Vertical integration at Langzauner: Part 3 – Assembly
With around 35 employees, assembly is an important area in our special machine construction. In part 3 of our portrait of vertical integration at Langzauner, we would like to showcase the expertise of our assembly team:
Assembly of our Langzauner special machines
The assembly department at Langzauner brings together all components from parts production and purchasing. In the first step, all components are prepared for painting and assembly in the assembly department. To ensure an efficient process, the assembly modules are first picked and prepared.
“At Langzauner, all mechanical and hydraulic finishing is carried out in-house. For this reason, it is important that all work steps are efficiently interlinked. The special machine is prefabricated to a defined degree so that, for example, the electrician can pull in the cables at the defined point in time. This work is then checked and the final finishing process continues. Checking the hydraulic assemblies, valves and sensor circuits as well as the safety equipment is particularly important,” says Philipp Badegruber, explaining the production steps in assembly.
Production Manager Stefan Strasser adds: “Communication is key in assembly. We have to coordinate all of the deadlines and milestones perfectly. Production status and upcoming milestones are discussed in a weekly meeting.”
Control systems and software integration
Special machines from Langzauner represent a high degree of automation. Software integration affects our presses as well as upstream and downstream processes that customers want to link in a sophisticated production process. The demands on our installation experts are correspondingly high.
Philipp Badegruber comments: “Control systems and software hugely affect us in assembly, because we are on site during commissioning together with the software developer and work with them to ensure smooth commissioning. In the case of special machines, further service and maintenance topics must also be considered. That is why at Langzauner we pay great attention to expertise gained through experience in the areas of software and control technology. Suggestions for improvement are documented and all learning processes are mapped digitally.”
Sebastian Watzinger adds: “In assembly, we work with different departments depending on the status of the project. We have to coordinate well with the design engineers, electricians and software technicians as well as the customer and work together perfectly.”
Compact logistics concepts for special machines from LZ
Langzauner is known for its compact logistics concepts. This approach enables our special machines to be used worldwide and particularly affects the working processes of our assembly experts. Philipp Badegruber explains the connection between logistics and assembly: “To ensure that everything runs smoothly during transportation and assembly, we take dismantling into account right from the design stage, for example. This means that we know exactly how to dismantle and pack the system during assembly. This is part of the requirement profile for Langzauner systems. All steps are discussed with the installation manager on site. The installation manager has a precise overview of all the important steps involved in dismantling and packing, as well as the means of transportation and loading times.”
Final assembly and commissioning at the customer’s site
As a turnkey provider, Langzauner relies on final assembly and commissioning at the customer’s premises by Langzauner experts. A suitable team is always put together to accompany the installation and commissioning on site. “The team that supervised the in-house assembly is present again for the dismantling and packing through to the commissioning on site. The accumulated knowledge of the special machine must be succinctly applied, in order to support a seamless process. The mechanical training provided by our team for the customer’s maintenance and service personnel is also important. A great deal is explained in the operating instructions, but the training is very practical and our customers really appreciate this. The exchange between technicians is important,” says Philipp, explaining the commissioning process.
Short Q&A session with our assembly team
What was the furthest you have traveled with LZ so far to take part in a commissioning?
Sebastian Watzinger: “I was in Texas for three weeks for a commissioning project, which was a very exciting experience for me. You quickly learn that every country is different. These differences are particularly noticeable on the construction site. When we’re on the road as a team, we also do a lot together in our free time. It means that we can also see something of the country.”
Philipp Badegruber: “The most distant assignment took me to a research institute in Australia for commissioning.”
Stefan Strasser emphasizes the flexibility at Langzauner: “We have colleagues in assembly who are very happy to travel internationally. Others prefer to work in-house and are not scheduled for assembly assignments at customer sites. Everyone should contribute with their strengths.”
How can you develop as a specialist at Langzauner?
Philipp: “I came to Langzauner’s assembly department via Thomas Witzmann. Initially I had a lot to learn, because I didn’t know anything about hydraulics. Langzauner provides all the necessary training for this. Professionally, you can develop well here. Colleagues are frequently taking the master craftsman exam or moving around internally.”
Sebastian added: “I joined Langzauner in my second year of training as a mechanical engineer in the assembly department. I stayed in the department because there’s always a lot of work to do in assembly and I really enjoyed it here. They make sure that you contribute with your skills and keep you motivated to do so.”
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