Ausgabe 06/2013 - Wirtschaftsjournal

Titel – FachkräfteAlways a µ aheadContinental AG is among the largest producers of piezo injectors.We visited their facility in Limbach-Oberfrohna.Continental AG, originally “Neue Hannoversche Gummi-Warenfabrik”, was founded in 1871 by Moritz Magnus.They processed rubber and only had a few employees.Now, Continental employs about 170,000 worldwide. Theirfactory in Limbach-Oberfohna with 1,600 employees produces200,000 diesel-injectors a week and measures36,000 m². Famous companies like VW, Ford, Renault andPSA rely on Continental, and they distribute their productsall over the world.The company is always looking for new apprentices.Good marks are not as important as attitude. Currently,Continental has around 70 apprentices, and youths canstart after completing secondary school. After learning aboutthe career opportunities at Continental, our group was splitup into four smaller groups so we could experience workingconditions in different areas of the factory.The first group was shown the assembly of entire piezoinjectors by a system technician. High technologized machineswere almost everywhere. The piezo injector is responsibleto inject the diesel in the combustion chamber andbecause of the high pressure, it reduces the noise and environmentalpollutions. It has an injection pressure of up to1,800 bar, which is a lot. In comparison, a bicycle tire hasonly 2 bar. We saw how the contact-pin assembly was producedand soldered on the piezostack. Then a plastic cagewas slipped over it. Finally 120 wires was slipped onto thestack with 366 layers.The second group visited the department where the injectorbodies and control units are assembled. In this stateof-the-artprocess, the computerized machines put togetherthe parts with a minimum of tolerances. The steadysound of the machines indicated that the process was alwaysin constant motion. When the injectors and control unitsarrive from the cleaning area, they are put into high techmachines. This area is very hygienic because if dirt gets onthe parts it will cause a production failure. Each item iscoded with what looks like a QR code. These machines areproduced exclusively for Continental. The third group sawmeasuring machines of different sizes, but the big 3D measuringmachine was the most interesting. They measure theproducts and ensure high quality. One of the company targetsis to decrease the failure rate (3ppm).Our last group visited the production of injector bodies. Lotsof machines such as drills and milling machines were insidethat room. The employees operate two or more robotsand machines at once. The machines use coolant becausethere is a lot of heat due to friction. Near to production isa continuous visual check and a lot of measurements toobserve the quality.We can say that our visit to Continental was really interestingand more exciting than we originally expected.Technik die begeistertFirmenbesuch bei Continental inLimbach-OberfrohnaDie Continental AG wurde 1871 unter dem Namen „NeueHannoversche Gummi-Warenfabrik” von Moritz Magnusgegründet. Damals hatte das Unternehmen nur wenige Mitarbeiterund bearbeitete Gummi. Jetzt gehört die Firma zuden größten Automobilzulieferern und beschäftigt weltweitetwa 170 000 Angestellte. Zu den Kunden von ContinentalLimbach-Oberfrohna zählen bekannte Firmen wieVW, Ford, Renault und PSA.Bei unserem Besuch des Standortes in Limbach-Oberfrohnawurden wir zunächst in kleinere Gruppen eingeteiltund durften dann die unterschiedlichen Produktionsbereicheanschauen. In den Abteilungen werden die verschiedenenTeile für die Herstellung von Piezo Injektoren produziert.Das sind Einspritzdüsen, die in den Dieselmotorenvon Autos verbaut werden. Mit diesem Injektor wird untereinem Druck von bis zu 1.800 bar Kraftstoff in den Verbrennungstrakteingespritzt. Motoren, die mit dieser Technikarbeiten sind leiser, verbrauchen weniger Kraftstoff underfüllen die neuesten Abgasnormen. Continental in Limbach-Oberfrohnahat sich auf die Produktion von PiezoInjektoren spezialisiert, mehr als 200.000 Stück werden proWoche fertiggestellt.Am Ende unseres Firmenbesuches haben wir dank dertollen Führungen eine Menge interessanter Dinge erfahrenund viel dazugelernt. Die Besichtigung von Continental warviel spannender als anfangs gedacht.Sprachcampus on Tour – Firmenbesuche in Chemnitz und Umgebung22 Wirtschaftsjournal | Juni 2013