From January 22 to 26, 2019, machine tool manufacturer DMG Mori welcomed numerous users to the Deckel-Maho site in Pfronten. As part of the in-house exhibition, Dr. Masahiko Mori, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and Christian Thönes, CEO, provided information about the company's plans.

At the in-house exhibition, Dr. Masahiko Mori, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and Christian Thönes, Chairman of the Management Board, provided information about the company's plans. © WBM

The two managers are expecting renewed growth in 2018, but exact figures will not be available for a few weeks. Growth is also expected again for the current year 2019. One reason for this is the positive global market development in the industry. Although China is still the country with the strongest growth, India and Mexico are developing into very lucrative national markets.

However, it is important for further company growth to differentiate itself in the market. Thönes particularly emphasized the role of the company's own employees, who are the company's greatest strength in this context. According to Thönes, three factors are needed to be strong on the market: customer satisfaction, the ability to adapt new technologies profitably and diversity. Thönes also includes "cultural fit" under point three. As a company, you have to adapt to customer and market needs in every country.

To ensure that the course continues to be set for growth, DMG Mori wants to drive forward end-to-end digitalization at all levels of word creation in the Integrated Digitization division. As part of the in-house exhibition, the company presented paths to networked production under the motto "Integrated Digitization". This includes production planning, work preparation and production as well as monitoring, service and maintenance. DMG Mori offers solutions for each of these areas. Integrated automation concepts from the DMG Mori Heitec joint venture were also on display.

Two new machines

The DMP 70 was designed for applications in medical technology, in the job store sector, but also in the aerospace sector and other demanding industries. © DMG Mori

In addition to the paths to networked production, visitors were also able to see two world premieres. One of these is the DMP 70 dynamic production machine. At 4.2 m², the machine's footprint is 10 percent smaller than that of the Milltap 700 and is aimed at applications in medical technology as well as in the job store and aviation sectors. Features include travels of 700 mm / 420 mm / 380 mm (X/Y/Z), rapid traverse rates of 60 m/min in all axes, up to 2 g acceleration, an inline spindle with a speed of 10,000 rpm and a torque of 78 Nm, as well as tool changes with a chip-to-chip time of 1.5 s. The tool magazine offers space for up to 15 tools with a length of up to 250 mm. Optionally, 25 tool positions are possible. The machine bed is made of gray cast iron. The company particularly emphasized the thermal stability of the machine, which is due to an optimized cooling concept. High positioning accuracy is made possible by direct absolute path measuring systems, while reduced tolerances on some machine components ensure that the DMP 70 is 60 percent more accurate than the Milltap 700, according to the company.

DMG Mori is presenting the Lasertec 125 Shape as the new highlight of the series at the in-house exhibition in Pfronten as a world premiere. It is designed in particular for the surface structuring of large shapes with a diameter of up to 1,250 x 700 mm and is designed for workpiece weights of up to 2,600 kg. © DMG Mori

The second world first is suitable for the surface structuring of large shapes up to ø1,250 mm x 700 mm: the Lasertec 125 Shape in monoblock design for 5-axis machining. The NC swivel rotary table is designed for workpieces weighing up to 2 tons; with the optional Tanem Drive, the load capacity is 2.6 tons. The optional high-speed Z-shifter increases the traversing speed in the Z direction from 1.5 m/s to 4 m/s, while the laser achieves a pulse frequency of up to 1,000 kHz.