Expansion of compass production at Anschütz completed
Anschütz is renowned for producing reliable and accurate gyrocompasses. In order to meet the high demand for both gyrocompasses and spare spheres at a consistently high level of quality, Anschütz has made significant investments in its compass production capabilities. As a result, Anschütz now boasts one of the most modern production facilities in the maritime supply chain.
“With the Standard 22 family, Anschütz offers an exceptional product that has rightly become the best-selling gyrocompass of all time thanks to its excellent price/performance ratio”, said Thomas Harlander, Managing Director at Anschütz. “By investing in modernising our production, we will be able to reliably meet the high demand in the new construction market, but especially also in the supply for the world fleet, at any time.”
After more than a year, Anschütz has successfully completed the major expansion project of its compass production. New and additional machines, test equipment and tools have been purchased, the existing infrastructure and premises have been modernised and the number of employees has been increased. The aim was not only to meet the high demand for new compasses, but also to build up stock to be able to respond quickly to the ever-increasing after-sales demand for replacement spheres.
Anschütz’s factory in Kiel is now capable of producing more than 5,000 compass sensors and gyrospheres per year. To achieve this, not only were all processes, layouts and tools carefully analysed and optimised, but also extensive redesigns and relocations were carried out to optimise routes and provide sufficient space for expansion. Major renovations included the relocation of walls and the installation of new electrical, air conditioning and ventilation systems.
At the same time, older, less reliable machinery has been replaced with state-of-the-art equipment. What began three years ago with the introduction of highly automated, precise machines in mechanical pre-fabrication, was continued with the purchase of new lathes for the caps and autoclaves, which are used for vulcanising the rubber caps. Additional testing stations and test benches have been installed in the compass assembly department, allowing Anschütz to maintain the best possible quality by testing all compass sensors and gyrospheres, without exception, under static and dynamic conditions, even at higher volumes.
The expansion has not only enhanced production and assembly capacity but also significantly improved working conditions and employee satisfaction. With optimised processes, modern machinery, tools and test stations, and a quieter working environment, important quality management requirements have also been implemented.
“The project marked the biggest production expansion at Anschütz in decades, and everyone understood how vital it was”, said Harlander. “Of course, there were efforts and challenges involved, but thanks to the high motivation of our employees and partners, we were able to very successfully complete the project and lay the foundation for the future production of the world market leader, the Standard 22 NX.”
The Standard 22 NX gyrocompass uses Anschütz's proven and superior sensor technology, offering maximum reliability and accuracy even under the harshest conditions. Its unique ruggedness stems from its use of inductive and optical transmission, eliminating the need for slip rings. The effect of vibration or ship motion on heading accuracy is significantly reduced. Superior system features ensure the availability of heading information for safe navigation, even in the event of jamming or spoofing.
In addition to its long-term stability, the Standard 22 NX offers long maintenance intervals and an extended gyrosphere lifespan. On average, the compass gyrospheres need to be replaced every five years. After replacement, used gyrospheres are returned to the Anschütz factory in Kiel for inspection. Following thorough cleaning, maintenance and the replacement of any worn parts, the gyrospheres are restored to full functionality and are returned to the ship as replacement spheres. This sustainable recycling management system has been in place at Anschütz for many decades.
