Where does the journey of part processing go to? What is still feasible in Europe?

Very often, production is transferred from Europe to low-cost countries. But the necessary technique, as well as the know-how are preferably still developed at the headquarters or the inland, and then dislocated with new machines. A dislocation of so-called “old” machines does not seem to be economic. Only labor and social charges of the chosen location are decisive (picture 9). This gives the machine manufacturers a chance to make transit deliveries for machines and installation all over the world.

Together with the increasing improvement of the measuring technique, the market requests more precise parts and thus more advanced production techniques.

The precision in measuring, from 0.01 mm to 0.001 mm (µ) and 0.00001 mm (nm) to 0.0000001mm (Å) (see chart picture 11) is very exacting to the machine constructing industry and processing know-how.

Stähli faces up with the challenge and great endeavors are continuously taken together with technical colleges and universities for constant improvements and to bring new developments to the stage of production ripeness. Internal developments, assisted by daily experience gained from contract work, support the process.

The quest for an extra performing two-wheel flat honing machine with e.g. 75 kW driving power and speeds per wheel of up to 2000 min-1 for Ø 500 mm is taken up by Stähli. In this respect, the diamond, as well as the CBN wheel manufacturers are challenged. The journey already heads for cutting speeds of m/min. and thus into the range of the grinding technique with its cutting speeds of m/sec.