AutoForm News
November 26, 2004:
AutoForm-Sigma Wins Prestigious “Innovation Award”
The editors of the German magazine MaschinenMarkt –
which is specialized for the metalworking industries – have
selected the fifteen most innovative products exhibited at EuroBLECH
2004 for their MM-Awards.
AutoForm-Sigma, a new software solution that helps sheet metal
formers to develop a robust, six-sigma production process – even
during part and tooling design – was selected as winner
of one of these prestigious awards. The software is developed
and distributed by AutoForm Engineering of Zurich, Switzerland.
 |
Dietmar Kuhn, MM MaschinenMarkt
(left)
Dr. Bart Carleer, AutoForm Engineering GmbH
(right)
|
According to Dr. Markus Thomma, Director of Marketing for AutoForm
Engineering: “This Innovation Award from this major industry
publication is a recognition of AutoForm’s leading role
in providing advanced technological solutions for the sheet metal
forming industry. Winning this Award was also a reflection of
a very successful EuroBLECH show for us, where AutoForm-Sigma
generated a lot of interest from visitors from around the world.”
AutoForm-Sigma helps determine the most robust forming process
through a combination of three innovations:
|
the software uniquely combines statistical process control techniques
with sheet metal forming simulation
|
|
noise and variability that are inherent in the factors that determine
the forming process – in the coefficient of friction, in tool forces,
in material characteristics, in tool wear, etc. – are taken into
account, thereby better reflecting manufacturing reality
|
|
the statistical algorithms have been adapted and integrated so they
can be used directly by designers and stamping engineers, instead of
requiring a separate statistical analysis department
|
 |
At each location within the part, a certain parameter is dominant
(different colors represent different parameters). This kind
of representation shows designers and engineers which parameters
to adjust, in order to improve product and process performance.
|
 |
The representation of the process capability (Cpk) within the part
shows critical areas with respect to process robustness.
|
Dr. Markus Thomma added: “Using AutoForm-Sigma, companies
can design sheet metal parts, tooling and forming processes that
result in a reliable and repeatable production process, to produce
quality parts within tolerance limits, even under the conditions
of noise and variability that exist in a typical manufacturing
environment. This greatly increases the profitability of sheet
metal forming operations.“
Press Release [pdf - 89 KB],
Image 1,
Image 2
Contact:
Dr. Markus Thomma
Director of Marketing
AutoForm Engineering GmbH
Technoparkstrasse 1
CH-8005 Zurich
Switzerland
Tel |
+41 43 444 6161 |
Fax |
+41 43 444 6162 |
|
|
|
|
 |
