Cleco an ATG Power and Hand Tools brand is cost-effective and flexible

The showroom of the Apex Tool Group, formerly known as Cooper Power Tools in Westhausen has an impressive range of different assembly tools from the Cleco brand, which is one of the six global ATG Power and Hand Tools brands.

The showroom of the Apex Tool Group, formerly known as Cooper Power Tools, in Westhausen boasts an impressive range of different assembly tools from the Cleco brand. These include pneumatic and electric screwdrivers, either corded or with rechargeable batteries, in a straight, angled and pistol design. In addition, there are also complete assembly stations with an integrated control system that displays screwing assembly instructions on a screen providing the necessary parameters for screwing, and the monitoring and documentation of them. Moreover, APEX tool group, GMBH (ATG), in Westhausen and the S31 cylindrical grinding machine from Studer are proving to be truly universal.

The screwdrivers are used, for example, in the assembly of combustion and electric engines, car bodies, transmissions and hydraulic units in vehicles manufacturing and in aviation’s, as well as for the automated mounting of wheels on vehicles. In order to meet current requirements for high process reliability and documented processes, the manufacturers equip the assembly tools with sensors for torques measurement as well as digital data transmission via cable or wireless(WLAN).

Niko Schindelarz, Supervisor Machining, says, many manufacturers in the global industry consider Cleco assembly tools to be very high quality, robust, durable and reliable. A major contribution to this is certainly the extensive vertical integrations at Apex. The company produces almost all the essential screwdriver components in-house in Westhausen. This applies in particular to motor and gear shafts, levers, valves, cams and housings.

Flexible for variants and individual features

Johannes Maule, Production Engineer in Westhausen explains, “Due to the large number of variants and the increasing demand for individual features we need to produce components in small series and even as individual pieces at very short notice. As he goes on to say, this applies to all production steps and processes, from turning, drilling and milling through to grinding. Niko adds, “We need to grind our motor and gear shafts in particular to an accuracy. This is essential to ensure the extremely quiet running and long service life of our screwdriver.”

But this was still very complex until just a few months ago. Only one proven grinding machine, purchased back in the early 1980s, was available for cylindrical grinding. In order to grind the large number of 30 to 650 mm(1.18” to 25.6”) long shafts with diameters between 3 and 65 mm (0.118” and 2.56”), it was necessary to laboriously reset the machine manually, over and over again. This was contrary to a need-based and flexible production process. “Most of all, it was increasingly uneconomical. Set-up times generally took twice or three times as long as the machining times”, explains Johannes Maule.