More Efficient Manufacturing Thanks to Correct Tool Data

LIDU Maschinenbau Lienenbrügger GmbH, a contract manufacturer based in Dülmen in northwestern Germany, is reducing its lead times, increasing its flexibility, and enhancing process reliability in production through streamlined tool organization, »venturion« presetting and measuring machines, and ZOLLER’s TMS Tool Management Solutions tool data management system.

A Wide Variety of Tools

This variety of workpieces and machines naturally requires a virtually overwhelming number of different drilling, reaming, turning, milling, and reamers. As Benedict Dammann notes, up to 50 tools must be prepared, measured, adjusted, and set up for each workpiece. For example, the tool magazine of the machining center—which is automated with a pallet station—holds up to 120 different tools. To adjust and measure this large number of tools reliably and accurately, LIDU invested more than ten years ago in a presetting and measuring machine from ZOLLER’s »venturion« series, which is primarily used to measure and adjust tools with rotation symmetry such as drills and milling cutters for the machining centers.

The presetting and measuring machine proved its worth within a short time. “Since ZOLLER machines also allow turning tools of any execution to be measured and set just as simply and conveniently, we decided as early as 2015 to purchase a second ZOLLER »venturion 600« presetting and measuring machine.” This means that even exotic tools, such as long-overhanging angle heads for powered tools, can be set up and measured without any problems.

Benedict Dammann highlights the advantages: “The ZOLLER operating concept with a touchscreen and pictograms meets our requirements exactly. The system guides users quickly and intuitively through the process of measuring and adjusting the tools.”

At ZOLLER, we found the TMS Tool Management Solutions tool data management system—a system tailored exactly to our needs.

Thomas Lorrek, M.Eng. Responsible for IT at LIDU

ZOLLER TMS Is a Win All Around

“When making a selection of a suitable software system, the features and benefits of the ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions software won us over in every respect,” say Thomas Lorrek and Benedict Dammann. As they go on to explain, the software should be as integrated as possible, compatible with existing presetting and measuring machines, simple and convenient to use, and scalable. “With ZOLLER’s TMS Tool Management Solutions, we found a system that was exactly tailored to our requirements.

An especially great advantage is that all relevant areas on the shop-floor work with the same user interface: the AV department with CAM programming, tool preparation, the tool warehouse, as well as the set-up technicians and operators at the machining centers. That was one of the key reasons for choosing ZOLLER TMS,” reports Thomas Lorrek. To make the additional benefits of the ZOLLER TMS Tool Management Solutions software flexibly available at all workplaces, LIDU has installed moving tablets with a Wi-Fi data connection.

ZOLLER is the right partner

“To reap similar benefits, we also plan to manage our measuring and inspection tools using ZOLLER’s TMS Tool Management Solutions software system,” says Benedict Dammann. This digitalization using ZOLLER’s software systems plays a crucial role in enabling significantly more flexible and cost-effective production and provides additional improvements in process reliability. Frank Schaefer summarizes: “Using these benefits is an essential criterion for continuing to manufacture in Germany in the future and remaining internationally competitive. ZOLLER is clearly the right partner, especially with regard to our future goals.”