Carl Hirschmann GmbH backs “Germany Can Do More”

For more than 40 years, Carl Hirschmann GmbH has produced high-precision rotary spindles and tooling for EDM applications, offering a wide range of specifications to suit different workpiece sizes and machining requirements. Deeply rooted in Baden-Württemberg and a committed member of wvib Schwarzwald AG, the company is proudly supporting the association’s annual campaign, “Germany Can Do More,” sending a clear signal of solidarity with small and medium-sized industrial businesses and with Germany as a manufacturing location.

The challenges facing industry today are undeniable. Global value chains are shifting, technological change is accelerating, demographic trends are intensifying the skills shortage, and energy costs remain high. German industry is under significant pressure. Yet for companies like Carl Hirschmann, pressure has historically been a catalyst for innovation rather than a cause for stagnation. According to the company, pressure has consistently driven further development and renewal.

Baden-Württemberg exemplifies how essential industrial value creation is to prosperity, employment and social stability. When industrial competitiveness weakens, the effects ripple across the entire economic ecosystem. Encouragingly, many companies are already investing, adapting business models and entering new markets. However, optimism alone is insufficient. Competitive energy prices, reduced bureaucracy, faster approvals and sustained investment in education, research and infrastructure are critical to securing long-term success.

The “Germany Can Do More” initiative is therefore more than a slogan; it is an invitation to shape the future responsibly. Carl Hirschmann firmly believes that if entrepreneurship, innovation and performance are prioritised, an industrial renaissance is achievable. The company is ready and calls for a framework that enables industry to deliver its full potential.

More information www.carlhirschmann.de/en

New wire EDM series improves accuracy and flexibility

For many years, manufacturers accepted that no single wire EDM machine could excel at every application. Some prioritised speed, others surface finish or taper accuracy. With the introduction of the CUT X 350 and CUT X 500, GF Machining Solutions says it is challenging that assumption.

Developed and built at the company’s Losone, Switzerland facility, the CUT X series is available in two sizes to accommodate workpieces up to 800 x 550 x 250 mm (CUT X 350) and 1050 x 700 x 250 mm (CUT X 500). Both models are engineered for high precision, combining optimised machine mechanics with an advanced thermal management concept. A sealed cabinet and controlled airflow maintain stable internal temperatures, while heat sources are isolated from critical components to minimise the influence of ambient fluctuations.

An array of internal and external sensors feeds data to the CNC, where an AI-driven algorithm predicts potential thermal deformation and compensates axis positioning in real time. The result is consistent micron-level accuracy, even during long machining cycles.

Flexibility is enhanced by interchangeable open and closed wire guide cartridges, which can be changed and aligned in less than 15 minutes. Open guides suit straight or low-taper cuts, while closed guides deliver higher accuracy and surface quality for tapers up to 30°. Additively manufactured heads improve flushing efficiency and increase cutting speeds.

The UNIQUA HMI, featuring a 19-inch vertical touchscreen, provides intuitive control and supports legacy file formats.

Further productivity gains come from automatic wire changing, dual wire circuits, intelligent spark protection, integrated probing and automated slug management, ultimately enabling reliable, lights-out performance across a broad range of EDM applications.

More information www.gfms.com

Ultimate reliability: 35-year-old wire EDM still in use

When Kress Funkenerosion was founded in 1990 in Mühlhausen, near Nuremberg, its future rested on a single machine: a FANUC Tape Cut W2. As a young tool- and mould-making subcontractor serving demanding sectors such as automotive, aerospace and medical, uptime was critical. The brief for that first investment was straightforward: deliver high-quality wire-cut components with absolute reliability.

More than three decades later, that same machine remains in daily operation, a testament to the durability and engineering philosophy of FANUC.

The machine’s longevity set the tone for the company’s future direction. Impressed by consistent performance and minimal maintenance requirements, Kress Funkenerosion standardised on FANUC wire EDM technology, investing in a further 12 machines over the years.

The most recent additions are two FANUC ROBOCUT α-C400iC models, which provide both precision and versatility. Managing director Michael Schander reports that tolerances of ±3 µm are achieved with ease, supported by reliable automatic wire threading in under 10 seconds. Yet, for Schander, performance figures tell only part of the story.

“What really sets FANUC apart is the build quality,” he says. “The last service call I remember was over six years ago. That level of reliability is exceptional.”

Today, all wire EDM machines on site are FANUC models, forming the backbone of the company’s ISO 9001-accredited operation. For founder Gerhard Kress, the decision remains clear: “The first machine I bought in 1990 is still running. After more than 30 years of experience, I see no reason to change.”

More information www.fanuc.eu

Sodick wire EDM powers automotive excellence

Set against the backdrop of Northern Italy’s industrial heartland, Meclostampi Group has specialised in progressive toolmaking since 1971. Founded by Cavaliere Antonio Canobbio and now led by Valter Canobbio, the company serves demanding automotive customers with a clear philosophy: quality first. That mindset has driven its continued investment in EDM technology from Sodick since 1988.

“Our parts are only as good as the machine that produces them,” says Canobbio. “Choosing the cheapest option is short-sighted, and the same applies to service.”

Operating from a 7000 m² facility in Lomazzo, Lombardy, and employing more than 80 skilled staff, Meclostampi partners with RF Celada SpA to deploy advanced Sodick wire EDM technology. The close collaboration ensures high levels of machine performance are matched by responsive technical support.

A key advantage has been Sodick’s ability to overcome the long-standing challenges of machining carbide.

“In the past, carbide created surface issues on other machines,” explains Canobbio. “Sodick solved this issue years ahead of its competitors.”

The result is superior surface integrity, greater tool life and enhanced process reliability.

Meclostampi’s Sodick fleet includes ALC 600G, SLC 600G and AG60L models equipped with linear motor drives, advanced generators and intelligent control systems. These technologies deliver micron-level accuracy, smooth surface finishes and consistent positioning performance – critical factors in the production of progressive, transfer and deep-drawing tools for automotive applications.

Reliability is equally important, as Canobbio confirms: “I don’t remember a stoppage for maintenance.”

With in-house stamping presses ranging from 250 to 6000 kN, Meclostampi can validate tool accuracy and longevity under real production conditions.

“Speed, accuracy, reliability and flexibility define quality tooling,” he concludes. “Investing in the right technology ensures we remain the best partner for our customers, today and in the future.”

More information www.sodick.eu

MACHINE TOOLS BUILT BY DN SOLUTIONS MEASURE UP TO ABERLINK’S HIGH STANDARDS

Mills CNC has recently supplied Aberlink – the largest UK-owned manufacturer of co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs), vision systems and 3D measurement software – with two DN Solutions machine tools as part of a strategic investment in its in-house manufacturing capability.

The machines, a large-capacity DN Solutions DNM 6700XL three-axis vertical machining centre and a compact DN Solutions Lynx 2100LSYB multi-tasking lathe, arrived simultaneously in March 2025 at Aberlink’s recently revamped machine shop in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Their arrival marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing drive to improve productivity, eliminate bottlenecks and futureproof its production operations.

Since commissioning, both machines have been put through their paces machining a wide range of high-precision components that are integral to every Aberlink CMM. These include bridge beams and rails of varying lengths and widths, air bearings, racks, plates, pinions and housings. Typically produced in relatively small batches of up to 50-off, these components are machined from extruded aluminium alloys, aluminium billet and bar stock, as well as steel, brass and selected engineering plastics.

Despite modest batch sizes, the technical demands are high. Tight geometric tolerances and excellent surface finishes are essential to ensure the positional accuracy and repeatability that define Aberlink’s CMM performance. Consistency from part to part is critical, as even minor deviations can influence overall machine accuracy.

Aberlink’s CMM portfolio is both broad and continually evolving. The range includes compact shop-floor systems such as the Fulcrum and Extol, designed to sit alongside CNC machine tools in production environments, as well as larger bridge-type machines like the Axiom, Halo, Horizon and Azimuth, typically installed in dedicated, temperature-controlled inspection rooms. Across the board – whether manual or CNC-controlled, Cartesian or non-Cartesian – Aberlink says its CMMs are recognised globally for their rigidity, speed, reliability and ease of use.

In 2024, the company received a King’s Award for Enterprise for the design innovation and error mapping capabilities incorporated into its Extol CNC CMM. This accolade further cemented Aberlink’s reputation as a technology-led manufacturer committed to continuous improvement.

Affordability is another important differentiator. In addition to robust build quality and proprietary 3D measurement software, Aberlink provides free software upgrades and does not charge annual maintenance fees – a policy that resonates strongly with customers wary of hidden lifecycle costs. As a result, the company’s CMMs are widely specified by precision component and mould tool manufacturers serving the aerospace, automotive, motorsport, medical, oil and gas, and energy sectors, both in the UK and internationally.

All design and assembly operations are centred at Aberlink’s Eastcombe manufacturing facility. The site incorporates a visitor showroom, expanded assembly areas and dedicated software development, applications and customer service departments. At the heart of the operation, however, lies the machine shop – divided into discrete milling and turning sections and equipped with a mix of CNC and manual machines, including several long-serving legacy platforms installed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“In the early days, before our first Windows-based CMM was launched, we actually operated as a precision subcontract machining business,” explains Marcus Eales, owner and director. “As demand for our CMMs increased, the machine shop expanded in tandem. It has always been, and remains, a vital cog in our growth and success.”

With demand continuing to rise, particularly from overseas markets such as China, Aberlink undertook a comprehensive machine shop audit in 2024 as part of a company-wide continuous improvement initiative. The objective was to benchmark performance, identify pinch points and ensure that production capacity aligned with sales growth.

“Our machine shop produces a high volume of precision components,” says Eales. “There can be up to 150 different parts in our best-selling Axiom CMM alone. Meeting tight delivery schedules means our machining processes must be efficient, reliable and capable.”

The audit highlighted inefficiencies in the milling of extruded aluminium beams and rails on an ageing Cincinnati FTV-640 machining centre. Although the machine remained accurate, slower spindle speeds and feed rates were extending cycle times and constraining throughput. Replacing it with a modern, faster and more powerful vertical machining centre was identified as a priority.

At the same time, the review exposed limitations in the turning department. Existing two-axis, single-spindle lathes were capable of basic turning, facing, drilling and boring operations, but lacked Y-axis capability, driven tooling and sub-spindles. Complex components requiring off-centre features or secondary milling operations demanded multiple set-ups and manual intervention, creating bottlenecks and placing additional pressure on milling resources.

“Single-spindle, single-turret lathes have inherent limitations,” explains director Ian Rhodes. “Without Y-axis or sub-spindle capability, you’re forced into multiple operations. That affects cycle times, labour input and overall efficiency.”

Aberlink therefore developed a detailed ‘needs and wants’ specification covering both milling and turning requirements before approaching the market. Although the company had not previously invested in equipment from Mills CNC, its reputation for supplying high-performance, competitively priced DN Solutions machines – backed by strong aftersales support – quickly brought it into contention.

“Mills CNC has a good standing in the marketplace, and many of our customers are familiar with DN Solutions machines,” says managing director Rachel Cook. “Their cutting performance, long-term precision and reliability, combined with Mills’ service support, made them a compelling choice.”

The DN Solutions DNM 6700XL selected offers generous axis travels, rapid traverse rates and an 18.5 kW, 15,000 rpm spindle, supported by a 40-tool automatic toolchanger. Equipped with a FANUC 0iM control and Renishaw probing, the machine delivers improved cycle times and productivity compared with its predecessor, particularly during the heavy-duty roughing of aluminium extrusions.

“The DNM 6700XL is faster, more powerful and more flexible,” says Rhodes. “It comfortably handles everything we throw at it, from roughing long beams to finishing precision components.”

Complementing this machine, the DN Solutions Lynx 2100LSYB multi-tasking lathe features an 8” chuck, 65 mm bar capacity, sub-spindle, Y-axis travel and driven tooling up to 6000 rpm. Supplied with a FANUC 0iT control, quick-change collet chucks and a Hydrafeed short magazine bar loader, the machine enables complete machining of complex, high-precision parts in a single set-up and can operate unattended for extended periods.

“Being able to machine parts in one hit has transformed our turning operations,” says Eales. “The addition of the bar loader has released capacity, reduced labour input and improved consistency. We’ve seen tangible gains in productivity and cost control.”

For Aberlink, whose CMMs depend on uncompromising mechanical accuracy, strengthening in-house manufacturing capability is fundamental. The twin investment in advanced milling and multi-tasking turning technology not only eliminates previous bottlenecks but also provides headroom for future growth.

“We’re delighted with the two DN Solutions machines acquired from Mills CNC,” concludes Cook. “They were proactive and easy to work with, and installation was handled smoothly with minimal disruption. This investment reinforces our commitment to quality, efficiency and continued innovation.”

More information www.millscnc.co.uk