Uvex chooses Arburg as Supplier of the Year 2005

On 8 March 2006, Uvex chose Arburg as its "Supplier of the Year 2005" in the investment goods category. A key factor in the selection of Arburg was the delivery of a complex production cell for the production of plastic toe protectors for safety shoes, which was put into operation at Uvex in 2005. The prize was accepted by Herbert Kraibühler, Technical Managing Director of Arburg, who travelled to the prize-giving ceremony at the Uvex Academy in Fürth along with Helmut Heinson, Managing Director Sales, Andreas Koch, Area Sales Manager, and Bernd Nassutt, Sales Consultant.

The title "Supplier of the Year " was inaugurated by the Uvex subgroups Uvex Arbeitsschutz GmbH and Uvex Sports GmbH & Co.KG in order to expand and strategically enhance their partnership with key suppliers. "Active support from our partners and suppliers plays a decisive role in the implementation of our strategic goals and well as further aspects of our innovation policy“, explains Frank Seuling, Chairman of the Management Board of Uvex Arbeitsschutz GmbH.

Arburg wins with its complex production cell
This is the fourth time that prizes have been awarded in the various categories. Arburg secured the title "Supplier of the Year 2005“ in the investment goods category for its delivery of a complex production cell for the production of plastic toe protectors for safety shoes. In order to further improve the wearing comfort of the shoes, the toe protectors are produced as a hard-soft combination of a hard hightech plastic and a soft TPU.

The system designed and built by Arburg consists of two autonomous Allrounder injection moulding ma-chines, each with a Multilift robotic system. The two machines are connected via a workpiece circulation system. The toe protectors are produced from the hard hightech plastic on the first machine, removed by the Multilift H robotic system and set down on work-piece carriers. From there they are transported to the second machine via a circulation system whose robotic system picks up the parts and inserts them in the mould's complex contour nest. The soft TPE component of the toe cap is moulded on during this second step of the process.

Prize giving with Rainer Winter
"A key deciding factor for the award was the sound technical solution, the adherence to the delivery time and the mutually constructive cooperation", emphasised Frank Seuling in his eulogy. Herbert Kraibühler received the prize from Rainer Winter, Managing Partner and Chairman of the Management Board of Uvex.

Celebratory supporting programme
The projects of the companies who received awards were presented in the afternoon during a company tour. The festive evening event centred around the Olympic Games with a surprise guest in the form of bobsled pilot and two-time gold medal winner André Lange, who answered everyone's questions about the Olympics in a relaxed atmosphere.