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N° 20 - APRIL 2008
ACROSS BORDERS
Stepping out boldly into the big wide world
www.fronius.com
HIGH-PROFICIENCY WELDING TRIALS: Fronius TechSupport nears complete coverage
BIG SHIPS: Peene-Werft shipyard doubles its welding speeds
EXPO 2008: The World Fair in Zaragoza
Management Team, from l. to r.:
unrolling against a thematic backdrop
zest for life. After all, nocturnal revelry is
built around this pillar, in many different
of water and sustainable development.
contagious, and it’s been in Zaragozans’
styles – in its present-day baroque form the
“Water, an element linking peoples” is the
blood since time immemorial.
building is 130 m (427 ft) long and almost
motto of the exhibition, and an expected
70 m (230 ft) wide, and has 11 cupolas.
A few words on our cover story:
This world of ours is becoming more and more
of a village. High-speed transport links, globespanning information networks and today’s
ever-wider sales markets are combining to make
people members of an international workforce.
The result, not surprisingly, is a need for everhigher professional skill levels, together with
some many-facetted cultural challenges. Join us
on the following pages for an excursion through
the complex topic of internationality!
Picture credits:
Cartographical material from: National Geographic
Atlas of the World.
By kind permission of National Geographic.
Publisher’s imprint:
“weld+vision” is the customer magazine of Fronius
International GmbH, Welding Technology Division
Design: reklamebüro GmbH
Responsible for contents: Fronius International GmbH,
Buxbaumstrasse 2, A 4600 Wels, Austria,
weld.vision@fronius.com, www.fronius.com
3-6
How people conquer new markets
7-11
12-13
14-15
16-19
20-21
Editorial
Fiesta del Pilar – celebrating
the “pillar” of Zaragoza culture
The company
Fronius know-how
close at hand
June and September. The exposition site
is right beside the Ebro and will boast
Zaragoza is not only this year’s
a number of emblematic architectural
metropolis of water but also the home
TechSupport National
Zaragoza’s principal festival is also
highlights – a 73 m (240 ft) tall building
of Fronius’ Spanish representatives
Otto Schuster on the Fronius certifications
dedicated to the “Blessed Virgin of
evoking a droplet of water, or a pavilion
Gala Electronic and of their very own
The latest from the Fronius cosmos
the Pillar”, who is also the patron saint
taking the form of a two-story “glass
TechSupport unit. This gives Gala
Brief and to the point
of Spain. At the “Fiesta del Pilar” in
bridge” designed by world-renowned
Electronic what it takes to provide first-
News from Fronius
October, the city revels for a whole
architect Zaha Hadid to “flow” across the
class customer care. You’ll find more
Totally R & D
week, with thousands of people dressed
Ebro. Incidentally, the steel construction
information on this on p. 9 of this issue.
What’s new in the world of torches
in regional costumes joining pilgrims
of this bridge was welded using Fronius
DeltaSpot even more versatile, thanks to C-pincer gun
from all round the world to transform the
technology.
Case studies
square in front of the basilica into a sea
Bombardier does repair work using the TransCut 300 plasma-cutting device
of carnations and gladioli.
TimeTwin Digital eliminates bottleneck on Peene-Werft shipyard’s panel line
The company
New dawn with Expo 2008
In readiness for the World Expo,
www
www.expozaragoza2008.es
Zaragoza’s old quarter – hitherto
somewhat neglected – has been
given a thorough facelift. Especially at
Figures that speak for themselves as a token of internationality
22-23
2
Cover story
7.5 million visitors will be experiencing
water, in all its varied meanings, between
Travel tip
Modern-day Zaragoza, now with
weekends, young and old alike throng
New from old: Zaragoza to host world expo
a population of nearly 670,000,
the district’s hundreds of jam-packed
is undergoing something of a re-
bars and restaurants, turning it into one
Fronius 2008
Travel tip
23
e-mail
went on, various places of worship were
Country
of a late-night plunge into the Spanish
Postcode & locality
and architecturally. Expo 2008 will be
Street address
will also not want to miss the chance
the “Pilar” in the Spanish name). As time
A 4600 Wels
21st century, both culturally, technically
Buxbaumstrasse 2
that many of the visitors to the Expo
the Virgin Mary standing on a pillar (hence
Department
big party location. It is fair to expect
Marketing & Communications
awakening: this year’s World Expo is set
to catapult the city well and truly into the
Fronius International GmbH
Marian temple in Christendom. According
to legend, the Apostle James appeared to
Forename
And no wonder, what with
the countless varieties of tapas
that are on offer.
Company
robot torches, which play an important
role on the international marketplace.
This issue’s “Travel tip” takes us to the
Spanish city of Zaragoza, which will
be hosting Expo 2008 on the theme of
“Water and Sustainable Development”.
So dive right in to the big, wide world
– and have an enjoyable read!
My opinion on weld+vision
(or e-mail to weld.vision@fronius.com)
cover story looks at the concept from
several different angles. For Fronius,
internationality also means having a
consistently high standard of products
and customer care throughout the
world. In this connection, you will be
finding out more about the TechSupport
concept. And of course you will also
find case-studies and news on the
latest developments – like gas-cooled
We’ll be pleased to carry on sending
you every edition of weld+vision as
soon as it comes out.
If you know anybody else who might
be interested, please just pass this
reply card on to them directly.
Or simply copy it and fax it to us on:
+43 7242 241-2670.
Of the many topics impacting upon
the world of business, few can be as
significant as that of “internationality”.
We all know what it means. Or do
we? For on closer examination it soon
becomes apparent that internationality
means different things to different
people. In this issue, Klaus Fronius
outlines the company’s own special
“take” on internationality, while the
weld+vision n° 20, April 2008
Dear Readers;
Please affix
postage stamp if
available, or fax to
+43 7242 241-2670
The jumble of alleyways that
is the “Tubo” – Zaragoza‘s
old quarter – is a magnet for
nocturnal revelers.
Surname
Herbert Mühlböck
Volker Lenzeder
Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauss
Klaus Fronius
Brigitte Strauss
Heinz Hackl
Across borders
COURAGE IS THE FIRST STEP ON THE PATH TO INTERNATIONALITY
Seen against the pragmatism of modern-day business life, setting out into
unknown terrain is definitely one of the last adventures left to us: Venturing
into the unknown and engaging with a foreign culture still calls for at least
a remnant of the courage and spirit of discovery that drove the seafarers of
yore to set sail across the world’s oceans centuries ago. Even today, there
is still an equal element of excitement and challenge about venturing across
borders – both for the staff involved and for their companies.
The story of internationalization is as
In those days, the risks involved in
old as that of commerce itself – from
international trade relations, both for
the Phoenicians, who were sailing the
companies and their employees, were
oceans long before the birth of Christ, to
far greater than they are today. What all
the North German Hanseatic League, the
those who ventured beyond the borders
Dutch, the Spanish and the Portuguese,
of their own countries had in common
whose Vasco da Gama ushered in the
was a desire for “growth” – both in
era of globalization on 8th July 1497.
business terms and in terms of personal
With 4 ships and 160 crew, da Gama set
experience. And this has continued
out to discover a sea route to India. His
unchanged right through into the modern
mission accomplished, he embarked on
economic era of the 21st century: the
the homeward voyage, a trading contract
main motivation for a company to be
in his pocket and a cargo of precious
active on the international arena is to
spices filling the hold. In September
enlarge its sales markets. And here’s
1499, over two years after first setting
something else that hasn’t changed:
sail, da Gama returned to port in Lisbon,
Staff posted far afield still have
Portugal, with a leaking flagship and only
something about them of the voyagers
55 of the original crew.
who once ventured across the oceans.
Fronius 2008
Cover story
3
Leaving safe shores behind
term, employees sent from the parent
the more successful the employee will
company to postings elsewhere in the
be in tackling the job that he or she was
Nowadays, of course, the risks of a long-
world also act as ambassadors. They
sent there to do.
haul flight are minimal, and knowledge
carry the company’s “cultural genes” and
of English permits at least rudimentary
pass these on to the local organization.
communication in many parts of the
The same goes for employees returning
world. Nevertheless, internationality
to their home countries after long stays
requires a special quality from staff.
abroad.
A life-changing experience
At the same time, living in another
country and culture is often also a hugely
formative and enriching experience. Talk
Venturing “among the nations” always
means traversing boundaries and leaving
In both cases, staff who have been
to many former expatriates and they will
the safety of all that is accustomed and
deployed internationally will also
tell you that their foreign postings were
familiar – not just in a geographical but
enhance understanding among their
some of the best and most important
also in a psychological sense.
colleagues for the special needs of other
times in their lives. Particularly at the
cultures. “Interculturality” is a popular
individual level, it is a major and satisfying
Many companies today have progressed
buzzword here.
achievement to have transcended one’s
far beyond the fi rst stages of international
Of course, the processes of organizational
own boundaries, got to know much that
involvement, such as merely exporting,
imprinting will never play out in isolation
is new, and mastered the art of living in
and now operate in a network that unites
from the cultural framework of the
a culture which – at least to begin with –
various corporate functions at different
country in question. What this means,
was strange and different.
locations around the globe. In parallel
for example, is that while the corporate
with this, the globe-spanning demands
culture of an Austrian high-tech company
Another thing many people find is that
made of employees are shifting away
will definitely be mirrored, at least in its
living away from one’s own country tends
from mere business trips and ever more
central facets, by that of its Brazilian
to make one think much more highly of it.
often towards extended stays abroad.
Being a truly internationalized company
also means having headquarters staff
subsidiary, local values and norms will
Or as one former expatriate put it: “There
still have a strong influence.
I was sitting at the airport in Chicago,
Settling in is hard work
waiting for my flight to Los Angeles,
and I happened to catch sight of the
red, white and red tail fin of an Austrian
who can think a lot further than the
All this adds to the conflicting cultural,
Airlines jet outside on the taxiway. And
demands made here typically range
psychological and organizational
do you know what suddenly hit me? A
from supervising in-house staff to
tensions to which the expatriate is
pang of homesickness.”
confines of their home market. The
implementing globally standardized ERP
exposed. It starts with the everyday
systems and reporting-standards, all the
basics: What permits will I need? Where
way through to understanding widely
can I find a place to live? Can my wife
varying legislation in many different
get a job too? How can I make myself
countries.
understood? Where’s the best place to
do the shopping? Which schools should
Increasingly, attention is also turning
we send the children to? And so on and
to cultural management: to infuse life
so forth. Particularly at the beginning of
into all aspects of a company’s culture,
a longer-term stay abroad, a great deal
values and norms. Alongside their
of energy goes into organizing everyday
duties in the narrower sense of the
life. The better the company helps here,
4
Cover story
Language
There are some 6500 separate languages spoken
around the world today. However, more than half of
them are threatened with extinction, as these languages
are no longer being passed on to the next generation.
Half of all languages are spoken by fewer than 10,000
people! The most widely used languages are Mandarin
(Chinese), English and Hindi. In our Western culture,
the Indo-European family of languages is predominant.
There is no immediate prospect of a uniform world
language – unless, perhaps, one considers the sphere
of non-verbal language, where there may potentially be
a number of codes that have universal validity.
Culture
Culture is a very wide-ranging concept. It encompasses
everything – be it tangible or conceptual – that it is possible
for a person to acquire from the society in which he or
she lives: belief systems, moral notions, skills, traditions,
customs, languages, law, art, science, ethics, education.
This definition makes it plain that there are many different
cultural groups around the world, albeit with fluid
boundaries. Culture is more and more on the move in our
modern day and age, with constant interchange taking
place as a result of migration, the Internet, holidays,
international corporate cultures, etc. A fact that should
definitely be seen positively, as something that is bringing
cultures together.
Fronius 2008
World’s busiest airports, 2006
Airport
1. Atlanta (ATL)
2. Chicago (ORD)
3. London (LHR)
4. Tokyo (HND)
5. Los Angeles (LAX)
6. Dallas / Ft. Worth (DFW)
7. Paris (CDG)
8. Frankfurt (FRA)
9. Peking (PEK)
10. Denver (DEN)
Country
USA
USA
Great Britain
Japan
USA
USA
France
Germany
China
USA
Annual
passenger
total
84 846 639
77 028 134
67 530 197
65 810 672
61 041 066
60 226 138
56 849 567
52 810 683
48 654 770
47 325 016
Source: ACI
World’s biggest seaports, 2006
Port
1. Shanghai
2. Singapore
3. Rotterdam
4. Ningbo
5. Guangzhou
6. Tianjin
7. Hong Kong
8. Qingdao
9. Nagoya
10. Dalian
Country
China
Singapore
Netherlands
China
China
China
China
China
Japan
China
Annual cargo
(in tonnes)
537 000 000
448 200 000
381 700 000
309 000 000
302 000 000
258 000 000
238 200 000
224 000 000
208 000 000
200 000 000
Source: Port Authorities
Cover story
5
Five questions to
two expatriates
w+v: What were the motives prompting
you to move from Austria to the USA
(Hummelbrunner) and from Australia to
Austria (Hills)?
A. Hummelbrunner: For me, the most
important reasons were my personal
career development and the challenge
of being actively involved in setting up a
new subsidiary right from the word “go”.
Andreas Hummelbrunner Nationality: Austrian
Worked at Fronius USA LLC in Brighton, Michigan,
USA from 2002 to 2007.
G. Hills: What most motivated me was
the challenge inherent in the job itself,
and the opportunity to work directly for
Fronius here in Austria.
w+v: Do you think moving abroad is a
risky thing to do?
Gary Hills Nationality: Australian
Works at the Fronius International GmbH sales
and marketing base in Wels, Austria.
A. Hummelbrunner: Having been on quite
a few foreign trips for the company
before, I reckoned I was able to weigh
up the risks. This sort of thing is always
a bit of a leap in the dark, of course,
and if – like me – you’re going to be
living abroad for several years, you have
to be prepared to make some sacrifices,
in the private sphere for example.
G. Hills: The only real risk is of taking
a narrow-minded approach and
expecting everything to be just like
you’re used to back home. When you
move to another country, adaptability is
the key to success.
w+v: What was, or has been, the best thing
to happen to you while working abroad?
A. Hummelbrunner: It was a good
experience seeing how well the company
developed in such a short space of time,
and I also enjoyed having time to get to
know the American Way of Life: hanging
out in a jazz club in Chicago on a Friday
evening, for example.
6
Cover story
G. Hills: Travelling to other countries and
experiencing the different cultures in
connection with my job.
w+v: When you came back
(Hummelbrunner), or if you went back
(Hills), what was or would be the most
important thing your colleagues had
learnt or would have learnt from you?
A. Hummelbrunner: One of the aims was
to impart Fronius’ culture and technical
know-how to our American colleagues,
and I think I was very successful in this.
G. Hills: Maybe a slightly different “take”
on the industry that we all work in, and
also that age is no obstacle to ambition.
w+v: On returning home, what was, or
would be, the most important thing you
had learnt for yourself?
A. Hummelbrunner: The big challenge
for me was to understand American
culture. With many technical and
organizational problems, we just had to
improvise, and I learnt here to “go the
extra mile”, as the Americans say.
G. Hills: I would go back with a favorable
impression of Austria and its people; in
particular, my colleagues here at Fronius
have been very patient and helpful.
Complete in-country
capability
TECHSUPPORT TAKES KNOWLEDGE AND KNOW-HOW TO THE CLIENT
For Klaus-Peter Schmidt, Head of TechSupport Germany, the advantages are plain to see: Welding trials
conducted jointly with the client, free of time pressure and using high-caliber applications engineers, are
now possible on a local, in-country basis.
What’s the point of having a 350 horsepower engine under the hood if the driver doesn’t know
how to handle it? What good is the finest truffle to anybody if all the preparations in the kitchen
go wrong? Questions like these often get asked in welding engineering. Which is why Fronius
is setting up national TechSupport units in its country HQs. This means that there are now local
centers to give customers and distribution partners specialist technical support with applications
and training. In TechSupport, the “gourmets” of the welding community can join with Fronius
to develop recipes for the very finest applications – getting all that Fronius “technological
horsepower” up to speed and putting it to work where it belongs: on the production line.
Fronius 2008
The F&E
company
total
7
TechSupport “does” all welding processes, both
automated and manual. Like Cold Metal Transfer
(CMT), DeltaSpot, TIME 5000 Digital and plasma
welding.
As a welding technology leader, Fronius
all TechSupport units have a direct line
Klaus-Peter Schmidt, Head of
has always been especially concerned
to TechSupport International (TSI) at
TechSupport Germany, sums up
to bring technical know-how – and in
Fronius HQ in Wels. And if not even TSI
the advantages like this: “Working
particular, application competency – as
can come up with a satisfactory solution,
together with the experts in-situ, we
close to the customer as possible.
With these national TechSupport units,
Fronius can respond swiftly and surely
it can always liaise directly with the
can simulate any application, no matter
Research and Development Dept.
whether it’s automated or manual, with
The test-lab
clamping device and so on. And we can
to applications-technology assignments.
any parameter, material, filler metal,
do all this in a quiet, perfectly equipped
This gives the sales teams easy, on-the-
One of the key functions of the national
test environment, without any ambient
spot access to the facilities they need in
TechSupport units is professional
noise and not under time pressure. Our
order to develop new solutions locally,
implementation of welding trials, for all
entire concentration can be focused on
in collaboration with their customers.
processes. This is one of the first ways
the weld trial, because there aren’t any
The TechSupport is centrally situated at
that each national TechSupport’s central
wasteful downtimes here.”
the country HQ, drastically shortening
location pays off: a round trip, including
travel distances for national customers.
the welding trial, is possible inside one
Working on a solution together, in a team
Issues such as different time-zones,
day. If a weld process is one that Fronius
made up of one or more applications
cultural barriers or basic communication
offers, then TechSupport offers it too.
engineers and the client, inspires
difficulties are no longer relevant. The
Like the Cold Metal Transfer MIG/MAG
confidence and respect among like-
highly qualified TechSupport personnel
dip-transfer arc process (CMT), for
minded professionals. For TechSupport
speak the customer’s language – in
instance, or the resistance-welding
is a place where only welding pros are at
every regard.
process DeltaSpot, or high-performance
work – from Fronius as well as from clients.
If an assignment comes along that
welding with TIME 5000 Digital and
cannot be tackled without extra help,
plasma welding.
8
The company
Victor Lalanza, MD of Gala Electronic, and
Jorge Batlle, responsible for national TechSupport,
together ensure a high standard of customer
care in Spain.
The know-how Gala
TechSupport is a place of learning, in terms not only of training courses for clients, distributors
and Fronius employees, but also of in-house exhibitions and conferences for service technicians
and applications engineers.
Schooling capability
clients wanted to improve performance
in the welding of certain shock absorber
TechSupport is definitely a place of
components. We simulated the entire
learning – in terms of both training
operation in our TechSupport and
courses for clients, distributors and
analysed the improvement potential
Fronius employees and of in-house
in collaboration with the client and
exhibitions and conferences for
the applications engineer assigned to
service technicians and applications
the case. The outcome, after several
engineers. Both theory and practical
experiments, was an increase in welding
implementation are communicated here
speed from 1.2 m/min to 1.7 m/min (47 to
– by professionals, for professionals.
67 ipm). In other words, on this particular
And there are always opportunities for
application we achieved savings of nearly
“talking shop”, comparing notes and
50 % in terms of the welding time.”
exchanging views. For as is well known,
the best results of a conference often
With the TechSupport units, Fronius
come from the discussions that take
is bringing its technological lead even
place during the breaks!
closer to clients’ actual applications, and
Finally, a good example of just how
to work for customers even better.
well national technical support is
Whether savings of 50 % are achieved
putting all its “technological horsepower”
now functioning in real-life practice is
here every time is not the point. What is
provided by TechSupport Germany,
the point, though, is that when it comes
based at Neuhof, near Fulda in the central
to commitment and effort, the people at
state of Hesse. Klaus-Peter Schmidt
TechSupport will always give 100 %.
explains: “One of our automobile industry
With its TechSupport, Gala
Electronic delivers expertise and
capability at Fronius level
Fronius’ Spanish representative Gala
Electronic recently opened its new
country headquarters in Zaragoza, on
1800 m² (19,375 sq ft) of floorspace.
More than 600 m² (6458 sq ft) of
this is taken up by TechSupport. At
this first Spanish “port of call” for
welding-engineering enquiries, all
weld processes are available, on four
robots. Gala Electronic’s new national
headquarters are rounded off by three
seminar and training rooms, a repair
center and a large stockroom.
Victor Lalanza, Managing Director
of Gala Electronic, is in no doubt
about the TechSupport concept:
“We are sure that national technical
support is the deciding make-orbreak factor for the future. Our welding
systems and applications engineers
are in action for around 600 operating
hours a year, to ensure the bestpossible service and support for our
customers”. In acknowledgement of
its successful implementation of high
standards of customer care, to Fronius
quality levels, Gala Electronic was
awarded CFR (Certified Fronius
Representative) certification in 2007.
www
www.GalaElectronic.com
Fronius 2008
The company
9
“Fronius quality, all the time,
everywhere.”
OTTO SCHUSTER ON THE FRONIUS PARTNER PROGRAM
For Fronius, internationality means supplying identical quality throughout the
world. And not just in terms of all Fronius products, but also of the standard of
customer care: advisory work, training, and application support. Otto Schuster,
Head of Sales, Welding Technology Division, is interviewed for w+v:
w+v: Mr Schuster, Fronius is implementing
a sales concept in which certification of
distribution partners plays a major role.
What certifications are these?
O. Schuster: Fronius points the
way when it comes to quality. The
certifications send out unmistakeable
quality signals to our customers: QAS
means Qualified Automotive Supplier
and is a certification given to sales
and service teams. CFD – Certified
Fronius Distributor – is a quality seal
for Fronius distributors. CFR is the
abbreviation for Certified Fronius
Representative, an award given to
country representatives.
w+v: What prompted Fronius to start this
partner program?
O. Schuster: Fronius has set itself the
goal of ensuring the same quality
of overall performance anywhere in
10
The company
the world. This means that welding
systems, technical advice, application
support, training, service etc. must all
be at the same high level worldwide.
At the country level, the TechSupport
units are the backbone of this system.
As many of these services are also
performed on a regional basis by way
of distribution partners, we make
very great joint efforts to develop and
improve these partners’ know-how and
facilities.
w+v: What’s in it for the certified
distribution partners?
O. Schuster: They enjoy an “advance
dose” of customer confidence, as the
certification is seen as independent
proof of capability. What is more,
the distribution partners have direct
access to the Fronius “Schweissercafe”
central information system, and are
given support at many different levels:
from the controlling system with a
benchmarking facility, to training plans
for employees, to marketing support.
w+v: How is implementation of this
system progressing?
O. Schuster: Of the 12 international sales
subsidiaries that we have at present,
all are already on the new standard
and have a TechSupport. The same
goes for our Spanish representative,
who is also now CFR certified. In
future, we shall be doing our best to
extend the certification program to
all our distribution partners. After all,
everyone benefits: the customers, the
distribution partners and Fronius –
from having quality that is the same
the world over.
w+v: Thank you for talking with us.
News flashes from Sales
FRONIUS IS GROWING – ALL ROUND THE GLOBE
Austria: Innsbruck Sales and Service
Team marks its 25th anniversary by
moving into a new Sales Office with over
400 m² (4306 sq ft) of space
France: Guy Missiaen is new Head
of Sales of the Welding Technology
Division at Fronius France; assistance on
international projects
Brazil: Country HQ moves to bigger
building
Great Britain: British Defence Secretary
Les Browne visits TPS Fronius Ltd.
A distinguished visitor to TPS Fronius Ltd.
New subsidiary in Canada
TransPocket 2500 scores successes in India
Canada: Fronius opens new subsidiary
in Mississauga
Hungary: Representative Froweld moves
into new country HQ premises with
TechSupport Hungary
South Africa: Rebuilding work at
representative’s Böhler Uddeholm Africa
Ltd. in Johannesburg
India: Most successful market for
TransPocket 2500 MMA welding unit
Turkey: New Welding Technology
Division liaison office in Istanbul
Japan: CMT welding systems being
used successfully in automobile industry
Ukraine: Rebuilding work at country HQ
to house TechSupport Ukraine
Ecuador: General Motors supplier
relying exclusively on welding technology
from Fronius
Korea: Automobile industry tests
DeltaSpot resistance spot-welding tongs
Uruguay: Success with a perfect aftersales concept – one of South America’s
smallest markets takes off in a big way
Liaison office in Istanbul (Turkey)
The team at Fronius Mexico
Innsbruck Sales and Service Team (Austria)
China: Strong presence and major
successes on Chinese market
Colombia: New distributor successful
on market
Fronius 2008
Mexico: Fronius opens new subsidiary
in Monterrey
Netherlands: Representative Interlas
opens TechSupport Netherlands
Slovakia: Fronius Slovakia celebrates 10
successful years on the market
The company
11
News
Fronius builds to keep pace
with growth
Sales successes for Acctiva
Professional Flash in UK and
USA
“Team Rosberg” goes
down to the starting line with
Fronius technology
Sattledt is to be the system location,
Working with its British distribution
In January 2008, the starting shot
Wels the sales and marketing base and
partner Diagnos, the Battery Charging
sounded for the collaboration between
Thalheim the development location.
Systems Division has chalked up its
Fronius and “Team Rosberg”. Fronius
With the opening of the plant in Sattledt,
first sales successes in Great Britain
Deutschland and the sales team from
one milestone in this basic strategy has
and the USA. The new Fronius partner
Kaiserslautern are sponsoring this racing
already been reached; building work
produces diagnostic systems for
team with TransCut 300 plasma cutting
on the other two is in progress. Fronius
independent workshops specializing
devices and the “MagicWave 3000 job”
is adapting the Wels site in line with
in the Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes,
TIG welding system. This successful
modern-day requirements to be the
Jaguar, Volvo and VW marques. Diagnos
international motorsports team is using
international sales and marketing base
organizes local service training events
the equipment on the racing circuit
for all three Fronius divisions. An “active-
for dealers and customers, at which it
and for prototyping e.g. axles, wheel
energy” building (i.e. that produces
also presents the Acctiva Professional
suspensions, aluminum frames and
more energy than it consumes) is rising
Flash. This battery charger ensures a
floor-pan assemblies. “Team Rosberg”
on this site, and will be a showcase for
dependable, powerful electric supply
was founded in 1994 by the erstwhile
the company’s visitors from Austria
during vehicle diagnosis. Its American
Formula-1 World Champion Keke
and all over the world. The Thalheim
subsidiary Autologic is also convinced of
Rosberg. Its racing stable is reckoned
site, grouping the R&D functions, is
the merits of Active Inverter Technology.
to be the talent seedbed for the German
also undergoing change: one of the
Two sizeable orders have already been
DTM touring car racing series. For
biggest research & development centers
taken from the USA. Autologic has a
Formula-1 drivers like Christian Klien and
in Upper Austria is being built here. A
nationwide distribution network in the
Nico Rosberg, who raced for the team in
great place for “technical creatives”, as
United States, with more than 20 dealers.
FORMULA BMW and FORMULA 3, this
its proximity to technical colleges and
was the springboard that launched their
universities has proven invaluable on
entire careers. Fronius Deutschland and
many development projects.
“Team Rosberg” are looking forward to a
winning collaborative relationship. After
all, in their different ways they both stand
www
www.fronius.com/future
12
Brief and to the point
for outstanding achievement in quality
and engineering.
HyLOG: Zero-emission
logistics train with fuel-cell
drive
The “Fronius-Kinderland”
kindergarten starts work
37 new apprentices
at Fronius in 2007
Fronius is banking on a forward-looking
In collaboration with a local organization
Apprenticeship training has been
energy supply system at its Sattledt
called OÖ Hilfswerk, Fronius has been
part-and-parcel of life at Fronius for
facility. With its HyLOG (“Hydrogen-
running an in-house kindergarten
generations. In fact, it has been training
powered LOGistic”) project, it has
since September 2007. The “Fronius-
apprentices ever since 1949. Many
set itself the goal of implementing
KinderLand” in Sattledt is the fi rst year-
of our present-day technicians and
an industrial-scale, yet totally zero-
round childcare facility of this type at
managers started their careers here
emission, in-company transport logistics
Fronius. With this long-term commitment
with an apprenticeship. Last year, 37
system. The logistics vehicles are fitted
to childcare provision, Fronius has
new apprentices were hand-picked
with a Fronius Energy Cell to convert
created an attractive new field of work.
from around 300 applicants. This takes
them from battery to fuel-cell drive, and
The aim is to make life easier for working
the total number of apprentices being
are then always refuelled with clean
parents of pre-school children. The
trained at Fronius up to 90 – more than
hydrogen. This is produced in-situ,
childcare team works in accordance
ever before! The team headed by Rudolf
with zero emissions, by solar-powered
with the latest pedagogical guidelines,
Eitelsebner and Cornelia Hörmanseder
electrolysis.
also offering language-development
constantly endeavors to optimize and
Fronius has been awarded several
and swimming courses. “Every month
broaden the quality of training offered.
prizes at national level for this innovative
new children are being signed up who
Among other offerings, the apprentices
project, including the National Energy
can then benefi t from our long opening
can take language courses and courses
Globe Award. This means that HyLOG
times from 5.45 a.m. until 6 p.m.”, says
preparing them for their final vocational-
has been nominated for the International
head teacher Cornelia Pöttinger. By
education examinations. Investing in
April, the kindergarten will be running at
apprenticeship training is an investment
full capacity. From then on, the Fronius-
in the future. For satisfied apprentices
Energy Globe in Brussels.
Fronius 2008
KinderLand will be looking after 26
turn into satisfied skilled staff eager to
children aged between 2 and 6 every day.
face the challenges of the coming years.
Brief and to the point
13
Robacta gas-cooled
THE COMPLETE WORLD OF
MIG/MAG ROBOTIC WELDING
Robacta Drive ensures precision wirefeed in small
hosepacks and with soft wires.
Robacta MTG 2500
Alongside its water-cooled
MIG/MAG robot welding
torches, Fronius now also
offers a complete line-up of
Robacta gas-cooled torches.
The range includes solutions
with either an external
hosepack or one integrated
in the robot arm, as well as
the Robacta Drive with an
extra wirefeeder on the third
robot axis.
14
Totally R&D
Robacta MTG 3200
The gas-cooled robot welding torches
Robacta MTG 4000
the push/pull operation is an equally
of the Robacta series meet all the
effective guarantee of precision wirefeed
requirements needed for a perfect
in either case.
welding process. Take Robacta Drive,
for instance: Here there is a highly
For the welding-robot generation that
dynamic DC servo motor on the 6th
comes with integral media guidance,
robot axis. As well as providing perfect
Fronius offers the ideal system solution:
ignition properties (SFI), this master
The hosepack runs directly inside the
drive also stabilizes the entire welding
process arm of the robot. Here, it is kept
process. No matter whether you are
safe and protected, also providing better
using small hosepack radii or soft wires
accessibility in all welding positions.
such as aluminum or copper-silicon,
The quick and easy way to
change wearing parts
Alongside the superlative welding
properties, another convincing advantage
– particularly in automated applications – is
the speed with which the wearing parts can
be changed. “Quick Snap” is the fuss-free
way to change the gas nozzle. It’s much
faster than screwing it on and off, and fixes
it on just as reliably.
When the time comes to change the
torch body, this also needs to be done
very quickly. For this reason, the torch
body is clip-fitted, and is easy to lock.
Press, twist, change. With QuickSnap, changing the gas nozzle is so easy, it’s “a snap”.
It is manufactured with such precision
that after it has been changed, the TCP
remains unchanged, to within a range of
+/- 0.2 mm (0.0079").
New C-pincer gun
for greater versatility
RESISTANCE SPOT-WELDING WITH DELTASPOT
By developing several different pincer
super-high-strength steel bimetal joins
guns, Fronius has made possible a much
(e.g. FeMn). On the new C-pincer gun,
wider variety of utilizations. As well as the
with its throat depth of 300 mm (11.8"),
X-pincer gun with several welding-throat
the advantages of the spooling process
depths and special arm geometries, the
tape can be exploited to the full: 100 %
range of offerings now also includes the
reproducible weld-spots, spatter-free
C-pincer gun. Among the merits of the
spot-welding even on super-high-strength
C-pincer gun are its high contact
steels, and the great flexibility given by the
pressure and the good accessibility it
process tape. What is more, the vertical
allows for special component geometry.
electrode manipulation performed by the
It welds challenging 3-sheet joints with
C-pincer gun is ideal for visually exposed
complete process-reliability, and the high
spot-welds using the Expo electrode. Use
electrode force of 8 kN ensures good
of the Q-Master quality assurance system
spot-welded joins even in the case of
is also possible, of course.
Fronius 2008
The combination of a high electrode force of
8 kN and a welding-throat depth of 300 mm
(11.8") is unmatched in the industry.
Totally R&D
15
TimeTwin Digital as
a productivity driver
MIG/MAG HIGH-PERFORMANCE WELDING
FOR BUILDING CONTAINER SHIPS
Deadline-keeping, quality and flexibility,
together with excellent customer service,
is the recipe for success followed by
the Peene-Werft yard in Wolgast in
eastern Germany. The main artery in
the production of container ships is the
“panel line”. “Panels” is the name given
to the plane members which are mainly
intended for fabricating box-shaped
sections. They comprise varying grades
of steel, mostly S 355, and are e.g.
12 x 12 m (39'4" x 39'4") in size, with a
thickness of between 5 and 20 mm
(0.2" and 0.8"). They owe their high strength
to the T-beams that are welded onto them.
For this to be done, they pass through the
welding gantry, which is fitted with a highperformance welding installation consisting
of four welding systems. The welding
The Peene-Werft shipyard on Germany’s Baltic coast
builds special ships and container ships. To eliminate the
productivity bottleneck that was occurring in the welding
gantry in the panel line, the yard’s specialists are now using
the TimeTwin Digital high-performance MIG/MAG welding
process. And with measurable results: twice the welding
speed, and a quarter more throughput.
gantry welds long, straight fillet seams of
up to 12 m (39'4") in length.
Capacity bottleneck in the
“main artery”
“Until not so long ago, this was
a productivity bottleneck for us”,
reports welding engineer Klaus-Peter
Frank. Before their order books were
permanently swollen by the huge
demand for container ships, their old
16
Case study
copright dh
Peene-Werft GmbH
With TimeTwin Digital, the shipbuilders are achieving welding speeds of 2 m/min
(79 ipm) with an “a”-dimension of 3 mm (0.12") – and see potential to increase speeds
still further.
single-wire welding installation with a
commissioning of the TransPuls Synergic
maximum welding speed 1 m/min (39 ipm)
5000 digital welding power sources on
used to be sufficient, said Frank. “After
the gantry, and the excellent after-sales
this, we had to push the installation to
service, together confirmed Klaus-Peter
the very limit, with all available reserves,
Frank in his decision: “We have obtained
working three shifts a day and weekend
the results we were aiming at, both in
shifts as well. This is why we then went
terms of quality and of the performance
looking for a more productive solution.”
parameters – and we even see potential
Frank was in no doubt about what they
fillet welds have an “a”-dimension of
were aiming at: “We wanted twice the
3.5 to 4 mm (0.14" to 0.16"). With
speed that we were getting before,
TimeTwin Digital, the shipbuilders are
meaning we wanted to get up to two
now getting welding speeds of 1.6 to
meters (79") a minute! Fronius promised
1.7 m/min (63 to 67 ipm). This is almost
Peene-Werft GmbH in Wolgast,
Germany, focuses on building special
ships for coastguards, spill response,
navies and oceanographical research.
Production of container ships is a
further area of business. Most of the
850 employees’ output is exported.
One of Europe’s most advanced
compact yards, the Peene-Werft
processes approx. 40,000 t of steel a
year, posting annual revenues of around
EUR 250 m on average output of 7
container vessels.
to do better still”. The majority of the
us we could have this high speed at the
twice as fast as in their previous solution
same time as a high deposition rate.”
– and with consistently better quality
The other selection criteria included joint
than before.
quality, seam appearance, and minimal
distortion.
The Engineering Manager of the
Peene-Werft yard, Torsten Moschell,
The advisers from Fronius’ Berlin Branch
is very pleased indeed about this extra
suggested a solution using double-wire:
measurable boost to productivity:
TimeTwin Digital. The result convinced
“Changing over to TimeTwin Digital has
this expert, with his 26 years of
given us a 25 % rise in the throughput of
shipbuilding experience, right away.
our ‘main artery’, the panel line.” Instead
Twice the welding speed and
25 % more throughput
The good working relationship, from the
planning stage all the way through to the
Fronius 2008
of the 4 panels they were welding before,
the shipbuilders now manage 5 to 6
panels a day.
www
www.peene-werft.de
TimeTwin Digital
The TimeTwin Digital high-performance
MIG/MAG welding process comprises
two TransPuls Synergic 4000 or 5000
machines connected by a digital data
interface. The digitally controlled
power sources function – with two wire
electrodes each insulated from the
other – in one single gas nozzle and in
a shared weld-pool. The result is high
deposition rates and welding speeds
(which in turn result in lower thermal
input), as well as stable arcs and excellent
droplet detachment.
Case study
17
Quality and time advantages
in dismantling-operations
PLASMA CUTTING IN THE RAILED-VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION FIELD USING TRANSCUT 300
Crash-damaged rolling stock – like this Dresden tram-train – is repaired by the technicians of the Refurbishment Department at Bombardier
Transportation’s Hennigsdorf facility near Berlin.
Modernizing, repairing
and modifying rail vehicles
and rolling stock is the
core competence of the
refurbishment experts at
Bombardier in Henningsdorf,
Germany. For dismantlingwork, they use the new
TransCut 300 plasma cutting
device. This gives the users
greater mobility and means
that they have less follow-up
work to do and can work in a
healthier environment.
18
Case study
Repairs to crash-damaged railcars are
Peter Hempel, Deputy Manager of the
one of the core areas of expertise of
Refurbishment Department.
the Bombardier rail-vehicle engineers
in Hennigsdorf. As long as it’s “only” a
matter of cutting back to the bare metal,
Thermal cutting is
more efficient
they mainly use circular saws and anglegrinders. Once they get down to the
Thermal cutting is cleaner and more
bare steel and aluminum sheets of the
accurate than a cutting disk, and leaves
coach body, however, the dismantling
behind no sharp-edged burr that would be
specialists have to make exact cuts so
labor-intensive to remove. In conventional
as to remove damaged parts. Materials-
plasma cutting, however, users’ freedom
joining experts later close these gaps
of movement is greatly restricted by these
with exactly fitting replacements. “The
systems’ dependency on compressed air
faster and more precisely the damaged
and gas supplies. Also, a conventional
parts are cut out, the more efficiently the
plasma jet emits substantial quantities of
welders can then weld the dimensionally
exhaust and metallic dust, necessitating
accurate replacement part back in”, says
the use of extractor equipment.
TransCut 300
Defective sheet-metal parts being cut out of the floor of the coach body using the innovative
TransCut plasma cutting system, before being replaced with an exactly fitting new part.
In the TransCut 300 plasma cutting
device, the dismantling experts have
Fewer emissions means
better workplace ergonomics
found a solution that lets them have the
advantages of plasma cutting without any
A pleasant side-effect of TransCut is
of its drawbacks.
that it cuts pollutant emissions by as
Better accessibility
and mobility
much as 90 %. This delivers significant
improvements in terms of health and
plasma gas – this is the winning concept
behind TransCut technology. It does away
apparatus in normal operation
Swarf-free cutting
with the need for stationary or portable
compressed-air installations or heavy, bulky
Base metals:
Structural steels, Cr/Ni steels, aluminum
Mains voltage
230 V
Mains fuse protection (slow)
16 A
Cutting-current range
16 – 30 A
Quality cuts
up to 6 mm (0.24")
Severance cuts
up to 10 mm (0.39")
Dimensions 460x180x275 mm (18"x 7"x11")
Weight
14.6 kg (32 lb)
environmental protection, requiring
neither extractor equipment nor breathing
Using fluid instead of compressed air or
In the TransCut plasma cutting device,
space-saving fl uid serves as the medium
for the high-energy plasma jet. This makes
plasma cutting very light and portable.
What is more, emissions of harmful
pollutants are reduced by up to 90 %!
TransCut makes for cost-effective cutting
gas cylinders. Instead, TransCut makes do
of “patterns” of any shape, necessitating
with an integral 1.5 l (0.4 gal) fluid reservoir
much less reworking of the cut surfaces.
and compact refill cartridges. The result
The working environment is not soiled by
is a handy, lightweight and flexible plasma
metal swarf. Peter Hempel sums it up like
cutting system that places no restrictions
this: “The bottom line is that with TransCut
on users’ mobility. Effortless top-quality
300 we’re getting better results than we
cutting on up to 6 mm (0.24") thick steel,
did before with the cutting disk – and
aluminum or high-alloy (stainless) steel
we’re getting them faster and a lot more
sheets is possible. Severance cuts can be
cleanly.” Looking back, the engineering
accomplished up to a sheet thickness of
manager is surer than ever about his
10 mm (0.39"). All that the lightweight,
decision: “If a fellow industry professional
14.6 kg (32 lb) plasma cutting device needs
asks me for my opinion, I tell him that if
for this is a 230 V mains supply; it is also
his application is suitable, he can just
generator-compatible.
go ahead and buy the TransCut without
Bombardier
Transportation
Locomotives have been built in Hennigsdorf,
near Berlin, ever since 1913. In May 2001,
Bombardier Transportation took over the
plant and its workforce of 1800. The plant’s
Refurbishment Department renovates,
adapts and restores rail vehicles and rolling
stock. From 1913 to the present day, some
21,700 locomotives and railcars have
been built in Hennigsdorf and supplied to
operators all around the world.
bothering to look any further.”
www
www.transport.bombardier.com
Fronius 2008
Case study
19
Not (just) all about Sales
KLAUS FRONIUS ON THE NETWORK BEHIND THE FIGURES
85 % export ratio, 11 sales
companies worldwide, more
than 130 representatives, over
400 international patents.
82 tradeshow presentations
around the globe every year.
Marketing and technical
literature in 10 languages.
International qualification
and partner programs. 30 %
revenue growth. A third of the
products sold are less than
three years old. We plough
back 10 % of revenues into
research and development.
250 scientists, engineers
and technicians work for us.
These are the key figures of
our internationality in 2007.
And they’re just the tip of the
iceberg.
20
The company
Most of our success is to be found
spectrum to the technical and legal
tapping new markets and developing the
beneath this visible exterior. At Fronius,
parameters. Also, sector- or client-
company’s culture.
internationality is lived out in all areas
specific product modifications may be
Innovative company culture
spurs internationality
of the company. 365 days a year.
appropriate. The Corporate Service
Open round the clock. The topic is:
Team prepares statistical evaluations
internationality. This is not something
for the sales subsidiaries, as well as
that just boils down to Sales, to sales
providing them with all data link-ups
We at Fronius take internationality to
subsidiaries or to established vendor
and international-standard hardware
mean a stable company culture that
qualification measures. It goes far
and software. Materials Management
goes a long way without changing in the
beyond this. Having a shared frame of
and Logistics schedule the orders and
face of our international development.
reference for a company, based on such
shipments to all destinations. Marketing
things as corporate vision and values,
prepares selected materials and
Starting with the things that are most
may provide some worthwhile path
technical documentation. The Human
visible on the outside, there will be
markers for internationality – but cannot
Resources Team looks for expatriates
the friendly reception given to visitors,
be the determining factor.
to anchor the Fronius Vision and the
for example, then architecturally
company’s culture in new country HQs.
striking and stylish buildings with
The very specific path that we are
integrated environmental technologies,
taking to expand our markets is the
Here we can only give examples of the
a recognizably consistent language of
path of liaising thoroughly with all
many activities in the company that
images and colors in our communication
those involved. Which begs the crucial
interact in terms of internationalization.
media, and so on.
question: Just who is involved in
Every employee and every area of the
internationality at Fronius? The answer
company is affected by this endeavor
But what if you ask one of our people
is: everyone. And every area of the
to penetrate international sales markets
what the Fronius company culture is
company. Consciously or unconsciously,
and capture new ones.
every single one of us is affected by our
international outlook.
Many questions –
we give the answers
Growing for innovativeness
based on? The answer you’ll get is that
it is much more than outsiders can
perceive: A shared self-image as the
industry leader. A feeling of stability
When we inaugurated the Pettenbach
and continual change at one and the
319 plant in 2001, there were 1000 of
same time. This has to do with the
us in the workforce. By the time the
easy-going courtesy that characterizes
What do we require from our country
Sattledt facility was opened last year,
all our communications activities. The
HQs, in Mexico and Canada for
we already numbered more than 2000.
same courtesy in our dealings with
instance? There’s a clear answer to
And we’re still growing – even faster.
one another is part-and-parcel of this.
that question: market penetration
390 new colleagues got on board our
Fronius keeps agreements, and expects
and customer support. Divisional
Fronius Bus during 2007. With one aim
its own partners to do likewise. At the
Management defines the strategy
in mind: to optimize Fronius and seize
same time, we assist our partners by
and helps with its implementation.
market opportunities. This momentum is
sharing our know-how. The same goes
Production scales the capacity to match
continuing unbroken.
for the in-service training that we give to
the order flows. The agreed quality has
Optimizing means continually adapting
our employees.
to be available at the specified time, both
to new situations and looking for
nationally and internationally. Finance
innovative solutions in all areas of the
I see myself as sharing responsibility for
and Controlling optimize our invoicing in
company. “Innovativeness” is the catch-
ensuring that these fundamental values
line with the taxation parameters in the
phrase here: It means the enduring
are upheld at Fronius.
countries concerned. The researchers
ability to bring forth innovations in terms
and developers adapt the product
of products, processes and structures,
Fronius 2008
The company
21
Zaragoza:
Still waters run deep
Zaragoza
Madrid
EXPO 2008 THRUSTS THE CITY
ON THE EBRO INTO THE LIMELIGHT
Despite taking its name from none other than an illustrious Roman emperor,
Zaragoza has long been overshadowed by brasher, more conspicuous
Spanish cities such as Barcelona, Valencia or Madrid. At the latest by the
time of this year’s World Expo, this city on the River Ebro should finally
be asserting itself as a center of culture and tourism in its own right. Join
weld+vision on a foray through the capital of Aragon, where throughout
2008 everything will be revolving around the theme of water.
Left: The Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar
has a picturesque location beside the Ebro.
Right: The arcades in the Aljafería Palace
captivate the eye with their filigree details.
Nestled between the Pyrenees to the
city: Iberians, Romans, Muslims, Jews
north and the mountain ranges of the
and Christians all left their mark on
Sistema Ibérico to the south is the
Zaragoza, particularly in their buildings,
broad, fertile basin of the Ebro, the main
many of which can be seen to this day.
river of Northern Spain. As early as 24
22
Travel tip
B.C., the Romans founded the city of
Among the city’s “must-sees” is the
“Caesaraugusta” here – the only city
imposing 11th century Moorish Aljafería
to bear the full title of the legendary
Palace, today the seat of the Aragonese
Roman statesman in its name. Across
regional parliament. The real landmark
the vicissitudes of the centuries, many
of Zaragoza, though, is the Basílica de
different cultures placed their imprint
Nuestra Señora del Pilar – the largest
upon what today is Spain’s fifth-largest
baroque church in Spain and the first
Management Team, from l. to r.:
unrolling against a thematic backdrop
zest for life. After all, nocturnal revelry is
built around this pillar, in many different
of water and sustainable development.
contagious, and it’s been in Zaragozans’
styles – in its present-day baroque form the
“Water, an element linking peoples” is the
blood since time immemorial.
building is 130 m (427 ft) long and almost
motto of the exhibition, and an expected
70 m (230 ft) wide, and has 11 cupolas.
A few words on our cover story:
This world of ours is becoming more and more
of a village. High-speed transport links, globespanning information networks and today’s
ever-wider sales markets are combining to make
people members of an international workforce.
The result, not surprisingly, is a need for everhigher professional skill levels, together with
some many-facetted cultural challenges. Join us
on the following pages for an excursion through
the complex topic of internationality!
Picture credits:
Cartographical material from: National Geographic
Atlas of the World.
By kind permission of National Geographic.
Publisher’s imprint:
“weld+vision” is the customer magazine of Fronius
International GmbH, Welding Technology Division
Design: reklamebüro GmbH
Responsible for contents: Fronius International GmbH,
Buxbaumstrasse 2, A 4600 Wels, Austria,
weld.vision@fronius.com, www.fronius.com
3-6
How people conquer new markets
7-11
12-13
14-15
16-19
20-21
Editorial
Fiesta del Pilar – celebrating
the “pillar” of Zaragoza culture
The company
Fronius know-how
close at hand
June and September. The exposition site
is right beside the Ebro and will boast
Zaragoza is not only this year’s
a number of emblematic architectural
metropolis of water but also the home
TechSupport National
Zaragoza’s principal festival is also
highlights – a 73 m (240 ft) tall building
of Fronius’ Spanish representatives
Otto Schuster on the Fronius certifications
dedicated to the “Blessed Virgin of
evoking a droplet of water, or a pavilion
Gala Electronic and of their very own
The latest from the Fronius cosmos
the Pillar”, who is also the patron saint
taking the form of a two-story “glass
TechSupport unit. This gives Gala
Brief and to the point
of Spain. At the “Fiesta del Pilar” in
bridge” designed by world-renowned
Electronic what it takes to provide first-
News from Fronius
October, the city revels for a whole
architect Zaha Hadid to “flow” across the
class customer care. You’ll find more
Totally R & D
week, with thousands of people dressed
Ebro. Incidentally, the steel construction
information on this on p. 9 of this issue.
What’s new in the world of torches
in regional costumes joining pilgrims
of this bridge was welded using Fronius
DeltaSpot even more versatile, thanks to C-pincer gun
from all round the world to transform the
technology.
Case studies
square in front of the basilica into a sea
Bombardier does repair work using the TransCut 300 plasma-cutting device
of carnations and gladioli.
TimeTwin Digital eliminates bottleneck on Peene-Werft shipyard’s panel line
The company
New dawn with Expo 2008
In readiness for the World Expo,
www
www.expozaragoza2008.es
Zaragoza’s old quarter – hitherto
somewhat neglected – has been
given a thorough facelift. Especially at
Figures that speak for themselves as a token of internationality
22-23
2
Cover story
7.5 million visitors will be experiencing
water, in all its varied meanings, between
Travel tip
Modern-day Zaragoza, now with
weekends, young and old alike throng
New from old: Zaragoza to host world expo
a population of nearly 670,000,
the district’s hundreds of jam-packed
is undergoing something of a re-
bars and restaurants, turning it into one
Fronius 2008
Travel tip
23
e-mail
went on, various places of worship were
Country
of a late-night plunge into the Spanish
Postcode & locality
and architecturally. Expo 2008 will be
Street address
will also not want to miss the chance
the “Pilar” in the Spanish name). As time
A 4600 Wels
21st century, both culturally, technically
Buxbaumstrasse 2
that many of the visitors to the Expo
the Virgin Mary standing on a pillar (hence
Department
big party location. It is fair to expect
Marketing & Communications
awakening: this year’s World Expo is set
to catapult the city well and truly into the
Fronius International GmbH
Marian temple in Christendom. According
to legend, the Apostle James appeared to
Forename
And no wonder, what with
the countless varieties of tapas
that are on offer.
Company
robot torches, which play an important
role on the international marketplace.
This issue’s “Travel tip” takes us to the
Spanish city of Zaragoza, which will
be hosting Expo 2008 on the theme of
“Water and Sustainable Development”.
So dive right in to the big, wide world
– and have an enjoyable read!
My opinion on weld+vision
(or e-mail to weld.vision@fronius.com)
cover story looks at the concept from
several different angles. For Fronius,
internationality also means having a
consistently high standard of products
and customer care throughout the
world. In this connection, you will be
finding out more about the TechSupport
concept. And of course you will also
find case-studies and news on the
latest developments – like gas-cooled
We’ll be pleased to carry on sending
you every edition of weld+vision as
soon as it comes out.
If you know anybody else who might
be interested, please just pass this
reply card on to them directly.
Or simply copy it and fax it to us on:
+43 7242 241-2670.
Of the many topics impacting upon
the world of business, few can be as
significant as that of “internationality”.
We all know what it means. Or do
we? For on closer examination it soon
becomes apparent that internationality
means different things to different
people. In this issue, Klaus Fronius
outlines the company’s own special
“take” on internationality, while the
weld+vision n° 20, April 2008
Dear Readers;
Please affix
postage stamp if
available, or fax to
+43 7242 241-2670
The jumble of alleyways that
is the “Tubo” – Zaragoza‘s
old quarter – is a magnet for
nocturnal revelers.
Surname
Herbert Mühlböck
Volker Lenzeder
Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauss
Klaus Fronius
Brigitte Strauss
Heinz Hackl
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N° 20 - APRIL 2008
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Stepping out boldly into the big wide world
www.fronius.com
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EXPO 2008: The World Fair in Zaragoza