Industrial Internet Software Leader Invests for Growth

MIDDLEWICH, U.K. - Nov. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Forcam UK based in Middlewich, Cheshire, is celebrating the relocation of its parent company HQ in Germany. The move, from Freidrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance to the historic city of Ravensbourg, is just 20km, but signifies a step change in the development of the business. The new HQ has a capacity for 300 staff, triple the current number, as the company plans for accelerated development.

Newly appointed UK MD Andrew Steele noted, “This is great news for the UK where we have a growing following among aerospace, automotive and engineering companies using Forcam’s Factory Framework software to drive productivity and make their businesses more efficient.”

Forcam operates throughout Europe, North America, Australasia and China and has almost 60,000 machine tools and processes networked using their software. Acknowledged as a leader in the application of the industrial internet to create smart factories, Forcam’s software networks shop floor operations enabling production to be monitored in real time for effective close-loop management so that plant and manpower efficiency is maximised. The software extends and enhances the performance of ERP software systems such as SAP.

Factory Framework, release five, has extended networking capabilities to take account of the needs of businesses with global operations. Forcam CEO, Franz Gruber explained, “One of the major design goals for the latest software version can be expressed as the 1-10-5-4 concept – that is, one central planning department, ten plants, in five countries, communicating in four languages. A major auto component supplier is currently implementing such a system that will eventually encompass 1200 machines in nine plants spread over the Americas, Europe and Asia.”

Advanced software architecture enhances the ability of factory framework to process big data and deliver relevant, timely information with better reporting features and a powerful traceability module.

Over 70 guests from 25 companies attended the official opening of the new offices and development centre. The company set out its vision for manufacturing execution systems in the future explaining how they plan for Release-5 to adapt to take account of new technologies and opportunities. Among the guests was Berthold Wipfler, chairman of the investment company of SAP founder Dietmar Hopp – a major shareholder in Forcam and member of the supervisory board.

Franz Gruber concluded, “We have a world class product and are setting out the foundations to develop our company to meet the needs of global manufacturing. The investment in premises, people and systems is just part of the process that will deliver the next stage in our growth.”


More Information

United Kingdom
Charles Walker, UK Account Manager, Tel. 01606 833 837
E-mail: charles.walker@forcam.co.uk Web: forcam.co.uk
FORCAM UK, 6.1 Verity Court, Pochin Way, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW12 0GW

Germany
Vincent Post, Manger International Marketing & PR, Tel. +49 (0)751 / 36669 – 826
E-mail: Vincent.post@forcam.com Web: http://www.forcam.com
FORCAM GmbH, An der Bleicherei 15, D-88214 Ravensburg, Germany

High resolution images are on the web at http://www.ainsmag.co.uk/fo255/5317fo1a-forcam-hq.htm