E_KM_AHEAD-Magazin_2-12.pdf - Netstal

ediTORiaL COnTenTS
Dear Customers and Readers,
Many athletes have produced inspiring peak performances at the Olympic Games in
London. In addition to being impressed by the athletes “wanting to give their best,”
I was often struck by the reasons they gave for what they were trying to achieve and
what drove them on. Usain Bolt, for example, declared with self-assurance, “I always
wanted to drive myself towards achieving what no one else has ever managed
to do before. I always wanted to be a trendsetter.”
As is often the case, there is a close analogy between sport and the world of
business. What is it that makes a businessman a trendsetter in his sector? He can
do more than the competition. He sets new standards. He is innovative and exudes
enormous passion and conviction for what he does. All of that also applies to
KraussMaffei and, in this edition of AHEAD, we will show you how we are setting
new trends in the sector time and time again. And so, we have assembled here for
you many interesting contributions and market and project reports all related to this
topic, which will show you how we are using our first-class machines, technologies,
and solutions to bring your production to the peak of its potential.
For instance, with our new GX range in 2012, we have already set a new international
standard in powerful injection molding machines for numerous sectors. We are
also ahead of the field in solutions for global trends in plastics. For example, when
the main concern is to reduce energy consumption by following the trends in lightweight
construction. In this edition, we show you some of our trendsetting solutions
from MuCell to CoverForm through to high-pressure RTM processes.
We are naturally proud when sector experts recognize our performance, as, for
example, when we received the JEC Europe Innovation Award and the SPE Award
for our brochures on fiber composite solutions this year.
As a sector leader, we want to continue to set trends and are therefore developing
our organization with this in mind. Through a new orientation in injection molding
and reaction process machinery, we are ideally positioned in relation to our customers‘
fields of activity and in future, will be able to react even more constructively
to your individual needs.
And you can rest assured that we protect our innovations against undesirable imitation,
which is of course all to your advantage. We are maintaining our intuitive
sense for forward-looking trends with currently around 1,450 patents and an annual
production of between 30 to 50 inventions. Take advantage of the situation and be
AHEAD with us, not just today but also tomorrow and the day after!
I hope you enjoy reading the magazine.
Frank Peters
Executive Vice President Sales
coveR stoRy
4 Leading the way with technological
expertise
7 interview: developing the cutting edge
further
BRand & maRKets
8 wide-ranging expertise in the field of
injection molding
9 first technology-spanning energy
analysis
10 30 years of KraussMaffei automation
12 The new benchmark: The gx Series
14 Major order from Saudi arabia
14 “ Competence Show” in the Land of the
Rising Sun
15 The right man for the job
15 Concentrated expertise for customers
16 positive signals from southern european
markets
PRocesses & PRoducts
20 efficient manufacturing of
fiber composite components
21 gx: great potential in lightweight
construction
21 30 percent lighter airbag housing
PaRtneRs & PRojects
22 Rapid growth in north america
23 “ pURtrain” is on target for the automotive
industry
KRaussmaffeI gRouP
24 group presence without borders
25 Technical treats for the far east
26 energy efficiency: Smart pipes
26 eLiOn 3200: a successful concept
26 plant expansion in Slovakia and China
27 property rights secure
technological advantages
27 imprint