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News Release from: Heller Machine Tools
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 May 2005
German machine tools are popular in
China
Numerous projects for China's booming automotive industry are proof that Chinese manufacturers have led to the stablishment of Heller Machinery and Trading Co in Shanghai.
Machine tools and complete manufacturing systems made by Gebrueder Heller Maschinenfabrik, Germany, are globally in great demand Numerous projects for China's booming automotive industry are proof that Chinese manufacturers have grown to appreciate the know-how and project experience of the innovative German system supplier
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Feb 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Gebr Heller Maschinenfabrik was among the pioneering companies in China.
As a global manufacturer, the company started its activities in China in close co-operation with local agencies.
Meanwhile Heller has been represented in Beijing and Shanghai for 15 years.
* New Heller subsidiary in Shanghai - in October 2004, Heller opened a subsidiary in Shanghai: Heller Machinery and Trading Co The team of the new branch includes five service engineers, two application engineers and two logistics and spare part experts.
According to the President of Heller China, Hai Han, being close the customers in China is of crucial importance: "Having highly trained technicians on site will provide our customers with much better and most of all much quicker service".
"Just give us a call and you get all the support you need from just one source." According to the Head of the Service Department, Wu XiuTong, who is also Vice President of Heller China, a spare parts stock for the Heller machines will be established in the near future.
Furthermore, it is planned to provide customer training on site in support of current projects and establish a long-term relationship between Heller and the Chinese customers.
Heller has long years of experience with projects in China.
As a system supplier and partner in solving complex machining tasks the company has successfully realised a number of major projects.
The following examples illustrate the excellent co-operation: * Brilliance Automotive, Shenyang - Brilliance China is meanwhile among the leading carmakers in China.
Besides the production of minibuses and an in-house developed sedan, the company group also produces vehicle components.
After the first joint ventures, the company was looking for a partner for the development of a 4-cylinder aluminium engine with liners from grey cast iron.
Unlike other projects, this project involved not only the delivery of production lines but also designing the product and the manufacturing process itself.
The task to be accomplished during the simultaneous engineering phase, for which Heller was chosen a project partner, was to develop a production system for the complete machining of cylinder block and head in a specially built production hall.
An initial production volume of 50,000 parts/year to be extended to 200,000 parts/year in the final expansion stage was to be realised without having to re-position the machines.
Production had to be up to European standard and fully automated, except for parts loading.
Due to Heller's wide project experience, the project was finalised within the planned period in spite of comprehensive workpiece modifications.
In the final stage, the system included 2 manufacturing lines comprising 27 machining centres model MCi 16 and MCi 26 for machining of the Block and an FST Transferline plus 29 machining centres model MCi 16 and MCi 26 for the Head.
Furthermore, Heller received the order for an additional manufacturing line for the machining of the crankshaft including process engineering.
* Yuchai Machinery, Yulin - Heller was faced with a similar task for the project of Chinese engine manufacturer Yuchai.
Yuchai produces Diesel engines for ships and generators and trucks of all sizes.
The truck engine product range comprises 4- and 6-cylinder engines with capacities ranging from 4 to 7.8 litres and an output range of 75 to 209kW.
Yuchai was interested in a new manufacturing system for their cylinder block and head production including complete process engineering.
What made this project so special was the fact that the system had to be capable of machining the five different workpiece types - two 4-cylinder and three 6-cylinder engines from grey cast iron - without an extensive changeover procedure.
The tender for the initial capacity step comprised the complete process engineering for the production of 20,000 engines/year.
Besides the supply of the machinery and equipment, the system supplier was expected to design the complete component-related equipment such as fixtures, etc Workpiece handling was to be effected via balancers.
Besides flexibility in terms of the expected modifications, the time factor played an important role in this project since production was to commence only twelve months after order placement.
Despite the tight schedule, Heller was able to find a quick and efficient solution.
The production system, which has been in operation since summer 2004, accommodates 11 Heller machining centres model MCH for machining the cylinder block and five machining centres MCH for machining the cylinder head.
The system is currently extended for the final production stage.
From March 2005, the line will be extended by 12 machining centres for the machining of block and 10 machining centres of the MCH range for the machining of head to increase the production output to 50,000 parts/year.
* Chery Automobile - Heller also realised a complete turnkey project for the rough end machining of Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile in Wuhu.
This also involved one of Heller's specialities, i.e the machining of crankshafts.
The system consisting of three DRZ 20 turning centres, one RFK 20 crankshaft milling machine and an MC 16 machining centre is designed as a fully automatic production line for two engine types (1.6 l and 2.0 l 4-cylinder engines) and production volumes of up to 190,000 crankshafts per year.
Being general contractor, Heller also incorporated machines from other manufacturers (e.g for roller burnishing, hardening, gun drilling, etc) into the production line along with their own machines.
Again, time for realisation was impressively short: the machine was shipped one month prior to the contractually agreed FOB date. Request free introductory details about products from Heller Machine Tools ...
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