Gear technology and automation systems

Evotion 2024 | Customer Magazine

Best of Industry Award for Liebherr automation solution

In 2023, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH was awarded the Best of Industry Award in the Robotics category. The company received the award for its solution for the automated disassembly of battery packs from electric vehicles.

  • Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH is taking the plunge into artificial intelligence (AI) with its latest version of LHRobotics.Vision bin picking software. Filtering out irrelevant image data enables faster and more accurate detection of unsorted workpieces when removing them from containers.

  • In electric vehicles, the meshing of the gears can cause disruptive gearbox noise excitations. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for automotive manufacturers and suppliers of electric motors to identify and eliminate the causes of unwanted noise at an early stage. With the LHProcessMonitoring software, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH has developed a tool that detects deviations during gear production. This saves costs and reduces rejects – and is therefore also of interest to manufacturers of conventional gearboxes.

  • Pongi Gear Experts Co., Ltd. has represented Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH in Taiwan for many years. In 2022, it incorporated the Kempten company‘s bin picking software into its portfolio and set up its own demonstration and training facility for intelligent automation. Potential customers can evaluate the smart and intuitive system on a fully equipped cell with a camera, robot and simulation tool.

  • Sustainability goals and increasing raw material prices are making the recycling of batteries from electric vehicles an increasingly pressing issue for the automotive industry. To recover the valuable raw materials and components from the battery packs, they must be disassembled and sorted at the end of their service life. Automated processes provide a basis for economic dismantling while minimizing the hazards to employees from high-voltage equipment. Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH uses its tried and tested automation technology for this and is working with research and industry to develop scalable, flexible solutions for the automotive and recycling sectors.

High-precision measuring machines for small and large gears

WGT 1200 optimized for automatic loading of large workpieces

The Liebherr WGT series of gear measuring machines are used in gear manufacturing for a wide range of industries: from the smallest aerospace applications to large gearbox components for wind turbines, tower cranes or commercial vehicles, where some of the gears weigh tons. With the optimized WGT 1200, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH provides high-precision measurement even for huge workpieces up to a diameter of 1400 mm and a weight of 5 tons.

The revised Liebherr gear shaping machine with new features

Robust and even more versatile: the LS 500 E

Gear shaping is a robust and universal process for manufacturing gears – due to the geometries of some gears, no other machining methods are capable of producing the teeth. In order to offer even more versatility in this area, Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH has fundamentally revised and developed its LS 500 E gear shaping machine. A shaping head featuring an electronic helical guide and an interface for an optional chamfering device are now included as standard.

Flexible automation solutions for the automotive and recycling industries

Non-destructive disassembly of battery packs

Sustainability goals and increasing raw material prices are making the recycling of batteries from electric vehicles an increasingly pressing issue for the automotive industry. To recover the valuable raw materials and components from the battery packs, they must be disassembled and sorted at the end of their service life. Automated processes provide a basis for economic dismantling while minimizing the hazards to employees from high-voltage equipment. Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH uses its tried and tested automation technology for this and is working with research and industry to develop scalable, flexible solutions for the automotive and recycling sectors.

Assignments abroad for trainees

Preparing apprentices for work in the international arena

The opportunity to gain experience abroad and work in Europe, the USA or Asia has been an integral part of training at Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH since 2000. After a temporary interruption due to Corona, the program is once again enjoying great popularity. The young people taking part in the assignment not only experience enriching stays abroad but are also well-prepared for international service assignments.

PHS 10000 Pro automates production of large parts at machine manufacturer GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG

Standard, yet individual

With the PHS 10000 Pro pallet handling system from Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH, the machine tool manufacturer GROB in Mindelheim has automated its in-house production of machine components on two 4-axis machining centers and thus increased productivity by around 45%. The challenge here was not only to manage large parts weighing tons, but also a series of additional constraints that required highly individual solutions, as well as project planning where not a single day‘s work could be delayed.

Machine and tool concepts for contract manufacturing at SPN

Reliable all-round solutions from Liebherr

The Swabian manufacturer of transmission and drivesolutionsSPN Schwaben Präzision Fritz Hopf GmbH manufactures gearboxes, gears, and drive systems according to individualcustomer requirements. The company uses various machinesLiebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH and can therefore rely on innovativemachine and tool technology as well as reliable contacts.

PHS 10000 Pro automates production of large parts at machine manufacturer GROB-WERKE GmbH & Co. KG

Standard, yet individual

With the PHS 10000 Pro pallet handling system from Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH, the machine tool manufacturer GROB in Mindelheim has automated its in-house production of machine components on two 4-axis machining centers and thus increased productivity by around 45%. The challenge here was not only to manage large parts weighing tons, but also a series of additional constraints that required highly individual solutions, as well as project planning where not a single day‘s work could be delayed.

From point cloud to picking: LHRobotics.Vision software further enhanced

AI supported image processing in bin picking

Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH is taking the plunge into artificial intelligence (AI) with its latest version of LHRobotics.Vision bin picking software. Filtering out irrelevant image data enables faster and more accurate detection of unsorted workpieces when removing them from containers.