Work pressure brings out the best ideasMr. Stefan Roeding, Managing Director, Witte Far East Pte Ltd

Our challenge was - and still is - to convince people to see modular fixturing more than a long term investment like a CMM rather than a project related one-time-cost. Because the user only need to buy once and can build unlimited number of similar fixtures using the same components again and again.

Located in Singapore, Witte Far East Pte. Ltd was founded in April 2001. Managing Director Stefan Roeding says the office in Singapore was built in order for the company to work, the Asian way. Witte develops and markets different workpiece fixturing systems made of high tensile aluminium. It offers a large range of single components in which custom built fixtures of different sizes and types are built in a repeatable way. In Asia, the modular fixturing system Alufix is often used for the automobile industry. According to the company, almost all automobile manufacturers worldwide are working with the workholding system from Witte. In an interview conducted by International Metalworking News for Asia, Mr. Roeding says that the pressures of daily work served as a means for him to create new ideas and solutions, which becomes an opportunity for new developments and innovations.

IMNA: As a manufacturer of different workpiece fixturing systems in Singapore, what are the obstacles and challenges your company had to overcome to achieve its present status? Mr. Roeding:

In the past, Quality Inspection (QI) was based on conventional checking gauges, which are in use since more than fifty years. Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs) have only been rarely used at that time for special applications. Today, our modular fixturing system is mainly used on CMMs, which means the benefits of modular fixturing systems together with CMM have been realized. Customers have to be convinced that it is more cost-effective to invest a little more money on a modular fixturing system instead of spending money for a one-time use fixture only. Our challenge was - and still is - to convince people to see modular fixturing more than a long term investment like a CMM rather than a project related one-time-cost. Its Because the user only need to buy once and can build unlimited number of similar fixtures using the same components again and again. Another advantage of reusable fixturing components is the environmental aspect. Alufix components are nearly complete reusable for many years.

IMNA: How would you differentiate your products and operations from other companies manufacturing such products in Singapore? Mr. Roeding

: Modular Fixturing is a niche market in Singapore so we are the only one producing and marketing this product.

IMNA: What are the major steps taken by your company to enhance your operations? And how did these steps affect the quality of your products so far? Mr. Roeding:

There are few major steps: ●Effective collaborative skills and knowledge are necessary to work well in a team environment like us. As our business becomes larger and more sophisticated, we attempt to enhance our employees collaborative efforts through training, cross-training and workshops in order to help people effectively work together in a cohesive group and accomplish shared goals. ●Relevant certifications for our business have been implemented, e.g. ISO 9100, 17025 for measuring lab. ●Constant development of new innovative ideas and components for systems are necessary to meet the demands of increasing quality standards of our customers requirements. ●Continuous ongoing investment in latest technology for manufacturing and quality inspection system.

IMNA: Please discuss the manufacturing process you are usingJORDAN