Moog GAT automates four DMG Mori CTX lathes with RoboJob Turn-Assist
Shorter lead times, night production and 40 kg shafts loaded smoothly
Moog GAT automates four DMG Mori CTX lathes with RoboJob Turn-Assist
Moog GAT in Geisenheim, Germany, formerly known as GAT Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik, develops and manufactures rotary unions, slip rings, air bearings and torque motors. To free its skilled people for programming and process improvement, the company automated with RoboJob in 2016. Today, four Turn-Assist cells load its DMG Mori CTX lathes, by day and by night.
Key facts
- Company: Moog GAT GmbH (formerly GAT Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik mbH)
- Location: Geisenheim, Hesse, Germany
- Founded: 1978
- Employees: approx. 200
- Industries: Machine construction, Energy (wind turbines)
- RoboJob products: Turn-Assist 250, Turn-Assist 270 (3×)
- CNC machine brands: DMG Mori
- Automated machines: DMG Mori CTX 1250 4A, DMG Mori CTX 250, DMG Mori CTX beta 1250 TC 4A (2×)
- RoboJob customer since: 2016
- Key results: significantly shorter lead times; significantly higher output; day and night production; 40 kg shafts loaded and unloaded smoothly
Rotary technology from Geisenheim since 1978
Founded in 1978 as Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik (GAT), the company develops and manufactures rotary unions, slip rings, precision air bearings and torque motors for industrial applications such as special machinery, machine tools, steel mills, medical products, wind turbines and semiconductor manufacturing. All production takes place in Geisenheim, with sales offices worldwide. Since 2020, the company has operated as Moog GAT GmbH, part of Moog Inc.
Why automate: freeing up skilled people
“We had been looking for automation at GAT for a long time. Our company started this quest because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to attract good workers. We wanted to release more time for our workforce by using automation so that they could focus on programming and process improvement. Flexible automation should be able to take over the physical, repetitive tasks. Of course, that’s easy to say.”
— Moog GAT, Geisenheim
Why RoboJob: a recommendation from Coveris
At an open house, the team met a contact from Coveris, another RoboJob customer with several Turn-Assist and Mill-Assist cells. A visit to Coveris and to RoboJob in Belgium convinced the company to order its first automation. Employees were informed before the installation, which dispelled any concerns.
“RoboJob’s smart, simple concepts immediately impressed us.”
— Moog GAT, Geisenheim
From one to four Turn-Assist cells
The first RoboJob Turn-Assist 250, with a 70 kg robot, was installed on an existing DMG Mori CTX 1250 4A. More and more work was coming in, and running times without automation were too long. Three Turn-Assist 270 cells followed.
- DMG Mori CTX 1250 4A with a Turn-Assist 250 (70 kg robot)
- DMG Mori CTX 250 with a Turn-Assist 270
- DMG Mori CTX beta 1250 TC 4A with a Turn-Assist 270
- DMG Mori CTX beta 1250 TC 4A with a Turn-Assist 270
The result: shorter lead times, a constant rhythm
“Using the easy-to-adjust Turn-Assist we’re able to significantly reduce the lead times. It also turns out that we’ve been able to significantly increase production output. Operating with the Turn-Assist isn’t only done during the day but also at night. This way we’re able to absorb the peaks in demand. Furthermore, it appears that this DMG with automation produces at a more constant rhythm than machines without automation. And that’s also logical: the robot never gets tired and doesn’t need to rest. Thus even 40 kg shafts are loaded and unloaded smoothly.”
— Moog GAT, Geisenheim
Frequently asked questions
Which machines did Moog GAT automate with RoboJob?
Moog GAT in Geisenheim, Germany, runs four RoboJob Turn-Assist cells on DMG Mori lathes: a Turn-Assist 250 on a CTX 1250 4A, and Turn-Assist 270 cells on a CTX 250 and two CTX beta 1250 TC 4A machines. The company has been a RoboJob customer since 2016.
Is Moog GAT the same company as GAT Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik?
Yes. GAT Gesellschaft für Antriebstechnik in Geisenheim, founded in 1978, has operated as Moog GAT GmbH since 2020. Its RoboJob cells, first installed under the GAT name, are still in use.
Can a DMG Mori CTX beta 1250 be automated?
Yes. Moog GAT runs RoboJob Turn-Assist 270 cells on two DMG Mori CTX beta 1250 TC 4A lathes. Hainbuch also automates a CTX beta 1250 TC with a Turn-Assist 270. See all DMG Mori automation projects.
Can a robot cell load heavy shafts?
Yes. At Moog GAT, a RoboJob Turn-Assist 250 with a 70 kg robot loads and unloads shafts of up to 40 kg smoothly, day and night. Kocks Manufacturing even handles shafts of 110 kg with a 165 kg robot.
How does automation help when skilled workers are hard to find?
At Moog GAT, RoboJob Turn-Assist cells take over the physical, repetitive loading and unloading. Its skilled people can focus on programming and process improvement, while the machines run longer and at a more constant rhythm.