A New Era in Vertical Machining
Redesigned HMC with New Tool Magazine
Another Big Drop in Machine Tool Orders
Machine Tool Orders Remain Weak
UNITED GRINDING North America presented a promising view of the future beyond the present market restrictions, with a virtual unveiling nine new machines for manufacturing parts and components that require precision grinding. Relevant industrial sectors include light- and heavy-vehicle production, equipment for civilian aircraft, packaging, medical equipment and supplies, and mining production.
For revenue growth opportunities, shops must expand their processing capabilities, especially for parts like turbine vanes, blades and shrouds; vehicle hydraulic pumps and steering racks; and Hirth couplings.
Other parts offering growth opportunities, and for which United Grinding offers production options, include tooling such as step tools, dies, drills and milling cutters, along with woodworking and form tools and rotationally symmetrical tools. In the medical sector, expansion opportunities are seen in production of knee joints, as well bone saws and knives.
United Grinding offers space-saving five-axis, heavy-duty continuous-dress creep-feed grinding machines, modular surface and profile systems, Two-in-One grinding and eroding capabilities, single-clamping tool production, optical non-contact four-axis CNC measurement, universal cylindrical grinding with integrated palletized automation, and data-driven production analytics.
United Grinding also introduces networkable technologies in response to the digitalization requirements of Industry 4.0: United Grinding Digital Solutions™ is a modular suite of services that supply analysis, monitoring, troubleshooting, process optimization, and security:
• Digital Solutions' Remote Service minimizes downtime with single-click access to prompt, system-specific remote analysis and expert troubleshooting via a secure communication platform and certified VPN connection.
• Service Monitor maps the current state of machines and provides structured maintenance planning that reflects machine operating hours.
• Production Monitor provides 24/7/365 access to status updates on all connected machines from anywhere in the world via a smartphone app.
• Customer Cockpit centralizes management of machines, users, authorizations and software updates through a digital hub that links together and provides the basis for all aspects of the Digital Solutions service suite.
• IT Security ensures that Digital Solutions functions directly and exclusively through a secure, encrypted connection between the shop facility and United Grinding, with timeouts to limit connection duration.