Says Gene Haas: “From an international standpoint, Formula One is the highest echelon of racing, and Haas Automation builds the highest quality machine tools.
“When you hear the words Formula One, you know exactly what they stand for: a global racing series that invests in the latest technology and attracts the best talent in engineering and design.
“Haas Automation has an excellent reputation in the United States – for reliability, innovation, and value for money – and I want that reputation to continue to grow worldwide. Connecting Haas Automation with F1 in name and in practice is the best way to grow our business and elevate Haas Automation to a premium, global brand.”
Explains Guenther Steiner, team principal, Haas F1 Team: “Just as Haas Automation’s CNC machine tools evolve continually, becoming better and more efficient as time goes by, our methodology behind the VF-16 was to make it the best evolution of a good F1 car. As we’re a new team, we studied what the successful F1 teams were doing, so we had a strong baseline for the direction we needed to go with our design.
“We need to go out there and show that we can do the job – that’s our first objective. Then show we can finish races, that we are respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock and, of course, that we can score points. That’s the goal.”
The dark grey, light grey and red-toned livery of the Haas VF-16 was derived from that of Haas Automation’s CNC vertical and horizontal machining centres, turning centres and CNC rotary tables and indexers.
The VF-16 takes its colour cue from Haas Automation Inc machine tool colours, offering brand reinforcement
Since 1983, Gene Haas has grown Haas Automation Inc into the largest machine tool builder in North America, with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Oxnard, California-based Haas Automation Inc employs around 1,300 people and exports approximately 60% of its annual production to more than 60 countries.
There are close to 185,000 Haas CNC machine tools installed around the world, supported by a network of 170 Haas Factory Outlets (HFOs) – independently owned sales and technical service businesses, dedicated to providing industry-leading support. Haas Automation in Leicester is the central operation for the UK.
* Gene Haas is co-owner of NASCAR team Stewart-Haas Racing, founded in 2003 as Haas CNC Racing, changing name in 2009.
