Hexagon xperion relies on ZEISS GUARDUS for MES

A software partner you can learn from

Press Release

Ulm/Oberkochen, January 9th, 2019 – Hexagon xperion GmbH's high-pressure vessels for the storage and transportation of compressed gases - especially hydrogen and natural gas - are at home all over the world and provide the world market leader from Kassel, headquartered in Aalesund, Norway, with sustained strong growth. In order to strengthen the software foundations in quality and production management for international expansion, the company decided to introduce a Manufacturing Execution System with integrated CAQ modules. The focus was on the efficient recording and evaluation of all quality and production-relevant product and process data along the value chain. The goal was to establish an automated 100 percent traceability system based on an integrated, globally available knowledge platform – from incoming goods through production to final inspection and delivery. 

"The production of safety-relevant components requires complete, legally compliant traceability. An enormous amount of production and quality data must be recorded and processed for each individual component. For this reason, our selection matrix concentrated on mapping this complex task via a central software solution, which to date had often been performed manually" says Julia Stenke, Business Process Manager at Hexagon xperion GmbH.

In addition, the integration of the existing ERP system IFS played an important role in the catalogue of requirements. Finally, seamless information processes along the production line were to optimize a critical success factor: All employees must be able to concentrate on their core competencies and are therefore relieved of administrative tasks such as manual entries or even multiple entries.

After an intensive evaluation phase, the MES from Carl Zeiss MES Solutions GmbH (formerly GUARDUS Solutions AG) was chosen. The decision focused both on the functional strength of the application and the technical and industry expertise of the ZEISS GUARDUS team. "The overall package was simply right. We are very pleased to have found a partner who understands us and our industry very well and from whom we can learn a lot when it comes to digital process control and optimization," concludes Stenke.

About Hexagon

Hexagon xperion, a Hexagon Composites company, has specialized in lightweight components and systems made of fiber composite materials. Core competencies are the development, production and distribution of composite high-pressure vessels and systems (Type 4) for the installation into vehicles of all kinds for the storage and transportation of compressed gases, in particular hydrogen and natural gas.

 

Hexagon Composites ASA is a globally leading supplier of composite pressure cylinders for gas applications and is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE:HEX). Based in Aalesund, Norway, the extended Group has 450 employees and generated NOK 1,429 million in operating income in 2017. Production is carried out in modern, automated plants in Norway, Germany and the U.S.