Over a period extending through more than half a year, and month for month, TAKUMI delivered bridge-type machining centers to an address in Eibiswald, just south of Graz, Austria: for a total of two "H7" models and no less than eight "H10" Series machines. This investment by Fuchshofer Präzisionstechnik was their response to some very specific customer requirements, of the kind that so often lend impetus to this company's actions and acquisitions. Owner Hannes Fuchshofer: "These ten TAKUMIs offer us the ideal means for satisfying these demands."

The assignment in question is to produce equipment, molds and dies for manufacturing machine components destined for use in the semiconductor industry. "This means that we are machining hard and extremely brittle composite materials such as quartz glass, along with fiber-based and other special materials. It's a challenging mix, and there are additional variations from one part to the next," reports Fuchshofer. "Nevertheless, precision is essential, and we also have to keep the thermal stresses as low as possible." With part dimensions of 500 x 500 mm, the tolerances that have to be maintained for elements such as mounting surfaces and assembly clearances are measured in hundredths of a millimeter. In view of the fact that the company's customer base stems primarily from the semiconductor, automotive and aerospace sectors, this is a thoroughly typical assignment for Fuchshofer. These specialists hailing from Austria's Steiermark region have been machining an extensive array of materials for almost thirty years. "We always strive to transfer this expertise to machines representing a variety of design configurations," emphasizes the company owner. "That's what made the TAKUMIs so attractive for us."

Never stand still

The focus at Fuchshofer Präzisionstechnik is fixed on milling, lathe-turning and machining precision components. At the same time, the enterprise's offerings also embrace development and construction of special-purpose machines, as well as construction of complete component assemblies. 2005 marked the arrival of ultrasonic technology in Eibiswald, allowing the processing spectrum to expand to include sensitive materials such as quartz glass and ceramics. Then 2015 witnessed the advent of additive manufacture, which joined ultrasonic machining, CNC processing and machine-tool manufacture to form the fourth pillar of this precision manufacturer's activities.

The company's debut consisted of Fuchshofer, then in his mid-twenties, running what he likes to call a "one man show": quite literally a garage-based enterprise – a tractor and automotive garage that he took over from his father. What happened next was a genuine success story: an expanding circle of customers, new buildings and annexes added on a regular basis, and strategic extension embracing manufacturing technology accompanied by steady acquisition of additional employees. "The consistent cornerstone of my approach was flexible production, and it was all based on high levels of technical competence from the employees," underscores the business owner. His team now counts more than one hundred associates. Also available in Eibiswald are apprenticeships leading to certification in mechatronics and machining. Not the least of the achievements stems from the CoViD period, when the "Fuchshofer Academy" was established with a program of promoting more intensive training and advanced instruction. "Never stand still, always be on the lookout for new experiences and expertise," is the core principle that inspires this pacesetter. "That is how we evolved into what we are now: with impressive technical resources, highly flexible, and in a very good strategic position."

Precision only counts with reliability

Fuchshofer was already familiar with the Heidenhain control system used to operate the bridge-type machining centers for years thanks to the FF. The metal-cutting program is loaded with CAM files, and the control system serves as the implementation organ. There are also no limits on applying all previously generated programs on the TAKUMIs.

"Here we are talking about more than 1,000 programs that we have joined together." Soon this concept will be used to organize the activities of all ten machines and design manufacturing processes extending to well over 300 hours per part. "Here the priority is on 100 % accuracy in series production – and that is only possible with reliability and precision," is how this owner sums it up. "You need to consider that we reach continuous machining periods of 19 hours a day, where thermal expansion in the parts can start to pose a problem. Even for us, these kinds of machining times are new territory, but we are moving into it with confidence thanks to the partner providing our machines. Another factor is the fight against faults: Each fault must be analyzed and each error source eradicated, repeating them is not an option. This is what makes the concept so attractive for us: We know the control systems from one end to the other, and it is though the machines had been specially designed for just this assignment." Fuchshofer is convinced: Within a year, he will have a comprehensive analysis database concentrating on the TAKUMIs' performance parameters to confirm these expectations.

The gears are meshing nicely

Hannes Fuchshofer is satisfied with the delivery situation: "The transport company's notice, the set-up schedule, the documentation...all of the gears mesh with perfect precision. In the end, we had ten machines in seven months. That's a convincing achievement."

An assessment that extends to include the close cooperation with HURCO and their persuasive service concept. Once again, his focus is fixed on creating an optimal product range and assortment of key sectors for his company. "For us, the ideal customer is someone who requests a prototype, then goes on to order five or ten parts, with potential for subsequent limited-series production – always with a requirement brief including immense precision and complexity, consistently specifying demanding materials. This is where we come full circle to return to the bridge-type machining centers. Because we can only implement this assignment with machines that harmonize perfectly with our own operations. Planned job orders of the kind that run for 300 hours and more on our TAKUMIs form our economic foundation."

www.fuchshofer.at
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Peter Löffler Maschinenbau GmbH exemplifies the archetype of a tool design and manufacturing firm: nine employees, a focus on individual fabrications, consistent deadline pressure, and a close eye on cost calculations. The secret of success? Experience and reliability. And quality, of course ─ provided by a new acquisition in the form of a Takumi VC 1052.

Pliening, Oktober 2021:

For Peter Löffler, a deadline is a deadline: "When I make an agreement with a customer, then this person can rest assured that the delivery will take place on time." Meanwhile, no workpiece leaves the premises without inspection. "It has to be just right," he maintains.  He has been in the business for decades, with his own company for the last 25 years. As a specialist in mold and die manufacture, he focuses on single parts. In Eigeltingen near Lake Constance, the spectrum also includes limited series production, although this is less frequent. The customers for milled and turned components hail from the mold and die sector as well as jig and prototype fabrication, while business activities also extend to embrace automation technology. The agenda always places priority on quality and punctuality. To meet these demands, Peter Löffler has evolved special proficiency in 5-axis milling and CNC turning of aluminum, steel and stainless steel along with non-ferrous metals and plastics.

The control system defines the direction

Now he has expanded his machining resources by adding a 3-axis machining center from Takumi. "For me, the primary consideration was precision," is how Peter Löffler describes his first priority. He then provides some backstory: "A competing firm has been milling on HURCO for years and is completely satisfied. But the difference is that we produce our precision parts with Heidenhain control systems. After all, I wanted to maintain the ability to assign any employee to any machine; I didn't want to introduce a different control system. In other words, they should all speak the same language. That is why I reached out to HURCO and asked whether they could supply machines with Heidenhain control systems." This is how they met HVS Werkzeugmaschinen, the sales and service representative for HURCO/Takumi in Ölbronn-Dürrn just outside Pforzheim.

Pliening, Germany, April 2021.

With the commercial launch of its VC Series, TAKUMI is premiering three new vertical machining centers specially conceived and designed for mid-sized manufacturers of molds and dies as well as parts producers. This series consists of the models VC 0852, VC 1052 and VC 1200, all engi-neered by the Taiwanese manufacturer as 3-axis machining centers. The various versions offer an array of table sizes at 1000 mm x 520 mm, 1160 mm x 520 mm and 1500 mm x 660 mm, while also accommodating a wide range of parts with maximum table loads of 500, 650 and 1360 kg. The available travel ranges include a choice of 860, 1060 and 1270 mm on the X-axis, complemented by 520 and 660 on the Y-axis and a Z-axis travel of 610 mm.

Pliening near Munich, Germany, March 2017:
Exceptional rigidity, accuracy and dynamic performance are the key features of TAKUMI's high-speed portal machines. The H series machines operate with outstanding accuracy and achieve an exceptional surface quality thanks to their sophisticated measuring and sensor control systems. Absolute direct measuring systems, internal coolant feed through the high-speed spindle, direct drives on all axes and electronic temperature compensation come as standard. "Despite their relatively low procurement costs, the technical performance characteristics and values of TAKUMI's H series machines are all top of the range. This excellent price-performance ratio is what makes these machines particularly interesting", said Eugen Fetsch, Product Manager for the TAKUMI brand.

Fast and accurate: the TAKUMI H7 and H10 models

These two machining portals have the shortest travel paths in the H series. The H7 and H10 models focus on the high-speed applications involved in tool-making, mold-making, medical technology, and the aviation and aerospace industries. They are designed to work with exceptional precision to create the optimum surface finish even in the very tightest spaces. The robust and stable portal design and resistance to high temperatures are the cornerstones of the machines' operating excellence.

The designers have made a lasting improvement to load distribution on the spindle head by designing the portal frame as a ladder-type structure. The H7 and H10 machining portals can handle maximum table loads of up to 500 or 800 kilograms. All of TAKUMI's H series models come equipped with a Heidenhain control system as standard. Together with the Heidenhain components integrated in the machining centers, they make a huge contribution to the accuracy of the result. The control systems allow programming in dialog and in parallel mode. They also have functions for freely programming contours and options for ISO-NC programming.

Sales and service under one roof

TAKUMI-branded machine tools are sold and supplied directly by HURCO Germany, its subsidiaries in the Netherlands and Poland, and a network of dealers throughout Europe. Service tasks and application technology support are performed on-site by CNC service staff.

Pliening near Munich, Germany, October 2016:
Optimum price-performance ratio, the very highest quality and expert service, on site: These are the competitive advantages of TAKUMI machining centers that HURCO, the well-regarded machine tool-making company, will use to conquer the European market in Fall 2016. Headquartered in Taiwan, TAKUMI has belonged to the HURCO group since October 2015: Specializing in the development and manufacturing of high-speed portal machines, CNC vertical machining and portal machining centers, TAKUMI's range is the ideal complement to the HURCO Companies portfolio: Around 60 percent of TAKUMI machine tools provide unique solutions, and will expand the HURCO product range to up to more than 150 machine models.

TAKUMI machines: fast, stable, accurate

Since its foundation in 1988, TAKUMI has specialized in the development and manufacture of CNC machining centers, primarily for the tool-making and mold-making industries. Every product is developed on the basis of thorough market analyses to ensure it exactly meets current customer requirements. Even the standard versions have an impressive ranges of functions and operate quickly and accurately, remaining stable even at high speeds. "The price-performance ratio is well above that of comparable models from other manufacturers", reported Michael Auer, Managing Director of HURCO Germany. This is why TAKUMI's product lines are ideal for medium-sized companies in sectors as diverse as the tool- and mold-making industry, aviation and aerospace, medical technology and precision mechanics.

Sales and service under one roof

TAKUMI branded machines are sold and supplied directly by HURCO Germany, its subsidiaries in the Netherlands and Poland, and a network of dealers throughout Europe. Application technology support will be provided on-site, by specially trained CNC service technicians. This sales model guarantees customers product and service quality they can rely on. It is based on working closely together, building confidence and ensuring the machines work smoothly and efficiently wherever they are.

Possible market share of up to five percent

Michael Auer, Managing Director of HURCO Germany: "TAKUMI machines offer a new standard of accuracy, quality, flexibility and price in the German market: it is exactly this that makes them so interesting to medium-sized tool-making companies: we believe we can realistically expect to achieve a good market share before 2020."

Pliening near Munich, Germany, October 2016:
Now working as part of the HURCO group, TAKUMI has made its debut as a new, independent brand in the Germany market for high-quality CNC 3-axis machining centers. TAKUMI's H series consists of eleven machines of differing sizes and designs, which can handle an enormous range of tasks and requirements. The target groups are metal-cutting specialists in the tool-making and mold-making industries, which have stringent requirements when it comes to surface quality.

"TAKUMI machines are fast, accurate, and can achieve an exceptionally high quality surface finish", stated Eugen Fetsch, Product Manager for the TAKUMI brand. A sophisticated system of sensors is one of the factors that enables us to achieve this outstanding result. The sensors record thermal expansion in the machine and reports this back to the control system, which then includes this measurement data in the on-going machining processes. The H series machines have a double-column construction and are able to withstand extreme temperatures.

They are also equipped with a Heidenhain control system, absolute direct path measuring systems and inline spindles with an internal coolant feed system.

The smallest possible projection is achieved easily, thanks to the close proximity of the spindle to the portal. At the same time, the portal frame's ladder-type design effectively distributes the load for the spindle head, which is equipped with an inline high-speed spindle.

Indianapolis/Pliening, July 2015:
HURCO Companies continues its globally oriented company strategy with the acquisition of two industry giants: Milltronics CNC Machines from the USA and TAKUMI Machinery from Taiwan. HURCO is headquartered in Indianapolis, USA. Its German subsidiary, HURCO Germany GmbH, is based in Pliening near Munich.

The group is a global leader in the development and manufacture of machine tools with integrated control technologies. The combined HURCO, Milltronics and TAKUMI businesses will represent one of the most extensive product portfolios in the machine tool industry, with more than 150 different models.

"Milltronics and TAKUMI have more than 18,000 machines installed in 30 countries. This will expand our customer base and also reinforce our presence, particularly in markets of the future such as China and Latin America," commented Michael Auer, CEO of HURCO Germany, on the potential of these latest acquisitions.