NEWS

from the ROFA Group

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ROFA GROUP NEWS

New Automated Guided Vehicle17. February 2020The innovation “Caesar PN-1.0 MYk” is a platform truck that has been specially designed to meet the needs of the automotive industry. The automated guided vehicle (FTF) is an upgrade of the “Caesar” series of MLR System, which are already used by well-known car manufacturers. The new platform truck dimensions are 1,700 mm × 900 mm × 280 mm and is transport loads up to 1,000 kg. For convenient loading, the flat vehicles are equipped with a lifting unit that can be jacked to 177 mm if required. The drive concept with two combined travel and steering axles allows unlimited mobility in all directions. According to the Ludwigsburg-based company, these are the best conditions for high flexibility with little space available.The automated “Caesar” platform truck travels at a speed of up to 1.5 m/s, has a modern energy concept and allows long running times with short loading cycles. Safety equipment such as personal security scanners, blue spots and 3D cameras for obstacle detection meet the highest standards for accident-free operation, also in interaction with people. Matching the design and colour scheme of its parent company ROFA, the new transport vehicle “Caesar PN-1.0 MYk” now comes in blue....
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New Corporate Design for MLR System17. February 2020As a member of ROFA INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GROUP, MLR System GmbH now presents itself in the design and colour world of its parent company. “We now document our affiliation with ROFA, a globally present and successful industrial partner in the fields of automation and conveyor technology, intralogistics and special machine construction, also in a consistent optical way”, says Andreas Drost, Managing Director of MLR System: “This emphasizes our bond with a strong group, with specialized knowledge and a distinctive culture of innovation that has grown over the decades”....
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Progress through know-how13. February 2020Electric mobility, car sharing, autonomous driving: The automotive industry is currently undergoing a profound transformation. As a supplier of conveyor systems and special machinery, MOLL Automatisierung GmbH has recently been able to play a major role in the reconstruction of automobile plants. And the Leiblfing-based company also sees itself well prepared for the coming years. Image: Managing directors of MOLL Automatisierung GmbH (from left to right: Stefan Bauer, Josef Moll, Thomas Wittmann) The change has long been reflected in forecasts: by 2030, it is predicted, that every third new vehicle registered in Europe will be electrically powered, and in China it is even expected to be almost every second. Alternative mobility concepts such as car sharing are said to make up ten to 15 percent of total car sales by then. Technical advances in the field of autonomous driving will significantly change the design and functional equipment of vehicles over the next 15 to 20 years. For many automotive suppliers, this means drastic changes in their business models, combined with the risk of losing their place in the race between technologies and their various suppliers. MOLL Automatisierung, the Leiblfing-based supplier of conveyor systems and special machines, a member of the ROFA Group, has been able to adapt to this technological change in time. “We are currently in the privileged position of being involved in the reconstruction of automotive plants of all well-known OEMs. In 2019, this has brought us a total turnover of well over 100 million euros”, sums up Managing Director Josef Moll. In view of the increasing competition from China or Eastern Europe, we must keep an eye on the market, but there are still areas where the quality work of German engineers is in demand. In 2019, this has brought us a total turnover of well over 100 million euros”, sums up Managing Director Josef Moll. In view of the increasing competition from China or Eastern Europe, it is true that we must keep an eye on the market, but there are still areas where the quality work of German engineers is in demand. In particular, Moll sees problems in the area of simple conveyor technology: “It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with foreign competitors in terms of price. This means that our product portfolio must be adapted to the new situation. We need to invest more in special mechanical engineering and automation technology, because here in particular, engineering know-how and product quality still count more than the price itself”. Marriage stations – the assembly of body and chassis – is one of the driving forces of MOLL Automatisierung. In this business sector, projects in Germany, South Africa and Mexico generated a sales of over 30 million euros in 2019. “We delivered our first marriage in 2003 for BMW in Dingolfing. Since then, we have developed into one of the top 5 suppliers worldwide. Our goal is to expand our position in the coming years and become more or less independent of developments in drive technologies. Because one thing is certain: even an electric car consists of a body and a chassis” jokes Moll. Accordingly, the company is aggressively facing the current economic downturn in the automotive industry. Moll: “Many suppliers are currently struggling with order bottlenecks or short-time work. On the other hand, after the final expansion of our production facilities, we can concentrate on expanding our engineering and building up the necessary know-how in this way. We hope that this will give us a decisive advantage in the upcoming years”....
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