Published in ISMR November 2022 Issue
Tooling specialist STEINEL outlines its design and supply ethos to ISMR, as well as its approach to Industry 4.0 and intelligent tooling systems.
STEINEL, a family-owned independent business with production facilities in Villingen-Schwenningen and Halblech/Buching in Germany, offers punching and bending technology as well as mechanical engineering solutions. Founded in 1925, the tooling specialist has a staff of over 130 employees. Its services range from the production of all standard parts, active elements, custom guide units and tool systems to the implementation of complete solutions.
STEINEL itself performs almost all the in-house operations required to manufacture its tooling, with the over-riding mantra, “Everything from a single source”.
Christian Pape, Head of Sales and Marketing, STEINEL
“We are a standard parts supplier as well as a system solutions partner. With a wide range of standard parts, we offer everything for punching and bending technology requirements: Die sets, guide units, active elements, spring elements, nitrogen systems, tapping units and standardised module systems. Our tooling products are designed for toolmakers in stamping and pressing industries, starting from guiding units up to high-end tooling for high-speed presses,” explained Christian Pape, Head of Sales and Marketing, STEINEL.
STEINEL's product portfolio
Flexible production and delivery
“The tools for machining sheet metal must be even more precise than the products which they make. Because time is money when it comes to punching and bending technology, it’s all about high speeds and long lifetimes. In addition to active elements, guides and spring systems are among the tool components subject to the most stress. We offer precise and extremely durable roller and sliding guides as well as nitrogen systems which, when working in concert, ensure high production speeds and low wear,” the tooling specialist told ISMR.
When as many parts as possible must be produced as quickly as possible, profitability is the combination of speed, process reliability and wear. The quality of the tool’s movable parts is key in this regard. Guide units and springs, particularly, must absorb great forces and minimise friction. At the same time, they must not take up a lot of space. At a time of unstable supply chains worldwide, STEINEL promises high delivery readiness to its customers.
“We’re in a tense business climate with many geopolitical risks, against which we are powerless. We will stick to our strategy of manufacturing in Germany and quickly supplying our worldwide customers in stamping and forming technology. Any products that customers order will be dispatched either on the same day, or one day after the order receipt at the very latest,” Christian Pape told ISMR.
“We can keep this promise because of our optimised warehousing system and a high degree of automation. When products are ordered from the catalogue, the warehouse and the dispatching department are automatically notified and commissioning certificates are created. In our dynamically organised warehouse, parts can then be directly picked up and transported to the
packaging station via a conveyor belt. Last but not least, we also use our own delivery vehicles for transportation alongside logistics service providers – depending upon where the products are being delivered,” he added.
He also pointed out that STEINEL is not as heavily dependent upon global supply chains as others. As a tradition-steeped familybusiness that has always produced in Germany and united its entire process chain under one roof, it is able to ramp up production straight away when a large order has been placed. Its manufacturing processes are designed to be adapted quickly and easily.
“This means that, if we do not have enough parts in stock, the customer will receive an initial advance delivery before getting the rest a few days later,” Pape told ISMR.
For products outside its standard ranges, STEINEL’s production is flexible enough to accommodate customer-specific adaptations.
In terms of value, Pape points to the difference between product price and the total cost of ownership (TCO) using the longevity of STEINEL’s guide units as an example.
“For example, in a tool that carries out 15 million strokes for one production batch, cheaper guide units may have to be replaced after every five million strokes. As a result, the customer will have to pay the product price three times, stop the machine three times and reconfigure it three times. STEINEL guide units, on the other hand, last the course of the entire production process. It’s easy to see what is more profitable in the long run. And that is not just true for our guide units, but also our nitrogen cylinders and many of the other products we offer,” he explained.
STEINEL’s dynamic warehousing and high degrees of automation mean that its products leave the company premises one day after an order is placed.
Market trends, challenges and opportunities
Manufacturers today are having to operate in a climate of spiralling inflation, increasing energy costs, challenging supply chains and geopolitical instability.
“Energy cost is the main issue for a company like ours,” explained Christian Pape. “However, we remain optimistic, even in these uncertain times. All our projects for the future will require support from stamping and bending technology. Electric mobility and renewable energy are just two of the opportunities that I see over the next few years. The punching and bending industry will therefore be more important than ever.”
STEINEL’s key markets are in Europe and America. Pape sees plenty of potential to develop renewable energy and electric mobility in these markets.
The company has emerged from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic with a leaner and more streamlined outlook. It has adapted to change with new, faster business practices such as teleconferences and more online demonstrations.
“We implement a lot of projects with threadforming units and nitrogen systems. This is where we can also support our customers to become more efficient and save costs. It is all about becoming more productive,” explained Christian Pape.
A key trend is advancing standardisation and digitalisation in tooling systems. Because of the indispensable development of predictive maintenance, STEINEL expects to see more and more intelligent systems in the future. It has accordingly already developed its modular tool system, the electronic thread forming unit (S-Former E) and the smart nitrogen cylinder, in line with this trend.
“Modern manufacturing with the focus on costs and delivery time are impossible without the right IT support. So, we have been pushing the move to digitalisation for many years. We also incorporate Industry 4-0 capability in our products. For example, productionrelated monitoring features can be found in our S-Former E thread-forming unit,” explained Pape.
Industry 4.0 capability has been integrated into specific STEINEL products.
Looking ahead
STEINEL is now becoming increasingly active throughout Europe and aims to increase its presence in other countries outside Europe. It will therefore present its products at trade fairs in the USA, Mexico and China and continue to expand its network of representatives and partners.
“We will focus on the issue of production flexibility more strongly than we have done —the keyword is Industry 4.0. In the future, tools should not be built in accordance with the available components. Instead, flexible products and components must be available to allow the optimal tool to be developed. We will also be expanding our high-precision machine element activities. With an eye on cost reductions, we will continue to develop integrated systems that combine several steps in one tool, are compact in design and enable high production speeds. We are already working on this,” explained Christian Pape.
In recent years, STEINEL has also worked on the miniaturisation of its manifold plate systems. The result is high-speed manifold plates that generate maximum forces on small spaces using high packing density. They are primarily used in the production of large batches when challenging materials must be processed into precision punched parts.
“Special solutions will always be important when it comes to generating a real competitive advantage. On the one hand, we offer our customers intelligent and reliable systems that significantly increase production efficiency. On the other, we develop individual solutions that are tailored to our customers’ production processes. Our employees are a driving force behind our success,” Christian Pape told ISMR.
“In the final analysis, I would strongly recommend any toolmakers and companies using punching technology to get in touch with us for in-depth advice – especially before starting on any challenging projects. At STEINEL, we will gladly do this free of charge and with no strings attached because innovative solutions that eschew traditional practices tend to be the best ones. There is plenty to gain and nothing to lose,” he concluded.
For more information, please visit STEINEL's website.