Aluminium Laufen further expands machining plant
Swiss Aluminium Laufen is expanding its machining area by an additional 2000 m2 and implementing Machining Plant II.
At the same time, the company is investing in additional CNC machining centres. With the latest investment, a 5-axis CNC milling centre, high-precision aluminium profiles up to 6 m in length are machined. In addition, the new machining centre enables pendulum machining: an aluminium profile is automatically processed on one part of the machine table, while finished components are removed from the second part and new profiles are inserted at the same time. An automatic safety device ensures that employees never get into contact with the moving machine part when loading or unloading the machine table.
Both machining plants integrated into the intra-logistics system
The unmanned intra-logistics system, which connects the three extrusion lines with the processing and packaging processes, was expanded with a fourth automatic crane in 2022. To implement this expansion, the hall roof was raised and at the same time the storage capacity was increased in the third dimension. This means that 120 additional storage spaces are now available for the Machining Plant II.
In addition, a new, fully automatic sawing line and several CNC machining centres were integrated into the intra-logistics process. The two machining plants are thus seamlessly integrated.
Also integrated into the process is the new, spacious measuring room with the tactile measuring machine. The aluminium profiles are tested there for quality assurance for the initial sample inspection and before delivery to the customers. This ensures the consistently high precision of the profiles.
Machining range to be expanded further
By the summer of 2023, two more machining centres will be put into operation. With the new 5-axis machining centres, milling-turning passes on six sides will be possible in just one work step. The automated loading and unloading of profiles up to 3 m in length will further reduce production times and thus delivery times.
Michael Späth, CSO Extrusions at Aluminium Laufen, is pleased: "Thanks to the wide range of processing options with state-of-the-art equipment, we can offer our customers an efficient complete service. Thus, we offer everything from extrusion to machining and finishing from a single source. This saves our customers time, costs and coordination effort."
High availability also in the future
Guaranteeing security of supply also remains a priority at Aluminium Laufen. Through the production of extrusion billets in its own foundry, its own toolmaking and in-house machining including surface treatment, the company offers a high level of reliability that has proven its worth, especially in today's world.
Swiss aluminium components installed throughout Europe
Aluminium Laufen draws on more than 95 years of experience in the aluminium industry. It specialises in the production of ready-to-assemble casts and extruded profiles with the highest demands on quality and precision. Customers throughout Europe are supplied. The components are used in the construction industry, energy supply, transport, food industry, medical technology and mechanical engineering. Aluminium Laufen employs around 250 people. Thanks to a high degree of automation, Aluminium Laufen produces extruded profiles, tubes and bars economically and at the same time very flexibly. The company also offers machining of profiles in the length range from 4.5 mm to 10,300 mm.
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