move

The magazine for customers and partners of WITTENSTEIN SE

November 2017

WITTENSTEIN
in all axes
move talks
to WITTENSTEIN alphamove

The magazine for customers and partners of WITTENSTEIN SE

Contents

Masthead
Publisher:
WITTENSTEIN SE
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:
19/November 2017
Circulation:
German: 3500 copies
English: 1100 copies
Production:
IMMAGIS
Königsbergerstr. 20
97072 Würzburg / Germany
All rights reserved. This document may
not be reprinted or electronically distributed without the express permission of
the publisher.

2 move4

Interview withMichael Müller, Andreas Mei and Michael Soeding

6

WITTENSTEIN in all axes
WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbH

8

Highly dynamic and hygienic packaging
WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbH

10

Frameless servo motors
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH

12

Made to measure exactly
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH

14

Snails have teeth
attocube systems AG

16

Superiority proven in practice
Galaxie® Drive System

18

Precision is not a problem
Galaxie® Drive System

20

Electromobility for the railways
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH

24

“Prosperity for everyone”
Essay by Manfred Wittenstein to mark his 75th birthday

26

Highest-level quality worldwide
WITTENSTEIN Group27

Trade fair calendar 2017/18

Dear readers,Superiority proven in practice. If you turn to page 16 of this delivery reliability. It is thanks to you alone that our order booknewest issue of our customer magazine, you’ll find this head- has been permanently well-filled for some time now: every sinline there – in connection with our Galaxie ® Drive System. Its gle order and every single project we receive from you is a clear
outstanding technical merits and the stunning performance en- vote of confidence in us. It shows us that you trust in our passion
hancements it enables in machines have already caused ex- for innovation and excellent products. You can discover in an
isting design strategies to be overturned and rebuilt in many interview with Managing Director Michael Müller, Sales Manager
places. It is only when technical innovations turn out to be a Andreas Mei and Michael Soeding, Manager Export Sales, howgenuine success factor for users that their inventors and devel- our biggest subsidiary WITTENSTEIN alpha intends to live up to
opers have done everything right – and only then can they claim this commitment in the future.
superiority proven in practice for their particular “babies”. The I have held the responsible office of Board Spokesman since
bar is set high – not only for drive systems and machines but the summer. Dr. Manfred Wittenstein, proprietor and present
also, of course, for their production and sales processes. Ever Chairman of the WITTENSTEIN SE Supervisory Board, provides
more complex technical innovations by users and the dynamics inspiration and motivation to me personally as well as to myof the market environment demand ever higher levels of excel- colleagues on the Management Board. On pages 24/25 he delence in production and logistics.
scribes in an essay titled “Prosperity for everyone” what has
Our motto for the upcoming SPS/IPC Drives 2017 will be been his driving force all his life and indeed continues to drive“FOCUSED ON YOUR NEEDS”. You can look forward to some him today: the desire to run a company successfully yet neverfascinating applications from industry and research with drive theless act ethically. Is that actually possible? He believes it istechnology made by WITTENSTEIN – both here in this magazine – and he cites several good reasons for accepting responsibility.
and “live” at our booth in Nuremberg. No matter how ambitious Not simply as an entrepreneur, not simply as an engineer but as
our growth plans, what matters most is our ability to continue one of the countless people who want to create a good future
exciting you, our customers. With an optimized product portfo- for themselves and their children.
lio that is fully in tune with the market and the highest levels of

Dr. Bernd Schimpf
Spokesman of the Management Board, WITTENSTEIN SE

move

3

move talks to:

Michael Müller, Andreas Mei and Michael Soeding

Putting strategy into practice
WITTENSTEIN alphashifts its market focus
The biggest and most tradition steeped subsidiary of
the WITTENSTEIN Group has launched a campaign toadvise and serve its customers even faster, even morecomprehensively and in an even more focused way,
no matter where they happen to be in the world. The
portfolio of products and services has been significantly
expanded as a result of consolidating several businesssegments Group-wide – leading to even closer
cooperation between Managing Director Michael Müller,
Sales Manager Andreas Mei and Michael Soeding,Manager Export Sales.

move: WITTENSTEIN alpha now covers asweeping portfolio – from mechanical drives
through gearing (as the core competency)
to special-purpose gearhead solutions. This
would appear to be a visible consequence ofyour internal reorganization.
Müller: Yes, the sales and development functions for motor-gearhead units as well as
special-purpose gearheads and customized
gearing components have been transferred tous from other Business Units of the WITTENSTEIN Group. An approach that has gradually
evolved over the last few years has now been
integrated.
If we take a look at what is happening in themarket, the standardization and consolidation of our internal structures and processes
is a logical outcome. In other words, our strategy has now been put into practice. And incidentally, the optimization of our worldwide

4 moveproduction network in Germany, Switzerland,
Romania and the U.S. is also a part of thisstrategy.
move: Customers have a right to expect clarity, reliability and speed. Aside from excellent
products, supply performance is crucial for
successful business relationships. Yet what
options are available to you when this performance suffers because the level of incoming
orders remains permanently high?
Mei: Intensive consulting is necessary in thecapital goods sector, and in a metaphoricalsense we don’t sell products but confidence.
There’s no question that delivery reliability is
a top priority; let’s face it, the confidence ofsome of our customers has been severely tested in recent months. Our Sales team are working hand in hand with Development and Production to re-establish our traditional supply

Managing Director MichaelMüller, Manager Export Sales
Michael Soeding and Sales Manager Andreas Mei (from rightto left) give customers a clear
competitive lead with WITTENSTEIN alpha products

performance and we, too, have reorganizedourselves more efficiently during the last few
months both in the back office and worldwide
out there in the field.
move: Sustainable competitiveness is invariably driven by the ability to strengthen your own
innovative vitality. Where does the emphasis lie
for WITTENSTEIN alpha?
Mei: First of all, we’ve closed gaps in our portfolio of mechanical products, for example byrounding off our alpha Value Line gearhead series or with the newly developed V-Drive Basic.
The market has also reacted with overwhelming enthusiasm to our patented, proprietaryprinciple for chipless rack pinning. Not only the
hardware but software tools too – which by theway have long had a firm place in our service
portfolio – are growing in importance. We’repleased that our systematic efforts to optimize

Interview

cymex® and the launch of the SIZING ASSISTANT with new performance and excitement
features have convinced our customers. Of
course, we’re also focusing more and more on
digitalized products and – last but not least –on increasing the power density of all mechanical components.
move: WITTENSTEIN is a company with global reach: in the meantime, the Group employsaround 2400 people. What is the next station
on WITTENSTEIN alpha’s global journey?
Soeding: As we see it, being close to where
our customers are is an essential conditionof sustained worldwide growth. Ever since
our first international subsidiary opened in
the eighties (in France), we’ve been steadilystrengthening our presence throughout theworld, most recently last year with the establishment of a Turkish subsidiary in Istanbul.

Apart from our key home markets in Europe,
notably Germany and Italy, the Asian market
for industrial goods – take the distinct upward
trend that can currently be observed in Japanand China in terms of investments and manufacturing – is playing an increasingly importantrole for us.
And the production capacities at our North
American facility in Bartlett / Chicago have (fortunately) been exhausted for a while now. We’llsoon be adding extra production space on theexisting premises for that reason.

demand in WITTENSTEIN alpha’s relevant
industries is likely to continue into the next
quarter. In view of the present general political uncertainty, however, I prefer to be cautious about the probability of any such forecast.
One thing is sure: we’re investing massively inthe future in order to generate real competitive
advantages for our customers, for example byexpanding the networking capabilities of our
products and solutions in the drive and measurement systems segment.

move: There are only a few weeks remaining
until the year end after SPS/IPC/Drives 2017 isover. Would you care to give us your forecast
for 2018?
Müller: All the lights are still green: both economic research institutes and many of ourbusiness partners estimate that the strong

move

5

WITTENSTEIN
in all axes

Better, quieter, more reduction ratios
The optimized SP+ and TP+ low-backlash planetary gearheads

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Up to 20% more torque
Up to 29% higher speeds
Noise level: ≤ 59 dB(A)New reduction ratios: i=8, 32 or 64
Service life: 1000 to 20,000 h

SP +, TP +Higher output torques and maximum speedswith a larger range of ratios as well as moreenergy efficiency and minimized noise levels –these are the hallmarks of the new, low-backlash planetary gearheads from WITTENSTEIN
alpha. With their increased power density, SP+
and TP+ enable better utilization of the motor’scapacity and more dynamic processes. The
outcome: shorter machine cycle times andhigher productivity. The improved gearhead
utilization and 96 percent efficiency simultaneously permit significantly lower energy consumption on the motor side. Thanks to theiroptimized helical teeth, both of these planetary

6 movegearheads are now quieter than ever before:
even at speeds of 3000 revolutions per minute,the noise intensity never rises above normal
conversational level. The combination of thesebenefits means the SP+ and TP+ low-backlash
planetary gearheads are also an attractive alternative for retrofits and upgrades of existingmachines.
Gearhead design now also reﬂects theservice life
A precise, reliable and above all application-oriented gearhead design is vital in order to derive the full advantage from all of this.
Once again, as a one-stop supplier, WITTENSTEIN alpha has exactly the right solution in
the form of the cymex® 5 sizing software: in the
future, the new release will allow the planned
useful life of the gearhead to be included in thedesign process.

Performance, power, precision
The XP+ and RP+ planetary gearheads and. Improved power transmission. Significantly less torsional backlash. Maximum torsional rigidity. 5 sizes. Additional binary reduction ratios

XP +, RP +The redesigned output interface is one of thehighlights of the compact Premium XP+ andRP+ gearheads. It was developed with very
high torques in mind and enables improved
power transmission far exceeding the industry
standard. The gearhead kinematics and theexceptional tooth quality ensure permanently
low torsional backlash of less than one arcminute – and hence lifelong precision. The RP+
low-backlash planetary gearhead particularly
impresses with the high rigidity of its kinematics. The torsional backlash of less than one
arcminute and the high stiffness of three key
components – the shaft, bearing and flange

Products

Ever more complex user specifications and wide-awake competitors
characterize the dynamic market environment in which WITTENSTEIN
alpha has gained a firm foothold over the past few decades astechnology leader in all segments from general to high-end. In themeantime, WITTENSTEIN develops complete, single-supplier solutions
for driving any axis. Power density, product quality and reliability
are just as much a part of the WITTENSTEIN alpha brand essence
as innovative vitality – as demonstrated by our intelligent upgrade
spanning several product groups in the high-end segment.

their right-angle versions– result in extraordinary positioning accuracy
and repeatability, especially in applicationsin the high performance machine tool sector.
Linear applications with a rack and pinion are
a further field of use for this gearhead – for instance, as an integral element of the new Premium Linear System.
Right-angle stages provide optimum performance when space is limited
Both planetary gearhead series can also be
supplied in a right-angle version, so that thehigh power density of the XP+ and RP+ can be
optimally exploited, even in confined spaces.
Customers can choose between versions withbeveled or hypoid teeth.

Emphasis on design friendliness
Rack-and-pinion solutions as optimized, preferred linear systems

.
.
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.
.

Perfectly matched components
Very high efficiency
Maximum power density
Easy mounting
Different sizes

Linear systems
Reflecting modern feed force, positioning accuracy and smooth running requirements, the
WITTENSTEIN alpha portfolio of linear systems consists of economical rack-and-pinion
solutions with scaled performance – Value,
Advanced and Premium – which are optimally
adapted to each application.
Value Linear Systems with the NPR planetary
gearhead are designed for comparatively low
requirements and thus represent a particularly cost-effective solution for linear applications.
Advanced Linear Systems with SP+ and TP+
planetary gearheads are adequate for midrange to high requirements. They convince

with excellent value for money and can also be
combined with the HIGH TORQUE and HIGHSPEED gearhead variants. The re-engineered
Premium Linear System is distinguished byvery high overall linear stiffness and achieves
excellent feed force and positioning accuracy
values. It exploits the improved dynamics andthe increased torque and power density offered by the new XP+ and RP+ planetary gearhead generations in both the coaxial and theright-angle versions.
Even easier conﬁguring
All linear systems are also available as design
friendly “preferred linear systems”. Customers
can select them either directly from the catalog or using the cymex® 5 sizing software.

move

7

Applications

High performance, corrosion resistant planetary
gearheads in a hygienic design from WITTENSTEIN
alpha meet even the most stringent requirementsof the food packaging industry.

Highly dynamic
and hygienic packaging

Packaging machine manufacturer
MULTIVAC and WITTENSTEIN
alpha worked in concert to set a
new industry standard for corrosion
resistant gearheads. The DP+
planetary gearheads, originallydesigned for delta robotics
applications, satisfy not only thestrict hygienic regulations of thefood industry but also the highperformance requirements fordelta robots used in pick & placeapplications.

A motor with aDP+ planetary gearhead
from WITTENSTEIN alphais mounted to eachgripper.

8 moveSven Sanitz, Sales Manager at WITTENSTEIN alpha’s Engineering Office South-East
in Ottobrunn, (left) and Kurt Waizenegger, responsible for Design and Development
within the MULTIVAC Systems division, (right) got together to adapt the corrosion
resistant WITTENSTEIN alpha gearheads to MULTIVAC’s specific requirements.

As a member of the EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group), WITTENSTEIN
alpha has been a pioneer of hygienic planetary
gearheads for many years now. “This is due
not least to our cooperation with companies
such as MULTIVAC, which consistently applies
hygienic design principles in its open machine
concept – and also insists on them for components like the planetary gearheads for delta
robots”, explains Sven Sanitz, Sales Manager
at WITTENSTEIN alpha’s Engineering OfficeSouth-East in Ottobrunn. “The reason is thatwashdown processes in the food sector – inother words, cleaning the machines at high or
low pressure using chemical cleaning materials and disinfectants – demand drive and automation components providing above-averagestability.” However, Kurt Waizenegger, responsible for Design and Development within the
MULTIVAC Systems division, does not believein enclosing standard gearheads to protect
them against external influences: “In our opinion, encapsulating the complete drive unit invariably has pitfalls”, he adds. “It never guarantees a perfectly tight seal. If condensate forms
in the encapsulation or heat builds up, this canlead to thermal problems for the electronics.
That’s why we decided that each component
should also meet the hygienic requirements individually.”
Consistent and uncompromising:
No chance for germs
An illustrative look at the packaging and handling modules suffices to comprehend MULTIVAC’s enormous commitment to hygienicallydesigned machines. The portal structure comprises a welded, latticed, stainless steel framewith inclined surfaces, from which liquids candrain off freely and completely after cleaning or
disinfection, for example. The frame section iseasily accessible for wet cleaning and is freeof undercuts, internal corners, gaps and deadspaces in which dirt could accumulate. The
same also goes with regard to the integrateddelta robot. Here, too, easy cleanability is a
design feature, so that germs no longer standa chance – any more than they do with theDP+ planetary gearheads which, as part of thedrives for the robot axes, are supported in the
top part of the open portal structure.
DP+ planetary gearheads – more than clean,more than the industry standard
The starting point for developing the hygienic
DP+ planetary gearheads in a stainless steel
housing was an existing standard gearheadcoated with hygienic paint. On the one hand,
it had previously achieved excellent results ina simulated five-year endurance test at MULTIVAC. “On the other, we wanted to makesure that its resistance to corrosion would
not be impaired either at installation time orsubsequently during operation, for instanceas a result of flaking paint or other damage”,
Waizenegger continues. The outcome was a
corrosion resistant gearhead variant, built according to hygienic principles, that also makes
a strong impression when it comes to compactness, dynamics and power density, especially in delta robotics applications. It takes up
less space, and is easily accessible, because itis accommodated in the portal frame – and thecosts for integration are lower. The gearheads
are screwed to the output flange of the robot’s
upper arms; these in turn move the articulated
lower arms, which have no drive of their own,
fast and precisely in all directions.
“The hygienic design of the planetary gearheads fulfills the requirements of all relevant
guidelines and directives as well as EHEDG
recommendations, among others”, Sanitz comments. The austenitic stainless steel
which was chosen offers maximum resistanceto corrosive fluids of the type stipulated forwashing down and disinfecting machines usedin food processing applications. All other exterior parts like the output, the screw connection
and the plug for the adapter plate are naturally
also made of stainless steel, as are the adapter
plates themselves. The easy-to-clean housing
design prevents dirt and liquids from accumulating – and cleaners of all kinds can drain off
freely. And since a food grade, non-toxic, class

UH1 6 high performance gear oil is employed,
the gearheads also run maintenance-free andare lubricated for life. Hygienic design is not restricted at WITTENSTEIN to the DP+ planetary
gearheads; in addition to other WITTENSTEIN
alpha gearhead series, servo actuators fromthis same Business Unit and small servo drive
systems from WITTENSTEIN cyber motor also
profit. And the hygiene pioneer’s portfolio isstill growing...

MULTIVAC
Efficient packaging with ahigh throughput
With around 5200 people on the payroll
worldwide and over 80 service and sales
companies, MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmüller
SE & Co. KG – at home in Wolfertschwenden(Bavaria) – is an internationally operating
developer and manufacturer of the mostdiverse packaging solutions, from vacuum
chamber machines for butcher’s shops to fully automated, integrated packaging lines for
all kinds of foodstuffs as well as life science,
healthcare and industrial products.
To meet the specific needs of the foodindustry, MULTIVAC has developed its own
delta robots, which have provided successful
service for many years now. Apart from precision, speed is a vital requirement: the H 244
handling module, for example, produces at
a speed of up to 120 pick & place cycles per
minute depending on the product weight andpick distances. MULTIVAC and WITTENSTEIN
alpha conceived the corrosion resistant DP+
planetary gearheads, which meet the rigorous hygienic and performance requirements
reliably, for delta robots working in the wet
areas of food packaging and filling plants.

move

9

Products

cyber® kit motors

Framelessservo motors
A special market
with special
requirements

10 move“A customer project generally begins withspecial requirements concerning the footprint,
weight, integration or power and torquedensity of a motor. Sometimes, however,clients simply want to keep as much added
value as possible within the company or havethe motors adapted to their own corporate
design. Thanks to the cyber® kit motors,
we can now comply with extremely varied
requirements”, explains Christoph Weis,
Product Manager at WITTENSTEIN cybermotor.

Distributed windings typically havea long service life and low cogging
torque.

Nothing but the motor – frameless, bearingless and encoderless
Rotor and stator – this is essentially what thecyber ® kit motors are comprised of, eventhough they can be extended with numerous
options such as sensors, mechanical interfaces, liquid cooling or a special cable outlet. By
varying the stator outer diameter, laminatedcore length, hollow shaft diameter and rotor
variant, these motors can be either power or
torque optimized. A performance range from
10 W to 200 kW, with outer diameters from 19
mm to 440 mm, can be covered in this way.
“We start off with existing motors and use oursizing tool to calculate various predefined determinants of the cyber ® kit motor such as voltage, temperature, frequency and current. We
then adapt the torque-speed characteristic asprecisely as possible to the requirements of
the application”, outlines Dr. Kay-Horst Dempewolf, Head of Development Automotive &Servo Drives.
Small batch manufactory for maximum
ﬂexibility
The WITTENSTEIN portfolio in the servo motor
sector encompasses an array of sizes, designs
and performance data. “The share of frameless servo motors is steadily increasing”, observes Joel Frey, Manager Stator Production.
“That’s why, in the more recent past, we’ve
invested heavily in stamping tools for customized laminated cores as well as in equipment
for winding, impregnating and encapsulating
stators.” The result is a highly specialized manufactory for small batches, which is embedded in the optimized production and logistics
structures and processes of the Innovation
Factory. “It enables us to manufacture precision motors like the cyber ® kit motors in low
volumes – which can be anything from one toa few thousand – individually yet in a commercially efficient way”, Dempewolf continues.

Special winding expertise
He and his colleagues are manifestly proud of
their expertise when it comes to stator windings. The majority of our stators are manufactured with a so-called distributed winding,which typically has a long service life and low
cogging torque, among other things. The exact
winding design and the achievable copper fill
factors are determined by requirements suchas speed, torque, voltage and current consumption. Concentrated or – to meet particular safety exigencies – redundant windings canalso be supplied on request. “We do all the actual winding by hand. The wires are inserted
into the slot with great care and no mechanicalstress, to avoid damaging the insulation”, Freypoints out. “It’s a job that demands considerable sensitivity and the ability to keep calm at all
times, which is why it’s only ever entrusted tovery experienced specialists. This also means
we’re capable of responding flexibly to whatever batch size the customer wants.” Oncethe stators have been wound, they are either
impregnated with resin or sealed with epoxy,including the winding head. “We recommend
the latter method whenever the motor will be
exposed to severe stresses or the specification
calls for maximum possible heat dissipation”,
says Christoph Weis.

The customer decides
Finally, every bespoke cyber ® kit motor is verified in the test lab. “The customer can theneither integrate the frameless motor in the application themselves – with support from us ifneeds be – or take advantage of our offer offorward integration by sending us all separately provided parts and letting us assemble
everything into a ready-to-install system. EHRTMaschinenbau GmbH is one client that chosethe second option. Tobias Campe, the firm’s
Head of Construction, sums up the benefits:“WITTENSTEIN has the know-how and thetools to expertly assemble the motor and all
the parts we supply. We would never havemanaged to develop the necessary capacities
and processes in view of the short lead time ofjust six months. Aside from that, we are now
also free to focus very effectively on our own
core competencies.” You can find a detailed
account overleaf of the various other assets
our cyber ® kit motors have for this manufacturer of punching and bending machines.

With their compact design and ease of integration, the frameless motors provide
maximum freedom when designing new machines.

move 11

Applications

Made to measure exactly
To design a direct drive for thread forming tools – this was thechallenge at the center of a joint development project by EHRTMaschinenbau GmbH and WITTENSTEIN cyber motor.

EHRT Maschinenbau GmbH of Rheinbreitbach has been developing
and producing punching and bending machines for more than 50
years now. During the last half a century, the company has grown
to become a world leader for precision machining of flat materials
thanks to a series of inventions and innovations – such as busbars
and components for the construction of heavy-current switch cabinets. One particularly innovative project was recently implemented incooperation with WITTENSTEIN cyber motor.
No suitable standard motors existed
A customer in the electrical industry approached EHRT inquiring
whether it would be possible to punch round holes in flat coppermaterial and form threads inside them with a single machine. The
client’s clearly stated requirement was that punching and forming
should be even faster, more economical and more flexible than was
so far the case. “No standard solutions existed as yet. They were
all either too large or unable to deliver the specified torques”, says
Tobias Campe, Head of Construction at EHRT Maschinenbau. “After searching for a while for a suitable solution, we contacted thespecialists at WITTENSTEIN.” Within a very short time, development
teams at the two companies got together to design a drive solution
for the SingleTap, as the built-in thread forming tool is known.
Frameless cyber ® kit motor as a customized drive solution
The concept which has meanwhile been realized is based on aframeless motor that was already available. “Both the rotor and thestator length and diameter were adapted absolutely flexibly to themounting situation in the drive unit”, explains Andreas Winters, theman responsible at EHRT for new development projects. “We opted
for a bearingless, encoderless design in order to reduce the overall
height, improve robustness and simplify integration into the machine.”
However, not only the size and connection are optimal – the performance of the SingleTap drive unit is equally impressive. “The countersunk boss in the punched holes holds the rotating tap and the tool

12 moveis then drawn into the material automatically”, Campe adds. “And if
the thread forming tool happens to get stuck in the material, the drive
briefly delivers up to 40 Nm of torque to enable it to break free again.”
Prepared for condition monitoring functionalities
Throughout the thread forming process compliance with defined
torque tolerances is monitored by the electronics based on the motor
current. “The advance of Industry 4.0 is accompanied by increasingly
digitalized production processes, and we’ve taken the opportunity to
implement condition monitoring, for example”, Winters continues. “Ifnot enough torque is applied, this could point to a quality problem

It is now possible to punch round holes in flat copper material
and form threads with a single machine.

such as a hole that has been punched too large. And
if there’s too much torque, the tool could rapidly approach the wear limit and need replacing very soon. Another possibility is that the machine has been fed withthe wrong material. The SingleTap allows process andquality parameters to be monitored and documented toa certain extent, so that appropriate action can be taken
where necessary.

The drive module developed for the thread forming tool as a cooperative venture between EHRT Maschinenbau and WITTENSTEIN cybermotor is not simply an interesting option for CNC punching machines.

Impressive example of successful forward
integration
The roles within this partnership were clearly charted
out: EHRT manufactured drawing parts for the jointly
developed drive unit, while WITTENSTEIN not only designed a frameless motor to the customer’s specification
with components from our own cyber ® kit motors basic
toolkit but also assembled and function-tested the complete drive in defined processes. Both companies werethus free to concentrate optimally on their core competencies – reason enough to continue
their successful cooperation in the
future. Several ideas and sketches
have already changed hands.

The spindle with the forming tool isdriven at approximately 500 rpm
Within a very short time, development teams at EHRT and
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor got together to design a drive solution
for the SingleTap.

move 13

Professor Asa Barber, an attocube customer at the
University of Portsmouth (UK), and his team of researchscientists have discovered that limpet teeth are thestrongest natural material known to man – stronger eventhan spider silk, which has held the record up to now.

Limpets (Patellidae) have a conicalshaped house anything between one
and ten centimeters high and live
mainly in the surf zone.

Image courtesy of A.H. Barber, University of Portsmouth

Snails have teeth

istock.com/susanemarley

Limpets are conical-shaped creatures thatare found clinging well-camouflaged to rocky
shores braving the surf. Their entire organism
has adapted optimally to life on hard, stony surfaces. They remain almost motionless all day
long in exactly the same place until darkness
sets in – then rasping over the rocks set off insearch of food. They remove algae by scraping it off with their tongue, which is embeddedwith rows of teeth that are never blunted.
The key substance in these teeth is a hard,iron based mineral known as goethite, whichallows the sea-dwellers to gnaw away at therocks night after night.
The fibers themselves are no more than 3 microns long – or about 2000 times thinner than ahuman hair. Special systems are vital to investigate such tiny materials or specimens, which
are no longer visible to the human eye. Professor Asa Barber, the scientist who led the study,
is a long-time customer of WITTENSTEIN

subsidiary attocube systems AG, which develops and manufactures drive and measurement
systems for cutting-edge nanotechnology applications at its Munich facility. The attoAFM/
SEM atomic force microscope is one of the
products in its portfolio. This 3D micropositioning system was part of the experimental setup
in Portsmouth – a microscope in a microscope,
as it were.
The fiber ends were stuck to the two sample
tables of the attoAFM/SEM and then moved
apart at a rate of one micrometer per second. The tensile strength of ten fibers was determined in this way. The findings, publishedin the “Journal of the Royal Society Interface”
were truly amazing: the strength of the limpet
teeth fibers was about five gigapascals. They
are stronger than spider silk and as resilientas man-made carbon fiber, making them thetoughest biological material ever discovered.
If researchers can manage to completely

Original publication: A.H. Barber, D. Lu, N.M. Pugno, “Extreme strength observed in limpet teeth”, J.R.Soc. Interface 12, 20141326 (2015)

14 move

decipher the structure and composition of limpet teeth and adapt them to industrial applications, endless new possibilities will be created– for engineering, aerospace and automotive.
The limpet itself, of course, is totally unimpressed by the discovery of what will probably
be one of the most important materials in tomorrow’s world. It continues to wait day after
day for darkness to fall, then deploys its miracle weapon again for its own purposes.

WITTENSTEIN Group

The tongue of the limpet is embedded withrows of tiny teeth, only visible under a microscope, whose fibers have a strength ofabout 5 gigapascals.

attocube
attocube systems AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of WITTENSTEIN SE, is recognizedinternationally for innovation and excellence in the development, production anddistribution of cutting-edge solutions forthe most challenging nanotechnology applications in research and industry.

Atomic force microscope
attoAFM/SEM

The portfolio includes nano drives, used
for highly accurate positioning tasks andsurface analyses, as well as ultra-precise
distance sensors and fully integrated
microscope and high performance cryostat systems, which work close to thelimit of what is technically and physicallyfeasible.

The attoAFM/SEM atomic force microscope fromWITTENSTEIN subsidiary attocube was partof the experimental setup at the University ofPortsmouth, where researchers discovered thetoughest material known to man.

attoAFM/SEM
Operating temperature: 300 K
Operating pressure: 1E-9 mbar to 1 bar
Scan range: 40 x 40 x 15 µm³ @ 300 K

move 15

Applications

Galaxie ® Drive System
Superiority proven in practice
Since making its debut at the Hannover Messe 2015 – where it waspresented with the “Hermes Award” – and winning the “Innovation Award of
the German Economy”, the Galaxie® Drive System has captured more andmore applications in high performance engineering.

16 moveApplications»Galaxie® achieves axis stiffness threetimes greater. Apart from a huge increasein precision and repeatability, that
also significantly improves the control
characteristics of the entire drive train.«
VOLKER SPRENGER,
START-UP MANAGER GALAXIE SYSTEMS AT WITTENSTEIN

With its exceptional freedom from backlash,synchronous running and stiffness, the Galaxie® Drive System enhances machine performance and the quality of processes and products. It also causes existing design strategies
to be overturned – as the examples describedhere demonstrate.

Deeply committed to the Galaxie®
Drive system (from left to right):
Nadine Hehn (Sales Engineer),
Tobias Burger, Volker Sprenger(both Start-up Manager Galaxie
Systems) and Bastian Minke(Sales Engineer)

Farewell to mutually preloaded gearheads
In the past, engineers have gone to incredible
lengths to develop drive solutions that are atonce absolutely backlash-free, stiff and precise. Depending on the task at hand and thetype of gearhead, for instance, designers haveelected to screw the housings together directly,
couple the output shafts rigidly by means ofmeshed elements or turn and clamp the input
shafts in opposite directions. Until Galaxie® arrived on the scene, this was the state of the art– in the meantime, it’s the WITTENSTEIN-built
drive system that is itself setting technology
benchmarks. It doesn’t have to be assembled
and adjusted in a complicated procedure andit takes up much less space in the machine.
The Galaxie® Drive System avoids serious
drawbacks, in other words, yet provides muchbetter precision with alternating loads than
preloaded systems. A manufacturer of opticalglass workpieces, whose grinding processes
have been improved several times over thanks
to Galaxie®, heaps great praise on the drive
system for this reason – just like a maker ofmachine tools, where Galaxie® has resulted inclearly superior precision and machining quality in a spindle’s swivel axis.
Farewell to screw drives
A South German manufacturer of machining
centers recently bid farewell to the traditional screw drive. This decision was based on
two grounds: one, the precision of a worm

gearhead deteriorates in the course of its
life – no matter how exact it was originally designed to be – because the preloaded screw
is subject to local wear. Two, the complete
motor-gearhead unit used to be so large thatit restricted the freedom of movement of thetool’s opposite swivel axes. The Galaxie® Drive
System is smaller, leading to a slimmer enclosure and better ergonomic accessibility. At
the same time, it permits efficient, simultaneous and highly precise five-axis machining ofeven the most complex geometries. Galaxie®
Drive Systems are permanently backlash-free
and the fact that the drive no longer requires
any maintenance is a welcome side effect –making the machine platform an even more
attractive proposition for the manufacturer’s
customers.
Farewell to chatter marks
In another application, Galaxie® was selected for the C axis of a portal milling machine,where previously a motor with a shaft ring gear
was fitted. Owing to the gear’s low rigidity, thefork-type milling head had irregular damping
and vibration characteristics. Unsightly chattermarks in the milled surface were the upshot.
Galaxie® achieved axis stiffness three times
greater and significantly improved the torquecapacity and overload protection. The visible
consequence: no more chatter marks – and adecisive quality boost.
Galaxie® set to become a series
In practice, Galaxie® transforms technical benefits into genuine success factors for users,
compared both to standard gear types and topreloaded systems. It is therefore not surprising that the overwhelmingly positive feedback
has inspired us to pave the way for a complete series. More highly integrated versionsof this compact drive systems are planned
for the near future – for example for applications where axial mounting space is severely
restricted, extreme flexibility and agility are essential for all movements of the milling head
movements or axis motions take place inside
the machine’s working range.

The list of potential applications isalmost infinite...

move 17

Galaxie®
Drive System

In the MAKA cutting head, both
the A and the C axis – each ofwhich is inclined 50 degrees – areconstantly in motion.

Zero backlash in the drive
Precision is
not a problem

The rapid and problem-free integration of the Galaxie® Drive System
into a standard machine that had already been shipped to a customer in Taiwan is a particularly compelling example. At the same time,
it isn’t really astonishing – “because we’d already verified the drive
system extensively on the test bed and found it to be excellent”, says
Dr. Jens Muckli, one of two Managing Directors at MAKA Systems
GmbH. The machine builder is a global player and the prompt availability of the Galaxie® Drive System in the relevant local regions is an
important advantage.

Freedom from backlash for the maximum
possible precision and quality, more rigidity
for higher metal removal rates and innovative
potential for future machine generations – theWITTENSTEIN Galaxie® Drive System creates awealth of added value for MAKA, the Germanmachine tool manufacturer.

MAKA Systems: CNC machines for a variety of materials
MAKA Systems GmbH of Nersingen, not far from the South Germancity of Ulm, employs more than 170 people who develop and manufacture special CNC equipment for machining wood, aluminum, plastics and composites as well as for model making. Dr. Muckli sums up
the essence of the MAKA brand: “For more than 60 years now since
the company was first founded, we’ve been crafting solutions thatmeet the very highest technical and commercial standards, and with
our rich development expertise we’re currently a leading international specialist in the field”. High accuracies with the smallest possible

18 moveApplications
tolerances as well as fast machine cycles and machining speeds with
virtually no non-productive times – these are just a few of the key
benefits of MAKA’s CNC technology. Markus Hepp, Team Leader
Development at MAKA, puts it in a nutshell: “Precision breeds quality. Both the A and the C axis of the cutting head are constantly inmotion. That’s why each individual axis has to be absolutely precise.”
The old solution consisted of a drive with more backlash. Yet the larger this is – regardless of the material – the larger the contour tolerances will be, especially since the precision errors soon start to add up.
Zero backlash drive system integrated in a standard machineThis explains why MAKA was so tempted by the prospect of a drive
system with zero backlash – the promise made by the Galaxie® Drive
System. This hope quickly yielded to certainty thanks to successful
trials on the test bed, and at the latest following the problem-freeconversion of a standard machine that had already been shipped
to Taiwan. “We can now cut contours even more precisely and repeatably”, Hepp continues. “What’s more, the compact design of
the Galaxie® Drive System gives the cutting heads greater kinematic
flexibility, meaning we can achieve even more complex geometries,
for instance when machining the interior fittings for cars.” The zero
backlash, improved stiffness and high dynamics of this compact
drive system enable machining at high speeds.
Innovative potential for new machine generations
Another quality feature of MAKA’s CNC machines is their rigid design, leading to remarkably precise and quiet machining processes.

The compact design of the Galaxie® Drive
System gives the cutting heads greater kinematic flexibility, meaning MAKA can now
achieve even more complex geometries.

Thanks to the Galaxie® Drive System’s unmatched stiffness and freedom from backlash at the zero crossing, even with alternating loads,
MAKA can in future construct the complete machine with even morerigid geometry. Jens Muckli looks ahead with confidence: “The newgeneration of machines will be able to execute machining processes
more precisely than ever before. A broader range of materials willconsequently be possible because the machines will be even morerobust and capable of cutting even harder and coarser workpieces.”

For MAKA, too, the Galaxie® Drive System
is a “Next Technology Drive”.

The Galaxie® Drive System fuses a brand new gearhead
generation, in which each tooth is an independent and dynamic entity, with a newly developed high performance motor
to form an ultra-compact hollow-shaft drive system.

Dr. Jens Muckli (center), Managing Director of MAKA Systems
GmbH, in conversation with WITTENSTEIN. He particularly
praises the torsional rigidity of the completely backlash-free
Galaxie® kinematics, which is between three and six times better.

move 19

MTU and WITTENSTEIN
provideelectromobility for the railways

Diesel trains running in pure electric mode?
Yes, they really do exist – with crucial benefits like reduced fuelconsumption, fewer emissions, less noise and lower costs, hybrid
drive technology is all set to conquer the railways too in the future.
This innovative form of electromobility is made possible by the close
cooperation between MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH and WITTENSTEIN
cyber motor GmbH.

20 movePhoto: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH

Applications

Reduced fuel consumption, fewer emissions, less noise, lower runningcosts – the hybrid drive technology for diesel powered rail vehicles which
was developed jointly to market maturity by MTU Friedrichshafen GmbHand WITTENSTEIN promises to deliver all of that. Both the electric drives
and the power electronics for the Hybrid PowerPack were contributed by
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor as a development partner; the company also manufactures both system components as standard products.

High performance components

MTU’s Hybrid PowerPack reduces
diesel consumption by up to 25 percent and NO x emissions by as muchas 20 percent.

The outcome is the Hybrid PowerPack – a drive assembly for diesel
powered rail vehicles, in which two electric motors with around 200
kW of continuous power output and associated power electronics
support the MTU diesel engines, which deliver up to 390 kW. They
can even replace these engines temporarily – for instance when atrain enters or leaves a station in pure electric mode.
MTU Friedrichshafen: A pioneer of PowerPack technology
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of large diesel engines and complete propulsion systems.
They are used, among other things, in shipping, energy supply systems, heavy vehicles and railcars. The Rail PowerPack launched by

MTU in 1996 is a drive module integrating all of a diesel drive’s components in a standardized underfloor unit. Not only fitting vehicles
with original equipment but also maintenance and retrofits have been
made much simpler and more affordable when measured against
the traditional practice of individually assembled components. From
Siemens through Alstom to Bombardier, MTU-built diesel PowerPacks currently drive some 6000 low-floor vehicles from a variety of
manufacturers.
Plenty of good arguments for electriﬁed diesel drives“The project for a hybrid diesel-electric drive kicked off about ten
years ago”, recalls Thies Schwanke, Manager Electrical Machines
Research & Technology at MTU. The reasons are manifold. Even today, only about sixty percent of the German rail network is electrified.
Conversely, this means that around 15,000 km of track, or nearly
10,000 miles, have no overhead contact line – and are hence predestined for hybrid powered rail vehicles. On the international front, thedegree of electrification is lower in most countries than it is in Germany – in other words, an even higher basic need exists for hybrid drive
technology for diesel locomotives.

move 21

Applications

There are also several real economic and ecological benefits – asconfirmed by extensive practical trials on two lines covering a total of
15,000 kilometers. Compared to purely diesel powered rail vehicles,
hybrid trains achieved fuel savings of up to 25 percent (approximately 50,000 liters of diesel per year depending on the actual vehicle
and the line on which it was operated) as well as a corresponding
132,000 kg reduction in CO2 emissions and 20 percent less NOx.
Finally, the exhaust-free, and to a large extent noise-free, driving inrailway stations – up to 21 decibels quieter than classic diesel trains –are environmental arguments speak for themselves.

»Apart from WITTENSTEIN’s expertisewith regard to drives and controls
and the predictability of the budget
throughout the development phaseright up to the prototype, it was their
willingness to assume responsibility
for the project’s implementationthat especially impressed us«
THIES SCHWANKEMANAGER ELECTRICAL MACHINES RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGYMTU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

The Rail PowerPack launched by MTU
in 1996 is a drive module integrating
all of a diesel drive’s components in astandardized underfloor unit.

This diesel hybrid option for the railways is equally impressive froman economic point of view: the reduction in fuel costs due to therecuperation of braking energy plus the use of the energy which isrecovered in this way for acceleration, the more efficient supply tothe vehicle’s electrified auxiliary drives and the lower maintenancerequirements – for example, because there is less brake wear – makethe hybrid drive a particularly cost-effective solution that pays for itself within only a few years. The hybrid technology even has macroeconomic benefits in that it allows nonelectrified branch lines tobe operated more affordably and disused lines recommissioned if
necessary without the high costs normally associated with electrification. “That all adds up to enormous future potential for rail vehicles
with hybrid drive technologies”, explains Dr. Peter Riegger, Director
Research & Technology at MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH.
WITTENSTEIN is the ideal project partner
In order to turn the vision of a hybrid diesel drive for rail vehicles intoa reality, MTU had to integrate an electric motor into the existing RailPowerPack. “The original idea of developing the electric motor andthe power electronics in-house quickly gave way to a development
partnership with a specialist in the field”, Schwanke recollects. WITTENSTEIN didn’t simply convince us with profound know-how andexpertise in technology development and project management; they
were also able to provide the manufacturing capabilities for future

22 moveseries production.” A concept study was initially agreed in 2014. This
led to a development order and eventually to the first close-to-series
prototype in 2016.
Electric drive completely redeveloped
The electric drive system for the MTU Hybrid PowerPack, including
the control technology, was completely redeveloped by WITTENSTEIN on the basis of the jointly drafted specifications. It consists of
two permanent magnet electric motors in a compact design with ahigh power density as well as the two associated traction converters
with a CAN bus interface to the powertrain control system. “During
a journey the electric motors act as energy converters”, Schwanke
adds. “When functioning as a motor, to accelerate the vehicle forexample, they convert electrical energy from the energy storage
system into mechanical energy. As generators, when the vehicle isbraking, they convert mechanical energy into electrical energy andcharge the energy storage systems.” These systems – several battery modules mounted on the roof, in the interior or underfloor – store
energy and make it available to the electric powertrain. The electrically switched separating clutch decouples the electric motor from

The WITTENSTEIN electric motor has a rated
mechanical torque of 150 Nm, a short-time
maximum torque of more than 300 Nm anda specified maximum operating speed of
10,000 rpm.

The WITTENSTEIN traction converter, which
supplies the necessary three-phase current
for the electric motor, has a rated current of
240 A; it provides the full continuous electric
power output of 185 kVA in an overload
protected voltage range from 610 to730 VDC.

Photo: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH

Hybrid PowerPack

It was absolutely vital that theentire electric powertrain should
also be integrated in the underfloor unit without modifying its
dimensions.

Photo: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbHthe diesel drive – enabling locally emission-free driving by the hybrid
vehicle in pure electric mode without the diesel engine having to be“lugged” mechanically.
The traction converter supplies the necessary three-phase current for
the electric motor. “The CAN bus of the traction converter is the interface for controlling the powertrain, but it also permits several traction
units to be operated parallel to one another on a single physical CAN
network, which is vital in complex drive systems in order to simplify
the wiring”, Schwanke remarks. “The CAN bus is additionally used toread out error messages or alarms and to communicate standardized diagnostic information.”
Perfect example of a focused partnership
The development of the traction system, consisting of an electric motor and associated frequency converter, is the outcome of a development and implementation project in which several different departments at MTU and WITTENSTEIN cooperated very closely andengaged in a regular and trustful exchange of ideas and experiences.
“Bringing together these various areas of knowledge was an interesting challenge”, comments Schwanke, looking back. All in all, nearly

40 people from development and shop-floor departments were involved, from which a core team with about eight members, interacting very strongly, was formed. “Apart from WITTENSTEIN’s expertisewith regard to drives and controls and the predictability of the budget
throughout the development phase right up to the prototype, it was
their willingness to assume responsibility for the project’s implementation that especially impressed us”, Schwanke confesses. “Fromthe outset, the entire electric drive system was designed in line withproduction requirements, so as to assure smooth and commerciallyefficient series manufacturing.”
WITTENSTEIN has thus also started the ball rolling as a potential
MTU partner in other fields of use for hybrid technology – such as
ships and haulers, agricultural machinery and snow groomers, heavy
mining vehicles or pump drives for oil and gas exploration.

move 23

Prosperity for everyone
Can you run a company successfully yet nevertheless act ethically? Is that actually possible?
Dr. Manfred Wittenstein, who celebrated his 75th birthday on September 2, believes it is andcites several good reasons for accepting responsibility. Not simply as an entrepreneur, notsimply as an engineer but as one of the countless people who want to create a good future forthemselves and their children.
24 move

Dr. Manfred Wittenstein
Chairman of the Supervisory Board
WITTENSTEIN SE

This portrait was taken
in July 2017 in the foyerof the WITTENSTEIN
Innovation Factory at theheadquarters in Igersheim-Harthausen – where
several works by German
photographer Michael
Najjar are on permanent
display, including “Outer
Space” which is partiallyvisible in the background.

Life has been kind to us. We were lucky
enough to be born in a region where our existence is not threatened by natural disasters
and war does not rage. Yet how does this giftof good luck impact on our daily lives? Can weuse it to create opportunities that benefit society as a whole? It’s still only a dream today,
but it’s my firm conviction that we can achieve
prosperity – and a future worth living in – foreveryone.
I grew up among people who were marked
by World War II. They hastened through life
searching for the economic prosperity thatwould give them back the security they had
lost. In my youthful arrogance I knew that thiswas not the way I wanted to lead my own life.
I left home to become a student at TU Berlin.
No more war – that was the slogan and themission awaiting us, and we engineers were
no exception. This was the world I wanted tolive and teach in.
But then I was needed to help out back in
Igersheim. What followed were my “années
folles”, my crazy years when new departures
and wrong tracks alternated in rapid succession. The responsibility for my employees
bore heavy on me – and the responsibility for
a company that was in danger of capsizing inheavy seas bore no less heavily on my employees. Yet in the end we made it. Together.
So how did we manage it? Maybe because I
never forgot that my opposite number mightjust possibly be right too. With compelling arguments. Or with sheer stubbornness.
Some time later, when the most difficult years
lay behind us, I asked my closest collaborators
why they hadn’t instead chosen to leave thesinking ship. Why they had worked through somany nights to get those orders out on time.
They told me it was because they had a family
to feed and because the firm needed them. Yet
when I think back to all the hours we spent together at the workbench, I’m sure there musthave been far more to it than that. I believe that,even though it was something we never reallyspoke about, we all knew we could only makeit together as a team.
In the years that followed, I always tried tohonor this special company spirit. Our philosophy reflects this with the words “responsibility, trust, openness, innovation and change”.
These words describe how we act and how wewould like to live: we regularly have to inject
new life into them.
WITTENSTEIN, the mechatronic technology corporation that emerged from a crisis-hit

family business, has traditionally looked uponitself as a part of society at large. We’ve consistently done our bit to make the Tauber Valley,
our local region, an attractive place for people to live. Our efforts have been rewarded
because there were, and still are, many othercompanies in pursuit of a similar goal. Together, we’ve made pretty good progress in thisrespect.
Our attempts to shape our commitment inthose countries where we opened a subsidiarywere likewise driven by a sense of responsibility. It’s easy to get the impression in this day
and age that in both the United States and theUnited Kingdom the end of this particular roadhas been reached. Do we have time to wait until the pendulum swings in the other direction?
We, and indeed the entire human race, are facing a host of difficult challenges. Let me giveyou just two examples: how close are we tothe point at which the overheating of our planet
due to CO2 emissions becomes irreversible?
What hopes are cherished by all those people
who set off on the perilous journey across theMediterranean to mainland Europe?
Ever since I first embarked on my degree
course, I’ve been convinced that technology
can help make the world a better place. Not
only in the Tauber Valley and not only in Germany, but everywhere on this planet of ours.
Yet the ideas we engineers and scientists
come up with can only ever make a meaningful
contribution if they’re based on a broad social
consensus.
After all, technology is never simply good or
bad – that’s something only the demagogues
would claim. A hammer fits just as snugly into
the hand of the DIY enthusiast banging in a nailas it does in the fist of a murderer who uses it tosmash his victim’s skull. Despite all assertions
to the contrary, it remains impossible to predictthe long-term consequences of technical developments. I can remember very clearly how
excited we were when a way was first found tokeep food fresh for longer using cling film. And
today? We worry about the huge quantities ofplastic scrap floating around in the oceans.
Our future, which has to be a future for everyone, is worth whatever effort it takes. There is
no doubt whatsoever in my mind that we humans avail of an incredible reservoir and potential that will steer us to the right solutions
provided we all search for them together. I’mwell aware that this is a very optimistic view ofthe future. I admit to being an optimist. It would
be pointless being anything else.

move 25

WITTENSTEIN worldwide

Anyone who knows a little Greek will need no telling that “isos” means “equal”.
The three letters ISO actually stand for the International Organization ofStandardization, which coordinates country and industry-specific standards
all over the world. ISO 9001 is one of the most important – it defines therequirements for structuring and controlling processes within a company.
A new edition with revised content is published roughly every seven years.
The latest, most up-to-date version is: ISO 9001:2015

ISO 9001:2015
Same highest-level quality –worldwide

want quality”. He is responsible for the quality
management system within the WITTENSTEIN
Group. He and his team use this system toconstantly review and scrutinize the quality ofall products, processes and services with thehelp of audits, many of them internal: “All departments are up for one about once every two
years. We take a look together to see exactly
where the strengths and weaknesses lie andwhere there is cause for criticism. And above
all, we identify potential areas for improvement.” Customer complaints are also a usefulsource of ideas, of course. In the end, the oldadage still applies: it’s better if the customer
comes back than the product. Barth: “In short,the ISO certification tells customers that a solid
foundation exists. That they can rely on a particular manufacturer or a particular supplier.”

Since the middle of the year, all manufacturing locations of the WITTENSTEIN Group havebeen certified to ISO 9001 – the North American and Swiss subsidiaries in accordancewith the standard’s latest revision, namely
ISO 9001:2015. “We’re certainly not resting on
our laurels, though”, says Dirk Barth, Director
Quality Management Worldwide at WITTENSTEIN SE. Preparations are currently under
way for the next scheduled audit at our Ro- ISO is a given today
manian facility in December – where we are “QM certification plays an absolutely decisive
likewise hoping to obtain the newest version ofrole in the States. It enables us to prove ourthe certification. “Our German plants will follow
quality, our efficiency and our reliability to oursuit next year. WITTENSTEIN will then meetcustomers.” Peter Riehle, CEO WITTENSTEIN
uniformly high QM standards worldwide.”North America, and Jim Fanning, his Quality Manager, speak with one voice: “An aeroConstantly searching for ways to improve
space company like Boeing would never have
Quality management has long been a vital pre- selected us as a supplier without that certificacondition of success in the international mar- tion”. And Andreas Tinner, Managing Director
kets. Mark Farny sums up what his work is all
of WITTENSTEIN Switzerland, adds:
about: “Customers don’t want a piece of paper, nor do they want a logo or a stamp – they

26 move“The successful certification of ourrack manufacturing line testifies toour quality – and that’s exactly where
the biggest benefit for our customers
lies.”

Representatives from the WITTENSTEIN Headquarters and the management of our Romanian subsidiary spent three days reviewing
the production and assembly
processes in Sura Mica, a shortdistance from Sibiu, and identifying, documenting and optimizing
potential areas for improvement,
to ensure that the facility there is
optimally prepared for this December’s ISO 9001:2015 pre-certification audit.

Trade fair calendar
2017/18

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

SPS IPC Drives

Drives & Controls Exhibition

Nuremberg, Germany
WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbH,WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH
November 28 to 30, 2017

Birmingham, UK
WITTENSTEIN Ltd.
April 10 to 12, 2018

SCF System Control Fair
Tokyo, JapanWITTENSTEIN Ltd.
November 29 to December 1, 2017

ESE Kongress
Sindelfingen, Germany
WITTENSTEIN high integrity systems
December 4 to 8, 2017

ATX West
Anaheim (CA), USA
WITTENSTEIN holding, Corp.
February 6 to 8, 2018

Indumation Network Event
Brabanthal-Leuven, Belgium
WITTENSTEIN BVBA
February 22, 2018

Hannover Messe
Hannover, Germany
WITTENSTEIN Group
April 23 to 27, 2018

FEIMECSão Paulo (Brazil)
WITTENSTEIN do Brasil
April 24 to 28, 2018

ILA Berlin
Berlin, Germany
WITTENSTEIN aerospace & simulation GmbH
April 25 to 29, 2018

OTC
Houston (TX), USA
WITTENSTEIN motion control GmbH
April 30 to May 3, 2018

LogiMAT
Stuttgart, Germany
WITTENSTEIN cyber motor GmbH
March 13 to 15, 2018

Shenzhen international machinery
manufacturing exhibition (SIMM)
Shenzhen, China
WITTENSTEIN (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
April 9 to 13, 2018

China CNC machine tool fair (CCMT)
Shanghai, China
WITTENSTEIN (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.
April 9 to 13, 2018

move 27