On April 30, 2024, the e-works delegation came to the last stop of the visit, ifm (ifm), the hidden champion of the global industrial sensor and automation segment in Tettnang am Constance. Mr. Frank Watzlawik, Technical Director of ifm, and Ms. Yang Hu, Sales Support of ifm Headquarters in Greater China, warmly received the delegation and led the delegation to visit the injection molding, sensor assembly, PCBA manufacturing plant and testing laboratory.
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This article was originally reported by E-Works Wang Yujie.
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01
More than half a century of sensor technology innovation
ifm was founded in 1969 by Robert Buck and Gerd Marhofer, and the two families have been working together ever since. In 2001, the second generation of family leaders, Martin Buck and Michael Marhofer, took over the company and led ifm forward.
The two current leaders of ifm
Since its inception, ifm has been developing and innovating sensor technology and has opened up the market with the invention of the inductive proximity switch. In the decades that followed, ifm continued to push the boundaries of sensor technology and became the hidden champion of the global sensor industry. Today, ifm's products range from position sensors, process/fluid sensors, condition monitoring, masters/modules to a wide range of applications in the field of industrial automation: automotive, photovoltaics, lithium-ion batteries, food and beverage, machine tools, logistics and transport, mobile vehicles and construction machinery. With IO-Link technology, ifm not only supplies the components, but also focuses on the data, unleashing the full potential of the sensors and opening the Y-shaped path of Industry 4.0 big data from the lowest data flow, providing digital sensors, decentralised modules and system solutions for predictive maintenance, fault diagnosis and energy management of the user's equipment.
Today, ifm employs more than 9,000 people worldwide, holds 1,210 patents and has 160,000 customers worldwide. Its business scope covers 150 countries and regions around the world, with 28 logistics centers around the world, production bases in Germany, the United States, Singapore, Poland, Romania and India, and a factory is currently under construction in Suzhou. ifm's business is growing steadily, with a turnover of 1.45 billion euros in 2023, of which R&D investment accounts for 10% of turnover, reflecting the strong importance that ifm attaches to technological innovation.
The delegation exchanged views at ifm
02
Five-year warranty
The delegation walked into ifm's sensor assembly plant, where there are a variety of sensor detection devices in the testing laboratory, including functional tests in various harsh environments such as high pressure, high and low temperature, and water spraying, to ensure that they can work properly in various environments. The sensor assembly adopts the unit production method of the cell line, and several employees use semi-automatic equipment to complete the assembly of sensor circuit boards, sealing rings and housings, which is very suitable for the assembly of small batches and multiple varieties of products, and realizes the flexibility of production; For the production of large batches of products, ifm uses automated assembly lines for assembly, ifm has a professional design and manufacturing team for non-standard production lines, and the automated assembly lines are standardized and modular, and the equipment at each production node can be replaced as needed. The injection molding workshop is unmanned, centralized feeding, and the material is taken by the manipulator, and the waste material is detected. ifm designs, manufactures and maintains injection moulds in-house; In the PCBA workshop, in addition to the conventional production and visual inspection equipment, ifm also uses flying probe inspection to ensure the quality of each solder joint.
In the course of the inspection, the "five-year warranty" was frequently mentioned by ifm experts - according to reports, in the sensor industry, the standard product warranty period is two years, ifm took the lead in proposing a five-year warranty, which is ifm's commitment to the quality of customers and the embodiment of product quality.
ifm controls the quality of its products to the highest level during the manufacturing process. Up to 80% of the parts are in-house, which not only ensures the stability of the parts supply, but also ensures the reliability of the overall quality of the products at the source. According to reports, in order to achieve the promise of a five-year warranty, ifm's products will undergo a comprehensive performance test before leaving the factory, covering the input, output and all interfaces of the product, and only after ensuring that every function point can work normally, the product is allowed to leave the factory.
In order to improve the quality of its products, ifm also incorporates tests such as ultraviolet irradiation, extreme temperature fluctuations, high humidity, thermal shock, vibration and much more in the production process. The purpose of these tests is to ensure that the product can still work reliably in any harsh environment.
It is on the basis of this well-established quality system and rigorous testing that ifm is able to confidently and proudly offer its customers a five-year warranty that exceeds the industry average.
03
Proximity to customers and the first choice for innovative automation and digitalization
With the rise of the global digital wave, ifm is keenly aware of the pulse of change. Adhering to the consistent "ifm-close to you!" Concept, ifm has always been customer-centric, with a deep understanding of their needs and troubles - the complexity of data collection due to inconsistent protocols on the production site, the uneven data quality due to a large number of unstructured heterogeneous data sources, the increasing difficulty of data development, the long online cycle of industrial applications and the cumbersome management and operation and maintenance of industrial applications are not only a bottleneck for manufacturing enterprises to break through, but also a new direction for ifm's strategic layout.
In order to help manufacturing companies solve problems, ifm integrates digital communication technology into the sensors and makes them even more suitable for use in the digital age. Based on this, ifm offers its customers value-added solutions such as predictive maintenance tools and opens up new directions. In 2021, ifm launched its self-developed IIoT platform moneo for industry and production, which bridges the gap between sensors and information technology and effectively solves customers' problems in data collection, data quality, data development, etc. Today, the moneo platform is not only used by ifm customers, but also in ifm factories, making it a competent partner for digital transformation.
Simple and intuitive interface of the moneo platform (source: ifm's official promotional video)
As an open IIoT platform, the moneo platform is industry- and manufacturer-agnostic, integrating all existing devices that support IO-Link, enabling employees to receive digital support simply, quickly and efficiently. The core function of the moneo platform is to transform sensor data into digital information that can be used as a reliable basis for decision-making. At the same time, the platform's powerful data analysis capabilities can identify potential problems that may lead to downtime, helping enterprises achieve predictive maintenance of machines and improve OEE. In addition, the moneo platform adopts a modular design and provides suitable modules for different industry applications to meet the different customized needs of enterprises.
The delegation visited the ifm products and solutions showroom
Today, ifm is not only the world's leading sensor company and an excellent provider of industrial automation solutions, but also offers its customers complete digital solutions. With the release of the moneo platform and the implementation of embedded industrial AI functions, the data collected by the sensors can be fully utilized, making it an industry leader in industrial automation sensors, control systems, and overall solutions.
Epilogue
During the visit, the enthusiasm and pride of ifm employees in the company left an unforgettable impression on the members of the delegation. This deep love and pride is deeply rooted in ifm's corporate culture and stems from the employees' unwavering belief in ifm's high quality, high technology and high standards.
ifm's motto "ifm - close to you!" The development concept is not only a slogan, but a code of action that is effectively implemented in every link of product development, production, sales and service. This concept is not only a solemn commitment to its customers, but also a solid foundation for a long-term, stable and trusting relationship between ifm and its customers, as well as a deep affection for employees, the company and its partners.
This enthusiasm and pride not only infect every member of the delegation, but also make them feel the positive impact of ifm's corporate culture and values. Products, innovations and culture make ifm stand out in the fierce market competition and become a leader in the industry!
During the visit, e-works also visited ifm's booth at Hannover Messe and was warmly received by Michael Marhofer, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Co-CEO of ifm, which impressed the members of the delegation.
Group photo of the delegation at ifm