STÖGER AUTOMATION is a specialist for screwdriving, setting and joining technologies with automatic feeding systems. The family-owned company was founded in 1987, is already in its second generation and occupies today a leading position in the assembly automation technology segment.
The company is headquartered in Königsdorf, Upper Bavaria and has 120 employees developing and manufacturing high-precision screwdriving and setting units with automatic feeding of the fasteners. The research and development department of STÖGER AUTOMATION holds over 30 patents.
Interview with Alessandro Eggert, Head of Global Sales & Projects at STÖGER AUTOMATION GmbH.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Alessandro Eggert: More than 12,000 systems are in use in all branches of industry – exactly where precision, speed and consistent quality in screw fastening are required. During the last years we realized more and more individual solutions for our customers – based on extensive experience and distinctive know-how, we are able to catch exactly the needs of our customers.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
A.E: We built a total package for the lightweight industry. Consisting of several products, we offer a solution around this topic – Flow Drilling, Blind Rivet, Wire Thread Inserts together with a monitoring system for optimal process reliability. We rely on our own patents, which eliminate common problems in the field of manufacturing. For example, our STÖGER Flow Drill System (FSF) offers Angle Offset Compensation (AOC), which guarantees tight and straight screwing. Our STÖGER Blind Rivet Nut Setting System (BMS), has the intelligence to set each fastener correctly, with cycle times from 5 seconds per setting operation. Or the STÖGER wire thread screwing system (DGS) offers 100% correct feeding thanks to STÖGER technology.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
A.E: We provide automatic screwdrivers, nutrunners & setting systems and complete [AE1] system solutions, which are mostly used in combination with robots. Additionally, we provide Hand-held screwdrivers and nutrunners as well as all kind of feeding systems fasteners and machine elements. If screws, blind rivet nuts, plugs or anything else similar – STÖGER offers or develops the right solution and further can consult you in the right approach.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
A.E: The market is changing particularly rapidly at the moment. The reasons for this are the technological change in mobility, interrupted or disrupted supply chains, and the chronic shortage of skilled workers. These lead to a high demand for automation, which we can offer. It does not matter to us whether the customer is taking the first steps towards automation or is already a professional in automation. With STÖGER AUTOMATION, the customer has the right partner in screwdriving automation for every purpose and at every location.
In particular, all around the Electric Vehicle industry is important and many companies invest in this area, whereas we already have with the lightweight systems range of products the right solutions for production increase and to reduce complexity on customer side.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
A.E: For the moment all markets get into a big change process. Requirements about new technologies, new materials, finding solutions in supply chains bring quick changes. For the market it´s necessary to have the right partner, which are able to be flexible and reduce complexity until new ways are established.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
A.E: As a Company with passion for special solutions for our customers developing and consulting new ways are a daily task for us. We reach back to our modular principle and design the individual solution based on the needs of our customers. For the moment the Requirements of all branches get more complex and solutions have to be flexible in their System layout. With the STÖGER Spatz we serve many needs of that. The system is based on flexible pick and place layout – so it´s possible to combine different requirements in one system.
The STÖGER Spatz is a modular screwdriving automat that comes with an automatic mechanical tool change mechanism. This makes operations on a lightweight robot possible. The Spatz be fully integrated into the robot controller. On request, we offer innovative control solutions for integrated automation applications. These are by far not all possibilities of our Spatz. In addition to screwdriving, other tasks such as placing workpieces, setting boards, pins, balls, gripping components etc. are also possible. Space saving, efficient and innovative.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2022?
A.E: For the remainder of the year, we continue to anticipate increasing demand for automated screwdriving processes. The shortage of skilled workers and increasing inflation mean that assembly processes will have to be rethought. Our products provide the right support for the human workforce. Consulting and development of solutions for the markets around electromobility will continue to be a main component of year-end business.