Innovation for a strong SME sector

Mobility, data & semiconductor, aviation & space - manufacturers in these and other key industries rely on a functioning network of suppliers in many areas. "Small and medium-sized companies act as the backbone of entire industries," emphasizes Dr. Harald Neun, Executive Officer DMG Mori and Chief Sales & Service Officer EMEA North. At the same time, this market environment is highly competitive. "If you want to survive here, you have to be able to handle a wide variety of orders flexibly and achieve competitive prices." This requires intelligent investment in production. As a partner to both large manufacturers and numerous small and medium-sized companies, DMG Mori has been familiar with the challenges of the individual industries for many decades. This know-how flows directly into the development of its future-proof CNC technologies. At EMO 2025, the machine tool manufacturer will be presenting innovative manufacturing solutions that enable small and medium-sized companies in particular to organize their production economically. Versatile turning centers and milling machines, user-friendly automation solutions from batch size 1 and intuitive digitalization will play just as important a role as individual financing solutions and after-sales services.

"With our manufacturing solutions, we ensure that suppliers can work in a future-proof manner even in dynamic markets - from the very first part," says Dr. Neun about DMG Mori's objective. "The demands on production environments are changing ever more rapidly: shorter product life cycles and decreasing quantities require more flexible manufacturing solutions with maximum investment security. This is why companies are increasingly turning to universal production systems that can process a wider range of workpieces with minimal effort." A key issue that the machine tool manufacturer is promoting in this context is the future of manufacturing. Machining Transformation (MX) is directly linked to this. It functions as a holistic approach that redefines industrial value creation. Four strategic pillars form the foundation: process integration, automation, digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX). Each of these pillars addresses key challenges facing the manufacturing industry: productivity, flexibility and sustainability. For Harald Neun, one thing is clear: "As large companies are setting these challenges with ever more innovative products, small and medium-sized companies are well advised to align their production accordingly."

Economical production with small batch sizes

DMG Mori supports its customers in both turning and milling with a wide range of machine tools that meet these challenges - from 3-axis machining on a DMV 60 and 5-axis milling on a DMX 80 U, universal turning on a CLX 350 and the powerful NLX 2500 to 6-sided turning/milling on a CLX 550 TC. These machines offer ideal entry-level options that can be expanded as required thanks to their modular design. Universal turning on the CLX 350 in particular has the advantage of short set-up times, making it the ideal solution for small batch sizes and frequently changing orders. "These and other models are a crucial basis for sustainable modernization of production," explains Dr. Neun. The NLX 2500, for example, offers high stability and cross-industry versatility. The CLX 550 TC, on the other hand, is the entry-level model for efficient complete machining. "The keyword here is process integration: turning, milling and - with the help of DMG Mori technology cycles - gear cutting in one clamping. Such production approaches reduce throughput times and create capacity on other machines."