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LONDON, December 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivans 2005 Excellence in
Technology of the Year Award in the field of plastics injection moulding
manufacturing systems is bestowed on Germany-based Gira Giersiepen GmbH. The
Award recognises the company for developing highly automated,
productivity-driven, worker environment -enhanced plastics injection moulding
manufacturing systems.
A pioneering factory, opened by the company in 2003, demonstrates its
technical superiority and exceptional production efficiencies. By organising
the plants moulding areas on the basis of the type of production rather than
by the type of materials, it has achieved greater operational rationalisation
and flexibility.
For instance, long, continuous runs that lend readily to automation are
performed in one area with the focus on maximising output levels. At the same
time, a second machine area concentrates on flexibility, handling the many
short runs and tooling changes needed to ensure that nearly 5000 products are
ready for same-day shipment. Such is the level of flexibility that a mould
and material change may be made for a run as short as 50 pieces.
Another ground-breaking feature of the new plant is the switching
manifold of the central materials drying and transporting system. Here, the
materials handling system is placed in the basement with the materials, along
with air, water, power, and all other services, coming up through the floor
via metal towers positioned to serve each machine.
Giras technological specialities range from insert moulding and host
press inserting to multimoulding. "Moulding TPE seals into intercom panels
and other outdoor products eliminates inventory, packing and installation of
separate gaskets," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Donald V. Rosato.
"Multimoulding also provides functionality in a switch behind the touch plate
in a control panel."
Notably, a tandem-mould arrangement is coming on-stream to enhance
production on long-run jobs. Vision systems are used in the automated
production cells and all the newer moulding presses are connected to a
plant-wide automated control and quality monitoring system.
Where feasible, combination Arburg-Remak automated production cells are
being added to handle long runs monitored by the central control system.
Mikron multiple automated assembly systems are being deployed to remove
bottlenecks in assembly and make Gira competitive with lower-cost labour in
nearby eastern Europe.
All components are bar coded to facilitate transportation by a plant-wide
conveyor system to assembly. The assembled products are then transported to a
central area for warehousing or immediate order fulfilment. Increased
automation and the gradual replacement of copper tyres with graphite
electrodes exhibit the companys efforts to continually upgrade this already
advanced mould making facility.
"Gira Giersiepen GmbHs uniquely in-house designed and highly automated
injection moulding plastics manufacturing systems represent an outstanding
level of technological sophistication, making it a worthy recipient of this
Award," concludes Mr. Rosato.
About Frost & Sullivan
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About Gira Giersiepen
In its Plastics Technology Division, Gira engineers, designs and produces
plastic components, system products and tooling for a wide variety of
industries, including automotive engineering, medical technology, heating and
air-conditioning, regulation and control, electrical and electronic products,
motor-powered machinery and domestic appliances. The Plastics Technology
Division is headed up by Gira Managing Director Alfred A. Bulitz.
Gira specialises in the production of high-precision components and is an
ideal choice when it comes to manufacturing plastic parts for medical
technology. Products supplied by Gira to well-known manufacturers include
pressure sensors for use in eye surgery and special parts and systems for
cardio-pulmonary devices. In September 2005, a Class 7 clean room that meets
DIN ISO 14644 manufacturing standards was opened at the Gira Plastics Center
in Radevormwald. Here, plastic components are manufactured that meet GMP
standards. For further details about plastics processing at Gira, visit:
http://www.kunststofftechnik.gira.de
Media contact:
Magdalena Oberland
Corporate Communications
Frost & Sullivan
P: +44-207-915-7876
E: magdalena.oberland@frost.com
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