North American Parts Center expansion boasts 25 percent more storage capacity

Facility now stocks over 52,000 unique part numbers valued at more than $65 million

Today's production systems are more efficient than ever, however, when a machine goes down nowadays the impact on a shop is much greater. Therefore, we are committed to ensuring our customers get the fastest possible response to the unexpected. This results in our continuous and substantial investment in spare parts fulfillment, including a recent $1 million expansion of our North American Parts Center in Florence, Kentucky.

The expansion increases our parts storage capacity by 25 percent, making it possible for us to now stock over 52,000 unique part numbers valued at more than $65 million, achieve same-day delivery on 97 percent of all orders as well as support our many new and upcoming machine tool models. Two new fully automated vertical lift module storage systems boost small parts capacity by 5,600 parts, while the replacement of an existing rack system with a new one provides 286 more pallets of large part storage. In total, the expansion allows our Parts Center to inventory almost 14,000 additional parts to keep customer machines up and running.

Furthermore, we relocated our certified Spindle Repair and Rebuild Department from inside our manufacturing plant to a fifth building on our Kentucky manufacturing campus. The 65,000-square-foot building provides more room for the department to further increase its capacity for incoming spindle work while also ensuring customers the shortest possible turnaround times. In fact, we offer the industry's most reliable, highest quality spindle repair and rebuilding services, encompassing over 900 different spindle variations for all types of turning centers, vertical and horizontal machining centers and Multi-Tasking machines.

Learn more about the North American Parts Center Expansion. You can also read our September 26 blog post to find out how we are expanding other operations to better serve you.

New Variaxis i-800 processes large, heavy workpieces in single setups

Machining Center offers multiple-surface, simultaneous 5-axis capabilities

If you're on the market for a highly accurate, versatile solution that can perform multiple and complex curved surface processing on large, heavy workpieces in single setups, our new VARIAXIS i-800 simultaneous 5-axis machining center is for you.

As the newest member of the VARIAXIS i-Series, the i-800 efficiently tackles a wide range of applications, from heavy-duty machining to high-speed cutting of aluminum and other nonferrous materials. The i-800 easily processes workpieces measuring up to 39.37" in diameter and 19.69" high thanks to ample Y- and X-axis travels of 33.46" and 28.74", respectively. Plus, its high-rigidity roller gear cam-driven rotary/tilt table, with 360 degrees of rotation in the C-axis and +30 degrees through -120 degrees of tilt in the A- axis, is supported at both ends to eliminate backlash and ensure stable machining.

Furthermore, you'll find the VARIAXIS i-800 has a several other features and benefits that will reduce your production lead times, improve your machining accuracy and lower your operating expenses.

• Done-In-One capability streamlines production and improves overall management
• Intelligent Functions provide ease of operation and optimum efficiency
• Wide range of spindle speeds available for exceptional versatility
• Reliable cam-driven tool changer offers higher productivity
• Various tool magazine capacities provide part-processing flexibility
• MX Hybrid Roller Guide System offers durability and reliability for long-term accuracy
• MATRIX 2 CNC control provides unbeatable accuracy and increased productivity

Learn more about how this machine as well as the VARIAXIS i-600 and i-700 can bring more accuracy, reliability and productivity to your operations.

Aerospace supplier increases competitiveness with Mazak

Valent Aerostructures relies on several Mazak solutions to soar

Valent Aerostructures takes its machine tool purchases very seriously, and only those machines that provide the perfect combination of reliability, production value and lowest cost per part, as well as the lowest cost of ownership, are considered. A machine that makes it through the company's extensive in-house evaluation must then prove its worth in terms of performance, accuracy and increased metal removal rates.

The Kansas City, Mo.-based company is a supplier to major aircraft builders such as Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems, Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream. It operates out of nine facilities, manufacturing small and large, highly complex components and major structural assemblies for both commercial and military aircraft.

One of Valent's newest facilities is in Washington, Mo., where the company recently acquired two new Mazak VORTEX 1060V/8 vertical machining centers to increase production capacity and enhance manufacturing capability. These full, simultaneous 5-axis machines include hard metal machining packages for processing Valent's titanium components. The company is also incorporating additional VORTEX 1060V/8 machines to provide high-speed cutting capability for the shop's aluminum parts.

Before purchasing the Mazaks, Valent assessed a number of machines for the Washington shop, putting them to work cutting metals including titanium and aluminum. According to Perry Pecaut, general manager at Valent Washington, the VORTEX machines from Mazak provided the best economics for the facility.

"The Mazak machines we evaluated, as far as performance, accuracy and metal removal rates, showed to offer by far the best combination of production value, lowest cost per part and lowest cost of ownership. And we have not been disappointed because, plain and simple, the machines are truly making us much more competitive," says Pecaut.

These are not the only Mazak solutions Valent uses to edge out the competition. The company also benefits from Mazak's PALLETECH Automation System, VORTEX 1400/160 full, simultaneous 5-axis machining center, HORIZONTAL CENTER NEXUS 4000-II horizontal machining center and VERTICAL CENTER NEXUS 700D HS vertical machining center with a special high-speed package and fourth axis.