Beckhoff remains fully
Beckhoff remains fully functional and available With the large-scale outbreak of the corona virus near Verl, Germany, Beckhoff returned to strict safety measures. The automation technology manufacturer is now working in normal operation again. Production and deliveries were not affected by the renewed precautions and are running as usual. Since July 20, Beckhoff has relaxed these protective measures again due to the flattening of infection activity in the Gütersloh district. “Due to our rapid response, Beckhoff’s production and delivery capacity were not restricted at any time. We can supply our customers without any restrictions and at the same time take care of new projects and developments. Our customers don’t need to fear any bottlenecks due to our foresighted warehousing and our strict safety measures, and receive all deliveries within the usual time frame,” assures managing owner Hans Beckhoff (photo). Luca Galluzzi becomes new CSO at B&R Luca Galluzzi (right) will join the executive management team of automation specialist B&R. As the new Chief Sales Officer, he will succeed Peter Gucher, who will be entering a well earned retirement after 34 years at the company. In his new role, Galluzzi will be responsible for all of B&R’s global sales activities and advancing its entry into new markets. In addition to his position on the executive management team, he will retain his current responsibilities as Managing Director for Southern Europe. “Luca Galluzzi has done an exceptional job in the Southern Europe region and has demonstrated a commitment to expanding our business there. I am very pleased that our executive team will now be able to benefit from his knowledge and experience,” says B&R CEO Hans Wimmer. www.br-automation.com www.beckhoff.com Kion Group begins work on new plant in China NEWS AND MARKETS Kion Group is expanding its business in China and has begun work on the construction of an additional plant for the production of counterbalance trucks in Jinan in Shandong Province. The project is expected to enable the global logistics equipment supplier to extend its product portfolio for industrial trucks in one of the world’s most important material handling markets at a cost of approximately 100 mio. €. The Kion Group intends to create over 800 jobs by 2025 with its new plant in eastern China. “China has recovered quickly from the coronavirus crisis and as one of the fastest growing markets worldwide, it plays a key role in our strategy,” said Gordon Riske, Chief Executive Officer of Kion Group, who took part in the ground-breaking ceremony in Jinan via video link. He noted that according to the World Industrial Truck Statistic (WITS), the Chinese economy accounts for around 30 % of the global industrial truck market and that – based on Kion’s Group estimates – this share is set to rise. The Group aims to extend its product portfolio through the new plant, unlocking growth opportunities in the value segment and capitalizing even more on the trend toward greater electrification of industrial trucks in China. The Kion Group has established a new company for this purpose, where Kion has a stake of 95 % and Weichai Power, the primary investor in the Kion Group, has 5 %. The equity investment by Weichai Power, which is also based in Shandong Province and manufactures powertrain systems, commercial vehicles and vehicle electronics, ensures that the Kion Group has a strong local presence in the region. www.kiongroup.com/en/ 6 WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 2020
Rhenus opens its sixth warehouse in North Brabant Rhenus Contract Logistics has opened its sixth warehouse in North Brabant in the Netherlands. The additional 31,885 m2 warehouse located in Oirschot is a dedicated operation for a Rhenus customer in the medical device industry. “We have served this customer for more than ten years; the last seven years in our Eindhoven operation. While discussing our strategy for the coming years, it became clear that we have a strong desire to both expand and focus on our core activities and processes. The dedicated operation will allow us to grow together while continuing to focus on longevity and operational excellence”, said Alphons van Erven, Senior Vice President of Rhenus Contract Logistics. The recently delivered building is located at the Westfields Logistics development in Oirschot, situated in the Brainport Eindhoven area, a technology region in which companies, governments and educational institutions work together to create a brighter future. Brainport Eindhoven is one of the most important hubs for innovative technology and healthcare activities in the Netherlands and Western Europe with excellent multimodal connections, which ensure efficient and optimal accessibility. The warehouse is conveniently located between the current Rhenus locations in Tilburg and Eindhoven. www.rhenus.group/ Technology days on single pair ethernet On September 22 and 23, the SPE System Alliance will be hosting an international, digital exchange of knowledge between experts from different industries and technology sectors on the topic of Single Pair Ethernet. The Technology Days, taking place for the first time this year, provide participants with the opportunity to talk to specialists and find out about the added value of this communication technology. The program will take place at different times on both days so that everyone around the world who is interested in the Technology Days can visit them virtually. The conference will be held in English. If you want to register for the digital conference, visit www. singlepairethernet.com/TechnologyDays. Partners of the SPE System Alliance are among others Weidmüller, Sick, Dätwyler, Fluke Networks, Microchip and Phoenix Contact. www.phoenixcontact.com Igus and Fraunhofer IPA – a perfect Team In semiconductor manufacturing, components such as energy chains and cables must meet high standards regarding their release of particles. In order to be able to develop new motion plastics that are suitable for use in cleanrooms, the Fraunhofer IPA, working as a development and certification partner on behalf of Igus, has designed and built a tailor-made cleanroom laboratory with an ISO Class 1 cleanroom system in Cologne. With the new lab, customer tests and the development of new products by the plastics specialist can be carried out in advance under realistic conditions in a short time. Igus is a global leading manufacturer of energy chain systems and polymer plain bearings and operates the largest test laboratories and factories in its sector. www.igus.eu New eco-efficient habor crane for port of Trieste PLT is a partnership formed by local companies to build and operate in a public private partnership (PPP) with the Trieste Port Authority, a new marine terminal in the Port of Trieste, at the very north end of the Adriatic Sea. For the marked increase in intermodal shipping traffic in recent decades, a new flexible crane was needed to provide a gateway to the growing trade with central and eastern Europe. The new terminal with the Konecranes Gottwald Model 5 Mobile Harbor Crance is carrying all types of cargo vessels. The new crane includes two twin-lift spreaders with 60 t capacity for containers. Its working radius of up to 51 m and gives the reach needed for ships up to post-Panamax class. A maximum lifting capacity of 125 t allows both general cargo and heavy project cargo handling. The crane can also lift bulk materials with a motor grab if necessary. Smart crane features, including a hoisting height assistant, and a landside lowering function, make the job of the operator easier and safer. The cranes will have built-in readiness for an external power supply, so conversion to electric operation will be easy when resources allow. Web-based reporting and a remote desktop provide relevant crane data to increase both performance and serviceability. Local service technicians and operators will receive customized Konecranes training as part of the package. www.konecranes.com/en-uk WORLD OF INDUSTRIES 2020 7
