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Heimatec’s U-TEC Changing System Shortens Operation Cycle Time

Heimatec’s U-TEC Changing System Shortens Operation Cycle Time

Efficient manufacture is made significantly easier in two ways. If machine downtimes can be reduced, the productive time thereby increases automatically. By using flexible universal tools, the tool inventory can also be reduced, and costs saved as a result.

The precision tool manufacturer Heimatec (Germany) developed the flexible heimatec.u-tec® tool change system for this purpose, which is established in the market for many years, and allows machining companies to utilise different adapters for a wide variety of machining tasks. In particular, Heimatec’s live tool holders are doing remarkable a job in the Indian market. One of their major corporate customers and success story in India is Ultra Corpotech Private Limited who shared with us, on how they benefitted from the U-Tec flexible changing system.

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Changing Times In The Metal Cutting Industry

Changing Times In The Metal Cutting Industry

Today, workpieces need to be machined using multiple tools and fast tool change systems are becoming the norm. Article by heimatec. 

Today, workpieces generally need to be machined using multiple tools, which in turn means that tool changes are required during the machining process. In order to keep the changeover and adjustment times as short as possible, the use of fast tool change systems has become the norm. Here, heimatec, manufacturer of high-precision static and driven precision tools for lathes and machining centers, introduces its wide range of solutions for fast tool changing. 

Flexible System

Efficient manufacture is made significantly easier in two aspects. If machine downtimes can be reduced, the productive time increases automatically. By using flexible universal tools, the tool inventory can also be reduced, resulting in cost savings. 

heimatec developed the flexible heimatec.u-tec tool change system for this purpose, which allows machining companies to utilise different adapters for a wide variety of machining tasks. The driven heimatec.u-tec tools are designed with a collect chuck mount according to DIN 6499, allowing the user to use the driven tools without additional tool adapters. A special feature of the heimatec u-tec change system is the short mounting length which ensures exceptionally stable clamping of the cutting tool with low cantilever forces, leading to excellent machining results and a long service life of the cutters.

Reducing Machine Downtimes

The company has developed the easy-quick HT series specially for fast changes in the area of driven and static tools. This means different tool change inserts with market-standard tool mounts can be preset outside the tool machine and when required, can be simply, safely and quickly installed by the machine operator with one hand. With this series, machine downtimes are reduced significantly. In addition, the overall tooling costs are reduced thanks to the multiple and flexible use of the easy-quick base tools. 

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Heimatec On Thailand Opportunities And Challenges

Heimatec on Thailand Opportunities and Challenges

Karl Moessmer and Dirk Hund of Heimatec sound off on the company’s Thailand market and the opportunities they are seeing in the region. Article by Stephen Las Marias.

At the recent METALEX 2019 event in Bangkok, Thailand, Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News (APMEN) spoke with Karl Moessmer, regional manager for Singapore, and Dirk Hund, sales manager, at Heimatec, about the company’s Thailand market and the opportunities they are seeing in the region.

READ: Thailand Sets Sight on Industry 4.0

HOW LONG HAS THE COMPANY BEEN IN THAILAND AND HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS BEEN?

Dirk Hund (DH): Compared to Vietnam, Thailand is a better market for us so far. We have really good partnerships here, and projects are more promising. It is a more-developed market, that is why I think, it is a better situation here in Thailand as of the moment.

Karl Moessmer (KM): Our first exhibition was in 2011. Since then, we have participated in the same show until today, and we are going to continue this basis because we believe in the continuity of activities here.

As Dirk mentioned, we have now shaped a team that is quite reliable and performing in our interests. As far as the market potential is concerned, there is an increased investment flowing into Thailand. So that, among the Southeast Asian market, Thailand has a great potential for us in the next couple of years. There is no such thing as instant success—if you come in for a quick buck, you are wrong, because any place that is solidly growing is going to be there forever.

A quick success might not be continuing. This is why we believe in continuity. To see where our chances are, and come in with more professional support, that is our intention.

READ: Thailand’s Roadmap To Become The Regional EV Hub By 2025

DH: And to set up the right strategy. You have to adjust the strategy, every year. It is still challenging, since it is a different country, different culture. You can’t compare it with other countries, especially in Southeast Asia. If you do not have a direct sales team here, everything will then rely on your partner—so you have to have the right partners in the country.

IN WHICH INDUSTRIES DO YOU SEE GROWTH HERE IN THAILAND?

KM: It is still the automotive industry, with some machine makers. We will have to see if they will continue to be automotive because of all the uncertainties with the electric vehicles. This might cause some hesitation with people interested in investment. We are here to survey the market to see what is coming up within the next couple of years.

We are of high hopes that we are still placed in a potential market, especially since we know that a lot of German manufacturers based in China are moving out and trying to establish themselves in some other markets in Southeast Asia. Thailand, Vietnam, maybe Indonesia to some extent, will be benefitting from the reduction of the German investment, or European investment in China. This is why, I think, this is a good location to focus on.

READ: Light In Thailand’s Economy Despite Coronavirus Outbreak

WHAT TECHNOLOGY TRENDS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE MARKET?

DH: The whole topic of Industry 4.0—I think it’s a big step to go for manufacturers here and Southeast Asia as a whole. It is a big step in Europe, but I think we are in the early stages here.

I don’t know if people really know what is behind Industry 4.0. For big companies with many machineries, it is a trend already. Here, I think it is a small portion at the moment. We can offer tools for Industry 4.0, but I think it is still a long way to go, especially here in Asia.

READ: Heimatec Discusses Market Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies

KM: I think everybody is just in a sort of wait-and-see attitude. This is also affecting investments. Nobody knows in which direction the markets will move, and this is causing hesitation. This is why I think foreign direct investments (FDI) will not be as much as it has been in the past. So, we have nothing else in mind but to be around, survey the situation, and then adapt to however necessary.

IN OUR PAST DISCUSSION, YOU MENTIONED VIETNAM’S MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY IS SOMEHOW NOT MATURED YET IN RELATION TO HEIMATEC’S ADVANCED SOLUTIONS. IS IT THE SAME IN THAILAND?

KM: Thailand is a bit more advanced than Vietnam because they have experienced a long-term investment of Japanese and European companies. From that point on, they started to grow and develop. Also, in terms of technical knowledge, they are one, if not, two steps ahead of Vietnam. But Vietnam will upgrade themselves also. So, we have a lot of market studies to do to benefit from the move in the market.

DH: I can underline that. It is still, I think, the technology you have to offer. They are more advanced, yes, but still not on the high level.

READ: heimatec to Showcase New Tool Features and Innovations at METALEX 2019

KM: We cannot compare a European technical standard to the Southeast Asian standard, so, we should not move into the market with the wrong perception. This is why we have learned to be patient, and provide more support and assistance, because to handle a catalogue is not enough—this is not a wear-and-tear part, it’s not a consumable—this is an important part of a solution for a machining process.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?

KM: There is no perfect solution. From my point of view, the only thing you can do is be present, observe the market, and stay in contact with your partners. Expect a good feedback from their side and try to realize whatever perception you have. There’s no other way around it. And nobody knows which the appropriate direction is to move—nobody.

Even the people who come here often do not know everything about Thailand. The market is always full of surprises. So, as long as the economical and political situations remain stable, we have a good perspective for the future. But you never know what is going to happen. That is why you have to be highly flexible.

 

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Heimatec To Showcase New Tool Features And Innovations At METALEX 2019

heimatec to Showcase New Tool Features and Innovations at METALEX 2019

heimatec will be presenting its static tools equipped with the common, standard holders and with Capto TM-, HSK-, KM and ABS adaptations at METALEX 2019, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from November 20–23, 2019. Driven tools by the company are available for lathing- as well as machining centres and include axial and angular turning- and drilling heads, cross milling-, swivel- or disk milling heads and multi-spindle tools.

heimatec will be present as an exhibitor in German Pavilion Hall 99 at Booth AM07 and will demonstrate the extensive standard program as well as new tool features and innovations. It sets new standards in chucking work with the u-tec universal change system, as it can be universally applied and at lowers costs. heimatec.u-tec distinguishes itself with its very short, compact construction and high bearing stiffness, and allows for inner coolant feed up to 120 bar.

heimatec.Capto is another modular, quick change tool system in the heimatec assortment that significantly increases efficiency in setup- and change times. heimatec.Capto is highly flexible and offers broad modularity and high availability for the interchangeable inserts on lathes and machining centres.

heimatec.SwissTooling makes a new tool program available especially for longitudinal, automatic turning machines.

 

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Heimatec Discusses Market Opportunities, Challenges And Strategies

Heimatec Discusses Market Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies

Karl Moessmer (left), regional manager for Singapore, and Dirk Hund (right), sales manager, at Heimatec, speaks with Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News (APMEN) about the opportunities in the market, the challenges they are seeing, and their strategies to navigate these issues. Interview by Stephen Las Marias.

Established in 1987, Heimatec GmbH manufactures precision tools for turning and milling centres. The company is headquartered in Renchen, Germany, and has subsidiaries in Moscow, Russia; Chicago, Illinois, USA; and Pune, India; and has a representative office in Singapore.

At the recent MTA Vietnam 2019 event in Ho Chi Minh, Karl Moessmer, regional manager for Singapore, and Dirk Hund, sales manager, at Heimatec, speaks with Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News (APMEN) about the opportunities in the market, the challenges they are seeing, and their strategies to navigate these issues.

For those who may not be familiar, please give us a quick background on Heimatec.

Karl Moessmer (KM): Heimatec manufactures static and live tools for turning and milling centres, as well as machine centres. Static tools are the most basic kind of additional accessories for machine tools, whereas live tools give manufacturers a greater flexibility to manufacture, let’s say, more complex components. In this sector, we face substantial competition from Europe, especially, Italy and Germany, and to a certain extent, from Japan. Our participation in this show underscores our focus on the Asia Pacific market. And we have Vietnam in mind as we can see more and more foreign direct investments flowing into the country. That means more sophisticated machineries are being placed in various industries in the region.

What opportunities are you seeing?

KM: The number of machineries—machine tools, turning centres, machining centres—is increasing. And with it, the demand for the tools. Of course, Vietnam might be at the early stage for this kind of industrialisation, but it will grow like any other country did in the past. We don’t want to step in when all the positions are occupied already. We want to be part of it from the very beginning. This is where we see an opportunity.

Dirk Hund (DH): I agree with Karl. I am in close contact with him about the market situation here in Southeast Asia, and not every country has this big potential. But we definitely see one in Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and South Korea. These are the main regions we are looking at.

What are the industry drivers in the markets you are involved in?

DH: Investments. Government regulations or government programmes supporting various industries drive the region and investments. And for sure, bigger brands, bigger companies, when they come to the country and they start a production facility, they need to get third party suppliers. Those who will manufacture parts for those companies are potential customers for us, as long as they have such types of machines.

KM: The investment is also driven by whoever is supporting it—for instance, car manufacturing. We see a lot of potential in this area, but car manufacturing has been shifting all over the place. Right now, maybe the biggest chance remains in Thailand. But we also see part of production in this area shifting to the Philippines.

We always have to be on our toes to follow where the market is. The market is changing, depending on how strong the government is supporting a certain industry. Maybe around 5 to 10 years ago, it was disk drive manufacturing, they are using a lot of machine tools. But this production has been shifting all over the Asia Pacific. We have to open our eyes and travel a lot so that we can get first-hand information from the market. And in exhibitions like this, the feedback we receive will tell us how to change our attitude toward the market potential.

What challenges are you seeing?

KM: The biggest challenge is the different types of language. It is not enough that you can say ‘Hello’ or ‘Good morning’; you have to be able to explain the technical product.

DH: Finding the right partner. Not everybody, or not every company, can afford to open up their own facility here, or sales or service department. I believe it’s necessary to be successful in the country. If it is Vietnam, or Thailand, or whatever, you need to have good partners. And as Karl said, language is another barrier. It’s hard to find people who can speak English, even at least a few words.

Also, while one challenge is the technical part, which Karl described, the other one is the economic part. If you want to become successful in this market, you have to follow a strategy. In Europe, we use a lot of time just to think about how we can approach our customers, and follow a specific route just to have a clear picture about the country or market, find out where the business clusters are, like automotive, medical device businesses—maybe Hanoi is automotive, and Ho Chi Minh is aerospace—and you need to follow up once you find the machine tool builders.

You have to contact them, try to find possibilities to get in there, and then identify your customers. And do it like a sniper. This is sometimes hard to explain to some partners here in Asia, if you have found one. Sometimes, it’s difficult to deliver the message.

KM: One technical aspect to consider is that all the advanced machine tools require advanced and stable power supply. In the instance there are brownouts, when you don’t have a stable supply of power, you are in big trouble when you have highly advanced machineries—enormous damage can be caused when there are power interruptions. Therefore, the infrastructure is also important.

Also, when it comes to shipment of goods. For instance, when you ship a machine tool to Singapore, within the next couple of hours, it is already in the factory. But when you ship to other places, there might be flooded roads when it rains, and all the while the machine is hanging somewhere. Infrastructures must be stabilised and properly developed.

What are your goals and outlook in the Southeast Asian market?

DH: For the next two years, to have a solid base and partnerships here in Vietnam. Whatever the outlook will be, for sure, we want to grow with the market. We know we have to invest a lot of time and patience to develop it the right way, and every single euro we can make as a turnover will be perfect.

As long as we can do some turnover in the region, I can support our management back home, to be patient and do this more in the region. Because it has a potential. The challenge also is for the management of companies to stay focused on the Southeast Asian region. It has different cultures, different nationalities, different behaviours, and all these doesn’t make it easy.

Finally, what would be your advice to customers when it comes to their tool selection?

KM: My advice is not to focus on the initial price offer primarily, but to look at quality, reliability and durability. Cheap products come at a cheap price. Some investors have this sort of a twisted concept: they buy a machine costing half a million dollars, and then try to save money on the tool on the lower end of investment. This is where they try to save. What if the tool does not perform? Then the whole machine will be idle just to change an endmill—on which they saved a dollar.

This is a big challenge in some of the markets. When you buy cheap machines, you buy cheap tooling, cheap cutting tools, and then you save on the materials, but then you want to produce a top-class product… How can it be? If you want to sell to markets that are able and willing to pay a good price, then you have to supply top quality products. These products cannot be produced with cheap machines, cheap tools, and cheap materials.

 

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Heimatec To Showcase New Products, Tool Innovations At EMO 2019

Heimatec To Showcase New Products, Tool Innovations At EMO 2019

heimatec GmbH is presenting a wide range of innovative solutions and new products at EMO Hannover 2019. An INNOVATION AREA will show driven and static tools with the polygonal tool interface “pti” as well as the latest version of the digital tool management system heimatec.Sensoric. Also on display are new products such as the heimatec.Cradle, tools with the Capto quick-change system, and the heimatec.SwissTooling product family. heimatec will be exhibiting at Hall 5 Booth D34.

heimatec’s EMO exhibition booth offers a lot of space for different thematic worlds. It features an INNOVATION AREA where visitors can see what stage of development two new products are in. As a member of the extended expert group of the pti-working group, heimatec presents several tool holders and driven tool units with the new conical-polygonal lathing interface pti.

Digital tool management is finding ever greater areas of application for driven tools. For a long time, heimatec has been developing a system solution under the product group name heimatec.Sensoric for the acquisition and monitoring of various tool parameters such as rotation, temperature, vibration and battery condition. heimatec is presenting the latest version of this Industry 4.0 solution in its INNOVATION AREA.

Meanwhile, the latest innovation heimatec.Cradle, a revolutionary tool system for high-precision machining of bearing seats in pump housings, will be presented for the first time. The housing of the Cradle tool unit is precisely adapted to the geometry of the pump housing, achieving maximum rigidity in the machining process. A specific interface for milling tools also ensures the best possible machining results.

Specially developed for Swiss type lathes, heimatec.SwissTooling presents a comprehensive range of tools that includes both static tool holders and driven tool units. The range is characterised by a long service life and the highest processing quality.

heimatec has extended its product range with heimatec.Capto, a modular quick-change tool system that significantly increases set-up and changeover efficiency. heimatec.Capto is extremely flexible and offers wide modularity and a high availability of interchangeable inserts for lathes and machining centres. The heimatec.Capto quick-change tooling system is available for Capto sizes C3, C4, C5, C6, C8 and C10.

 

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