Weinig sees its Tauberbischofsheim factory as its greatest sales tool.
Each year, 2,000 customers visit the plant and, according to Michael Weinig UK managing director Malcolm Buchanan, it always makes a big impression.
‘You couldn’t say it’s the deciding factor, but most customers who are thinking about buying a machine and visit the fac-tory go ahead with their purchase,’ he said.
Guests might start with the display-centre where Weinig machines, plus models from Waco, Grecon Dimter and Raimann, are wired up and ready to roll.
In the factory perhaps the first thing to strike visitors is the degree to which Weinig makes its own components. There are ranks of CNC cutting machines milling and drilling everything from moulders’ cast iron base units, to fly wheels, spindles and cutter blocks.
‘We make as much in-house as possible,’ said Mr Buchanan. ‘It’s essentially about quality control.’
The factory’s vast, hangar-like units focus on different models, with the first on the tour dedicated to Profimats and Unimat moulders. This resembles a car assembly line, with machines moving down the line on rails. Other production halls produce the more automated models and mechanical handling and window production technology, with the latter big enough for whole lines to be set up.
The site also houses a training centre and refurbishment operation.
Finally, there’s a wood workshop where cases and huge timber sleds are made – using Weinig techology – for shipping machines around the world.
