Soraluce customer, Krones, from Neutraubling, Germany, required a mill-turn machine with a fixed portal and two movable milling and turning rotary tables, each with a diameter of 6 m, in double-table design and a high degree of automation. To complicated matters, the project commenced in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

All arrangements could only take place by telephone and video call – a visit to the manufacturer´s plant or to the customer during the decision-making phase of the investment was ruled out for safety reasons. The customer´s concept was supported by figures, data and 3D simulations, but finally seeing the finished machine, a PR 6000 2T, after the months of planning and discussion – 32 m long, 14 m wide and weighing just under 300 tonnes – is a whole different story. It is not just a large portal milling and turning machine, but one of the largest machines with a double-table design in Germany.

While machining on one milling and turning rotary table, set-up can take place on the other. At Krones, the company uses the machine to produce roundels for bottling in the food industry. With a tool-change system featuring 500 tools and an ABB robot for the changeover, the degree of automation is optimal. Process control comes courtesy of a Siemens Sinumerik One CNC. Soraluce created a digital twin for the plant that simplified and shortened commissioning on site considerably.

A follow-up order for a fully automated production line with three portal milling and turning machines connected to a large pallet station and central tool magazine, confirms the confidence in Soraluce. Machine tools from Soraluce are available in the UK from TW Ward CNC Machinery.
For further information www.soraluce.com