views&

Technology I p 6
Cutting Energy Costs
with GreenLine
People I p 15
Interview: Robert Trube
Talks about Sales
Partners I p 12
Next-Generation
Automation
from Wemo
No9 07/10
Products & Services | p 4
VITESSE.
Simply The Fastest
Injection Molding Machine
T h e J o u r n a l o f f e r r o m a T i k m i l a c r o n m a s c h i n e n b a u G m b h
Ferromatik Milacron Maschinenbau GmbH Phone +49 (0)7644 78-0 www.ferromatik.com
THE K-TEC SERIES
400 4,500 kN
Hydraulic high-performance injection
molding machines for large-scale production
High speed and high productivity
Maximum machine availability
Suitable for custom solutions
speedy
proven
durable
3 views visions
v
ie
w
s
&
Technologie I S. 06 Energiesparen mit dem GreenLine Programm
Leute I S. 15 Interview mit Robert Trube ber den Vertrieb
D A S M A G A Z I N D E R F E R R O M A T I K M I L A C R O N M A S C H I N E N B A U G M B H
Partner I S. 12
Moderne Automatisierung
von Wemo
Nr. 9 07/10
Produkte & Service | S. 04
VITESSE.
Einfach die schnellsten Spritzgiemaschinen!
Editorial
No 9 07/10
Dear Readers,
VIEWS & VISIoNS
editorial Team
Julia Andris
Thorsten Hoes
Dr. Thorsten Thmen
Publisher
Ferromatik Milacron
Maschinenbau GmbH
Riegeler Strae 4
79364 Malterdingen
Germany
Phone +49 (0)76 44 78-0
Fax +49 (0)76 44 6885
[email protected]
www.ferromatik.com
It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself to you in this latest edition
of VIEWS & VISIONS. In January 2010 I became the new Managing Director
of Ferromatik Milacron. I know the company well, having been here between
1996 and 2002 in a variety of positions. In 2006 I rejoined Milacron to oversee
the injection molding machine business in China and our Chinese joint
venture initiative.
During the frst half of 2010, we introduced structural changes at Ferromatik
Milacron which we will continue to implement into the future. We are already
experiencing the benefts of these measures. That, in combination with
improving economic conditions, allows us to look ahead with optimism. We
are investing heavily in an entirely new product currently under development
here in Malterdingen. This project will play a key role in our future plans, and
will also be a standard-bearer for the other Milacron production centers in
India, China, and the U.S. We look forward to unveiling the fruits of our work at
the K-Show in Dsseldorf later this year, and we hope you will be able to join
us there!
I hope you enjoy reading the new issue of VIEWS & VISIONS with its usual
eclectic mix of articles on plastics and the people and technologies that
produce it. Please take a look at the cover story on our new high-performance
hybrid VITESSE series which debuted in May of last year (p 4). You can also
read about the new all-electric ELEKTRON from Milacron China, an economy
model which we just introduced this year (p 13).
Sincerely
Gerold Schley
Managing Director Ferromatik Milacron
Vice President Milacron China
4 views visions
Products & Service
No 9 07/10
New Machine Series Strengthens
Ferromatik Milacron in the Packaging Sector
VITESSE:
Efficiency, Reliability,
and Performance!
handled the task with ease. At the same event,
a VITESSE with a clamping force of 3,000 kN,
and another 4,000 kN model, demonstrated the
production of bottle closures and lids using IML
technology.
The stability and accuracy required for
this series excellent machine dynamics
are provided by a reinforced machine
base with linear bearings. This ensures
precise functioning of the clamping unit with
unsurpassed mold safety.
But the VITESSE was built for more than just
speed. The new machines were also designed
to make extra-effcient use of resources.
Each hydraulic component was exhaustively
analyzed and optimized with an eye to
achieving minimum pressure losses and the
lowest possible energy consumption. The result
is that the VITESSE can operate with a degree
of energy effciency comparable to that of an
all-electric machine with the same output.
The GreenLine Package
The VITESSE machines come standard with
Ferromatik Milacrons GreenLine energy saving
package, comprised of three hardware/software
components:
Energy-effcient drive technology:
The hydraulic pump comes with a
high-effciency motor
Energy management: The hydraulic
accumulator is flled only to the required level
for each application in addition, parallel
movements are avoided where not needed,
minimizing expensive energy peaks
Energy consumption measurement: this
module provides operators with detailed
energy consumption information, allowing for
the quantifcation of energy usage by cycle,
hour, and shift
F
erromatik Milacron is known around the
world for high-performance machines
and specialized custom injection molding
solutions, especially in the packaging and
consumer goods industries. In order to offer
molders even greater levels of productivity,
the new VITESSE series was developed on the
proven K-TEC platform.
The Name Says It All
The French word VITESSE captures exactly
what makes this machine so special: speed.
That was demonstrated impressively when
the series made its debut in May 2009 at the
Packaging Theme Day at Ferromatik Milacron
in Malterdingen. For the event, a 2,000 kN
VITESSE was used to produce an egg carton
with a cycle time of just 1.9 seconds. VITESSE
5 views visions
50/60 50/60
60/70 60/70 60/70
70/80 70/80 70/80
80/90 80/90
90/100 90/100
100/110
Products & Service
No 9 07/10
Remote Maintenance
via Teleservice
The new VITESSE series also includes
Ferromatik Milacrons Teleservice for remote-
maintenance of machines and process
optimization. Teleservice includes all the
necessary hardware and software for quickly
connecting the machine to the internet. Machine
data and parameters can be analyzed and
modifed from Ferromatik Milacrons main facility
in Malterdingen, Germany. Since no technician
needs to travel to the customers facility to
perform these services, both time and additional
costs are saved.
Machine Configurations
The VITESSE has already won many
enthusiastic new customers for Ferromatik
Milacron and the series continues to enjoy
strong sales. Molders keep coming with
new projects and challenging plasticizing
requirements, such as thin-walled parts, or
parts with large shot volumes. For this reason
the confguration options for the two large
models (4,000 and 5,000 kN) have been
extended to include international size 6,610
and 10,100 injection units. This is possible
thanks to synergies with the MAXIMA large
machine series, which is also used for some
packaging applications. The VITESSE machine
confguration choices include all of the following:
In order to meet the demands for a high
quality melt with excellent color dispersion,
the VITESSE comes standard with a high-
performance barrier screw and a mixing
head and electric screw drive.
The Warranty Package
Ferromatik Milacron has full confdence in the
quality and reliability of the high-performance
VITESSE. To underscore this, machines in the
series come with a comprehensive three-phase
warranty package:
Full warranty for up to 2 years,
or 15,000 operating hours
Warranty for electrical components
and electronics of up to 3 years,
or 22,500 operating hours
Warranty for steel and castings of the
machine of up to 4 years, or 30,000
operating hours
VITESSE with a clamping force
of 4,000 kN and an international
size 6,610 injection unit
The high-speed VITESSE
is specially designed for
packaging applications
Injection Unit
(Intl. Sizes)
Clamping Unit (Clamping Force [kN])
2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000
1,000
1,650
2,650
4,400
6,610
10,100
Screw Diameter [mm]
6 views visions
Technology
No 9 07/10
Ferromatik Milacron - A Comprehensive Approach to Energy Management
Saving Energy The Right Way
E
ven if oil prices may have fallen for the
moment, everyone now realizes the
importance of reducing our energy
requirements wherever possible. Numerous
machine manufacturers have begun introducing
various measures for saving energy, but the
true potential for reducing energy consumption
cannot be realized with any one single action: a
comprehensive approach is necessary. To this
end Ferromatik Milacron offers customers a top-
to-bottom energy-saving service for hydraulic
machines under the GreenLine moniker.
The three elements of the service include
consulting, the GreenLine hardware/software
package, and process optimization. Together
these ensure the greatest possible energy
savings for injection molders.
Consulting
The GreenLine experience begins - as do
all Ferromatik Milacron services - with an in-
depth assessment of the customers needs.
Depending on the application and the required
output levels, the experts at Ferromatik Milacron
will determine the most cost-effective machine
confguration for the job. With the beneft
of years of experience, and performance
data for the machine in question, the needs
assessment will place special emphasis on
energy consumption. An extensive application
database provides additional information for
this part of the process.
The GreenLine
Hardware/Software Package
The GreenLine package itself consists of
three hardware and software components:
Energy-effcient drive technology
Energy management
Energy consumption measurement
energy-effcient drive technology is achieved
by substituting the effciency class EFF2 motor
for an energy-saving class EFF1 motor.
Ferromatik Milacron enables
molders to classify their energy
effciency from A (optimal)
to C (high)
7 views visions
Technology
No 9 07/10
Intelligent hydraulic accumulator technology
provides cost-saving energy management: the
accumulator is charged only to the required
level for each particular process. In addition,
parallel movements are avoided where not
needed, thus minimizing expensive energy
peaks.
energy consumption measurement is offered
in the GreenLine package via a new software
module. This component provides monitoring
and quantifcation of energy consumption
during the injection process. This means that
injection molders can view real-time values for
real power, idle power, and cos-. Indicators for
specifc consumption provide additional usage
data, both in kW hours per kg of plastic, or by
cycle, hour, or shift.
With detailed performance information like
this, Ferromatik Milacron can determine, for
example, that a GreenLine package with a
cycle time of 7.4 seconds will have paid for
itself after around 9,000 hours of operation.
Depending on the application areas, GreenLine
packages can be extended with components
such as energy conserving heater bands.
Of course Ferromatik Milacron is constantly
monitoring new trends and evaluating any new
developments in the industry.
Energy usage is indicated on
the MOSAIC control panel
Process optimization
With the GreenLine package, the whole
injection process can now be analyzed and
energy effciency can be optimized. Indeed,
the system allows for the user to designate
class A, B, or C energy effciency. Unlike
refrigeration equipment, these energy usage
categories refect the effciency of the entire
process, not just the machine. This affrms the
comprehensive approach of the GreenLine
service. After all, what is the value of having
an excellent machine, if its energy use has not
been thoroughly optimized for the work it has
to do?
The familiar process visualizations offered
by the MOSIAC control panel are extended
with the GreenLine package to display power
consumption and energy peak parameters. This
closes the circle, ensuring an energy-optimized
machine at all times.
The GreenLine service includes in-depth
training for the set-up personnel and the
machine operator. Thus employees can learn
to monitor energy usage, just as they already
monitor part quality and output volume. For
todays injection molders, all of these factors
matter.
With the GreenLine program
energy consumption can be
reduced for hydraulic injection
molding machines
8 views visions
Marketplace
Drainage Systems from Swedens Plastinject Are Getting out into the World
Even as far as Dubais Luxurious Palm Jumeirah Resort Island
out of the Mold and
Straight to the Customer
Why would the Swedes be experts in
drainage? Well, Sweden has to endure a lot of
bad weather. In order to avoid fooding after
heavy rainfalls, underground drainage systems
are required by law for all public spaces. Thus
beneath every parking lot, every runway at the
airport, and every soccer stadium, invisible
drainage systems are hard at work. Often these
systems are constructed of plastic, since the
material is light, easy to process and assemble,
and safe for the environment.
A fully automated production cell with an
ingenious logistical design makes it possible
for Plastinject to produce drainage systems
in Sweden and export them across Europe.
One of their systems is even used to regulate
drainage on the stunning Palm Jumeirah, a
man-made palm-shaped luxury resort island off
the coast of Dubai.
At the Plastinject facility two injection molding
machines from Ferromatik Milacron stand
side-by-side, like a big brother watching over
a little brother. These machines produce the
two parts for the drainage system. They are a
large MAXIMA with 10,000 kN clamping force
using a 2+2 cavity stack mold to produce the
drainage chambers. The outer coverings are
manufactured on the smaller MAXIMA, which
has a clamping force of 5,000 kN.
The drainage chambers are removed by
a six-arm axis from Wemo-Kuka, the largest
robot the two companies have ever built. It is
attached to the top of the fxed platen which
provides excellent reach, while saving valuable
S
mland - which means small land -
is a typical rural province in Sweden.
Pippi Longstockings, Ronja the Robbers
Daughter, and other Swedish literary fgures
made their homes here, and people who have
read childrens books by Astrid Lindgren will
be able to imagine the area vividly: forests,
lakes, moors, and little villages with brightly
painted wooden houses. What few people
realize, however, is that almost all of Swedens
injection molding manufacturers are also based
there, lined up like pearls on a necklace. This
includes Plastinject, located in Anderstorp: a
company that has enjoyed considerable sales
success with drainage systems.
Fully automated production cell with a
Ferromatik Milacron injection molding machine
and a six-armed axis by Wemo-Kuka during
production of drainage systems
Palm Jumeirah
9 views visions
Marketplace
foor-space for handling the parts. After part
removal the grippers separate the 16 sprues
and drop them into a granulator - recycling is
thus an integrated element of the production
cell. Following this step, the robots stack the
parts on top of each other to save space on the
pallets. Once the pallet is full, it is automatically
removed from the production cell and replaced
with a new one.
The height of the loaded pallets is calculated
to make optimum use of the available space in
shipping vehicles. These trucks then transport
the drainage systems directly to the customers
site. No human hand touches the parts
between the injection molding machine and
the construction site, where they will be used.
With a comprehensive production system
like this, and no need to warehouse parts
between the manufacturer and the end-user,
we have been able to compete successfully
on the international stage, said Bjrn Olsson,
Marketing Director at Plastinject. The demands
on personnel for monitoring the system are
minimal, he added.
Naturally, with a fully automated solution
like this, quality control is built in. At regular
intervals parts are removed from production by
the robot and placed on a buffer conveyor for
quality testing.
Plastinject sets high standards for all of
their other products as well. Apart from
drainage systems, the company produces
innovative products for the automotive, medical
technology, logistics, and consumer goods
industries. Their molding facility consists of 35
Ferromatik Milacron injection molding machines
of every size, from 500 kN pixies to 10,000 kN
behemoths. About one third of the product
range are multi-component machines and
Plastinject is the largest Swedish company to
offer the technology. The company was started
more than 30 years ago by Hans Anderson,
who now is senior manager. The idea for a fully
automated production cell for drainage systems
originated with the company founder himself.
It arose during a conversation a few years
ago at Fakuma with their automation partner
Wemo. The concept was sketched out on the
proverbial napkin and here we are!
Dont miss the report on Wemo on page 12.
Contact
Hans Anderson
+46 (0)371 587002
[email protected]
www.plastinject.se
Plastinject is based in
Anderstorp, Sweden
The robot removing parts
from the stack mold
10 views visions
Marketplace
No 9 07/10
Its All About LCD Televisions
at Flextronics in Hungary
Into Your
Living Room
Y
ou can fnd them in almost every
household. They offer round-the-clock
entertainment and are an established
part of everyday life for many people. Yes,
were talking about TV. The underlying
technology for this iconic appliance had
already been invented by the end of the 19th
century. The frst successful transmission of an
image happened at the start of the 20th. The
frst regular broadcast of high-resolution content
was in Germany in 1935. The next milestone
came in the middle of the century with the
advent of color television. Since then, television
design has been continually refned. Today only
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or plasma screen
televisions are available.
So far so good. But how do televisions
actually get to our living rooms?
When most people hear the word campus
they think of colleges or universities. We
picture green spaces embracing teaching
and research buildings, student residences,
and the other infrastructure necessary for
places of higher learning. Flextronics, in the
Hungarian city of Sarvar also has a campus,
but this one is all about industry. Their campus
was founded in 1995 and today encompasses
an area equivalent to seven football felds. A
workforce of 1,600 is employed at the facility.
A variety of production work is done in the
different buildings. For example, in one of the
buildings, automobile parts are produced, and
in another desktop computers. Most of the
campus, however, is used for the production
of television sets. In addition, twenty suppliers
and partners in areas such as metal stamping,
cardboard boxes, and Styrofoam packaging
each contribute their craft to the Flextronics
production line.
Flextronics can produce up to one million
LCD televisions per year from 32 to 40 inches
Painting the front housings
Contact
Attila Pajor
+ 36 95 533 296
[email protected]
www.fextronics.com
11 views visions
Marketplace
for a well-known Japanese brand. Thanks
to the campus concept, both product and
transportation costs are kept to a minimum,
and their fnely-tuned production ecosystem is
especially responsive to market demands. It
takes just three days from the time an order is
received to the time the products are ready for
shipping. There are fve steps in the process:
Station 1 Injection molding: high-gloss
front and back panels are produced on large
13,000 kN hydraulic MAXIMA machines from
Ferromatik Milacron. The robust and compact
2 platen clamping unit on the MAXIMA offers
a generous mold installation area and was
specially designed for heavy and large-size
molds. At the same time, the MAXIMA has
one of the smallest footprints for a machine in
its class. Since the creation of the campus,
weve been using injection molding machines
from Ferromatik Milacron. We currently have
around 50 of them, said Robert Kurzbauer,
responsible for new technologies in Europe at
Flextronics. We really like how user-friendly
and reliable the machines are, he added.
Station 2 Painting: the television housing
is painted, providing an attractive, high quality
look and fnish.
Station 3 Assembly: the painted parts are
attached to the LC displays, speakers and TV
controls. Its now a complete television!
Station 4 Packaging: the appliances
are wrapped in the heavy-duty protective
packaging we all know from the electronics
stores.
Station 5 Shipping: the televisions leave the
campus for delivery to one of seven European
distribution centers operated by the Japanese
company. From there the televisions orders
from electronics retailers are flled. We all know
the rest of the story
Flextronics, based in Singapore, is a leading
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
supplier of electronics, and serves the
automotive, computer, telecommunications,
consumer products, and medical industries.
The companys core strength is the
development and execution of production
pipelines from design and development,
through manufacturing to logistics. OEMs
beneft from lower production costs and shorter
product development cycles. Flextronics
operates a global network of industrial
campuses and regional production facilities, as
well as design and development centers in 30
countries in Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
Worldwide, the company employs 160,000
people.
Flextronics industrial campus in Hungary
Making televisions on
MAXIMA machines from
Ferromatik Milacron
12 views visions
Partners
Ferromatik Milacrons Swedish Partner Wemo offers
Expertise in Next-Generation Automation Technology
A Surprise at K 2010
Contact
Olof Sthl
+46 (0)370 658501
[email protected]
www.wemo.se
T
he Citizens of Swedens Smland
province have a reputation for
technological savvy and a strong work
ethic. Brothers Olof, Bengt and Sven Sthl
were still quite young when they decided,
twenty years ago, to take their future into their
own hands with the founding of Wemo. Since
most of the Swedish plastics industry is based
in Smland (see page 8 to read about one
of these companies: Plastinject), they found
opportunity knocking right next door and
started designing automation solutions for
injection molding machines.
Soon the trio had developed their frst robot
system and robotics remains the core of
Wemos business today. The current product
line includes linear robots, swing-arm robots
and, in collaboration with Kuka, a six-arm axis
for injection molding machines from 250 to
35,000 kN. This means handling weights of up
to 100 kg. Wemo offers an exceptionally short
delivery time: just four weeks. More than 2,000
Wemo robots have been installed worldwide
and more are sold every year.
The Wemo product portfolio continues to
grow. In order to simplify the management of
automated production cells, the company has
developed its own user-friendly control panel.
Gripper systems, conveyors and protective
enclosures round out the product line for
injection molding machines.
Turnkey automation solutions are offered
for production cells. Prior to delivery to
a customers facility, the whole system is
assembled and tested in Wemos own Center
for Excellence in Smland, or at Ferromatik
Milacron in Malterdingen. The three brothers
have expanded their operation beyond
Swedens borders and established subsidiaries
in Germany, India and Taiwan. The success
of these initiatives has ensured that the good
name of Wemo is known far and wide today.
At K 2010 in Dsseldorf Wemo and
Ferromatik Milacron will have a new surprise for
visitors. Make sure you come by Hall 15 / C06
to see what it is!
Wemo is based in Bor, Sweden
The three brothers: Sven,
Bengt and Olof Sthl
Wemo automation together with injection
molding machines from Ferromatik Milacron
the long-standing collaboration has been a
great success story
13 views visions
18/20/22
18/25/30 18/25/30 18/25/30
30/35/40 30/35/40 30/35/40 30/35/40 30/35/40
35/40/45 35/40/45 35/40/45 35/40/45 35/40/45
40/45/50 40/45/50 40/45/50 40/45/50
45/50/60 45/50/60 45/50/60
50/60/70 50/60/70
Tips & Tricks
No 9 07/10
The New Economical All-Electric Machine from Milacron China
A Product of Global Synergy
Injection Unit
(Intl. Sizes)
Clamping Unit (Clamping Force [kN])
500 750 1,100 1,550 1,800 2,000 2,600 3,300
55
120
300
450
630
970
1,540
Screw Diameter [mm]
E
LEKTRON is the name of the new all-
electric injection molding machine from
our Chinese affliate Milacron China.
The ELEKTRON is currently available through
Ferromatik Milacron at a price point that
compares favorably with hydraulic machines.
The new ELEKTRON is a collaborative
effort within Milacron which has four injection
molding machine manufacturing centers
around the world: Germany, India, China, and
the U.S. The ELEKTRONs core technology
comes from Ferromatik Milacrons proven
ELEKTRA evolution series. Milacrons Indian
affliate contributed engineering expertise and
assembly is done in China.
Availability
ELEKTRON packages can be customized
from a list of options. The machines are
shipped from China via European ports.
Controls
The components of the ENDURA control
panel are built by B&R, which is based in
Austria. A variety of practical options are
available.
Plasticizing Unit
The ELEKTRON is equipped with a basic
injection unit consisting of a three-zone screw
and a nitrided cylinder. Since it shares the
same platform as the ELEKTRA evolution, it is
possible to upgrade the ELEKTRON with any of
a wide selection of high-quality injection units.
Installation of upgrades is provided by customer
service at Ferromatik Milacron.
Combinations
The ELEKTRON is available in eight models,
ranging from 500 to 3,300 kN, with a choice of
seven injection units from international size 55
up to 1,540. Altogether this provides molders
with 23 possible combinations, each with three
available screw diameters.
Sound interesting? Lets talk!
ELEKTRON 110 with a
clamping force of 1,100 kN
14 views visions
People
No 9 07/10
Creating a Winning Sales Strategy for Italy
Meet the Team!
Paolo Zirondoli, Sales
Manager for Southern Europe
and South America
O
ver the past two years Ferromatik
Milacron has been able to develop a
successful new sales network in Italy.
Were delighted to introduce the team!
Italy
Headquartered in Malterdingen, Paolo
Zirondoli is our Sales Manager responsible for
Southern Europe and South America. Since
2008, he has devoted much energy into putting
together a terrifc sales team for his native
Italy. They include the following four new local
representatives:
Piedmont, Liguria, Aosta
Franco Rutigliano has been responsible
for northwest Italy for more than a year. He is
a veteran in the plastics industry and, over
the course of his 30-year career, has sold
more than 1,300 injection molding machines,
ranging in size from 300 to 35,000 kN. Now he
is continuing his remarkable success story with
Ferromatik Milacron, recently recording the frst
sale in Italy of the VITESSE high-performance
hybrid machine.
Lombardy
Guido Benigna is our sales representative in
the north, in the Milan area, and brings 20 years
of experience to the new position. In July 2010
he organized an industry event, together with
the Italian consortium Proplast. New trends in
injection molding technology were presented
there, including Ferromatik Milacrons
monosandwich process and stack-turning mold
technology.
Triveneto
This year we were able to add F.lli Busato
SAS to the sales team covering the northeast
region around Venice. The company was
founded 35 years ago by brothers Mauro und
Lucio Busato and today employs four of their
children, Chiara, Marco, Enrico und Michele,
along with one other sales representative. In
September 2010 they will host a presentation
with Proplast on all-electric injection molding
technology where the new ELEKTRON from
Milacron China will be featured.
Central and Southern Italy
We are pleased to welcome the newest
member of our sales team: Filippo Tosti. He
will handle sales in the southern region, where
approximately 25% of all of Italys injection
molding machines are located.
Italy
Paolo Zirondoli
+49 7644 78173
[email protected]
Piedmont, Liguria, Aosta
Franco Rutigliano
+39 011 7715750
[email protected]
Lombardy
Guido Benigna
+39 335 6356247
[email protected]
Triveneto
Chiara Busato
+39 049 9300220
[email protected]
Central and Southern Italy
Filippo Tosti
+39 349 8307398
[email protected]
15 views visions
People
No 9 07/10
Interview with Robert Trube on
Ferromatik Milacrons Sales Structure
Building Towards K 2010
Herwig Nowag,
Sales Manager for Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia
Stphane Grossnickel,
Sales Manager for Northern and Western Europe, and North America
Paolo Zirondoli,
Sales Manager for Southern Europe and South America
S
ince the start of 2009 Robert Trube
has been head of sales at Ferromatik
Milacron. He has worked for the
company for ten years now, starting out as
product manager for the MAXIMA machine
series before becoming head of sales for
Germany. Prior to assuming his present
position, he led the ELEKTRA and MAXIMA
business units. When frst he joined Ferromatik
Milacron, he already had ten years of sales
experience in the plastics industry. VIEWS &
VISIONS (V&V) recently spoke with Robert
Trube about his work today, and his job
description, which extends far beyond the
narrow defnition of sales.
V&V: What exactly do your present
responsibilities include?
Trube: Its become pretty extensive! Apart
from sales, I am responsible for marketing,
training, and application technologies. In short:
everything that is connected to sales. We have
even brought these four departments together
in the same part of the building and were all
beneftting from the shorter distances between
our offces.
V&V: How have you organized the sales
department?
Trube: We have three sales managers, each
of whom is responsible for a region. Stphane
Grossnickel, who comes from France, handles
the northern and western European countries
and North America. Our Italian colleague Paolo
Zirondoli manages the sales teams in southern
Europe and South America. And fnally we
have in Herwig Nowag an experienced sales
executive for Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The sales managers draw on a pool of sales
specialists who, while each is focused on
specifc countries, work together and will step
in when and where extra support is needed.
V&V: Which product is most successful at
the moment?
Trube: I couldnt say that any one machine is
our bestseller right now. Ferromatik Milacrons
strength lies in customizing high-performance
systems for certain key industries, especially
packaging and consumer goods, but also in
medical technology applications.
V&V: What is next for the company?
Trube: Were very excited about K 2010 in
Dsseldorf, where we will be unveiling a brand
new product. The unveiling will give people a
real sense of the future direction of Ferromatik
Milacron. At this point I cant share any more
than that. Stay tuned
Robert Trube,
Director Sales & Marketing
Ferromatik Milacron Maschinenbau GmbH Phone +49 (0)7644 78-0 www.ferromatik.com
THE ELEKTRA SERIES
300 3,000 kN
All-electric injection molding
machines for any application
Uses less energy and water
Runs clean for clean room applications
Provides precision and repeatability