Value adding at Bischof+Klein starts in the extrusion department. It contributes extensively to the manufacturing costs and therefore offers great potential for cost reduction.

To be able to use the wealth of experience within the Bischof+Klein-GROUP to improve processes, the Lengerich extrusion departments invited extrusion specialists from Bischof+Klein UK, France, Polska, and Konzell to a two-day event in Lengerich under the leadership of Peter Lehrter, senior head of the technical films / film production department.

COO Wald Westerlinck: “We need to concentrate on improving in the field of extrusion and supporting one another along this continuous improvement journey.”

Day 1: Presentation of the plants under aspects such as organization, equipment, capacities, products. However, each department’s “portrait” also included measurement systems, improvement projects, methods, and challenges. This was followed by a tour of the plant focusing on film extrusion.

Day 2: Visit to W+H with specialist presentations on the topics of automation, retrofitting, PCR processing, the Academy, etc. as well as demonstrations in the technical center - Turbostart and Easy 2 Change.

Based on all of these impressions and information, the participants quickly got into conversation: Which inline cameras do you use to measure specking in the film? What form do your maintenance schedules take? Which support systems do you work with?

“That was an exciting and intensive few days,” stated Stephanie Seidel after the meeting. She said that it had become clear how differently the extrusion departments worked at each plant depending on the machinery and the products. Peter Lehrter: “Each participant should have taken away important ideas for improving the performance of their department.”

As one, everyone expressed the desire to support one another in the continuous improvement process and to continue this dialogue.