Greiner Extrusion making its mark in profiles - ASCONA

● Press Release 01 | 2008
Standard application ASCONA measuring system PROMEX
Greiner Extrusion making its mark in profiles
Extrusion technology is a rather complicated business. It’s the details that are
most important to get optimum results in the end. Greiner Extrusion is a specialist
in the construction and production of extrusiondies for the plastic profile
production. Greiner Extrusion supplies its product range to profile manufacturers
all over the world. Great emphasis is put on precision when these tools are
manufactured. A measuring system made by ASCONA in
Meckenbeuren/Bodensee is a means to this end. With PROMEX – the name of the
system – Greiner sets new standards in the business.
Greiner Extrusion’s activities are exclusively focused on plastic profiles which is the champions
league in this field. The company offers complete packages which are customized according to
requirements and delivered as turnkey projects.
Tools made by Greiner Extrusion get profiles into shape. Usually, several tool sets are produced
for each extrusion line. Extreme precision is required. A question of hundredths of millimeters.
„Tremendous efforts were needed but now that we use ASCONA technology, we have been able
to reduce a lot of our expenditure“, says Robert Forstner (project management). According to him,
Greiner Extrusion makes several test runs with each extrusion die. The company has got a
number of extrusion lines which are used exclusively for test purposes. The dies are exchanged at
the extruder and on the line after which a re-start is effected and the line operators produce plastic
profiles with the extrusion dies in their different stages of manufacture. The profiles are then
checked and manually measured by engineers. This is the moment where the measuring system
PROMEX comes into the picture.
Any variations appearing between produced profiles and set dimensions were in the past
evaluated with two projectors. Profile samples were placed on a light source to get an enlarged
picture on a projection field. Technical drawings on parchment paper were then placed on top of
this picture for comparison. If there were variations between the drawings and the picture, they
were measured by hand and photographed. The big disadvantage with this method: an electronic
evaluation or a resulting optimisation of the production process are not possible as these image
files cannot be vectorised. Another handicap is the time needed: Measurement of each profile
takes approx. 1 hour. Waiting time has to be added because the number of projectors is limited.
Ascona Press Release 01 | 2008 – Page 1 of 3 25.07.2008
Ascona GmbH
Karlstraße 7
D-88074 Meckenbeuren
Tel.: +49(0)7542-9464-0
Fax: +49(0)7542-9464-50
www.ascona.de
info@ascona.de
Press Contact:
Jutta Kleinmanns
Tel.: +49(0)5731-9886-49
Fax: +49(0)5731-96766
jutta.kleinmanns@inoex.de
Picture 1:
PROMEX BASIC
Picture 2:
Graph of deviations
PROMEX CONTROL

Times of this complicated and time-consuming procedure are now over. Instead of the projectors,
PROMEX now supplies exact production results. Profile recognition of this measuring system is
effected by a scanner which takes only seconds. Data is centrally stored and can be called in or
edited by the 8 engineers which work in this department. „The automatic profile recognition
software of PROMEX Control independently allocates set measuring values and required
measuring commands to each profile, describes Robert Forstner (project management) this core
feature. „This guarantees a fast and safe quality check.“ PROMEX Control software indicates
variations from set values and displays them in different colours. Extrusion dies are revised step
by step, then tested and re-measured until they conform precisely to the set dimensions.
But it is not the real saving in expenditure alone that is in Greiner Extrusion’s opinion the strong
point of this technical innovation. Another very positive aspect is the data exchange with the
customer. The integrated export function permits the direct data transfer to the customer to keep
him informed any time on the actual stage of his project. The customer can thus supervise the
profile’s quality. And Greiner Extrusion can in turn provide evidence on the precision of their work.
PROMEX further offers more safety in production and planning to the customer as existing
Greiner extrusion dies can be checked on their conditions with this measuring system. A profile
scan sent by e-mail is enough to accomplish the task. Upon evaluation by PROMEX, information
is gained for how long an extrusion die can presumably be used, when it should be sent in for
refurbishment and whether a precise flaw analysis is recommendable. Greiner Extrusion is thus
able to provide a better, faster and more efficient service. Expensive intervention by service
engineers is avoided. Which pleases customers very much.
In total, Greiner Extrusion has had a very good experience with this system. There is no doubt that
the system is very suitable for practical use. Even re-treat of the extrusion dies could be optimized
through PROMEX. Therefore it was decided to simply offer the measuring system to customers in
plant engineering as well. Greiner Extrusion thus adopts the role of an intermediate seller for
ASCONA technology. „Greiner Extrusion is the worldwide synonym for the best solution in profile
extrusion“, this is the vision of the company, which is now additionally underlined by this
innovative measuring system.
Ascona Press Release 01 | 2008 – Page 2 of 3 25.07.2008
Ascona GmbH
Karlstraße 7
D-88074 Meckenbeuren
Tel.: +49(0)7542-9464-0
Fax: +49(0)7542-9464-50
www.ascona.de
info@ascona.de
Press Contact:
Jutta Kleinmanns
Tel.: +49(0)5731-9886-49
Fax: +49(0)5731-96766
jutta.kleinmanns@inoex.de

ASCONA
After its foundation in 1988, ASCONA has become a specialist in optical profile
measuring technology and is now internationally renowned in this sector.
Both the software and the optical measuring systems are developed and produced by
ASCONA itself. More than 200 system installations in the aluminum, plastics, rubber,
metal and electronics sector are convincing proof of our competence. We have set the
focus of our activities on optical profile measuring technology and this is why we have
accumulated a unique know-how in this speciality sector. Our software „PROMEX
CONTROL“ and the horizontal projection process for profile measurement are only
some of the results.
We are judged by our customer’s success. The long standing and close partnership
with renowned company groups underlines in particular their confidence in our
performance and service. It gives you the safety to face together with us the coming
challenges of the 21st century.
Upon publication please forward a copy to:
iNOEX GmbH
Jutta Kleinmanns
Borweg 27
32547 Bad Oeynhausen
Germany
Ascona Press Release 01 | 2008 – Page 3 of 3 25.07.2008
Ascona GmbH
Karlstraße 7
D-88074 Meckenbeuren
Tel.: +49(0)7542-9464-0
Fax: +49(0)7542-9464-50
www.ascona.de
info@ascona.de
Press Contact:
Jutta Kleinmanns
Tel.: +49(0)5731-9886-49
Fax: +49(0)5731-96766
jutta.kleinmanns@inoex.de