News

K-Messe We will attend the K-Messe in Düsseldorf from October 27th until November 3rd, 2010. Our booth is located in the Swiss Pavilion, hall 2 – booth no. 12B51 For further information see www.k-online.de

New die sinking equipment with robot and preparation workstation

In co-operation with GF Agie Charmilles, we found a solution for a complete system of an automated die sinking¹) installation. This equipment enables us to utilise additional manufacturing hours beyond the employees' time of attendance. By connecting two die sinking installations (FO 350 left and FO350 right) with a palett, an electrode magazine and a preparation workstation, the flexibility of processing assignments is enhanced. Short notice dispatches of orders to a work centre (for example urgent tooling reparations) can be integrated between the 8 magazine places and the 192 places for electrodes of the feeding robot "3R WorkParter" at any time. Since July 2009, in addition a "Hexagon / TP200" measuring and rigging cell where components and electrodes can be prepared machine-independently belongs to this installation at our tooling shop. The determined data will then be transferred to the cell manager. It controls and monitors all linked up units of the installation. In order to guarantee a process stability, all paletts and electrode magazines have been equipped with a "3R chip system". It identifies and memorises all production relevant parameters.

¹)Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a process which uses the progression of electrical discharges (sparks) to erode the material of a component. There are two kinds of electrical discharge: wire-cut EDM and die-sinking EDM.

EDM is a key technology to produce high-performance casting dies and injection moulding tools, which will be used for the production of complex tools at elfo ag.

 

A new era in elfo's injection moulding facilities

A few weeks ago a reorganization was announced which is currently working at full speed. A new, fully-electrical injection moulding machine by Netstal was acquired in order to meet with our clients' high demands as well as to increase the energy efficiency.
With the help of this new machine, type Elion 800-130, we will be able to produce a big quantity of high-precision technical parts in a constantly high quality. With this kind of machine, elfo ag will be optimally equipped for the future.

 

elfo ag extends its injection moulding capacities

In July 2008 elfo put a new machine in operation to extend its capacity for the standard product range. The latest injection moulding machine is also made by Arburg. The Arburg Allrounder A270 is the latest model of the Allrounder family. As the name indicates, it is built for a multi-purpose utilization. To be able to react more flexibly to the customers’ demands, the already existing Arburg Allrounder machinery was extended by an injection moulding machine of the same type.

 

New sink erosion machine for our tool- & mould constructions

In Mach 2008 the tool- & mould manufacturers at elfo ag could start to operate a new EDM machine for the production of injection moulding tools.
To keep up with the growing demands and the constantly rising requirements, elfo decided to purchase the latest model of an EDM machine, Type ROBOFORM 350 (MicroTec) from Charmilles . Due to the rotary charger, the machine can run around the clock without an operator. This enable a production of multi-cavity-moulds with only one set-up but several hundred hours of non-stop operating. The machine is connected to the internal elfo communication network and transmits any information regarding operation and occurring failures via SMS. This machine produces surfaces with a polished finish and therefore makes additional operation steps redundant. Due to the thermo stabilization and the Accura-C axes, the precision reaches the highest possible standards.

Day care places for children of elfo employees As of today, we can offer day care places for preschool children to our employees. Cantonally supported places in Sarnen and Sachseln are available in co-operation with the "association of childcare Obwalden". Besides 18 to 20 already existing places in Sarnen, in spring 2010 there will be an additional 12 day care places for children of the age of 3 months to 6 years available in the new building at Chuematt 10 in Sachseln.

Personnel alterations

New members of staff
elfo ag hired a new die design engineer. This addition to our team will strengthen the company’s independence as well as ensure the preservation of our internal know-how. As a result the flexibility of our tooling shop will increase.

On 1 March 2009 an additional mechanic will join our plung- and wire EDM team. The commencement of employment of this member of staff is a first step towards the extension of our tooling shop.

 

Promotions
Due to her good performance during the familiarisation period from September to December 2008, an employee in our production facility could take over an additional task in the quality control department.otions

After a successful – partially internal, partially external – advanced training, another employee of our production facility was promoted to “tool setter”. This exacting task could only be handed over due to his outstanding commitment and lively interest.

 

elfo ag congratulates employee on winning the world championship

Our employee, Peter Schurtenberger and his team of 45 year olds competently won the third seniors fistball world championship which took place in Monte Carlo (province of Missiones/Argentina) from 17th till 19th April 2009. The category of 45 year old players consisted of nine teams from Brasil, Argentina, Austria and Switzerland.

We cordially congratulate Peter to his title and wish him good luck for any further fistball meets!

Sensationell.pdf

 

Press reports

Swiss_Plastic_Mai_2010.pdf
Bericht_in_ONZ_vom_4.Juni_2010.pdf
ROI_Online_elfo_050410.pdf
Kunststoffe_Feb_2010.pdf
Swiss_Plastic_Dez_2009.pdf
Swiss_Plastic_Dezember_2009.pdf
Swiss_Plastic_August_2009.pdf
Swiss_Plastic_März_2009.pdf
Obwaldner_Wochenblatt_30.01.09.pdf
Neue_Luzerner_Zeitung_21.01.09.pdf
Bericht_Obwaldner_Zeitung_Oktober_2008.pdf
Bericht_Swiss_Plastic_Juli_2008.pdf
Inserat_Swiss_Plastics_Juli_2008.pdf
Medienmitteilung August 2008
Fachartikel_Juli_2008.pdf
Fachartikel_Januar_2008.pdf