Seco Tools (UK) invests in a GF AgieCharmilles High-Performance 5-axis machine.

The machine was installed at Seco Tools' UK Technical Centre in Alcester – a facility used by the company for in-house product and applications training for staff; undertaking individual customer projects; and company-organised and sponsored promotional and educational events. The HPM 600U is the latest, and the first 5-axis, machine tool to be installed at the Technical Centre and has taken its place alongside a multi-axis mill-turn machine and a 3-axis vertical machining centre. There are and were a number of reasons why Seco Tools chose the HPM 600U for its Technical Centre. Says Mike Fleming, Marketing &Technical Manager at Seco Tools: 'The UK Technical Centre is a valuable resource to us and to our customers. But the Centre's credibility and kudos internally, within the machine tool industry and with the many manufacturing sectors we serve can only be maintained and enhanced if we have (in situ) the very latest and most advanced machine tools at our disposal. "Precision manufacturers machining complex parts for the aerospace, medical, oil/gas, power generation and motorsport sectors are increasingly using and relying on 5-axis machine tool technology to increase their productivity and improve their performance." Clearly, a machine that represented the very latest and most advanced 5-axis technology available was important...and the HPM 600U, with its 3 + 2 positional and full 5-axis simultaneous machining capability; ultra-rigid design and construction; in-line high-torque spindle technology (20,000rpm HSK–A63); direct-drive rotary table; impressive rapids (60m/min); good-sized ATC (up to 247 tools), SMART technology software and integrated 2 – 12 Automatic Work-piece Pallet Changer – did more than fit this bill.