“The discussions with Robert were always very constructive. We share the same vision of entrepreneurship and know what our customers expect from us. I am therefore delighted to welcome Robert to our team,” says Uwe Günter, owner and managing director of the extrutec Group.

All previous extrutec activities and employees in the field of automation technology will be consolidated under the leadership of Robert Liese. The new department will be responsible for programming and the associated automation technology for heating, heat treatment and melting systems across the group. The new department is assigned to the Electric heating and Induction Technology division at the Menden site, which is managed by Stefan Beer.

Stefan Beer adds: 'I've known Robert for decades, and we have a shared understanding of modern production technology. I´m fully convinced doing this step, and I'm thrilled that the idea and motivation behind Run Automation will remain intact, even if the setup changes.”

Run Automation

Over the past decades, Robert Liese and his company Run Automation have become an established name in the field of software development and commissioning of industrial equipment. In recent years, the focus has increasingly shifted to the extrusion industry, particularly in the area of induction technology. However, the large customer network, which spans the entire spectrum of different industrial manufacturers, has continued to be served and expanded.

While extrutec focuses primarily on heating and cooling in the extrusion process, Run Automation was at home throughout the entire process chain. Among other things, numerous extrusion presses were optimized. The areas of runout systems, pullers, and logistics were also covered. This portfolio will therefore continue to be available under the extrutec umbrella in the future.

Looking to the future

Another important aspect of setting up the new department is the future-oriented development of the programming and operating concept for Extrutec equipment. 'The future lies in the intelligence of our equipment. We are focusing on standardized program structures and uniform, intuitive operating concepts. The final stage of expansion will naturally focus on connectivity and digitalization,' explains Uwe Günter.

The immediate goal is also to strengthen the service department. This means that the high demand for services can increasingly be met in-house. Inquiries that threaten potential production downtime or system shutdowns, in particular, can now be handled much more efficiently. This is partly thanks to the remote maintenance module installed as standard in all extrutec systems.

We can also now offer a much broader range of services. These range from improving entire system processes and replacing electrical components, such as HMIs, to new programming tasks, including those for foundries, in cooperation with the extrutec subsidiary TCT Induktionstechnik.