This innovative method in contract manufacturing is being

used by the assembly machine builder from Winterbach,

near Stuttgart, Germany. The family-run company has

been offering a great service package for the assembly of

mass-produced articles for several years.

“Three years ago, a client from the automotive industry

approached us to ask whether we could take over all his

contract manufacturing requirements in house, in addition

to building the machines”, recounts Matthias Müller, Head

of Sales. “We were quickly convinced it was a good idea. We

knew how efficiently we could operate production with the

machines’ builders and all spare parts right there on site.”

People who visit installations at Contexo specifically built

for contract manufacturing are impressed by how close

to hand everything is. Development, machine building

and contract manufacturing are separated by just a few

metres.

“In 24-hour operations, we manage an efficiency factor

of 96 percent. Our customers realise pretty quickly that

contract manufacturing with the builder delivers markedly

better figures than at their more standard production

facilities”, adds Müller. Currently, 20 employees run the

contract manufacturing division – around the clock for 365

days a year.

ContraCt-manufaCturing ConCepts adapted

to the market

It’s not only the short distances that distinguish Contexo

from standard contract manufacturing. Most important

are the innovative approaches in the area of machine

operation: “We listen very carefully to our customers’

requests. Alongside what was until recently the standard

contract-manufacturing model, today’s market includes

several hybrid forms, all to keep the customer satisfied”,

points out Müller.

In addition to standard, continual contract production,

for example, Contexo also offers a model they call “First

Season”. Here, the target quantity for market launch is pro-

duced in house. If the product is successful, the customer’s

employees are trained and the machines are delivered.

This means the customer will not be left standing in front

of a useless machine park should the market launch flop.

“We benefit because our machines can be easily refitted

and used for other products. This means we can offer tem-

porary contract manufacturing with low investment and

start-up costs.”

It remains to be seen how the industry will react to the new

contract-manufacturing model. For now, the Winterbacher

solution looks like becoming a great success.

www.contexo-automation.com

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higher effiCienCY through ContraCt manufaCturing bY the maChine builder

The savings potential of mass-produced articles has never been great. A new approach is in-house contract manufacturing by the

machine builder. Minimal distances, service and spare parts available on site look like highly convincing arguments