At the end of January, KraussMaffei ceremonially commissioned its 100th injection molding machine at Grohe, the leading manufacturer of sanitary fittings, showers and installation systems. The hydraulic two-platen machine CX 80-380 is part of a new, economical production line at the Porta Westfalica location for the manufacture of the latest generation of Grohe drain valves."We have benefited from the innovative products and the tailored service provided by KraussMaffei for decades. We are now delighted that the 100th injection molding machine from our long-term partner is now at our factory in Porta Westfalica," says Thomas Fuhr, Member of the Board of Management at Grohe AG. "This is a strong symbol both for our good cooperation with KraussMaffei and for the sustained growth and continual further development of our location."
In 1981, KraussMaffei delivered the first injection molding machine to Grohe. There are today in total 37 KraussMaffei injection molding machines at the Porta Westfalica location. The new CX 80-380, with a clamping force of 800 kN, supports the modern production line manufacturing the new Grohe range of drain valves in cisterns. The injection molding machines produce around the clock seven days a week. Online production and thus short distances, no warehouse stocks and a high degree of automation characterize the new AV1 production line. It is therefore all the more important that the injection molding machines produce precisely and reliably, and with optimum utilization of the installation area. The view at Grohe is that, with the new CX series and service from KraussMaffei, they are optimally set up.
Grohe also sees a clear additional benefit in the APC function (Adaptive Process Control). All KraussMaffei machines are today equipped with this new machine function. They have thus been able to deal perfectly with the batch fluctuations of up to 17 per cent of the basic material. Also with regard to the anniversary machine CX 80-380, on which float flaps are made from the high-tech plastic POM, the compensating properties of the APC function prove beneficial.
The unit with the anniversary number can be identified at first glance by every employee and visitor also after the ceremonial inauguration. For it bears the words "100th - Made for Grohe", as well as the signatures of the persons who symbolically actuated the main switch during the ceremonial commissioning. This further addition of another production machine to the factory forms part of the investment package of Grohe AG at the Porta Westfalica location.
