loewe AG, Kronach

Kronach. A new production line has been inaugurated at Loewe in the presence of Bavaria’s new Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Zeil, along with around 100 invited guests from politics and industry, the members of the Executive Board of Loewe AG - Frieder C. Löhrer, Gerhard Schaas and Oliver Seidel - and the Loewe management. “If you want to be a cut above the rest in the highly competitive consumer electronics market, you not only need to be developing the products of tomorrow and beyond today, you also need to have the appropriate future-oriented production technologies”, says Gerhard Schaas, Chief Technology Officer at Loewe AG. That is why Loewe has invested approximately two and a half million euros in the new assembly line. In future it will be used to manufacture the most exclusive products produced by the Kronach-based high-tech manufacturer. In particular, these include large-screen televisions from 42 to 65 inches featuring the most state-of-the-art technologies including Full-HD 100 Hz, LED-backlit panels and even 200 Hz sets – all manufactured with the utmost efficiency. “Premium products can only be produced in a premium environment,” stressed Loewe CEO Frieder C. Löhrer.

 
Gerhard Schaas, a member of the Executive Board, explains, “The important thing for us is to keep set-up and compensation times in production to a minimum. That’s a real challenge, especially given the high level of customisation available for our top-end and large-format products and the correspondingly low production numbers.” Schaas continues, “That’s why we have taken on board expert consultants. During the development of the new production line we worked very closely alongside the Fraunhofer Institute. In some areas we also cooperated with the Hof University of Applied Sciences. In this way we were able to combine applied science and practical experience and thus achieve the best possible result.” And the scale of the achievement is quite clear - in an existing production hall with a surface area of 2,000 m², a highly automated production line has been developed with an investment of 2.5 million euros, setting new standards in terms of technology, ergonomics and architectural design. In future around 300 large format television sets will be manufactured here each day. The findings obtained during the design of the pilot line will gradually be applied in other production areas as well. A general plan for the whole factory has been drawn up for this purpose.

One of the innovative features of the production line is the possibility to work on television sets from two sides. This plays an important role with the particularly large-format sets. The assembly line can be open on two sides so that the panel can be conveniently and ergonomically assembled by two employees at the same time. The assembly belt is also height-adjustable and features lifting equipment, known as 'manipulators', which are controlled by hand and take the full weight of the TV sets. RFID coding on the new pallets is recognised automatically. This allows individual characteristics which the customer has specified on their wish list to be automatically read by the production line and implemented accordingly. Run-in tests take place – out of sight – above the lowered suspended ceilings. Panel temperature regulators on the ceiling heat or cool the environment as and when required and thus maintain optimum room temperature. Schaas says, “A lot of expertise has gone into the small details.”

The production belt also does justice to the premium standards of the Loewe brand in terms of architecture. The overall impression is –both on the inside and outside – modern, clear and top-quality. The hall has very large windows which allow a lot of light in and also provide a clear view to the outside. The modern aluminium façade, which already characterises the logistics centre situated directly next door, has been carried over to the new building. The Chief Technology Officer explains, “The design is not only appropriate for the brand. It is also a reflection of our own self-image. The ‘Loewe’ attitude to life is primarily reflected in our products, but also in our technical and architectural infrastructure and conveyed to our employees, customers and visitors.”


About the company:
The products made by the Kronach-based company Loewe AG represent award-winning design, innovative technology and top quality. Technological highlights from the consumer electronics manufacturer include home cinema systems with high-definition picture quality, integrated hard disk recorders and the option of digital television reception. In 2008, sales for the public-listed company founded in 1923 in Berlin amounted to € 374m, with EBIT of € 28.5m (preliminary figures). Approximately half of Loewe's sales are generated on international markets. Loewe manufactures and distributes television sets, DVD recorders and audio components. The company has approximately 1,000 employees.