Germany Flex Plant Tour Pictures

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Germany Flex Plant Tour Pictures


First thing in the morning we had a introduction to the Flex Power Tools including the history of the company to the present day and the long term outlook for the future moving forward in the Flex Training Facilities.

The training room is spacious and we were spoiled with an excellent selection of beverages and

These are a traditional pretzel, sliced open with butter spread inside, they were soft and delicious. The pastries to the right are actually filled with different types of meat and were super delicious!

This is Siegfried Suby, who is the Sales Manager for Export, everyone calls him Suby and he led the introduction for the power point in the morning. Suby is a most gracious host and between him and Bob Eichelberg, took care of everyone with VIP treatment then entire week and weekend.

After the introduction to the company, we broke up into 3 teams to take a tour of the manufacturing plant. Here they are building the coils for the electric motors...

Every inch of the manufacturing plant is filed with all types of machinery humming and buzzing along...

The copper wire that is used for the windings is powder coated, which keeps the wires clean and provides long term protection from corrosion and deterioration, this is a unique feature to all Flex electric motors that you don't find on similar tools in the industry. It adds extra time, labor and cost to the part but the end-result is a component that will outlast the competition.

Here the copper windings are being powder coated...

These are the armatures moving through the assembly line with multiple different processes being performed to them before they are assembled into the coils.

This is Frank, one of the Engineers inspecting the finish quality of the armatures as they progress through the assembly line.

The coper wires on the armature get a special plastic coating to protect and insulate them...

Inside this one station the robot performs 3 different high speed operations removing, moving and re-inserting components incredibly fast!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...

All the way through every process, all components are continually assembled into more complete and complex components and after each assembly step the individual component then goes through further refining step to perfect them and then they are measured and tested for precision and performance.

Here you can see the armature before and after it has been turned and trued-up to even tighter specifications...

This looked like an old oil can that's been used for decades so I snapped a picture of it as we walked by...

Every process for every component all the way through the manufacturing process has it's own station and each station has any and all maintenance tools plus check lists and documentation specifications where they are accessible to both the employees, Plant Managers, Quality Control and Engineers.

Here's a finished Armature that has been balanced and give an individual part number for future quality control identification.

Every process station had pictures documenting the finished components.

Each step of the way, each process is monitored and logged for quality control.

These are drums of different types and outside diameters of wire used to build electric motor components.

These are some of the different shafts that are all turned individually at the Flex Manufacture Plant. Each of these is a perfect part that can be used for test and measurement at each station where they are built or later modified.

Finished parts inventory...

At each station we were able to hold, inspect and photograph any of the individual components, the quality was impeccable...

Another thing both Nick an I noticed was a happy workforce, everyone was enthusiastic and to the best of their ability able to show us the processes they were in charge of and what they did to each component as it traveled through their area.

Here's one of the other teams working their way through the tour...

This is a CNC Mill that appeared to work at the speed of light after each new part was inserted for machine work.

Some parts were so perfectly machine they look more like art than a machine component...

Here you can see a lubrication spray being blasted at a component while it's being milled...

All the way through the assembly line you would find perfect parts awaiting their turn to be assembled to create a finished product. The different assembly lines for all the different tools Flex manufactures are incredibly organized, which speeds up the manufacturing processes and assembly times.

 

[bigbadbp7]

Wow that is awsome you got to see first hand how they are made. I noticed when I was in Europe and I walked through a machine shop there was always good moral.

 

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Continued...

Here we're entering into the work stations for the Flex PE14 Rotary Buffer

This is machined gear that will drive the shaft of the Flex PE14 Rotary buffer, after all machining work is completed the gear is heat treated for long life and quiet operation.

Flex uses rubber encased electrical cords for their tools for export, not cheapy vinyl cords which easily get kinked or retain a coiled shape if you wrap them around the body of the tool. If you own a Flex power tool, pay attention to how nice the cord is and compare it to just about any other cord on any other tool you own.

Here are some of the various components of the Flex PE14 ready to be assembled...

These are assembled gear heads ready to be assembled. The box looking contraption is for holding the body of the tool in a specific orientation to make assembly fast and easy.

You'll see these tool holding block throughout all the assembly lines...

Gear heads after quality control measurements and inspection ready for assembly...

This is the trigger switch and wiring assembly read to be installed into the body of the Flex PE14

This is Heinrich who is in charge of assembly the gear heads into the head casing...

This is where the machined, heat treaded drive gear will install into...

Before installing the gear Heinrich adds a lubricating grease which is prevented from leaking out by seals...

Time to install the machine screws to assemble the finished product...

After each Flex PE14 is assembled it is then ran on a testing machine for a specified amount of time where all the components and circuitry is measured and tested. I think Heinrich was amused by our interest in his work...

He warmed up to us thought as we continued to take pictures and hold and inspect the various components of the tool...

Here are Flex PE14 Rotary Buffers each being individually tested after assembly...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Wow that is awesome you got to see first hand how they are made. I noticed when I was in Europe and I walked through a machine shop there was always good moral.

I think if we would have stuck around any longer they would have started training us and then putting us to work!

 

[Karim Khan]

Very nice and informative Mike. it give me a greater appreciation for my Flex power tool. Now I am even more proud to be a Flex Power Tool owner!!!

 

[Billy B]

Wow. Amazingly clean assembly environment. Seeing how these machines are made and assembled gives me a whole new level of respect for the Flex brand. Truly a high quality tool.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...


Now we're into an area where the Drywall Sander is built. The Flex engineers will at times name some of their tools after an animal if the term fits the look or use of the tool, in this case this tool is known in the industry as the Giraffe.


The Giraffe has a long body or neck for reaching ceilings and the tops of walls.

Here the main body housing is ready for the internal components to be installed...

All the parts necessary for assembly are neatly organized and readily availalbe...

Giraffe body casings...

Nick listens as the assembly is explained...

In under 10 minutes we watched as a complete tool was assembled right before our eyes...

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

I think if we would have stuck around any longer they would have started training us and then putting us to work!

You will be assimilated.... Resistance is futile. :laughing:

 

[TheCow]

Thx for sharing

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...


After the Giraffe was assembled it moves on to the next stating where tubing attachments are installed for vacuum lines.

When completed it is inserted into it's own case with all the necessary related attachments and owner's manual.

The case in packaged into a shipping box....

Then moved into a banding machine where the box is baned together mechanically for shipping...

There's even Flex Drills handy for assembly work and drilling...

The pictures in this thread represent just a small portion of the Flex Manufacturing plant and just a couple of their popular tools being built from raw stock and then assembled to create a finished product ready for shipping.

The plant was clean and organized and very well laid-out for maximum efficiency. It was an impressive experience that instills confidence in the quality of German engineering and manufacturing.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...

As we walked around I snapped a couple of fun shots...


Hiding behind the monitor and one of the work stations were some pictures of traditional American style hot rods!

Some of the machinery dates back to the end of World War II and was impressive in and of itself...

The craftsmanship in the tooling alone was impressive...

 

[Driwash]

very cool picture of the manufacturing plant. German engineering is top notch.

The picture of the pretzels bring back many memories for me. I ate a lot of those as a young boy when we lived in Stuttgart.

Tom

 

[XLNTShine]

I have had the opportunity to see inside of the Bosch facilities there in Germany and they to are amazing. The German way of manufacturing is second to none. I remember that their warehouse is completely dark and no one enters the warehouse unless a picking machine goes down.
They have some crazy 99.998% order fill rate because no one is allowed to enter the room! Pretty sweet stuff.

As far a precision machines go, we got to see Bosch parts with tolerances so tight that the oils and moisture from human skin would ruin the part if we touched it with out gloves..

Looks like Flex has it together. I bought one of their pipe sanders last year at work and it is a beast. The only issue we have is that the sanding belts have been on backorder for 6 months so had to get someone to custom make them.

Hope you guys enjoyed your time!

 

[storm100]

Impressive! Thank you for sharing. I love my PE-14!

 

[CEE DOG]

Thanks so much for that Mike!! These photos and information reinforce what I knew about Flex tools the first time I inspected and used my 3401. High quality controlled machines with tight tolerances and built with pride.

I'm glad you had a great time :dblthumb2:

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Very cool!

Flex needs to re-design the 3401 to spin at a higher OPM. That would be awesome!

 

[sohail99]

WOW!! Their work is so perfectly impeccable!!!

I just love how enthusiastic they are about what they are doing!

Thanks for the pics Mike!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

The picture of the pretzels bring back many memories for me. I ate a lot of those as a young boy when we lived in Stuttgart.

Tom

I agree. I'm not normally a fan of pretzels but one bite of these and I was hooked...

Actually, all the food was awesome!


:xyxthumbs:

 

[opie_7afe]

notice how in other countries the work ethic is way better/people are more happy to work...here in the usa most are like "f-this i can just get another job" and are unhappy people who give attitude every chance they get....maybe in other countries the bosses/management has a different attitude...