Case Study
Multi-site European mold maker seeks to maximize business operations. FA MAX applies innovative moldmaking technology to leverage production across multiple manufacturing facilities
FA MAX
To enhance productivity and help drive international growth for its parent company, FA MAX sought more effective technology for the design and manufacture of its molds.
Taking knowledge to the next level
MAXGRUP is a Spanish industrial group specializing in the design and manufacture of parts and assemblies, including plastic injection molds, circuit boards and complex assemblies. MAXGRUP consists of four companies in Spain and one in Hungary. FA MAX of Manlleu (Catalunya) designs plastic injection molds and manufactures plastic parts for the group. The parts produced by FA MAX include components for printers, magnetoscopes and office automation products, as well as remote control cases, automotive parts and others.
FA MAX has extensive CAD experience beginning with 2D fifteen years ago and introducing 3D CAD in 1997. However it is the company’s mold design knowledge that sets it apart. In the late 1990s, FA MAX management sought to leverage this expertise to boost the efficiency of the company’s mold design process. Ultimately, the goal was to increase production to take full advantage of its parent company’s significant machining and part manufacturing capacity, thereby providing a pricing advantage for its sister companies within MAXGRUP.
Choosing technology and expertise that exceeds expectations
FA MAX wanted to streamline mold design and manufacturing with a solution that included not only standard parts and assembly management capabilities, but also enabled automation of the mold design process. It wanted a system that utilized industry accepted mold design terminology and workflow, as well as one that enabled the company to easily build into the system its own moldmaking knowledge. The company also needed integrated tooling capabilities with support for high-speed machining.
Several providers were considered in the bid, and the selection process was based on each company’s ability to complete a mold design utilizing maximum automation. NX Mold Wizard was selected because it met and exceeded the set criteria. In addition to the software’s strengths, the industry expertise of the Siemens technical team was noted as a significant factor.
Pushing multi-site production to maximum levels
NX Mold Wizard now guides FA MAX users step-by-step through the mold design process. By embodying best practices knowledge in a step-by-step approach, the software ensures repeatability, makes expert knowledge accessible and promotes the most efficient workflow by linking complex techniques into automated sequences.
NX Manufacturing enables FA MAX to quickly and easily program its high-speed mold machining operations. The resultant productivity gains have enabled FA MAX to saturate its manufacturing facilities. International sales have significantly increased. With such optimized production, FA MAX is now considering outsourcing some of its manufacturing production to further extend its business across central Europe.
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Challenges:
- Provide significant cost advantages through faster mold design and manufacturing
- Increase production throughput at all four parent company sites
- Expand international business
Keys To Success:
- Adopt NX® software technologies including the knowledge-driven applications NX Mold Wizard and NX Tooling
- Build the company's expertise into automated and easily repeatable mold design and manufacturing processes
- Drive production to full capacity across the enterprise
Results:
- Costs are down, quality is up, control is comprehensive
- Targeted facilities are now running at greatly increased to maximum levels of production
- The company is considering marketing its services outside its industrial group for international expansion
Industry:
- Industrial Equipment & Machinery | Industrial Machinery
Client's Primary Business:
FA MAX, a MAXGRUP Company, specializes in injection mold design and manufacturing and plastic part manufacturing.
Solutions/Services:
- NX
- NX Design (CAD)
- Tecnomatix
Client Location:
Manlleu, Catalunya
Spain
"When we worked in 2D, the designer put a great deal of effort into imaging the mold's third dimension. Now that capability is provided in NX and NX Mold Wizard. NX Mold Wizard was chosen not only for its impressive automation capabilities, but also because of the Siemens PLM Software team's understanding of mold design."
Joan Doménech
Technical Director
FA MAX