Mikron Machining technology - at half the cost
Mikron Respeed Systems, a re-engineering department established by Mikron Machining Technology in Agno, Switzerland,will source a used Mikron rotary transfer machine and supply a range of services and upgrades in technology according to customer requirements and budget. As a result, an ‘as new’ Mikron rotary transfer machine can be purchased with application and project engineering support as a turnkey solution for a price around 50 per cent of a new machine cost with a one year warranty and full support from the original manufacturer.
Carmine Ruotolo, manager of Mikron Respeed Systems, says: “We can offer an important advantage against second-hand dealers because of our historic files of previous machine installations around the world. Also, our in-house team has the expertise and detailed knowledge of machine tool building and application engineering relative to special purpose technology.”
The re-engineering department, complementary to the new machine business of Mikron Machining Technology, is able to source and supply a machine from an existing Mikron user as it stands and provide whatever installation or modification, such as electric or safety upgrade the new user requires.
Machines can be re-tooled, key elements partially or completely replaced, or a machine can be completely re-engineered, retooled and passed-off under customer acceptance procedures with a 12 month warranty exactly as a new machine.
Explains Carmine Ruotolo: “We have often been requested to provide different levels of machine capability and technology at a reasonable investment, when customers need additional capacity, are setting up an operation in another facility or country or require backup for a key production process. For customers that have extensive experience of our machines we can provide just the basic machine and equipment they need to enable them to complete a project themselves.”
A previously-owned Mikron machine can be sourced, re-engineered and tooled in four to six months – a significantly shorter timescale than for a new machine build. As a result, price structuring tends to be between 40 and 60 per cent of a new machine purchase depending on the complexity of the project.
Respeed Systems can add various degrees of automation, build in the flexibility of CNC axes to a previously mechanical driven machine frame and provide the full resource of Mikron Machining Technology departments for support when required.
Adds Carmine Ruotolo: “Important in all Mikron machine development is the original design criteria, modularity, construction and the accuracy that is built into the table, the indexing mechanism and the ability to use standard machine elements to quickly and simply re-tool.”
To secure continuous work flow, a minimum stock of 15 machines is sourced. These are stripped down, the castings checked and any necessary refurbish work carried out. Tables, unit heads, electrics and electronics, coolant and hydraulic systems are inspected and upgraded when needed, with new bearings, bushes, seals, and relays fitted.
Carmine Ruotolo says: “These machines are not cannibalised, they are used as a source of sound raw materials to which we can inspect and bring to ‘as new’ standard.”
A recent project involving a Mikron Multifactor 12-station rotary transfer machine is part of a two machine project for China. The re-engineered Multifactor has a new autoloading system to produce qualifying operations on a compressor component and will work in conjunction with a new 15-station Mikron Multifactor machine being built to machine the remaining four faces of the component in a single cycle. Adds Carmine Ruotolo: “The combination of a new and re-engineered machine gave a viable solution with Mikron providing a turnkey solution for the complete project with full warranty at a price some 25 per cent below a totally new, two machine package.”
Mikron Machining Technology
