October 2020

new or old machinery, can reduce retooling times, tooling changes or even the time to swap out workpieces for machining or fabrication. This then reduces time and improves productivity, extends machinery lifespans and reduces downtime.” Unlocking potential and skilling up future generations Of course, training is vital to learn how to use components effectively, which not every business can undertake through internal means. To solve this challenge, Ahner says norelem ACADEMY offers product training on site from its team of experts with advice, application samples and best practice examples. For example, norelem has recently sponsored a team of student engineers at HTL Rennweg with some standard components to help in their project, Visual Drive. The Visual Drive project describes a universal attachment for conventional wheelchairs in which the user can choose between two driving modes. The wheelchair can then be used manually or drive with the help of electric drive. By providing standard screws, washers, couplings, indexing plungers and nuts to this project, norelem enabled the team to develop their project further without the need for bespoke parts or training in specialist skills. The indexing plungers provided speed and efficiency within the wheelchair and ensured the safety and security of the components were reliable during in operation, resulting in the ideal component to use to fix the wheelchair levers into certain positions. Using couplings in this project meant the clutches serve as torque transmission from the gear shaft to the friction wheel, enabling the speed of the motor to be changed with ease. Supporting the younger generation to develop new skills and knowledge is also vital in order to start bridging the skills gap. Knowing the importance of this the norelem ACADEMY supported Team InVentus of the University of Stuttgart and donated some standard components to their automation project. The company donated numerous components such as bevel gears, pins, ball bearings, cylindrical pins, shrink disks and angle plates in order to provide components which can be used universally and are easy to integrate into machinery. The InVentus team at the University of Stuttgart developed a vehicle that can drive directly against the wind, powered solely by wind energy with the help of standard components. Looking ahead Bridging the manufacturing skills gap is possible if we all work together says Ahner: “Sharing expertise and knowledge with colleagues and companies is the first step for positive change that the industry needs.” The future of a business is always reflected in the innovative strength of its products. Only by accepting new trends and the challenge of establishing these trends can a company grow and survive on the market. But most importantly explains Ahner, we need to remember the human factor: “Employees, teams and future talents in the industry must have access to all the training and advice they need to grow.” 1: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/ pages/manufacturing/articles/future-of- manufacturing-skills-gap-study.html Martin Ahner Martin Ahner is the head of the norelem ACADEMY, which provides areas of training, workshops, lectures, and the promotion of young talent. of standard components: “Mechanical standard components do not require a wealth of expert knowledge from the outset - they can be easily operated with basic knowledge, which can be helpful for young professionals at the beginning of their career.” However, he explains that it’s the little intricacies that can be the difference to an efficient workflow: “For instance, knowing which positioning tool is the best for the job, how to assemble standard components together, and what material the component should be made from to lower maintenance time.” Ahner adds: “There will always be a place for standard components, and by learning how to use these components, engineers can increase their skills and select the right components for the right applications. They can even go on to transfer this knowledge to build fully automated machines or production lines. The use of standard components, whether for 18 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk October 2020 Maintenance Matters Focus on: Training