools currently available in the market.«
STEFAN HIRTH,
HEAD OF PRODUCT MANAGEMENT, WITTENSTEIN ALPHA GMBH

move talks to: Stefan Hirth, Head of Product Management,
WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbH

Product Manager Timo
Markert holds regularconsultations with Elena
Albert, the applicationengineer responsible
for cymex®’s technicalspecification at WITTENSTEIN alpha. Market andcustomer requirements
are reconciled in thisway with technology
know-how.

What are the reasons for cymex® 5’s completely revised design?
Back in 1999, WITTENSTEIN alpha was the first company to provide users with intelligent software for designing gearheads in drive trains. We also pioneered sizing tools. cymex® has been regularly extended andupgraded over the years, of course. It’s always a special honour for a product if market competitors copy it
more or less identically, which is what happened with cymex® 3. The requirements a sizing tool is expected
to meet change as time goes by, and we’ve listened very carefully to what our customers want with regard
to graphical interfaces, ease of use and new, integrated technologies. cymex® 5 is the answer and it marks
a quantum leap in terms of user friendliness and performance compared to all other tools currently available
in the market.
What is it that makes cymex® 5 a particularly attractive and reliable sizing tool for users?
The added value for our customers is enormous if not just individual components but the complete drive train
can be considered for their very specific use case. cymex® 5 gives users a detailed calculation of all components and interfaces in the train. It also calculates shafts and bearings, for instance. It’s this holistic approachthat allows the machine to be tuned and tweaked for the best possible performance. Moreover, cymex® 5
guarantees exceptional reliability throughout the design process.
How does that work?
Thanks to an ingenious support function, users see information on exact-fit components as soon as they
enter a value, for example. A message is displayed if the drive is over- or undersized or if an input is incorrect.
Even novice users get fast, robust results in this way, plus the security of knowing that the design matches
their requirements.
How much time can customers and users actually save in practice?
Unlike other sizing tools, cymex® 5 can define any number of axes at once. That alone can reduce the time
to calculate variants by as much as sixty percent. And when you add that to the impressive ease of use andintuitive features, it’s not difficult to understand why cymex® 5 is such a high performance tool. In a benchmark test with conventional software solutions, cymex® 5 was up to ninety percent faster. Users are reallyexcited about that.
What do customers and users have to do to take advantage of cymex® 5?
We at WITTENSTEIN attach great importance to top quality advice and support that help our customers get
the best out of our products. cymex® 5 was developed for precisely that purpose and all users profit from afree basic version with extensive functionality. All they have to do is download it from the Internet. We can also
include customer-specific Premium functions like the master-slave option or the Optimizer in cymex® 5. In thiscase, we provide appropriate training, of course, to make sure everyone can use these functions efficiently.
Here, too, cymex® 5 sets new benchmarks.

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Electromobile drive technology
WITTENSTEIN in the pole position

Calculation of the complete, electrified drive train – WITTENSTEIN convinces with thisapproach as an innovation and technology partner for a wide range of electromobile
vehicle concepts, from the research project through the development phase toreadiness for series production. The world record-breaking electric go-kart, the BMW
C evolution electric maxi scooter or the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Hybrid – all ofthese vehicles illustrate clearly how sizing electric powertrains has emerged as one of
WITTENSTEIN’s core competencies.

Partner from research project to series production
It was in 2005 that WITTENSTEIN laid the foundation for a rich poolof expertise by developing the first electric powertrains, which havesince become one of the company’s core competencies. “Today, ourknow-how encompasses quite a few technologies and processes
that enable significantly shorter lead times”, explains Dr. Kay-Horst
Dempewolf, Head of Development Automotive & Servo Drives at
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH. “Together with the high flexibility and speed of proven internal project structures, this means
just six months from debating the initial concept for a novel drive

10 movearchitecture with the customer to the first hardware.” A successful
prototype phase then generally marks the entry into small-volume
production.
Motor, gearhead, electronics, software – powerfulsubsystems optimized as a complete solution
When a vehicle’s drive train is electrified, it’s only at first glance thateverything centres on the motor and the gearhead. “As far as theactual drive is concerned, we favour permanent magnet synchronous motors for use in two and four-wheeled electric vehicles”, adds

WITTENSTEIN GroupAwe inspiring: The world record-breaking electric go-kart accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (approx. 100 km/h) in just 2.635 seconds.

Delight among the project partners
at the new world record:
The electric go-kart was developedby a consortium comprised of WITTENSTEIN cyber motor, the Institutefor Management and Engineering
at Osnabrück University of Applied
Sciences in Lingen (Ems) and HTech AG of Schaan (Liechtenstein).

Dr. Ingolf Gröning, General Manager of WITTENSTEIN cyber motor.
“They convince with their high efficiency, light weight and almost silent running – and they’ve also already proved their efficiency andtheir suitability for everyday use.” Yet the electronics and the software are just as vital when designing such high performance traction drives – because they are what make electric drive technology
so incredibly intelligent, efficient, reliable and safe. “That’s why it’s
important to consider the electric powertrain as a system in every
single project. Not only the motor and the gearhead but also theelectronics and the software have to interact optimally. At the sametime, they must be easy to integrate in the vehicle control system inquestion as well as in new vehicle concepts”, comments Dr. Thomas
Kalker, General Manager of WITTENSTEIN electronics. “Throughout
the Group we’re in a perfect position to apply this holistic approach.”Electromobility needs drive technology in “space
optimized power density”
Electromobile drive solutions must combine maximum power density with the ability to fit into the most diverse mechanical geometries.
Special calculation and sizing tools are used to systematically reducemove 11

The electric go-kart was manufactured by students of Mechanical and Business Engineering at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in north Germany. They were supported
by engineers at WITTENSTEIN cyber motor, who developed the electric motor.

World record-breaking
electric go-kart»Our motors convince with their high efficiency,
light weight and almost silent running.«
DR. INGOLF GRÖNING,
GENERAL MANAGER, WITTENSTEIN CYBER MOTOR GMBH

„Sheer Driving Pleasure“:In the BMW C evolution electricmaxi scooter (shown here
without the fairing) a 48 hp
servo motor and WITTENSTEIN
power electronics achieve acceleration from 0 to 50 km/h in
2.7 seconds. The time to reach
100 km/h is a phenomenal 6.2
seconds.

© BMW AGC evolution electric maxi scooter
built by BMW Motorrad

the volume of the electric drive to a minimum. The second essential
aspect is the drive’s power per weight ratio. Special materials are aneffective way to optimize this parameter. Dr. Thomas Kalker: “We utilize special sheets, for instance, or plastic bonded metal particulates
for the electric drive and new semiconductor materials like siliconcarbite for the drive electronics”. Smart solutions to cool the drive
electronics also have a positive impact on the power per weight ratio.
Specially designed cooling structures with surfaces that are optimized with respect to fluid mechanics dissipate heat selectively fromthe power modules. “We can build a more compact heat sink as a result, and that saves both space and weight”, says Dr. Thomas Kalker.

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Extensive, tightly interconnected core competencies in the areas of
motor and gearhead sizing and power electronics are necessary todevelop, optimize and manufacture electric powertrains for use in vehicles. With numerous successful reference projects, WITTENSTEIN
is demonstrably the perfect partner – from the preliminary research
to series production.

WITTENSTEIN Group

Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Hybrid© Vocis Ltd.

A highly dynamic electric motor developed by WITTENSTEIN cybermotor for a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG has an output of 123 kW and isincorporated in a revolutionary, high performance gearbox with an
integral hybrid drive.

The electric motor delivers
up to 190 Nm of torque withan outer diameter of 196 mm
and compensates the torqueinterruption that occurs whenchanging gear with the automated manual transmission.

Successful eMobility with WITTENSTEINWITTENSTEIN AG is a high-end partner for the development andmanufacture of high performance electromechanical motors for use
in electric and hybrid vehicles. Several prestigious – and in somecases record-breaking – projects are glowing testimonials. The electric go-kart, for instance – developed by a consortium comprisedof WITTENSTEIN cyber motor, the Institute for Management andEngineering at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in Lingen (Ems) and H-Tech AG of Schaan (Liechtenstein) – “catapulted”
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor into the Guinness Book of Records: on
September 23, 2015, it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph (approx. 100km/h) in just 2.635 seconds, setting a new world record for electrically powered carts. WITTENSTEIN has enjoyed similar successin the last few years on eMotorcycle racetracks: as a development
partner of the Münch Racing Team, the company played a key role inwinning the World Championship in 2010 and 2011.
In the BMW C evolution electric maxi scooter a 48 hp WITTENSTEIN
motor guarantees “sheer driving pleasure”: it achieves accelerationfrom 0 to 50 km/h in 2.7 seconds while the time to reach 100 km/h isa phenomenal 6.2 seconds. “This project successfully demonstrated our expertise from the initial drive concept right through to series
production”, Dr. Kay-Horst Dempewolf asserts. “WITTENSTEIN has
mastered the transition from research to series partner with flying
colours.”
In a project with Oerlikon Graziano and Vocis Ltd., its British subsidiary, WITTENSTEIN cyber motor developed a highly dynamic electricmotor with an output of 123 kW for incorporation in a revolutionary,high performance gearbox with an integral hybrid drive installed in a
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG. This electric motor delivers up to 190 Nmof torque and compensates the torque interruption that occurs whenchanging gear with the automated manual transmission.
“These projects show how very diverse applications in electromobile
drive technology can be”, Dr. Kay-Horst Dempewolf concludes.

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The engineers can produce a scale image of a vehicle long before it rolls off
the conveyor belt. The first such prototype is often made on a portal millingmachine from F. Zimmermann GmbH. An HPLS rack-and-pinion system built
by WITTENSTEIN alpha guides the cutting head over the workpiece withextreme precision, smoothness and dynamics.

Linear motion control
as a high-end system solution

Zimmermann’s new FZ37
portal milling machinemeets all of the requirements for innovative
milling solutions.

FZ37 – this is the name given to the newest generation of portal milling machines fromF. Zimmermann GmbH. They are capable of cutting not only light alloys, plastics and composite
materials but also steel and cast iron with micrometre accuracy in a 5-sided multi-axis machining
operation. Even very complex shapes can be milled from a block of material in just a short time.
Hartmut Kälberer, President of Zimmermann, explains what matters most to his customers in
the automotive, aerospace and toolmaking industries or the railway and energy sectors: “Speed,
dimensional accuracy and surface finishes of a very high quality are typical expectations formilling solutions along with versatility and flexibility”.

14 moveApplications

F. Zimmermann GmbH: Specialist
for high-end milling solutions
At home in Neuhausen auf den
Fildern, not far from Stuttgart insouth-west Germany, Zimmermann designs, develops and manufactures high-end portal millingmachines and system solutions
for the most diverse industrial
applications. The higher the volumeof the parts produced on the FZ37,
the larger the working ranges – andhence the dimensions of the HPLS:
up to forty metres in the X axis, six
in the Y axis and three in the Z axis.

Light alloys, plastics, composite materials, steel or cast iron – with the FZ37, delicate precision or surface machining is ensured
regardless of the material.

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Applications

Zimmermann’s new FZ37 portal milling machine meets even thehighest requirements for innovative milling solutions – and for morethan a decade now the company has trusted in rack-and-pinion
systems from WITTENSTEIN alpha. “The High Performance Linear
System unites harmony, precision, power density and stiffness foreven the most complex linear motion controls”, says Guido Brenner,
Manager of the WITTENSTEIN alpha Sales Office South-West. Thisis possible because all its components interact optimally. The best
possible performance is achieved in terms of torque and holding
torque for feed and acceleration, smooth running, power density,
freedom from backlash and system rigidity. Hartmut Kälberer agrees
absolutely: “As far as these relevant parameters are concerned, the
HPLS performs significantly better than the market standard”.
HPLS guarantees maximum portal milling performance
The integration of the HPLS in all three axes of the FZ37 enables
decisive improvements. Guido Brenner sheds light on the technical

16 moveissues involved: “The high torsional and tilting rigidity of the RP+ planetary gearhead and the stiff connection to the machine reduce theposition error to a minimum. In combination with the rack’s remarkable precision this results in an extremely stiff machine structure andhence very high system rigidity over the entire axial length of theFZ37.” All axes simultaneously profit from the high speeds. Finally,
the machine’s true-to-path motion system ensures exceptional precision with a volumetric accuracy of up to 55 µm.
Optimized design and energy efficiency
The RP+ gearhead for the Z axis is designed to completely absorb allforces acting on it. “That’s why we were able to build the machine
without hydraulic weight compensation”, says Hartmut Kälberer.
“The FZ37 needs fewer parts because of this. It’s easier to control andmuch more straightforward to install and maintain. Furthermore, thebetter efficiency means ongoing energy costs are lower than with either the hydraulic concept or alternative solutions with a linear motor.”

A Zimmermann portal millingmachine in action
From delicate precision machining to surface machining over alarge area – thanks to the High Performance Linear System HPLS
from WITTENSTEIN alpha, the FZ37’s linear motion control systemmeets every one of the performance and quality requirements.

The FZ37 allows 5-sided multi-axis machining, so that even very
complex shapes can be milled from a block of material in just a
short time.

»The high torsional and tilting rigidity of
the RP+ planetary gearhead and the stiff
connection to the machine reduce theposition error to a minimum.«GUIDO BRENNER, MANAGER SALES OFFICE SOUTH-WEST, WITTENSTEIN ALPHA GMBH

The HPLS rack-and-pinion system is comprised of an ultra-lowbacklash planetary gearhead with a welded, helical-toothed pinion
and a precision manufactured rack.

High Performance
Linear System“As far as the relevant parameters are concerned,
the WITTENSTEIN alpha HPLS performs
significantly better than the market standard”,
confirms Hartmut Kälberer, President ofF. Zimmermann GmbH (left) in conversation with
Guido Brenner, Manager of the WITTENSTEIN alpha
Sales Office South-West in Ludwigsburg (right).

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Applications

Higher metal removal rate, more flexible processes, no need for rechucking,a longer tool life and significantly better machining quality – DMT lathes profit
in a number of ways from the unprecedented torsional stiffness and absolutely
backlash-free kinematics of the WITTENSTEIN Galaxie® Drive System.

Galaxie ® Drive System »gets the right twist«

Dynamic teeth grouped around an
input polygon are the hallmark of
the new gearhead kinematics.
The Galaxie® Drive System fusesa brand new gearhead generation
with a newly developed highperformance motor to obtain an
ultra-compact hollow-shaft drive
system with integrated Industry
4.0 connectivity.

DMT lathes are the solution of choice whenever single components
have to be fabricated quickly and extremely precisely. According toFriedrich Spohn, Managing Director of DMT Drehmaschinen GmbH,“Machining high quality materials – and responding to customer demands for ever higher precision – presents new challenges for the
existing machine technology”.
The challenge:
Maximum precision for dynamic positioning
An analysis of the traditional milling processes identified torsional
stiffness and the backlash of the main motor / gearhead unit asdecisive parameters because they have a significant impact on the
dynamic positioning accuracy. Friedrich Spohn explains the background: “This, in turn, is one of the keys to machining quality, a longer
tool life and higher metal removal rates by the equipment duringmachining operations with the C axis”. The decision to install the
Galaxie® technology was swayed firstly by the enormous torsional
rigidity and the absolute freedom from backlash while secondly, the18 movecompact design of the Galaxie® Drive System permitted relatively
easy integration into the existing machine concept.
The outcome:More productivity thanks to better torsional stiffness andpermanent freedom from backlash
Since switching to the revolutionary gearhead kinematics, DMT
lathes have benefited from a substantial gain in performance during milling operations with the C axis. Their machining times arenow shorter and this has played a vital part in boosting productivity.
Amongst other things, the higher metal removal rates result from thefact that even larger workpieces can now be produced in one setting. Once clamped, they can also be positioned a good deal fasterand more accurately. “Owing to the torsional stiffness and freedom
from backlash achieved with the Galaxie® Drive System, the tool
cutting edges have an extended life and lathe uptime is increased”,
says Volker Sprenger, Head of Sales Galaxie Drive Systems at
WITTENSTEIN, when prompted to list the advantages for DMT.

Shorter machining times, higher metal removal rates, much
faster and more accurate positioning of the workpieces, anextended tool cutting edge life – DMT lathes have benefited froma substantial gain in milling performance thanks to the Galaxie®
Drive System.

The Galaxie® Drive System in use at DMT meets the rigorous requirements for torsional stiffness and backlash – and hence dynamic
positioning accuracy – extremely reliably.

Optionally also with interactive contour programming: The DMT portfolio of lathes for cycle
controlled and CNC machining includes models
with a maximum swing diameter of 280 mm to1100 mm, centre distances ranging between
500 mm and 6000 mm and a drive power of 11.5
kW to 46 kW.

Galaxie® gearhead kinematics now also taught atcolleges and universities
To coincide with the completely redesigned gearhead kinematicsof the Galaxie® Drive System, WITTENSTEIN introduced the logarithmic spiral as a novel tooth geometry and a fundamentally new
concept in gear design – paving the way for a brand new gearhead
generation that isn’t (yet) found in any textbook. In the meantime,
this situation is changing: on November 13, 2015, lecturers fromabout twenty universities were invited to a one-day workshop at the
WITTENSTEIN Headquarters in Igersheim. The aim was to discuss
how the new technology can be anchored in the bachelor and master’s curriculae for upcoming engineers and designers in an arrayof technical disciplines using modern didactic concepts. The workshop wound up with a tour of the WITTENSTEIN Innovation Factory,
where Galaxie® Drive Systems are built, and at the end of the day
the workshop participants were unanimous in their satisfaction withthe outcomes, which will benefit both teaching and future R&D workon Galaxie® applications.

DMT: Leading international manufacturer of lathes
DMT Drehmaschinen GmbH of
Lörrach, in the far south-west
corner of Germany, is a leadinginternational manufacturer oflathes for manual, cycle controlled and CNC machining as well asinteractive contour programming.
The portfolio of standard and special-purpose machines includes
models with a maximum swing
diameter of 280 mm to 1100 mm,
centre distances ranging between
500 mm and 6000 mm and a drive
power of 11.5 kW to 46 kW.
DMT was one of the first pilot
customers to use the completely
backlash-free Galaxie® technology – unlocking the door to
precision-turned parts of unprecedented quality.

move 19

November 2015, Zwiesel in the Bavarian Forest. The sun is shining but it’scold outside. The sales area and showroom at Zwiesel Kristallglas AG makes
a striking contrast: it’s comfortably warm there because several glass blowers
are about to demonstrate their craft. A large lung capacity and considerable
dexterity are necessary to mould hot drops into tumblers, wine glasses andvases. The visitors gaze in admiration.
They would probably be even more amazed if they could see how,
only a few metres away, around sixty thousand glasses are manufactured fully automatically every single day. The temperature is nolonger just warm but positively hot. There are also fine soot particles

20 moveand glass dust floating in the air, mingled with oil particles and steam –Zwiesel tumblers and wine glasses may look beautiful and elegant
on the shelf in a department store or on the dining room table, but
the conditions in which they’re made are very harsh indeed.

Applications

Compact, ready to mount, controllable, maintenance-free and economical –at Zwiesel Kristallglas, linear actuators built by WITTENSTEIN cyber motor
make glass production more efficient.

When servo technology
offers crystal clear benefits

Linear actuators with an
integral screw fromWITTENSTEIN cyber motor
are individually designed
and configured based on a
modular system.

move 21

Linear actuators overcome performance limits
Against this background Iprotec GmbH, a special-purpose machine-builder which was originally part of Zwiesel Kristallglas’ equipment manufacturing operations, integrated custom-developed linear
actuators in its production process – replacing the old pneumatics.
“Before this happened, we obviously had to convince the customer that our linear actuators not only comply with all the technicalrequirements but are also sufficiently durable”, reports Carolin Ank,
Product Manager at WITTENSTEIN cyber motor. The actuators
were designed and built to be robust enough to justify switching toa fundamentally different technology. “Introducing linear actuators
in a glass machine in place of energy-intensive, high-maintenancepneumatic cylinders was a major developmental advance”, explains
Klaus Lesche, Technical Sales Manager Glass Machines at Iprotec.
“We were hoping that the servo technology, which offers better controllability by design, and the superior integration in the higher-level
controller would help us overcome traditional performance limits.”

Linear actuators: optimal performance based on a modular system
The linear actuators can be suppliedin various sizes with different – evencustomized – flange geometries,
suitable screw types, active lengths
to match and the required brake“Mechanical glassblowers” at work
Hot, liquid crystal glass exits from the melting furnaces at 1500°C
and is portioned in feeders. The glass drop – or gob – produced inthis way is received by one of two plungers while the second transfers it to the blow moulding machine after it has been pressed into
tablet form. In the past, the vertical movement of the two plungers
was always rigidly coupled by design. “This had two serious drawbacks: we were obliged to use expensive compressed air and themachines regularly had to be shut down due to leaks”, Klaus Leschecontinues. “On top of that, we had no way of controlling the pneumatic cylinders separately in order to reduce the idle times. Unfortunately, it took just as long to move the plunger with the tablet as it
did without.”

and encoder variants. The result:compact, ready-to-mount and commercially optimized solutions thatare particularly effective in extreme
conditions.

By installing
linear actuators fromWITTENSTEIN cyber motorin the transfer unit, it waspossible to increase thethroughput and make thehandling process more
reproducible.

22 moveApplications

Beautiful and elegant: around 60 to 70 million tumblers and wine glasses leave the Zwiesel Kristallglas production
facilities in Bavaria every year.

Linear actuators boost
performance by

20%

The team responsible for introducing linear actuators in the glass production
process at Zwiesel Kristallglas: Klaus Lesche, Technical Sales Manager Glass
Machines at Iprotec GmbH, Carolin Ank, Product Manager, and Jan Rohde, Technical Sales, both WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH (from right to left).

“Iprotec has managed to reduce this idle time to a minimum andincrease the throughput because the linear actuators are separately controllable”, confirms Jan Rohde of Technical Sales at
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor. The force and speed can now be set
precisely and controlled in a reproducible way. The number of gobs
transferred has increased by about twenty percent as a result andthe performance of the downstream blow moulding machine boosted accordingly.

Linear actuators take the place ofpneumatics: successful technology
shift means more performance in glass
production.

move 23

Applications

One metre per second – that was the performance demanded.
Three metres per second – that was the performance actually supplied by
WITTENSTEIN. It’s simple arithmetic: workpiece machining productivity wastrebled. TPM+ servo actuators built by WITTENSTEIN motion control havesignificantly improved the performance of SECKLER AG’s brush deburrers.

Better than ordered

TPM+
WITTENSTEIN motion control’s TPM+ motor / gearhead units impress with extreme compactness,high power density and reliable dynamics.
Today, the TPM+ is used in more than 40,000 linear
and rotary motion tasks.

SECKLER AG: Production automation, handling technology andcustomized mechanical engineering
From its headquarters in Pieterlen (Switzerland), SECKLER engages
in international activities linked to the development and implementation of bespoke machines and systems – such as handling units
for machine tools, pallet feeding, linkage and gripper systems for
grinding and honing cells or special-purpose machines like brushdeburrers.
“The components handled by our systems range in size from one
gram to several kilograms and from one millimetre to fifty centimetres”, explains Jacques Hess, Managing Director. “Our machines
are used in the automotive and transportation sectors, hydraulics,
pneumatics and medical technology as well as watches, jewellery
and a wide range of consumer goods.

24 move

The highly compact design of the TPM+
permits space-saving integration in SECKLER deburo
brush deburrers.

Jacques Hess, CEO of SECKLER, sums up: “If the individual work
steps are accelerated, our throughput is higher and our runningcosts are lower”. The faster and the more precisely the wire andabrasive brush units can be moved, especially in the X axis, the higher our brushing and deburring productivity. Yet the special dynamics
were not the only challenge confronting the TPM+ dynamic and TPM+
power servo actuators.
A new dimension in dynamics and power
The brush deburrers in the deburo series were specifically developed for surface finishing in linear or rotary indexing processes. They
are individually integrated in the customer’s work steps and processes following machining operations such as milling, turning, grindingor honing. “When we designed an automatic fine deburring machinefor hobbing workpieces, the customer specified a speed of one metre per second”, Jacques Hess recalls. “That meant the servo actuators in the three machine axes had to meet certain dynamics requirements that the existing motor / gearhead units were unable to fulfil.”And that wasn’t the only problem: “At the same time, the motor /gearhead units had to have an extremely short overall length and runvery quietly”, adds André Müller, a sales engineer at WITTENSTEIN
AG in Grüsch (Switzerland).
TPM+ dynamic and TPM+ power meet all performancerequirements
TPM+ servo actuators from WITTENSTEIN motion control were theperfect answer. “They’re used at SECKLER as a rack-and-pinion
solution that meets the specified performance criteria reliably andcontrollably”, André Müller continues. To begin with, their power density is excellent. It’s achieved with the help of a special design principle: the sun wheel of the gearhead is pressed directly into the motor
shaft. The mounting dimensions of the servo actuators are much,
much smaller as a result – with a total length saving of around fifty percent. The helical toothing in the gearhead guarantees exceptionallysmooth running at the output, plus a very low noise level, with boththe super-fast TPM+ dynamic and the high-torque TPM+ power.
Finally, a movable lubricating pinion ensures an optimal lubricant filmon the rack and the pinion – prolonging the life of the entire rack-andpinion system.
Muscle packed solutions for more productivity“Thanks to the servo actuators we got from our partner, WITTENSTEIN motion control, the system is better than ordered”, Jacques
Hess confirms. It’s no wonder that the engineers at SECKLER havevowed to put their trust in the muscle packed servo actuators in the
TPM+ series again in the future.

SECKLER modulo handling cell used to fit a grinding machine with an integral brush deburrer.

move 25

Products

WITTENSTEIN bastian GmbHcan draw on extensive expertise in the development andmanufacture of high speed, high torque and low noise
gearheads adapted to almost any requirements.

26 move

Bespoke gearheads
from a single supplier
Gearheads with a maximum speed of 100,000 rpm are pushed to
the limits as regards lubrication, bearings, operating temperature andshaft dynamics. The highest levels of development and manufacturingexpertise are therefore called for when designing gearheads for
operation at such high speeds. WITTENSTEIN bastian has a longtrack record of success here.

This 2-stage spur
gearhead guarantees
top performance inelectric motor racing: thecustomer is delighted withthe maximum 13,000 rpm
speed. The outer casing is
made of aluminium, which
reduces the weight of thisbespoke, special-purpose
gearhead.

move 27

The gearheads are built at the“Future Urban Production” facility in Fellbach, where excellent
engineering and manufacturing
capabilities are combined under
one roof – from the original idea
to series production.

»Every year, 1.4 million gear wheels
are manufactured and around 5000
gearheads assembled at the
Future Urban Production facility in
Fellbach.«
DR. MARIA HERGESELL,
HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT,WITTENSTEIN BASTIAN GMBH

Mechanical or electrical energy production from a turbine is a typicalapplication of high speed gearheads. The very high speeds of up to
100,000 rpm have to be reduced here with a gearhead to enable themechanical power to be utilized directly or converted to electricity
by a generator. Standard catalogue gears are totally unsuited for
applications of this kind. “Special-purpose gearheads have to be
developed that come up to the industry’s expectations for efficiency,load carrying capacity and operating life. An ultra-compact designand light weight are also important for mobile applications”, reports
Dr. Maria Hergesell, Head of Technology Management at WITTENSTEIN bastian GmbH.

The quality of every gear wheel batch is verified by experienced staff
in our own materials test lab after it leaves the heat treatment line.
We analyze the material composition, surface hardness and hardness
depth curve – and we also carry out an optical analysis of the structure
on an etched specimen on request.

28 move

Development
As the first step in the development of special gearheads at
WITTENSTEIN bastian, the technical details are clarified with thecustomer. The specification which is agreed in this way forms thebasis for the development process. In particular, the design objectives must be defined and prioritized. Close consultation between
the Engineering team and Production is a key feature of all development activities at WITTENSTEIN bastian.
“When designing a high speed gearhead, it’s imperative to consider
the specialized requirements with respect to the teeth, material andbearings. All machine components like shafts, shaft-hub couplings
or bearings are designed by us using generally accepted analytical

Products

As the first step in the development of high-end
gearheads and gear wheel solutions at WITTENSTEIN
bastian, the technical details are clarified with thecustomer.

In the Class 2 precision
measuring room according to
VDI / VDE 2627, with Klingelnberg and Zeiss measuringmachines, WITTENSTEIN
bastian checks that every
single tooth, shaft and housing conforms to the highest
quality standards.

or numerical methods”, says Dr. Maria Hergesell when asked to describe the various development steps. Many years of experience anda sound theoretical foundation are vital in order to optimize the load
carrying capacity, efficiency and noise excitation of spur and bevel
gears. Commercial tools such as KissSoft, FVA-Workbench, Bearinx
or Ansys are chosen for the calculations. In some cases, proprietary strategies to support the design process have been translated into self-written programs. The components are modelled using
Siemens’ NX 3D CAD system. Production-compatible drawings withdefinitions of the required contact and clamping surfaces are derived from these virtual gearhead models in cooperation with Production and Quality Assurance. Only very little runout is allowed withhigh speed gearheads owing to the high, additional dynamic forces.
Where possible, existing tools and workholders are resorted to fordesigning and manufacturing prototypes. If special tooth geometries
are unavoidable, they are achieved using the most flexible production methods such as profile or generating grinding with line-by-line
dressing or five axis milling.
Manufacturing
Every year, 1.4 million gear wheels are manufactured and around5000 gearheads assembled at the “Future Urban Production” facility in Fellbach. “All machining steps are completed on the premises: turning and milling, hard turning, cylindrical grinding, gear milling,gear slotting, generating or profile grinding and joining”, Dr. Maria
Hergesell continues. The in-house heat treatment line, on whichgear wheels can be quenched and tempered, case hardened andfrozen, is another core process at WITTENSTEIN bastian. The surface hardness and hardness depth curve of every hardened batchare verified in our own materials test lab. In addition, an opticalanalysis of the structure can be carried out on an etched specimen
on request. In the Class 2 precision measuring room according to
VDI / VDE 2627, with Klingelnberg and Zeiss measuring machines,
WITTENSTEIN bastian checks that every single tooth, shaft andhousing conforms to the highest quality standards. Based on the
results, the gearhead can then be optimized for production use incollaboration with Engineering, Production and the customer.
A thorough knowledge of drive technology is essential to develop
bespoke, special-purpose gearheads for high performance requirements or extreme operating conditions. Yet it is equally important
not to lose sight of manufacturability. WITTENSTEIN bastian unites
the necessary expertise with excellent manufacturing capabilities.
The combination of engineering and production under one roof also
saves considerable time during the development process. The potential industries and applications are practically unlimited.

move 29

Products

No chance for germs
Hygienic design by WITTENSTEIN

30 moveAnyone who enjoys cooking – from budding kitchen maestro to star-rated chef –knows that cleanliness and hygiene are indispensable in the presence of food.
The biggest differences when it comes to industrial manufacturing and packaging
of food products are the colossal amounts that are processed and packed
automatically and the global reach of many convenience products. In the worst
case, therefore, hygiene risks and health hazards have a global dimension – forinstance, if foodstuffs perish. Impeccably clean and spotless machinery andequipment, open machine concepts and often complete asepsis or absolute
sterility are stipulated for this reason.

The Hygienic Design version of
the cyber dynamic line (at theback in the photo) was developed by WITTENSTEIN cybermotor as an industry-standard
brushless DC motor to facilitate
hygienic drive automation in production and packaging machines.

cyber dynamic line

Maximum hygiene in the fight against microorganisms
To achieve these goals, the production and packaging equipment used in food processing and beveragebottling applications or in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products must be cleaned regularly, in otherwords covered with lather and sprayed down with aggressive fluids. Steam and high pressure cleaners destroy even the most stubborn accumulations of bacteria. However, this places above-average demands on
the automation components installed in the machines, for example on the gearheads and servo actuators.
At the same time, the heavy stresses must not cause the latter to fail because the industry expects
the highest levels of performance and availability both from the plant itself and from its components.
The answer: corrosion resistant, hygienic solutions from WITTENSTEIN that are characterized by optimal
dynamics, precision and reliability no matter how harsh the surroundings.

move 31

Products

The HDV Hygienic Design series
by WITTENSTEIN alpha are currently the only
planetary gearheads of their kind with EHEDG
certification.

What is hygienic design?

Hygienic design is a combination of well thought-out
design features and appropriate materials.
Housings with a hygienic design are completely freeof gaps, corners and protruding screw heads that
could provide a breeding ground for microorganisms.
Other characteristics of hygienic designs are smoothsurfaces, rounded edges and non-horizontal surfaces
where cleaning materials and disinfectants can drain
off freely after working in and being rinsed with water.

HDV

Stainless steel is recommended for exterior housing
surfaces where particularly rigorous cleaning requirements apply. As well as being extremely resistant tocleaning materials and disinfectants, stainless steel
surfaces are conducive to the death of microorganisms. Electropolished and rolled stainless steel isas smooth as glass, so that no particles can adhere
to the surfaces and cleaning materials can drain off
without leaving any residues.
In many cases Teflon (PTFE) – resistant to cleaners
and approved for food contact – is the material of
choice for sealing gearheads and servo actuators
hygienically.

Standards,
directives andrecommendations

Hygienic design is governed by an international,
complementary set of standards, directives andrecommendations.
The following are binding in Europe:
Requirements of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
EU basic regulation 178/2002 on food safety
Regulations 1935/2004 and 2023/2006 on
materials and articles intended to come into contact
with food
Various supportive standards also exist regarding specific hygienic requirements for machinery or operating
supplies and consumables as well as the design recommendations of the European Hygienic Engineering &Design Group (EHEDG).
WITTENSTEIN implements all legal requirements andrecommendations systematically worldwide.
WITTENSTEIN alpha and WITTENSTEIN motion control
are EHEDG members.

32 move

WITTENSTEIN’s space saving
solutions enable hygienic drive
automation in the gripper of apick & place robot.

WITTENSTEIN motion control’s axenia value seriesof hygienic servo actuators made of full stainlesssteel are ideal for use in the food processing andpackaging industries.

axenia value

Cutting-edge hygienic gearheads, servo motors
and servo actuators
During the last few years, the WITTENSTEIN Group has built up specific expertise in hygienic design: The Hygienic Design version of thecyber dynamic line product family, for instance, was developed by
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor as an industry-standard brushless DC
motor to facilitate hygienic drive automation in production and packaging machines in the pharmaceutical, food processing and cosmetics industries. It can be integrated directly in axes where space
is a critical factor, such as the gripper of a pick & place robot. The
HDV Hygienic Design series by WITTENSTEIN alpha are currently
the only planetary gearheads of their kind with EHEDG certification,
providing the highest possible protection against product and process contamination risks. Customers seeking hygienic servo actuators made of full stainless steel as motor / gearhead units from asingle supplier can choose WITTENSTEIN motion control’s axenia
value series as a complete, optimally interacting system conforming

to EHEDG design guidelines. Finally, premo – the new, scalable servo actuator platform – will in future be offered with industry-specific“wash” and “food” packages as corrosion resistant, hygienic solutions for the food processing, bottling and packaging industries.
Rising demand for hygienic designs
The demand for machines with a hygienic design will continue to rise,not least because changing consumer habits are already leading
to a steadily growing array of individually wrapped or single-serving
food and convenience products. Hygienic designs simultaneously
minimize the risk of high direct and indirect costs to food and pharmaceutical manufacturers or bottling and packaging specialists if
contamination results in machine stoppages or – even worse – arecall campaign causes untold damage to the company’s brands
and image. Awareness of the benefits of hygienic design is increasing – and with it the demand for hygienic drive technology made by
WITTENSTEIN.

move 33

»Going on the road gave me amore cosmopolitan outlook andmade me a more independent andrelaxed person.«
PATRICK ROMMEL,TECHNICAL SALES SUPPORTWITTENSTEIN ELECTRONICS GMBH

34 moveWITTENSTEIN GroupiStock.com/omersukrugoksu

iStock.com/chelovek

In the Andes a different
sense of time applies
On the road in Peru

He was on the road for three months, during which he travelled over 5500 miles – mostof them in more than 130 hours on long-distance coaches, often overnight. His chosen
project was on the subject of technical training in Peru and the intensive contact with thecountry and its people taught him many valuable lessons: Patrick Rommel used to study
at a Cooperative State University in tandem with WITTENSTEIN and meanwhile works in
Technical Sales Support at WITTENSTEIN electronics. His personal conclusion: “Going on
the road gave me a more cosmopolitan outlook and made me a more independent andrelaxed person”.
Patrick Rommel is one of 45 trainees and Cooperative State University students since 2011 to have taken part in WITTENSTEIN’s“PIONEERS hit the road” programme after completing their training
or degree course. In a land of their choice and with a project initiatedby them, young adults have a chance to form their own impressionsof the country and its people – of its politics, culture, society andgeography.
To date, all of them have returned with valuable insights for their future lives and their personal development – and Rommel is no exception: “My period on the road was a unique experience and thelessons I learned during my three months as a ‘journeyman’ will
stand me in good stead on my professional and private path.” Peter
Schuster, Sales Manager at WITTENSTEIN electronics GmbH,agrees unequivocally with this statement: “I firmly believe that going on the road generates important stimuli for the development of
the youngsters’ personality – both in general and in his particularcase. Individual responsibility, a willingness to take decisions andthe ability to understand what motivates people and influences theirattitudes are things that will help him both in his private pursuits andin his job here in Technical Sales.”Technical training in Peru
Why Peru of all places? “To begin with, it was more of a privately
motivated decision”, Patrick Rommel recalls. “I then started to takea closer look at the country, to gather information and study reports.
They strengthened my conviction that Peru was the place for me because a totally new situation would await me there – which is how it
should be for a pioneer.” The subject he selected for his project whileon the road was technical training in Peru. Following countless interviews, conversations and visits to training institutions, he insists that
it was an altogether exciting topic. The start, however, was bumpy,
to say the least: “I found it almost impossible to establish contacts
and arrange appointments by phone or online from Germany”,
Patrick Rommel recollects, and there were many moments of frustration before the ball finally began to roll. “But when I finally arrived
in Peru, I’d only been there a few days when I received an invitation from Alf Buddecke, the Director of the Vocational Centre at themove 35

WITTENSTEIN GroupPIONEERS hit the road

With its “PIONEERS hit the road” project WITTENSTEIN has revived a medieval tradition. The traditionof taking to the road – the "journeyman years” – wasoriginally partaken in by youngsters who had completed their apprenticeship as a craftsman. Fromthe late Middle Ages to the early period ofindustrialization, it was one of the prerequisites for any apprentice aspiring to bepromoted to master. Journeyman were
expected to profit from their time on theroad to become acquainted with new working practices, get to know foreign places,
regions and countries and gain experience that would stand them in good steadfor the rest of their lives – exactly likethe young WITTENSTEIN pioneers today.
They spend about three months travelling around the country of their choiceand gathering information on a subject
that particularly interests them.

Patrick Rommel looks down on Macchu Picchu, the world-famous ruined city, 2720 metres above sea level.

Humboldt School in Lima.” It proved to be a win-win visit: Patrick
Rommel came away with some useful tips and contacts, which
he availed of to build up an interview network over the next few
weeks. In return, he was able to organize a direct contact withWITTENSTEIN, and a pupil from the Humboldt School will be undertaking a placement at our Headquarters in Igersheim later this year.
Technical training in Peru: “typically German”
is not such a bad thing
Patrick Rommel also picked up valuable information during conversations with the German-Peruvian Chamber of Commerce,
SENATI – a semi-publicly funded educational institute with branches
all over the country – and Faber-Castell, the stationery manufacturer, which employs seven hundred people at its production facility in
Lima. The results of his investigations are not really surprising: people’s perceptions of training quality and the reasons for shortcomings vary according to their point of view. Patrick Rommel: “Those
who can afford to pay for education and training have a definite advantage”. He himself was regarded as a rather exotic creature everywhere he went: “Hardly anyone could understand how I could be aqualified engineer so young. Not only that, I was even earning money while I was still training.” This was just much a culture shock for
Patrick Rommel himself as it was for the people he interviewed. It
took him a while to take in and fully comprehend their reactions: “Ittaught me that we take a lot of things in this world for granted, yet for
many people they’re completely out of reach”. He also learned fromthis and similar experiences to see his own system of cultural values with slightly different eyes. “It may sound very old-fashioned but

36 move

typical German virtues like punctuality, reliability and orderliness canmake life a lot easier, at least in a business environment. The Peruvian mentality is quite the opposite, which probably goes a long way
towards explaining the current situation in technical training”.

iStock.com/atosan

The impressive skyline of Lima, the Peruvian capital

Learning to stay cool
Patrick Rommel doesn’t have to think long when asked how he himself has changed as a result of
going on the road: “The ability to stay cool. I can cope better with uncertainties now and react ina much more relaxed way to the unexpected. I’m also better equipped to take my own decisions
and if I need to weigh up several alternatives, I can distinguish more easily between argumentsthat matter and those that don’t.” And of course, his intercultural skills are no comparison to theold days before he went on the road: “You develop an awareness of other cultures and other people. That’s a vital asset if you want to understand their actions and motives, their lifestyles, theiropinions and feelings or their problems in different situations and respond to them accordingly.”

Patrick Rommel learned a lot about
technical training in Peru at SENATI,
a semi-publicly funded educational
institute.

Cosmopolitan, independent and relaxed –these qualities will serve Patrick Rommel ingood stead both privately and in his
job in Sales.

move 37

Trade Fairs

Trade fair calendar
2016

Hannover Messe

SMART

ILA Berlin Air Show

Hanover (Germany)
WITTENSTEIN Group
Hall 15, Stand F08
April 25 to 29, 2016

Vienna (Austria)
WITTENSTEIN GmbHHall A, Stand A0125
May 10 to 12, 2016

Berlin (Germany)
WITTENSTEIN aerospace & simulation GmbHHall 2, BDLI Pavilion
June 1 to 4, 2016

OTC

SPS IPC Drives

all about automation

Houston / Texas (USA)WITTENSTEIN motion control GmbHHall B, Stand 4527-29
May 2 to 5, 2016

Parma (Italy)
WITTENSTEIN S.P.A.
Hall 2, Stand E062
May 24 to 26, 2016Friedrichshafen (Germany)
WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbHHall A2, Stand 209
June 7 to 8, 2016

FEIMEC

XylexpoEurosatory

São Paulo (Brazil)
WITTENSTEIN do Brasil
May 3 to 7, 2016

Milan (Italy)
WITTENSTEIN S.P.A.
May 24 to 28, 2016

Paris (France)
WITTENSTEIN motion control GmbHHall 6, German Pavilion
June 13 to 17, 2016

IFFA

BIEMH

Frankfurt (Germany)
WITTENSTEIN Group
Hall 11.0, Stand A18
May 7 to 12, 2016

Bilbao (Spain)
WITTENSTEIN S.L.U.
May 30 to June 4, 2016

38 move

The 21st Beijing Essen Welding & Cutting Fair
Beijing (China)
WITTENSTEIN (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
June 14 to 17, 2016

WITTENSTEIN is represented at numerous trade fairs and exhibitions worldwide.
We look forward to meeting you!

China International Robot Show
Shanghai / Hongqiao (China)
WITTENSTEIN (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
July 6 to 9, 2016

Farnborough International Airshow
Farnborough (UK)WITTENSTEIN aerospace & simulation GmbHHall 4, Stand F120
July 11 to 17, 2016

Taipei International
Industrial Automation Exhibition
Taipei (Taiwan)
WITTENSTEIN Co., Ltd.
August 31 to September 3, 2016

Stuttgart (Germany)
WITTENSTEIN Group
October 10 to 13, 2016

SindexBerne (Switzerland)
WITTENSTEIN AG
September 6 to 8, 2016

AMTS

World of Technology & Science

Shanghai / Pudong (China)
WITTENSTEIN (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
August 24 to 26, 2016

Utrecht (Netherlands)
WITTENSTEIN bvba
October 4 to 7, 2016

NEPCON Presentation
Microelectronics South China

BI-MU

Shenzhen (China)
WITTENSTEIN (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
August 30 to September 1, 2016

Motek 2016

Milan (Italy)
WITTENSTEIN S.P.A.
October 4 to 8, 2016

move 39