Millimeter work at lofty heights

A central point in the development of the new process center: compliance with new and future "Technical Cleanliness Requirements," especially from the automotive and electronics industries.

Transport in one piece: The precision punch comes into play whenever it concerns exclusive, customer-specific products such as the DAE HighProtect or DAE on the nameplate.

The distance between Building II and III on the Schreiner Group premises isn't far, but this time the distance must be covered at about 10 meters height: A precision punch is being moved – and it impressively marks the start of the new process center for the pressure equalization elements (PC DAE) at Schreiner ProTech.

There isn't much room to maneuver as the machine is carefully transported centimeter by centimeter through the expanded window front. Absolute precision is not only crucial during this heavy-duty move but also plays a decisive role in this punch. "The reason why we transport it in one piece," explains Adrian Marggraf, Product Manager DAE at Schreiner ProTech, "is quite simple. On the one hand, we wanted to avoid the potential for errors that naturally occurs during disassembly and reassembly, and on the other hand, it benefits our customers if the punch can be operational at its new location as quickly as possible."

In the new facilities, all manufacturing-relevant steps from material intake to the final pressure equalization element will be implemented within a process center structure. A key aspect of setting up the new process center was ensuring compliance with new and future "Technical Cleanliness Requirements," especially from the automotive and electronics industries. Thanks to the new structural and spatial improvements, the increased technical cleanliness standards of the customers can be perfectly met. The PC DAE also offers the possibility to further enhance the already high quality standards through extended functional incoming goods inspections, in-process controls, and automated finished part inspections. Shorter throughput times and the use of the latest manufacturing technologies to improve product safety complete the concept of the process center.

"This is a very important component today," summarizes Adrian Marggraf as the approximately 6-ton punch is finally hanging from the crane and being carefully transported across the yard. The precision punch is used whenever it comes to exclusive, customer-specific products like the DAE HighProtect or DAE on the nameplate. The production system was specially developed and acquired to meet the high tolerances and requirements of the automotive industry for these multi-layered and complex products. It will also ensure that customers at Schreiner ProTech can continue to rely on top-quality pressure equalization elements in the new PC DAE.