SPIE installed electrotechnical infrastructure in the new production plant of Harmonic Drive SE

• On behalf of Harmonic Drive SE, a technology leader for high-precision drive engineering, SPIE took over the electrotechnical installations for the new production building in Limburg, Hesse
• The installation work was performed during ongoing operations, therefore precise planning and reliable project management were decisive success factors.
• SPIE and Harmonic Drive SE have already engaged in reliable and trustworthy cooperation—in the first production plant of the technology leader, SPIE already proved its technical expertise and long-term experience in the field of technical services

Limburg, 06. April 2020—On behalf of Harmonic Drive SE, the technology leader for high-precision drive engineering, SPIE realised the comprehensive electrotechnical infrastructure for the new production building in Limburg, Hesse. The  independent  European  leader  in multi-technical  services  in  the  areas  of  energy  and communications received the contract for the complete energy, electrical, fire protection and lighting technology and realised the comprehensive installations within 18 months. SPIE equipped the plant during ongoing operations with the help of interim solutions, so that continued production was ensured.

Comprehensive services in the field of Electrical Engineering

An enlargement of the production building for Harmonic Drive SE was necessary because of growing sales and the market situation. Due to time considerations, the company decided to renovate an existing building. “The technical requirements for the production environment were thereby very stringent and had to ensure the precision-oriented manufacturing of our client’s gearboxes and drives”, reports Thorsten Schunk, Team Manager of Electrical Engineering at SPIE Pulte as executing unit and responsible for implementing the project. For the approx. 6,000 square metre plant, SPIE installed a new high-voltage system, a burglar alarm and fire alarm system, a comprehensive power rail system, the complete low-voltage substation, new transformers and a medium-voltage substation. In addition, the installation of exposure and shading possibilities without introduction of heat within the plant was particularly important: “During the production of gear and drive components, temperature fluctuations must be avoided, in order to prevent deviations in quality. The automated sun blinds and lamella system we fitted prevent increasing solar radiation in combination with the room cooling equipment and ensure an optimal and constant temperature in the production building”, notes Thorsten Schunk.

Increasing energy efficiency

In addition, the multi-technical service provider installed an energy-efficient LED lighting system in the production building. “Today low energy consumption belongs to the quality characteristics of a lighting system. The use of LED lamps considerably increased the efficiency of the lighting. Because LED lamps function with just a fifth of the electricity consumption of conventional lighting technology and they also have an extremely long lifetime”, says Thorsten Schunk. Comprehensive light concepts with different switching groups, which can be dimmed and controlled independently from each other, and the intelligent use of daylight contribute towards a more sustainable energy consumption.

High performance capacity and good cooperation

An additional challenge for the multi-technical service provider was the installation during ongoing operations—precise planning and reliable project management were therefore decisive success factors in the implementation. To enable Harmonic Drive SE to continue trouble-free production, SPIE built comprehensive interim solutions, which provided the respective installation sections with the necessary power. “Through SPIE’s close cooperation with the specialist planners and Harmonic Drive SE, our milestones were achieved. This enabled the production facilities to move into the building by the scheduled date, reports Björn Kempf, Project Manager at Harmonic Drive SE. “The technical expertise and the uncomplicated cooperation with SPIE, whom we had already got to know in our first production building during electrical engineering modernisations, have contributed to -once again cooperate with the company. We are pleased to have SPIE’s support as a trustworthy partner.”