Mechanical Technology September 2015

⎪ Automation, mechatronics and electro-mechanical systems ⎪

Streamlining automotive manufacturing in SA

SEW-Eurodrive’s Port Elizabeth branch manager, Francois Sieberhagen (right) talks about the automotive industry and the introduction of Variolution packages that enable automotive manufacturers to considerably reduce the complexity and installation costs of systems. T he automotive industry is based on ‘just-in- time’ and ‘just-in-sequence’ processes for material provision and production. ‘Just- in-time’ is a methodology aimed primarily At any assembly plant, maximum system availability is essential as any downtime results in high follow-up costs. SEW- Eurodrive provides the local automo‑ tive industry with a unique product

at reducing flow times within production as well as response times from suppliers and to customers, while ‘just-in-sequence’ is an inventory strategy to ensure that parts arrive at the correct point and at the exact time of need on the assembly line.

portfolio specifically designed to reliably meet ‘just-in-time’ and ‘just-in sequence’ requirements of modern automotive plants.

SEW-Eurodrive’s Port Elizabeth branch manager, Francois Sieberhagen, says that that the product offering ranges from individual components to complete packages and system solutions. “Leading automotive manufacturers choose SEW- Eurodrive because the company provides cost-effective drive solutions that deliver more value over the long-term. We pro‑ vide a modular design and a reduced number of variants that increases flex‑ ibility and minimises costs.” The company’s products most com‑ monly used in the local automotive industry are: standard geared motors; synchronous and asynchronous servomo‑ tors; Movidrive B application inverters; Movifit FC decentralised standard invert‑ ers, Movipro SDC decentralised standard inverters; and Movipro ADC decentralised application inverters. Sieberhagen indicates that the latest- generation SEW-Eurodrive Variolution packages enable automotive manufactur‑ ers to considerably reduce both the com‑ plexity of their systems as well as their installation costs. “Our drive technology and expert knowledge ensures maximum productivity, energy efficiency and reli‑ ability for clients’ systems,” he continues. Variolution is essentially ‘packaged- selling’, whereby 80% of the package is

The production workflow in the automotive industry is based on just-in-time (JIT) and just-in-sequence (JIS) processes. The scalable drive solutions from SEW Eurodrive’s Variolution ® packages offer customers fewer variables and suppliers during the process of setting up a new assembly line application.

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Mechanical Technology — September 2015