INOCON is one of the leading providers of assembly components such as tube clamps and linear units.
New production methods, maximum quality, customer-specific special solutions, short delivery times and solid technical advice make INOCON a reliable and competent partner. The company’s is the first choice for anything having to do with positioning systems, multi-axis systems or mechanisms in plant construction.
Interview with Sven Heck, Purchasing Manager at INOCON.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Sven Heck: The selection is continually expanding according to the special needs of customers in a wide range of industries, from labelling technology and food production to research and development systems.
After all, the individually developed solutions often find their way into the standard portfolio, especially if they would benefit all customers.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
S.H: Precision double tube linear units PD series
The new version has completely closed and machined guide and end elements for distortion-free assembly.
This is made possible by a special internal spreading technique.
Like the previous series with clamping slots, the PD series also comes with one guide element, with two opposing guide elements or with two independent guide elements, each version offered with single or double guide element.
The selection options extend over the entire diameter program: Ø18, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mm and three precision levels can also be selected
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
S.H: Universal standard elements such as tube clamps and linear units, in other words elements that have always been indispensable in plant construction. INOCON develops its own products with the goal of offering better solutions than typical providers on the market.
Customized products are very much part of Inocon’s core competence. In spite of the enormous range of different assembly components, there’ll always be highly specific requirements in terms of dimensions, materials or functions. Working closely with the customer, Inocon goes to work to develop individual solutions – even at small quantities
Depending on requirements, customized parts and components are made by cost-effectively adapting an existing Inocon standard part – or by going all the way back to the drawing board.
A unique wealth of different production methods and a flexible, customer-driven organisation allow assembly components to be customized.
Inocon develops the best possible technical and economical solutions for individual needs and requirements.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
S.H: Profile Linear Units
Linear units have been a fixed part of the product selection for many years. A diverse range of designs plus various drive and kinematics options support countless different applications.
To cover an even wider range of scenarios, the selection has now been expanded with profile linear units. This new category is particularly suited for the automation of packaging systems. They also offer features that are extremely advantageous in many industrial applications.
The new profile linear units are based on precise and especially stable aluminum profiles that can be individually machined. For profile diameter 50, three different guide element drive concepts are available: spindle, synchronous belt or rack-and-pinion. Profile diameter 30 is available with a spindle drive.
Depending on the chosen drive concept, additional guide element options are available with respect to the length, clamping capability and the quantity per linear unit.
In addition, the guide element’s direction of movement can also be defined. For example, this allows two guide elements to move in the same direction, in opposite directions or independently of each other.
In the future, the majority of options listed will be available as standard for ordering via catalog data sheet or online configurator. Many applications can only be optimally implemented with a smart combination of two or more linear units. In such cases, complete solutions for complex movement tasks are available on request.
The information provided below represents an example selection:
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2023?
S.H: Regarding the general restraint in German mechanical engineering industry, we estimate that the rest of 2023 will be challenging.