MARTIN has invested heavily at its production site in Ottobeuren/Bavaria and is well prepared to manage future challenges. This is part of the long-term strategy to keep the company profitable well beyond its 100th anniversary in 2022. To continue the healthy growth that has been going on for years, MARTIN as specialist for standard woodworking machinery further reinforces its competitive position.
The most recent investment at the only production site in Ottobeuren, is a state-of-the-art machining centre, which covers an area of approx. 350 m². The assembly hall was equipped with a new Rheorapid industrial floor over an area of 2100 m² already in August 2018. A new assembly logic developed together with FH Kempten (University of Applied Sciences) was implemented in a next stage. Another project with FH Kempten is currently underway with the aim to optimise the material flow. The total investment volume of all these measures is around 2.0 million Euros.
Powerful Production Site
All MARTIN machines have been produced in Ottobeuren since the foundation of the company: sliding table saws, spindle moulders, thickness- and surface planers as well as special sanding machines for window construction. Well over 1000 machines have left the factory in 2018 with the numbers continuing to rise. Managing director Michael Hammerer, who runs the company together with managing director Uwe Schiemann, sums up the company’s consistent strategy: “We have learned to react flexibly to market fluctuations. Production must follow the demands of the market, not the other way around. This is why state-of-the-art technology combined with perfect organisation are so important especially for us, as medium-sized company”, states Michael Hammerer. “This is the only way to operate competitively on the worldwide market over the long term.”
Course set for the Future
70 employees are working at the company’s headquarter in Ottobeuren at present. Most of them are highly qualified skilled workers. “Many of them have already completed their apprenticeship at MARTIN years ago“, continues Michael Hammerer. “This secures a high level of expertise in our production and assembly departments. After all, what good is the best machine if you do not have the most qualified people to operate it? This is one of the main reasons why we at MARTIN train in more than nine professions, which is far above the national average. The brand new so-called Flexible Manufacturing System (FFS) has been in operation since December 2018.” Michael Hammerer is visibly pleased to have purchased the most modern technology here. “With its state-of-the-art automation, our new horizontal 4-axis machining centre from Heller not only marks the most modern manufacturing technology, but is also one of the most energy efficient solutions available on the market, with energy savings of over 33%. Not only have we significantly increased our capacity, but have also taken a major step towards more efficiency, quality and flexibility.”
With its state-of-the-art control software, the new FFS is able to process up to 30 different components one after the other without manual intervention. The tool magazine has room for up to 265 tools, which are automatically managed via data chip in the tool. The automated work piece feed system moves components of up to 900 kg. With an average machining time reduction of 30%, the new FMS not only offers reliable quality improvement, but also much more efficiency.
Investments not only in the Production Department
The company also invested heavily in the renovation of the administrative building in 2018. The entire building was equipped with high-quality triple-glazed windows. In a first of three steps, a complete floor was redesigned with a contemporary room layout and equipped with modern LED technology. The lighting is now adapted fully automatically to the needs of the workplace and employees. According to Michael Hammerer, the investment in machinery and building is a clear commitment to the company location in Ottobeuren/Germany. “Our declared goal is to remain among the global leaders in the woodworking machinery sector. For decades, our machines have been among the best machines available on the worldwide market.” Michael Hammerer is convinced that in the long term this position can only be maintained with first-class machinery, but above all with committed, highly qualified employees.