As a machine tool builder that manufactures high-end four and five-axis machines for the global market, Heller UK has frequent involvement in turnkey projects for prestigious OEMs. On one of its more recent projects, the Redditch-based company enlisted the support of the cutting tool experts at Guhring.

There has been a wide spectrum of tools used on this project for a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs), including Guhring tool holders and tool vending technology. As part of the package of tool holders to accompany the cutting tools, the EV manufacturer has selected a vast range of standard heat-shrink, hydraulic and synchro-tapping chucks.

The cutting tools for the project included a huge range of standard products from Guhring’s portfolio of drills, taps and reamers. Although these accounted for a significant element of the system integration project, it was the bespoke PCD combination tools that demonstrated Guhring UK’s expertise as a one-stop solution provider and valued partner for turnkey projects.

With the PCD combination tools manufactured at Guhring UK’s Birmingham manufacturing facility and its main manufacturing plant in Germany, the bespoke tooling solutions were developed to achieve ‘one shot’ plunging. The bespoke tooling aimed to reduce cycle times and adhere to the high surface finishes required over the life of the tool.

“We delivered 22 four- and five-axis machines in this project, all built in the UK,” says Tad Forys, area sales manager at Heller Machine Tools UK. “Guhring has been with us for every step of the journey, clocking in tools and optimising speeds and feeds to make sure we have the most efficient process for the customer before delivery of the machines.”

More information www.guhring.co.uk