Better than the original

Müller Manufaktur Möbelbau GmbH, founded in 1930, operates in the premium sector of woodworking. The company, based in Bad Rippoldsau in Baden-Württemberg, develops individual office furniture for well-known companies. The portfolio includes conference tables, side and highboards, workstations, cabinet modules and reception counters. Customers are industrial and service companies, banks, lawyers, tax consultants and insurance companies. Müller Manufaktur also equips educational and research institutions as well as German embassies worldwide. In the modern company near Freudenstadt, twelve employees share a love of wood in perfection - and also gain a strong international presence with their exclusive products.

In order to produce the high-quality pieces of furniture precisely and with low scrap, the company uses, among other things, modern CNC machining centers from the Italian manufacturer SCM. The Morbidelli m200 is used to produce flat workpieces such as tabletops or work surfaces in small batches or one-off production. The machines can machine the blanks from five sides, with high lateral forces that the clamping system must securely clamp despite rough surfaces or curved contours. The furniture manufacturer was not entirely satisfied with the original vacuum blocks from SCM used to date. "In terms of stability, they are comparable. However, if the SCM vacuum blocks are damaged, replacing the sealing lip is very difficult because we can only disassemble them with a slotted screwdriver and a lot of dexterity," describes Michael Spinner, carpenter at Müller Manufaktur Möbelbau GmbH and machine operator. "In doing so, there is a risk of damaging the suction cup even further." In addition, the carpenters have to readjust the sealing lip several times until it fits precisely. The financial aspect was also a thorn in the carpenter's side: the original vacuum blocks are expensive.

In this context, Müller Manufaktur gladly accepted the offer from vacuum specialist J. Schmalz GmbH to test its newly developed vacuum blocks of the VCBL-S6 type. "We have precisely adapted the new clamping system to the consoles of the SCM machines," describes Matthias Schmider, Product Manager at Schmalz. A robust main body made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic supports the suction plate with diaphragm either directly or is equipped with an elevating suction cup. The machine operator can simply fix this in production in 15-degree increments with a clamping lever. The sensing valve allows unused suction cups to remain on the machine. "This also reduces the setup effort," emphasizes Schmider.

The suction plate protects the vacuum block from penetrating chips with a diaphragm. The elastomer part provides optimum sealing and can be replaced quickly and without tools when worn. To prevent errors when ordering spare parts, Schmalz has equipped the VCBL-S6 vacuum block with an NFC tag (Near Field Communication). When the user places his smartphone on the clamping device, he sees all relevant product data directly in the Schmalz ControlRoom app.

The vacuum blocks from Schmalz have been in use at Müller Manufaktur since June 2021 and deliver convincing results. "The holding force is 20 percent higher compared to the SCM original, while the stability is comparable," describes Hermann. The company also benefits from reduced setup times: carpenters can quickly adjust the rotating vacuum block and replace damaged suction plates easily and without tools. The high holding forces have significantly improved process reliability at high feed rates and cutting depths. Compared to the original, the height tolerance on Schmalz is more dimensionally accurate, emphasizes the Black Forest-proud master carpenter, as the CEO introduces himself on social media. Mixed operation between SCM and Schmalz suction cup also runs smoothly, he adds. This is important because Michael Spinner wants to use up the standard stock of SCM product first, before gradually having the VCBL-S6 variant installed. Meanwhile, the further goal is clearly defined: "We will gradually switch completely to the solution from Schmalz."

Since the pilot project at Müller Manufaktur, regular contact with Schmalz has developed. "We are now the direct contact when it comes to new projects or feedback from the field. Both sides benefit from this," outlines Managing Director Markus Hermann, who was closely involved in the project. He gives good marks to the cooperation during the project phase: "This has always gone smoothly, and Schmalz has always taken into account the different workloads of our carpentry when scheduling."