{"id":221100,"date":"2019-04-11T11:04:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T11:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.spi.de\/project\/the-aesthetics-of-the-shell\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:11:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T12:11:22","slug":"the-aesthetics-of-the-shell","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/staging.spi.de\/en\/project\/the-aesthetics-of-the-shell\/","title":{"rendered":"The Aesthetics of the Shell"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Aesthetics of the Shell<\/h1>

SPI software supports Ronge Profil in the construction of sheet metal free-form surfaces in facade construction.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Ronge Profil GmbH<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Elaborate custom-made sheet metal facades adorn modern business and public buildings. In turn, the outer shells of private residential houses use more simple, standard designs of facade builders. In principle, any surface can be clad with a facade. The main advantages are heat and cold protection, noise and fire protection, durability, and \u2013 increasingly \u2013 a modern look: the aesthetic component. Ronge Profil from Alfeld, near Hanover, Germany shows how modern facade builders achieve these standards.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Art<\/span><\/div><\/div>

For public buildings, aesthetics play an increasingly important role: the contemporary facade is more than just a wall. Not only does it protect, it is an architectural design element and representative image. This makes it the business card of a building. Especially in the case of new buildings which will serve large audiences, such as sports arenas, railway stations or airport terminals, architects are placing ever higher demands on the outside appearance.<\/p>\n

Irrespective of this trend, Ronge Profil has been one of the leading manufacturers of metal<\/strong> facades<\/strong> and facade systems<\/strong> in the German-speaking countries for more than 40 years. The results speak for themselves. The flagship projects of the facade builders include the Hamburg Cruise Centre, the Berlin subway station at the Brandenburg Gate, the Education Centre in Kassel, and the VW Campus in Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n

The management believes that the know-how and decades of experience are the \"most important resources\" of the company. Today, more than ever, there is a demand \u201cto use modern manufacturing technologies to reap the benefits of automated processes and networked value chains\u201d. With the help of state-of-the-art machines, Ronge can process flashings up to six metres in length. Their manufacturing process uses machines from Trumpf (TruPunch 3000<\/strong>, TruMatic 6000<\/strong>) and EHT (VarioPresss 170-230<\/strong>), among others. Recently, the company has also retrofitted in 3D software.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The Challenge of Constructing Freeform Surfaces<\/h2>\n

In early 2016, Ronge Profil received an inquiry for cladding a newly built airport in Asia. The client\u2019s design ideas for the facade was a challenge even for the company\u2019s experienced team.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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It became clear that we needed new CAD software to unfold such freeform sheet metal components. The clock was ticking. To get the job, we needed to manufacture 12 sheet metal sample pieces. But, at the time, we had little experience with such requirements.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Alen Ljuhar<\/div>
Head of the Technical Office<\/span>, <\/span>Ronge Profil GmbH<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span>Then the expert came up with an idea: \u201cSince we had neither the 3D CAD software nor the skills, we reached an agreement with our future CAD supplier: the flat patterns would be created with their support. If we got the Asia contract, we would immediately buy the CAD system Solidworks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plan worked. Ronge was awarded the contract and purchased the software soon thereafter.<\/p>\n

In the following projects, the demands for unfolding freeform surfaces increased. Even Solidworks reached its limits. Thus Ronge Profil came into contact with the sheet metal unfolding software of SPI. \u201cIt was crucial for us that SPI works on the basis of Solidworks,\u201d recalls Alen Ljuhar. Since 2016, the company designs and unfolds 3D sheet metal parts with Solidworks<\/strong> in combination with SPI SheetMetalWorks<\/strong> and SPI WICAM Interface<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\u201cAn important advantage of the SPI solution is that we can design almost \u2018square\u2019, without reliefs and fillets. The SPI software independently creates the edge radii based on information from its material database. We can unfold almost all components and even our freeform surfaces. This was simply not possible with the solutions we used before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

SPI generates the required process data together with the flat pattern. Nesting and programming of punching tools is done with the support of WICAM, based on the data generated by the SPI-supplied WICAM Interface<\/strong>. \u201cTime savings are immeasurable for us in such projects,\u201d summarizes Ljuhar. \u201cWithout SPI, we would not be able to handle certain components and therefore could not produce them at all. Therefore, the use of this solution has become indispensable for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Thinking Ahead<\/h2>\n

Ronge Profil continues to think ahead: the construction of new headquarters in the Limmer-West industrial area directly on the B3 highway has been underway since June 2018. On a 30,000 m\u00b2 property, a production hall of 7,000 m\u00b2 and 1,200 m\u00b2 of state-of-the-art office and administration buildings are being built. The move is planned for the end of 2018. In addition, Ronge Profil is investing in the expansion of its machinery. A punch laser machine, a 5-meter bending brake, and a 2x6 meter groove cutter with an integrated automatic threaded bolt welding system have been ordered. The company has once again taken a significant step towards realizing its aspiration to deliver perfection \u201cin function and form\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>
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What was the challenge?<\/h5>

To get the job, we needed to manufacture 12 sheet metal sample pieces. But, at the time, we had little experience with such requirements.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

What have you gained?<\/h5>

We can unfold almost all components and even our freeform surfaces. This was simply not possible with the solutions we used before.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

In a nutshell: the main advantage?<\/h5>

It was crucial for us that SPI works on the basis of Solidworks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

What would you like others to know?<\/h5>

we would not be able to handle certain components and therefore could not produce them at all. Therefore, the use of this solution has become indispensable for us.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reference as PDF<\/h4>

Here you can download the story, including all images.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Our Products<\/h4>

We help you to streamline your sheet metal process chain.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Our Offer<\/h4>

You would like to try it yourself? Contact us!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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And More<\/h4>

Here you can find more references and stories.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>