New Trumpf Smart Factory in Chicago
Investment in the millions
The machine tool manufacturer Trumpf sees themselves as one of the pioneers of industry 4.0. As another milestone, the company has now opened a new technology center in Chicago.
It is the first fully digitally networked factory for Industry 4.0 solutions. The site covers an area of 5,500 square meters. The total investment was 13 million euros, another 13 million euros invested Trumpf in the technical equipment. The focus of the factory is on consulting and training customers who want to introduce digitally networked manufacturing solutions. Interested parties can for example follow the entire sheet metal process chain from order placement through design to production and delivery – needless to say that this happens all intelligently networked.
Chicago is the center for sheet metal production
The choice of Chicago as the location is likely to have been made primarily because of the good networking with the sheet metal industry in the entire states. Around 40 percent of the sheet metal working industry is located in neighboring states. “For us, America is one of the most important markets of all. And in Chicago, we can present our vision of networked production to our customers in the Midwest right on their doorstep – and together with them we are able to drive the networking of production under the keyword Industry 4.0vforward” said Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller, Chief Executive Officer of the TRUMPF Group.
Trumpf wants to further expand on the American market
In the so-called “control room”, visitors can see the process key figures from current production in real time. The room is a control center with large displays. But the centerpiece is the 55 meter long production hall in which the interlinked sheet metal production with a high-bay warehouse is located. This supplies the machine tools with material. Due to the Skywalk, visitors are able to see the production facility from a bird’s eye view.
The USA is Trumpf’s second-largest single market. In the last year, sales increased by 14 percent to 421 million euros. With the Smart Factory, the market shall be further expanded – despite punitive tariffs. Leibinger-Kammüller recommends free markets with a view to US President Trump’s trade policy.
Picture: TRUMPF.
