Hannover Messe Day 5 - Production in the metalworking industry has become increasingly hectic. Contractors and production departments must produce parts in smaller lot sizes and at a faster pace. Today I’ve discovered components to help machines manufacturer being more efficient. Their TruBend Series 5000 bending machine, for instance, is a press brake that includes an optical positioning aid making it easier to switch to a new part geometry. This machine also includes an automatic angle (…)

The golden age of automatic lathes manufacturers probably lies in the middle of last century when three Swiss companies shared the market and were selling cam autos by tens of thousands. In the 1960s, small structures specialized in overhauling those machines have appeared. 50 years later, that trade is flourishing and offers interesting prospects. Some companies also develop new devices to enhance cam-autos capabilities. Meeting with Mr. Carlos Cancer, CEO of Seuret SA, overhaul (…)

Despite an uncertain global economic situation, Ventura Mecanics SA, the specialist for overhaul and retrofit of Escomatic machines, decided to bet on the future by opting for the construction of new premises. The new building has been designed rationally and to better serves the company’s customers. Luca and Fabio Ventura, the young and dynamic Directors state: "The global demand for our very specific activity shows a strong potential and our current workshop does not allow us to answer (…)

Newemag has moved into its new headquarter in Eschenbach and its premises are now fully equipped and ready to be inaugurated with a special day for customers. "Our absolute priority was that our customers do not realize we moved. We wanted them to continue to be delivered at the same speed and in the same quality as usual’, says Pirmin Zehnder, Director. But now that the move is finished the company is proud to show its customers how they will benefit from this new location. A visit in (…)

Willemin-Macodel is well known for its expertise in watch industry – movement, case and external parts. It is a Swiss supplier of innovative and unique tailor-made machining solutions for high added value, complex and high precision items. At Baselworld, the Jura-based company will be presenting a programme for producing the key watchmaking components, namely preparation of settings on watch cases with the 308S, cases with the 408S2, plate machining on both sides with the 408PA and finally (…)

To cope with increased demand, several European producers have adapted their production processes by duplicating well-functioning production cells. Now that the competition has no borders, production costs are as important as quality. An alternative to the increase of identical machines pools is to consider new innovative machining solutions, for example with the transfer machines of Mikron Machining. The services offered by this provider help restore competitiveness in European companies (…)

The 6th watchmaking days of Tornos has just started. For the last few years, the company have given presentations on watchmaking operations outside its traditional area of expertise – for example a guilloche worker in 2012 and a decorator in 2013. In addition to the machining solutions, what can be discovered in 2014? Second part of the interview as well as a few pictures of the environment (first part to be read below). Brice Renggli say: “This year we’re going to talk about watch design. (…)

From 4 to 7 March 2014, Tornos hold its 6th Journées Horlogères in Moutier. This now traditional event is attended by 90 % of high precision turners from the Swiss watchmaking industry and is increasingly drawing specialists from southern Germany and France. Interview with Brice Renggli, Marketing Manager, and Carlos Almeida, Sales Manager for Switzerland. The events calendar is very busy, and with EPHJ, Swiss watchmakers already have the perfect subcontracting event in their field. Why (…)

It is widely known in the industry that many bar-turners use little or none of the turning capability of their machines. Modern top-of-the-range Swiss machines are fully equipped with milling capabilities and their bar-turning capacity means that they can compete with conventional milling solutions. There is a machine that has been designed specially for prismatic parts... We took a closer look at the new Almac BA 1008, designed to manufacture this type of part. Based on… the SwissNano (…)

The proliferation of machined materials and additives in cutting fluids, often linked to specific geometries and always more demanding requirements, make the job of cleaning the parts constantly evolves and requires more and more sharp skills. To know more about those, we met with Mr. Marc-Alain Zimmerli, director of the company of the same name (Cortaillod, Switzerland). Depending on the type of stain, the parts require special treatment, whether it be water-based (polar) or using (…)