Value chain optimized – Flottweg continues to modernize production

Mechanical engineering company Flottweg has modernized its production in recent months. In the future, the pre-machining of its bowl components will now be performed autonomously. To achieve this, the centrifuge manufacturer has purchased three new lathes from the Spanish company Gurutzpe. With these developments, Flottweg is further strengthening its production location and headquarters in Vilsbiburg. 

Focus on value chain and expertise

The various bowl components are an important part of the centrifuge, which is why the pre-machining plays such a key role. Previously, the components were ordered from an external company, but in 2024 Flottweg decided to handle the pre-machining internally, with the goal of making it autonomous in the future. This offers enormous benefits, particularly in the value chain, as it will be possible to coordinate the production processes even more efficiently in the future. It also enables Flottweg to deepen its internal expertise and detailed knowledge of the process.

Internal project management ensures a smooth process

An interdisciplinary project team was put together to manage the entire project. This team analyzed the various influencing factors, coordinated tenders and final procurement, and managed the commissioning of the machines. To ensure that the selected Gurutzpe lathes can deliver the required results, the process was validated on-site in Spain. 

Flottweg commits to its Vilsbiburg location

With this expansion of production and the associated investment, Flottweg is once again reinforcing its commitment to its German production location. At its Vilsbiburg location, the company is relying on qualified skilled workers to ensure that the modernization is successful. Thanks to this development, Flottweg will be able to better ensure the quality of its components, while simultaneously strengthening its technical expertise within the company.

"Our employees are an important building block in this internal change: After all, without skilled workers who have the expertise to machine complex components, it would not be possible to handle the pre-machining internally. Flottweg is therefore investing in training and continuing education for these skilled workers to remain competitive in the long term and drive innovation forward," explains Matthias Liebl, Head of Component Manufacturing at Flottweg. "That said, we are always looking for new colleagues to join our team, such as CNC machinists and industrial mechanics in our production department."