Winbro Group Technologies acquires Hardinge Inc's FGC product line

(Video is original Hardinge FGC machine information) The machines were previously built at Hardinge UK, located nearby in Whetstone, and seven staff have transferred to Coalville to support assembly of the machines there. An order book is also transferred, but no details are given. The FGC (Flexible Grinding Centre) is a multi-axis grinding machine based around a vertical machining centre construction and employs the VIPER (Very Impressive Performance Extreme Removal) grinding process. There are about 100 machines in the field, according to Winbro's global capital systems and marketing manager, Richard Baxter, and Winbro will assume field service and support responsibility for these machines. This acquisition will allow Winbro to offer high precision multi-axis grinding systems as a complement to its EDM and laser-based systems for turbine cooling hole machining – FGC technology is most often used in support of turbine blade/vane manufacturing. Over the last couple of years, Winbro and Hardinge have worked together to offer complex, comprehensive solutions for turbine manufacturing applications, in fact, and this acquisition is said to be "a natural progression of that relationship and continues Winbro's expansion into this market". Winbro is already a user of FGC technology at its Coalville facility, employing these to support a component manufacturing capability; a service offered in parallel to the development and supply of manufacturing systems. The acquisition will, says Winbro, add to its capability to develop manufacturing solutions for complete turbine blades and vanes through its Nadcap-approved component manufacturing facilities in its Leicestershire and South Carolina operations. Winbro managing director Robert Folwell said: "Winbro's position in the turbine market place has taken a huge step forward. We are very excited about the expanded capabilities the FGC brings to Winbro and our customers."