Some 15 years ago, Ammann AG changed its strategic business orientation from a contract manufacturer for machined switch and track parts to Ammann Components, a system supplier specialising in complex, high-precision workpieces. Success and growth followed – thanks in part to the company’s high-quality machinery, which is dominated by several Heckert machining centres from Starrag. Now, the of Tägerwilen, Switzerland-based is expecting a further boost from its recently delivered Heckert H75.

The successor model to the successful Heckert HEC 500, the H75 comes with various improvements and promising options. The machine produces large aluminium gearbox housings for which the customer specifies centre distances with a tight tolerance.

Managing director Paul Ammann is especially enthusiastic about the machine’s spindle with its maximum torque of 950 Nm and speed up to 12,500 rpm. This capability makes the BAZ spindle equally suitable for aluminium and heavy machining. To maximise flexibility and keep set-up times to a minimum, the Heckert H75 features extensive tool storage: with its four coupled towers, the magazine has a capacity for almost 400 tools.

As the company plans long term for all its investments, the imminent move to a new location will have an impact on the Heckert H75, as Ammann explains: “At the moment, automation is neither necessary nor possible. At our new location, however, we’ll expand the Heckert H75 and our existing Heckert HEC 500 with a pallet system to create a low-manpower production system. It was therefore important to us that the H75 is fully compatible with the Heckert HEC 500 so that a second set-up station is not needed. As expected, our partner Starrag was extremely flexible and made the necessary adjustments to the Y-axis travel and pallet changer.”

More information www.starrag.com