Innovative solutions for the future of manufacturing

Industrial companies face tough global competition these days, and innovative solutions can often significantly boost their competitiveness, efficiency, and flexibility.

OptoTech Optikmaschinen GmbH is demonstrating how design, engineering, and production can already be made extremely efficient and productive today.

In one of my recent blog entries I described the key requirements needed for the future of manufacturing. Many of the related technologies can already be successfully deployed today, as shown for example by OptoTech Optikmaschinen GmbH. The company has boosted its competitiveness on the strength of an intelligent link between innovative software and high-performance hardware.

For a sharper look into space

OptoTech Optikmaschinen GmbH manufactures the largest and most modern precision optics machines. The UPG 2000 is used to produce high-precision telescope mirrors for space research. The mirrors bundle the weak light arriving from space, making it possible to discover previously unknown, very remote planets and stars.

The future of manufacturing: Innovative software combined with high-performance hardware

The company, which is headquartered in Wettenberg, Germany, relies on innovative Industry Software and high-performance hardware from Siemens. The PLM software NX was used in advance to create a 3D model for virtual development, simulation, and optimization, making expensive prototypes a thing of the past. In addition, this also allows OptoTech Optikmaschinen GmbH to keep development times short and thus meet the high demand for astro-optics more quickly. Control is handled by a Sinumerik unit. Its user interface was adapted specifically to meet the needs of OptoTech. A Sinamics drive ensures the precise movements of the eight-axis ultra-precision grinding and polishing machine, and control and drives are connected via Profibus.

In view of the fact that the market is expected to continue to grow, OptoTech has now founded IFasO together with the Deggendorf Institute of Technology to market the machine. “IFasO” is a German acronym which stands for “integrated manufacturing of aspheric optics.”