The drive specialist SEW-EURODRIVE has been awarded the prestigious industry prize 'Factory of the Year' in the category 'Outstanding Series Production'.
During the award ceremony at the 34th 'Factory of the Year' Congress in Dortmund on March 18 and 19, 2026, SEW-EURODRIVE provided insights into the Smart Factory Hall North in Graben-Neudorf near Karlsruhe and demonstrated how modern series production is conceived today.
The products of the internationally active company are used worldwide in various industries - from intralogistics and machine and plant engineering to complex conveyor systems, such as in baggage handling systems at airports.
The award-winning plant Hall North in Graben-Neudorf is considered one of the most advanced production centers in Germany. A key role in the award-winning plant is played by technology from KASTO Maschinenbau. The company from Achern in Baden supplied central components for production and material flow logistics. Factors contributing to the award included the innovative plant design, modern Industry 4.0 approaches, and the implementation of the 'Never-touch-a-part' principle, where components are to be touched as little as possible manually during the entire production process.
Automation at the highest level
To supply the production lines, SEW-EURODRIVE relies on several highly automated systems from KASTO: At the center of this unique facility is a honeycomb storage system with 5,140 places for cassettes up to three tons of storage capacity and a sawing center with 450 places for single bars. These supply eight fully automated production circular saws with robotic handling systems, a high-performance band saw automation for large material cross-sections, and seven dispensing stations for material separation.
Thanks to the KASTO Warehouse Management System (WMS), all systems operate fully digitally interconnected. This allows operation of the completely automated facility with only up to four people. KASTO technology ensures that the supply of production lines is guaranteed at all times, with material movements being fully automated and demand-oriented.
Significant lighthouse project for KASTO
Almost all technical areas of KASTO were involved in the implementation - from robotics to sawing technology and storage logistics to software development. For the family-owned company, the project is one of the most extensive in its history.
'That SEW-EURODRIVE was awarded the 'Factory of the Year' award fills us with great pride. Our systems were able to take on a key role in one of the most modern plants in Europe. This lighthouse project will always hold a special place in the history of KASTO,' says Armin Stolzer, Managing Partner of KASTO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG.
180 years of expertise - KASTO technology in demand worldwide
KASTO looks back on over 180 years of engineering tradition. From a former saw pioneer, it has developed into an international market and technology leader for saws, storage, and material handling systems. Wherever metal is sawed, stored, and moved, KASTO is at home and thus involved in the value chain of almost all products made of metal - from chair legs to high-rise facades, from e-bikes to airplanes. As a holistic provider, the company can particularly showcase its strengths in complex large projects.
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