Digitization at BENTELER: responding to customer needs faster and more agile

Paderborn, March 28, 2018. On March 28, 2018, BENTELER Automotive invited media representatives to the Talle plant in Paderborn. During a tour of the plant, the reporters got to see first-hand how this location has developed from purely using forming technology into a showcase of Industry 4.0 within the BENTELER plant network.

It quickly became clear that BENTELER is focusing on digitization. Gradually, the equipment was renewed and invested in an impressive new machinery in the past two years. At this location, the company is increasingly linking production with the digital world by letting personnel and machines work together and support each other.

"We want to play a leading role in the intelligent interlinking of humans, machines and industrial processes," explains Martin Weidlich, EVP Western Europe. "In this way, we respond faster and more agile to customer needs, increase our flexibility and shorten time-to-market." This also benefits our employees. "They are physically relieved by the targeted use of machines," continues Weidlich.

In practice, it looks like this: Collaborative robots take over, for example working in places that are difficult for the employee to access. The so-called "CoBots" are not separated from the employees by protection device, machine and human work hand in hand.

"The activities within our professions are changing. But skilled workers are irreplaceable because they control and control our machines. They receive continuous training for this", adds Rolf Lange, plant manager at the Paderborn-Talle plant. “This is part of our education and training concept. This is how we connect the best talent and the most experienced experts to us and can remain successful in the long term."