Capacity to create something new
C 22 UP | C 42 MT | C 400 UHS flex | Andreas Bruns | Various industries
Andreas Bruns has no trouble finding selling points for a Hermle machining centre: "The systems impress us with their high reliability and precision." He knows what he is talking about, as he has already added two 5-axis machines of the High-Performance line to his machine park since 2014 – one of them with additional turning function.
"A lot of things came together by themselves", recalls Andreas Bruns, Managing Director of Andreas Bruns Zerspanungstechnik GmbH in Isernhagen near Hannover. After his company was founded in 1994, it became a sought-after manufacturer of prototypes and small series for the automotive industry, medical technology and general machine construction and plant engineering. "Very demanding parts have a special appeal for me", explains Bruns. In addition to complex geometries and high precision, he is also drawn to materials that are difficult to machine such as Inconel, titanium and high-quality copper alloys.
Anyone who intends to meet such high demands needs an appropriate machine park. A look into the production hall shows that Bruns especially trusts one manufacturer: Alongside the systems for turning, electrical discharge machining and sawing stand four CNC machining centres from Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG. "Our first Hermle is about 20 years old", figures Bruns. "We were impressed by its reliability." So in 2014 the Managing Director invested in the High-Performance C 22 UP machining centre with pallet changing system.
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The C 22 UP has a pallet changing system that allows the operator to set up in parallel to machining time. -
Andreas Bruns, Managing Director, with Foreman and Managing Manager in front of the "Hermle C 42 U MT".
Greater precision and shorter setup times
The more the company concentrated on complex products, the more we reached the limits of established work processes. "If a workpiece required machining on both the turning and milling machine, we risked making errors in dimensional accuracy by reclamping", reports the Managing Director. To eliminate this risk, Bruns decided in 2018 to buy a C 42 U MT. "In addition to the greater precision, we will benefit from the Mill-Turn version of the 5-axis machining centre due to the enormous time savings and the resulting lower setup costs – that creates capacitance for something new.“
The 5-axis milling-turning centre was delivered and placed in operation in November 2018. "Everything went perfectly", confirms the Managing Director. Accustomed to working with the C 22 U, the operator noticed quickly that Mill-Turn technology requires more initial training. "Fortunately Hermle is also as good as its reputation when it comes to service: When there were problems, an engineer was usually on site on the same day", recounts Bruns.
"VERY DEMANDING PARTS HAVE A SPECIAL APPEAL FOR ME"
Like many other companies in his industry, he noticed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to hire new qualified employees. His strategy, beyond offering training inside the company, is to offer an employee-friendly working time model with single-shift operation. To maintain capacity, he needs machines that run reliably by themselves – even into the night. That encouraged the step in the direction of automation, which Bruns is taking with the latest investment, in a C 400 U with HS flex system. "Requirements for parts, specifically in terms of accuracy and availability, have risen greatly. So we needed a Hermle", explain the Managing Director. And Bruns is certain: "We will also be impressed by its precision and reliability".
