Today, Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH is launching its three-day in-house event at its headquarters in Nürtingen with plenty of information, innovation and inspiration. The HELLER Open House focuses on the latest powerful generations of 4-axis and 5-axis machining centres. The company will be presenting innovative technologies such as power skiving and friction stir welding, comprehensive services as well as future-proof digitisation and automation solutions. With an extensive programme of guided tours as well as a large exhibition, the machine tool manufacturer offers its guests exclusive insights into the HELLER world and an opportunity for exchange.
Reinhold Groß, will seize this opportunity to introduce himself to the guests at the HELLER Open House as the company’s new CEO. “I am looking forward to my first HELLER in-house exhibition and I am convinced that the circa 850 visitors will be enthusiastic about our solutions as well,” says Groß. An entire network for user-oriented solutions awaits the guests at a large exhibition. “At the event, our subsidiaries GSN, Paatz, STS and Wenzler as well as more than 20 partners and suppliers will present their solutions and provide an in-depth insight into the HELLER world,” he continues. A total of six different guided tours will provide even more exclusive insights – for example, into the networked manufacturing and assembly of the machining centres, component repair and the modern teaching and learning factory for the machine tool experts of tomorrow.
Powerful in practice
Visitors will also be able to experience the latest powerful generations of 4-axis and 5-axis machining centres live in operation. Among others, the HF 3500/5500 5-axis machining centres will be on display. They are synonymous with even greater flexibility, productivity and precision. A spotlight will also be on the fourth generation of the H 4000/6000 4-axis machining centres that once again demonstrate their dynamics, stability and performance. The CP 6000 5-axis mill/turning machining centre offers powerful complete machining on a single machine.
Innovative technologies ready for series production
A variety of innovative technologies will be presented at this year’s open house. For the first time, HELLER will be presenting the friction stir welding technology to the public. The process for positive bonding of different workpieces is integrated in 4-axis and 5-axis machining centres. The flexible joining process enables complete machining and subsequent welding in one setup. It offers clear advantages in terms of productivity and precision.
Two brand-new methods for producing gearings on various HELLER 5-axis machining centres will also be presented. Power skiving allows to produce external as well as all kinds of internal gearings on standard 5-axis machining centres equipped with turning functionality. Gear hobbing is a compelling solution for the machining of external gearings, providing versatility for the production of different tooth shapes and gear modifications. Both processes can be retrofitted via software and are particularly suitable for the machining of complex products in a single setup such as planetary carriers. A major advantage of the process is easy programming via an HMI-supported user interface.
In addition to the mill-turn functionality for complete machining on a single machine, the Nürtingen-based machine tool manufacturer offers another alternative turning option – interpolation turning. What is new is the application of a software feature developed by Siemens, for which HELLER provided exclusive support during the development phase. It provides an attractive alternative for all users who only rarely need a turning function on the machining centre and place particular emphasis on increased flexibility. These two turning options are complemented by the flexible HELLER out-facing head system, a U-axis system for turning and boring that is fully integrated in the spindle units.
Inner surfaces of small cylinders can be coated from autumn this year, when HELLER will be launching a system equipped with a new single-wire technology called CBC 10. It is the smaller sibling to the CBC 200 coating system based on twin-wire technology, which has been established for more than ten years now. The aim of this development is to make the coating process used for larger engines with an average displacement of two to three litres available for the production of small engines with up to 125 cc. Engines manufactured with this technology are much more environmentally friendly as the HELLER technology not only reduces friction and wear but also fuel consumption and emissions.
Automation for maximum system availability
HELLER automation solutions speak for themselves – they ensure maximum system availability and are flexible, easy, and intuitive to operate. Guests at the HELLER Open House will be able to see for themselves, for example, the HF 3500 with RSP rotary pallet magazine from STS enabling automated handling of the machine pallets. Moreover, the FPC pallet container from Fastems and the robot solution from STS for workpiece loading on an HF 5500 with flexible workpiece handling will be demonstrated. In addition, HELLER will be highlighting automated tool loading and unloading with a KUKA KMR Cybertech on an HF 3500.
Digital solutions from HELLER
The HELLER open house will not miss out on tailor-made digital solutions. The machine tool manufacturer will be presenting the HELLER Shopfloor Interface, a mobile 360° view of all data relevant to the assembly process. The HELLER Services Interface ensures increased transparency at the machine, higher productivity and a reduction of unscheduled downtimes. A range of HELLER modules will also be on display, among them solutions for collision protection or rack-type magazine optimisation. With the HELLER OPT after-sales service, the company offers optimisation potential for the continuous improvement of manufacturing systems in order to always get the maximum out of the machines.
Lifetime Partnership – compelling complementary services
The HELLER Academy provides its customers with targeted and effective support in the form of customer-specific and practice-oriented training courses throughout the life cycle of a machine. The entire training portfolio, including training areas and equipment, will be presented at the in-house exhibition. In addition, prospects will have an opportunity to learn everything about financing and leasing offers as well as flexible usage models. Moreover, the new myHELLER customer portal will help them to keep track of their machinery and to easily place orders and service requests.