MISUMI News & Views - MISUMI Europe

English Issue 2/2008
MISUMI News & Views
MISUMI Europe Customer Magazine
Trade fairs 2008
Metav debrief, latest on AUTOMATICA, Motek preview
Seven at one stroke!
The Customer Service Team has been strengthened
Slide guides
Top 5 FAQs from Technical Support
Report from the
engineering frontline
Walter Söhner GmbH & Co. KG, Schwaigern
Page 4/5
Engineering personalities
Interview with Oliver Böckle
Page 5

Contents
4/5 Report from the
engineering front line
- Walter Söhner GmbH & Co. KG
Strong all-round performance
5 Personal views
- Interview with Oliver Böckle,
Design engineer at Walter Söhner
in Schwaigern
6/7 MISUMI Inside
- AUTOMATICA 2008
Find out all about MISUMI!
- Linear technology: shafts, guides,
bushings & more
- Faces of MISUMI
Seven at one stroke
- “Direct line” for fast support
8 Miscellaneous
- Tips and dates
- RoHS put to the test
- Salad tip for the European Football
Championship
- Address details
Imprint
MISUMI News & Views 2/2008
(Editorial deadline for this issue 19 May 2008. Errors and omissions
accepted. Subject to alteration)
Publisher
MISUMI Europa
Katharina-Paulus-Straße 6
DE-65824 Schwalbach/Ts.
Tel. +49 (0) 6196 77 46-0
Fax. +49 (0) 6196 77 46-360
E-Mail: insales@misumi.de
www.misumi-europe.com
Responsible (pursuant to Press Law)
Stefan Pulver
Director Sales & Marketing
Tel. +49 (0) 6196 77 46-151
E-Mail: pulver@misumi.de
Editing committee
Yasuyuki Matsumoto, Giusi Muscolino,
Kristina von Beulwitz, Ronny Walbach
Editing, Layout and Realisation
Köhler + Partner GmbH
Postfach 15
21256 Handeloh
www.koehler-partner.de
Picture credits
Archiv, EU/EIS 2007, Alex Schelbert / Messe München, Rene Tillmann /
Messe Düsseldorf, Walter Söhner GmbH & Co. KG
Dear Readers,
Trade fairs are the best platform for exchanging
ideas with customers, making new contacts, giving
focused presentations of new innovative products,
and – because of the generally high proportion of
international exhibitors – finding out more about the
competition, and sizing them up. There are numerous
opportunities this year to put this into practise: Intec,
Metav, Hannover Messe and SMT are just the highlights
of the first half of the year. AUTOMATICA in Munich will soon open its
doors: showcasing innovative solutions for the broad spectrum of applications
in automation and robotics.
Our country is characterised by its ability to innovate. This is also highlighted
by the latest innovation scoreboard showing Germany in pole position
within the European Union. It is precisely these inventions and further advancements
which enable German mechanical engineering and plant engineering
companies to maintain their lead in the face of cheaper and increasingly
improving competitors from abroad. “Made in Germany” is still a top quality
label, enjoying a very high reputation in many countries. International visitors
coming to the trade fair therefore expect a great deal from AUTOMATICA –
and they will not be disappointed. Although only a young show which takes
place this year for the third time, it has grown impressively. Not least because
the concept of the trade fair precisely reflects what the automation industry
requires: outstanding further advancements every two years, technical
innovations, and major world premieres.
MISUMI will also be showcasing in Munich a comprehensive portfolio of
standard parts, purchased parts, and parts as per drawing, as well as an efficient,
time-saving ordering and distribution concept. We very much look forward
to seeing you at our stand. Please enjoy this latest issue of the new
MISUMI News & Views.
Photo: Alex Schelbert / Messe München
Stefan Pulver
Director Sales & Marketing
MISUMI Europa GmbH
MISUMI at
Hall A2, Stand 421
Find out more
on page 6!

METAV 2008
Intelligent solutions
for metal processing
19 fully booked exhibition halls, around 150,000 m2 leased
stand area, over 123,000 visitors from 90 countries: these
are the impressive statistics of the three technology shows
METAV, wire and Tube. Around 3,000 exhibitors presented
an impressive range of innovations in the sector from 31
March to 4 April.
METAV showcases the whole
spectrum of state-of-the-art production
technology in the metal
processing industry: from machine
tools, precision tools, automation
components, through to system
customisation – attracting more
than 51,000 trade visitors from 41
countries. According to a visitor
survey, seven per cent of the international
wire and Tube visitors took
advantage of the parallel events to
also find out more about METAV.
“The exhibitors expect business to
continue to develop very positively in
the ongoing year as a result of their
participation at the show. The trade fair has thus again highlighted
its value as an important business platform for metal processing,”
says Dr. Detlev Elsinghorst, Chairman of the METAV
Committee, summing up the results of the show. The industry
continues to have a very high interest in investment – as clearly
demonstrated by the orders received by the machine tool engineering
industry since the beginning of the ongoing year. A particular
magnet was the range of metal cutting machine tools,
precision tools, CAD systems and testing and measuring equipment.
Photo: Rene Tillmann / Messe Düsseldorf
Design engineers, importers
and dealers need reliable and
up-to-date information on laws
and standards to be able to carry
out their work properly, because these have to be observed during
development procurement and the licensing of tools and supplies for
work. The standards are also a key factor in the internal European
market and beyond for the manufacture of tools and supplies for work.
However, acquiring information on the relevant European and interna-
Legal information and standards
for design engineers
Market-News
European Innovation Scoreboard 2007
Germany in
pole position
Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the UK
are the most innovative countries in the EU. The
European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) for 2007 reveals
that these countries, alongside the USA and
Japan, are ahead of the rest of the world. And the
other EU member countries are increasingly gaining
ground on this leading group. Estonia, the Czech
Republic and Lithuania for instance are well on the
way to matching the average innovation performance
in the EU. EIS also shows, however, that the USA still
has a major lead on the EU, and that the process of
catching up has slowed down in the recent past.
The innovation survey annually compares the
innovation strength throughout the EU with the performance
of other countries. The evaluation is based on
a broad spectrum of indices including structural conditions,
the creation of new knowledge, corporate
commitment to innovation, and concrete results (new
products, services and intellectual property).
!
We will be happy to send you the complete EIS 2007
upon request (PDF, 52 pages, 392 KB), or a summary of
the country results (PDF, 12 pages, 156 KB). Simply send
an informal request to insales@misumi.de
tional standards is frequently very time-consuming. Where can you get
up-to-date written information on the regulations quickly? BG-
PRÜFZERT updated two information sheets at the beginning of the
year which simplify research in this area and provide helpful tips: BG-
PRÜFZERT-Information 8 Legal texts in the internet contains information
on direct access to important regulatory texts; BGR-PRÜFZERT-
Information 9 Standards information in the internet provides information
on helpful sources of material on standards in the internet.
03

Report from the engineering frontline
04
Strong all-round
performance
If you look up the city of Schwaigern, which lies north
of Stuttgart, in a well-known internet encyclopaedia,
the section on industry and infrastructure immediately
turns up Walter Söhner GmbH & Co. KG. This is the
biggest local company, and it specialises in differentiated
compound technology solutions such as prototype
moulds, multi-cavity moulds, 3-plate moulds, hot
runner moulds and multi-component moulds, and
tools for reel-to-reel and rotor/stator overmoulding.
This company lays down very stringent specifications
for its co-operation with subcontractors.
Since its establishment in 1966, this family-run business
(which originally concentrated on tool making and mould
making) has grown into a high performance group with six factories
strung out between the Far East and the USA, with a total
of around 1200 employees. In addition to its automotive focus,
its portfolio also includes solutions for the household technology
sector, sanitation, electronics, electrical engineering and
medical technology.
Well positioned for changing demands
In the past 40 years, it has manufactured over 10,000
injection moulds, well over 650 cutting dies and more than
100 automatic assembly lines and testing systems. Its machine
pool currently includes 110 conventional machine tools, 40
CNC processing centres, 216 injection moulding machines,
and 25 production lines. Projects at all Söhner factories – from
conception through to batch production – are controlled from
headquarters in Schwaigern. 25 engineers and technicians in
Design and Development in Schwaigern make an important
contribution to maintaining the company’s major production depth.
This is a significant challenge given the criteria demanded by its customers:
decreasing production run numbers, combined with an
increasing number of variations, and ever tightening cost frameworks.
These criteria can only be satisfied by the creative output and innovation
skills of the workforce, combined with state-of-the-art technology
and highly efficient project and procurement management.
The Walther Söhner Group develops and builds application-specific assembly lines and testing
systems for the automotive, household goods, sanitation, electronics, electrical engineering and
medical technology sectors.
When it comes to the wide range of mechanical components,
Oliver Böckle knows he can depend on MISUMI. Around three years
ago, the design engineer from the Automation Technology + Design
Department at Walther Söhner was given a tip off by someone outside
the company about the specialists in Schwalbach for mechanical
standard components – the order volumes have been increasing continuously
ever since. “The MISUMI concept perfectly matches our
requirements,” says Böckle summing up the co-operation in a nutshell.
There are many reasons for this excellent harmonisation.
Time is money
An important factor are the purchasing costs. MISUMI supplies
countless components from a single source. In addition to simple
supplier handling and the associated savings potential in terms of
time and costs, MISUMI components are often much cheaper
even though of the same quality – this applies to purchased
parts in particular. “This sometimes even beats the in-house
supply of components – not to mention the delivery times,”
says Böckle. This is another important criterion: “We have to
react very quickly and develop solutions fast – long delivery

times can completely ruin our chances
here.” Just one example: another
supplier quoted a delivery time of four
weeks for a drive component – MISU-
MI was able to supply the part within
only 13 days. The CAD data for direct
download are also a real help in practise.
Böckle procures 85 per cent of
these via the website of the European
central office and the “sister companies”
in the USA. “If I order CAD data
at 10.00 in the morning, and see the
next morning that it did not arrive until
19.30, then I have lost a day’s working
time because I could not build
anything into the design. MISUMI
supplies the data extremely quickly.”
A photo as a template
The experts in Schwalbach also
provide unbureaucratic assistance
when real problems are being experienced:
if a component from a particular
supplier which has been used to
date can no longer be supplied or is
becoming too expensive, the designers
do not have to look very far for
another supplier. “I just make a photo,
send it across, and they do the rest.”
If the particular version of the component
is not available, the necessary
adjustments are carried out and
sometimes there’s no extra charge.
We all know the usual practise of higher
prices for special solutions or low
volume surcharges because of the
administration costs: MISUMI is different
– they supply without any minimum
order value, low volume surcharges
and no dispatching
costs inside Germany, even if
only one single component is
ordered! Böckle is particularly
pleased by the main catalogue
Mechanical Standard Components
for Factory Automation.
Having all of the information as
quickly as possible, particularly
the reliable prices and delivery
times, creates a solid platform
for planning reliability – a great
relief given the enormous deadline
pressures which are now
the norm. The only gripe: “Our
happiness would be complete if the
catalogues for Standard Components
for Press Dies and Standard
Components for Plastic Mold were
also available in German.”
Engineering
personalities
MISUMI News & Views
spoke with Oliver Böckle,
a design engineer from the
Automation Technology +
Design Department at
Walter Söhner. We were
particularly interested in
the highlights of his job.
Personal views
Mr. Böckle, what was your first encounter with
technology?
The colourful world of Lego was where I made my first
steps in this direction – in common with many of my
colleagues. I always built very long trains and pulled
them around in the flat. My next real contact was at the
age of 15, with my moped. Although I had no training of
any kind, I really enjoyed tinkering around with my trusty
two-wheeler. Bit by bit I acquired more and more tools,
and by the end I almost had my own workshop in which
I was busy every day.
Which technological development impressed
you most?
I never fail to be amazed how technology in general continues
to advance. Everything has to be simpler, even better,
even more efficient. Everyone is committed to improving
on what we have now, finding new solutions and
methods, to ensure that we make progress. Mobile phones
for instance: who would have thought 15 years ago
that it is almost impossible today not to be reachable by
everyone at any time? Especially when you look back at
the clumsy size of the phones around back then. It’s
impressive how more and more functions can be fitted
into a smaller and smaller amount of space.
What is your personal milestone in your
day-to-day business?
It is always nice when small steps in the world of work
and orders can be ticked off as done: small milestones
maybe, but the more, the faster and the more efficiently
one can pass the small milestones, the faster you will also
approach the really big milestones.
Mechatronics is considered to be one of the key
technologies of the 21st century. Do you agree?
Mechatronics – the merger of mechanics and electronics.
I think one could argue about whether it is a key
technology. But the fact is nowadays that one cannot
function without the other. Electronics cannot move if it is
not linked to anything mechanical – and vice versa.
Thank you for the interview!
05

MISUMI Inside
AUTOMATICA 2008:
Find out all
about MISUMI!
06
If a trade fair wants to properly reflect the creative potential
of an industrial sector, it also has to develop itself in line with the
two-year innovation cycle. Otherwise it would fail to act as a
plausible source of new ideas and breakthroughs. With a trade
fair concept exclusively oriented to industry needs, AUTOMATICA
this year presents itself even more dynamically as the motor driving
change in the sector: with a modern approach in all of those
qualities which exhibitors and trade visitors expect from a leading
international show. Naturally with MISUMI on board. Visit us
in Hall A2 at Stand 421 to find out more about our efficient ordering
and distribution concept. Over one million standard parts,
purchased parts and parts as per drawing from a single source
– this sort of scale not only tightens up supplier handling, but
also brings significant advantages to engineers and technicians
involved in design and development. MISUMI’s service is centered
around fast information acquisition. Our comprehensive main
catalogue Mechanical Standard Components for Factory
Automation therefore contains
all of the most important
details: such as options for
design, materials, coatings,
drawings, and reliable prices
and delivery times – and
everything at a glance. MISUMI
also supplies parts starting
from 1 piece – even a customised
part – with no minimum
order surcharge, no minimum
order value, and no dispatching
costs (within Germany).
MISUMI faces
Seven at one stroke!
The MISUMI concept is precisely tailored to the needs of design
engineers. New inquiries arrive every day, and our customer base
is growing rapidly. To ensure that we continue to rapidly and effectively
handle all inquiries and customer needs, our Customer
Service Team has been boosted further. And here they are, the
seven new faces in our CS department: Nadia Fyvie-Feldmann,
Marija Kenanova, Nadine Schaffer, Jana Schwalbe, Sonia Scorletti,
Dimitrij Borisko, and Johannes Limbrunner. They provide enthusiastic
and highly motivated support to their other colleagues supervised
by team manager Kristina von Beulwitz. Their job is to quickly
handle everything concerned with the sale of MISUMI components;
this naturally also includes the After Sales Service.The names of the
eight new members of staff reveal that MISUMI
Europa GmbH has recruited people originating from a
wide range of countries in the world’s second smal-
!
Linear technology
Shafts, guides,
bushings & more
Linear solutions are a recognisable trend in automation technology.
MISUMI has therefore increased its range in this segment.
New additions to the portfolio include ready-to-install compact
LX linear systems with
high degrees of precision. The
new innovations are available
in type S (standard = open)
and C (covered) each with either
one or two blocks. The
maximum rated load of the
monoblock model is 17.2 kN
(Co); and 3.4 kN (Co) for the
double block type. Two dowel
holes in the base plate ensure
additional reliability in repeatable
positioning accuracy during assembly and maintenance. The
blocks are guided via precision-ground ball screw spindles in a
rail with a low centre of gravity and a twin-row gothic arch
groove.This guarantees high degrees of rigidity. Both types of the
new series are compatible with standard motors from different
manufacturers.
MISUMI recently published its product brochures “Linear
Units” and “Linear Motion”. We will be happy to send you a
personal copy: just send an informal request to
insales@misumi.de.
At your service to assist our customers wherever possible (back from left): Nadia Fyvie-Feldmann,
Marija Kenanova, Nadine Schaffer, Sonia Scorletti und Jana Schwalbe; (front from left): Johannes
Limbrunner und Dimitrij Borisko
lest continent. This national diversity is a deliberate part of our HR
policy because of the productive intercultural exchange it stimulates.
It reflects the wide variety in country origin of our European customer
base.
We will introduce our marketing team in more detail in the next issue.

Slide guides
“Direct line” for fast support
Miniatur type
(Fig. 2)
Rail reference
(Fig. 3)
(Fig. 4)
Already known to many from the main catalogue, there are now
separate brochures on this product line: MISUMI has an enormous
range of slide guides. The publications contain important
technical information and calculation principles, indispensable
for the everyday work of design engineers. Nevertheless,
questions sometimes still arise which slow down progress
during the design phase. Never fear, rapid help is at hand:
simply call MISUMI Technical Support.
With its focus on factory automation, our customers are involved in
a particularly broad area of application. In practise, this is one of the
reasons why every design engineer usually has their own specific
“tricky bits” to deal with. But help is at hand because certain questions
involving slide guides are frequently asked, and Technical
Support therefore knows the answers. Because you may also face
these problems, we have listed the following top 5 FAQs.
Retainer
Middle/Heavy type
Under retainer
Upper retainer
Middle
retainer
(Fig. 1)
Block reference
Measurement probe
Measurement probe
Is it possible to remove the
block from the rail without the
ball bearings falling out?
The blocks in our slide guides
all have retainers (Fig. 1) to
prevent the ball bearings from
falling out. The blocks can be
therefore be removed from the
rails without the ball bearings
falling out. Nevertheless, a pulled
out block – as well as the
whole slide guide – should not
be hit hard or dropped. Pay
attention when reassembling
the slide guide that the block is
not inserted at an angle because
this can deform the retention
wire (Fig. 2).
Can the block be turned
around?
The block and the rail have
reference marks (Fig. 3). This is
the reference point for the
dimensions of the slide guide.
The marks have to be on the
same side of the slide guide; if
the components were rotated,
this would distort the values for
tolerance and play. It would
also give rise to poorer running
properties and reduce the service
life.
Changes in design require assembly of a wider block on the rail. Can
an additional block be ordered for this rail?
The answer to this question is usually another question from the
MISUMI contact: What sort of MISUMI slide guide type do you have?
No additional block can be provided for a pre-stressed type. The reason:
the pre-stressed slide guides are gauged (Fig. 4) and the block
specially selected for the rail to guarantee that the radial play is
-3/0 μm. In the case of replaceable types, however, the other blocks
suitable for the rail are shown on the relevant catalogue page: also
with prices and delivery information.
Which grease types and refilling intervals does MISUMI recommend
for the slide guides?
Our miniature slide guides are filled with a partially-synthetic roller
bearing grease with a lithium soap binder. The slide guides for high
and medium rated loads – excluding the temperature resistant types
– are supplied ex works with a standard roller bearing grease
(Lithium soap grease petroleum-based). As alternatives, lubricant
types L, G or H (Fig. 5) can be selected. The suitable grease types for
refilling according to the different maintenance intervals, should be
clarified with the lubricant supplier with reference to the application.
(Fig. 5)
We have been supplied with slide guides to date by a different supplier.
Because MISUMI can deliver so quickly, we also want to change
supplier in this segment. Can you tell us which is the matching rail
in the MISUMI portfolio?
The market has frequently experienced considerable delivery delays
for around one year. MISUMI of course has no problems with delivery!
Nevertheless, we cannot recommend off-the-cuff alternative
components for the slide guides coming from different manufacturers.
This requires detailed discussions with one of our engineers so
that even the smallest deviation can be clarified. It is therefore
essential for you to make a pre-selection - this is also the most efficient
procedure. Helpful pages in the catalogue 2008/2009 are
pages 296 to 397 covering slide guides (lubricants) and 2.535 ff for
calculating the service lives of linear systems.
07

Tips
and
Dates
June to September
MISUMI road shows
in Straubing (24.6.), Ingolstadt (25.6.) and
Coburg (27.6.); in Berlin (26.8.), Dresden
(27.8.) and Erfurt (28.8.); in Kassel (9.9.),
Fulda (10.9.) and Würzburg (11.9.).
Information on the venues, agendas and
registration at: http://roadshow.MISUMI.de.
2/3 July 2008
Purchasing negotiation
skills for engineers
From orderer to competent purchaser: this
VDI seminar deals with various aspects
including the importance and function of
procurement in companies, the basic negotiation
techniques, negotiation psychology,
and successful strategies. Further information
from www.vid-wissenforum.de
14/15 July 2008
Measures to counteract
product piracy
The limits of legal measures to combat product
piracy, and technical and organisational
measures against product piracy – this
VDI event highlights the increasing importance
of this issue, and uses case studies
to show how companies have already successfully
introduced technical and organisational
protection concepts. More information
from www.vdi-wissenforum.de.
Preview:
MISUMI at Motek
From 22 to 25 September 2008, MISUMI
will be present at the 27th international
trade fair for Assembly and Handling
Technology in Stuttgart: Hall 9, Stand 9210.
More information from www.motekmesse.de
Die MISUMI Europa GmbH ist nach
ISO 9001:2000 (Qualitätsmanagement)
und 14001:2004 (Umweltmanagement)
zertifiziert.
RoHS put
to the test
Since 1 July 2006, the EU directive on the
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS),
has statutorily banned certain hazardous substances,
such as lead, chromium and brominated
flame retardants, in the manufacture and processing
of electrical and electronic devices and components.
Clarification is now in progress to determine
whether other substances should also be included.
The European Commission is currently looking intensely
at a revision of directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE) and
2002/95/EC (RoHS). The partial amendment of both
directives is expected. Reviewing the previous regulations
at regular intervals is one of the provisions in
the RoHS directive to ensure that RoHS keeps up to
date with current industrial practise. The German
Öko-Institut e.V. was contracted to start to elaborate
a study on 4 th of October 2007 looking at the potential
need to include other hazardous substances. The
parties affected were invited by the EU Commission
to participate in the ongoing discussion process by presenting their positions and providing
information. The final report is scheduled for publication in the next few days.
The regulations affect everyone involved in the manufacture and sale of electrical and electronic
devices within the defined categories, and those involved in the sale of devices manufactured
by other manufacturers under their own brand names. Regulations also cover devices
imported or exported into EU member countries. In Europe, more than 90 per cent of old devices
end up in landfills – amounting to around six million tonnes per year. The resulting emissions
entering the air are an environmental and health hazard. These risks can be reduced by
preventing hazardous substances being used in manufacture in the first place – the area regulated
by RoHS.
Crispy summer salad
All eyes in Europe are now turned to Germany’s southern neighbours: football in the Alps!
This recipe also has a tasty kick:
2 ds lemon juice 5 ds salad oil
2 ds white wine 1 chicory
some sugar 1 lettuce
some salt 1 apple
5 ds parmesan cheese
Mix the lemon juice, white wine, salt, sugar and oil together
to make a salad dressing. Remove the bitter core of the chicory, cut the rest into rings
and wash in luke warm water. Clean and wash the lettuce, then shake it dry and pull it
into bite-size pieces. Wash the unpeeled apple, cut it into matchstick-sized pieces and
add it directly to the salad dressing. Toss the chicory and the lettuce in the salad dressing,
put the grated parmesan on top and serve immediately.
Bon appétit!
MISUMI Europa GmbH
Katharina-Paulus-Str. 6
DE-65824 Schwalbach/Ts.
Tel.: +49 (0) 6196 7746-0
Fax: +49 (0) 6196 7746-360
insales@misumi.de
www.misumi-europe.com
from Switzerland
MISUMI U.K. Ltd
No. 1, The Courtyard, 76-78 High Street
Staines, Middlesex, TW18 4DP UK
Tel.: +44 (0) 1784 465530
Fax: +44 (0) 1784 466695
insales@misumi-europe.com
www.misumi-europe.com