Grinding Symposium 2019 focused on exchange

Article from United Grinding North America Inc.

Over 1,500 international visitors experienced new technologies from precision machining and current trends in the manufacturing industry at the Grinding Symposium 2019 held May 8-10 by the United Grinding Group in Thun, Switzerland. Customers, experts and company representatives used the opportunity for one-on-one conversations.

Which advantages do digital solutions bring production machine operators? How must user interfaces be designed, to enable ideal machine operation? And what role can additive manufacturing play in machine construction?

These questions were the focus of the so-called FutureLAB at the Grinding Symposium. Technology presentations and lectures, as well as the presentation of partner companies and suppliers, were other focal points of the conference.

The manufacturer of precision machines for grinding, eroding, lasering and combination machining invited guests to the Grinding Symposium for the fourth time since 2004. Traditionally, the focus of the Symposium is on metalworking technologies, as well as general topics of the manufacturing industry. The FutureLAB was part of the Symposium for the first time in 2019. "Our aim in presenting these future technologies is to create a dialog with our customers and to discover more about their individual expectations and requirements," explains Chief Technology Officer Christoph Plüss.

The 16 lectures given at the symposium by internationally renowned experts from science and practice covered a broad range of topics. In addition to the opportunities and challenges in the cooperation of human and machine or the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in the manufacturing industry, there were also practical production topics, such as practical experiences with the innovative WireDress dressing technology from the United Grinding Group.

In the 13 technology presentations and the Customer Care presentation visitors were able to experience the latest machines and solutions of the eight company brands – from the Mägerle MFP 30, a world innovation for machining aircraft engine blades, to the European premiere of the Studer S31 for machining very long workpieces; from the extensive services offered by the Group's Customer Care department through to the production of ultrahard tools using laser on an Ewag Laser Line Ultra, which was presented at the symposium in a webshop solution in cooperation with a customer. Experts from the United Grinding Group presented the machines and applications to visitors alternating between German, English, French and Italian.

The technology presentations were arranged in a large circle in the halls of Thun Expo. In the center of this circle was a large coffee bar, which was used by visitors from all over the world for lively discussions. Because in addition to the extensive information provided, exchange between the company, its customers and international experts was at the center of the event.

The evening events, which took place in the nearby Kursaal in Bern, also provided an opportunity for exchange. While coming together to eat, drink and enjoy an exceptional entertainment program, the participants entered into conversation, crossing national and language boundaries.

"The Grinding Symposium and the evening events in particular are also a thank you to our customers – for their trust, their loyalty and their suggestions," emphasized CEO Stephan Nell.