Face to face
and minimal cost is a major challenge facing the
industry today. Our presses feature a specially
developed high dynamic speed control system,
dynamicV, which can offer a tailor-made solution
to this problem. A cycle time reduction of just a
few, or even one, seconds has a direct impact on
component unit costs.
I also see the trend towards the use of press-
hardened structural parts continuing to increase,
which is good news for our hot forming presses.
We see new trends in the future for the forming
industry – the focus will be on high tensile steels
and we believe that higher pressures will be needed
for hydraulic presses so we must develop bigger
presses and further develop our product range.
ISMR: Please outline any new
press products.
strongest market in this geographical region is the OD: We are developing a new pulsating
Czech Republic. In Asia, growth will be strong in blankholder press. At the moment, we are look-
China, S. Korea and Taiwan - our strongest mar- ing to develop a very rapid press. We try to ena-
ket, to date, in this region is S. Korea. ble industry to produce more parts and increase
press cycle times. I think this press will be ready
ISMR: Please split your current
to launch in the next year/year-and-a-half. We
customer base by geographical
have developed a special technique which we
region.
hope we can install across the product range and
we will apply for a patent for this technique.
OD: At the moment, western Europe makes up 70%
of our current customer base. For Asia, this figure is
ISMR: Do you have any plans to
15%. For eastern Europe, it is 5%. The remaining
develop new offi ces/subsidiaries/
10% is allocated to ‘Rest of World’ customers. JVs in the world?
ISMR: Which regional markets do
OD: We have agencies all over the world but, at
you believe will show the great-
the moment, we will concentrate on press tech-
est growth in next few years?
niques and developing our marketplace. We do
not intend to change our selling structure or open
new offices.
OD: China, US and Eastern Europe.
The trend towards larger presses means that we
must look for new buildings and, for the future,
ISMR: Which press and forming
we are planning a new manufacturing assembly
trends have you noticed, in the hall here onsite in Karlsruhe. The site is currently
last few years, in response to
6,000 square metres but we have an option for
changing customer requirements?
more space so the new area will be about 3,500
square metres.
OD: In the last five years, from our point of view,
we have seen a press and forming trend from
Mr Dörmann, thank you very much.
automotive OEM customers towards the hydro-
mechanical deep drawing process because (in
CONTACT
:
the automotive industry) there are special types
of car for which this process is suitable for small Walter Neff GmbH, Maschinenbau
series production (sports cars etc.). In den Kuhwiesen 4,
Industry is always looking for new techniques
D-76149 Karksruhe Germany
and advantages for forming materials, reducing
Tel: +49 (0)721 978 280
costs, increasing efficiency and productivity etc.
Website: www.neff-pressen.com
Supplying body parts at increasingly short notice
22 March/April 2007 International Sheet Metal Review
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