New HMC Helps AME Grow Business
Their Toyoda FH800SX-i horizontal machining center helps increase business by 25 percent in tombstones, custom fixtures, and workholding components.
Posted: March 21, 2018
Advanced Machine & Engineering® Co. (AME; Rockford, IL), a global manufacturer and distributor of machine tool components and metal cutting machines for over 50 years, recently invested in a Toyoda FH800SX-i horizontal machining center (HMC) that has helped them experience 25 percent growth in their tombstones, custom fixtures, and workholding components as a result of reshoring and insourcing of manufacturing.
“Our goal for next quarter is to get our current lead times down to four weeks and, with the new machine up and running, we’re very close to hitting that goal,” said Dietmar Goellner, the president and chief executive officer of AME, whose shop invested in a Toyoda Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) back in 2013-2014 that was big enough to run two HMCs, but they started out with only one. About four weeks ago, the FH800SX-i was also connected to the FMS and has been running steady.
“This system allows users to schedule their work from the attached Rail Guided Vehicle (RGV) cell controller that keeps track of all the pallets in the system,” explained Graham Roeder, a Toyoda HMC product manager. The high speed FH800SX-i HMC at AME features:
- An 8,000 rpm high-torque spindle with an option of up to 15,000 rpm.
- A 2,127 ipm (54 m/min) feedrate.
- Dual ball-screw drive on the Y and Z axes.
- A Meehanite cast iron base for improved rigidity.
“They have been phenomenal to work with, not only as a customer, but as an industry partner,” noted Roeder. “The process and equipment investments AME has made, including two of these HMCs integrated with an FMS system, has impressed us for their ability to achieve tight tolerances. So much so, we actually use their workholding systems.”
The shop has plans to replace other dated machinery with new CNC technology that will open up job opportunities for the local community. “Over the next year, we will need ten additional CNC machinists for the rapid growth that we are predicting over the next two to three years,” added Goellner. “We now have the capacity to handle the increased demand, and we want our customers to know that we’re investing so that we can offer responsive service. We’re very thankful for their constant support that has allowed us to invest in new technology and our new facility expansion.”
The company’s robust website is also drawing a significant amount of traffic, providing new leads and opportunities for business.
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