Reliable and stable heavy duty running

But accurate turning also requires precise machines. Especially for the larger work that regularly passes through the workshop. So that was the deciding factor in the choice for a new lathe. It became a Hwacheon MEGA 72 teach-in lathe, supplied by Bender Technology.

Louis Moerenhout founded the company in the 60's after which it then passed into the hands of son Willy. Today the name Moerenhout is still synonymous for quality work in turning and milling to short delivery times. But for the first time, there is no longer a Moerenhout at the helm. "I took over the business in 2019," says David Van Achter proudly. "I did my internship here, got my first professional experiences. I returned since 2007 and now I'm calling the shots myself. When Willy was looking for an acquirer, I naturally hesitated. There is a lot of responsibility involved in running your own business. But together with my wife Elly, I took the plunge. And fortunately we can still count on Willy to show us all the tricks of the trade."

Ensuring continuity

Van Achter did not want to change the Moerenhout name. "We are well-known in the region, but we actually have customers from the coast to Limburg. Without ever having to place ads, word of mouth always did its job, the quality of our service spoke for itself. That good reputation has a lot to do with the large stock of materials that we keep in stock in order to be short on time." The pieces that leave the studio are very diverse. All sectors find their way to Ruisbroek. "For us, the offshore sector and the crane and gas industry are important segments. That means that when we look for new machines, they have to be able to take a beating and be suitable for the bigger work."

Extremely stable running

That's the least you can say about Moerenhout Metalworks' most recent investment: the Hwacheon MEGA 72 teach-in lathe, supplied by Bender Technology. "The lathe we had on hand was already second-hand when it arrived here in 2009. In terms of accuracy, it all became a bit less. Moreover, because the machining was done on the back of the piece, it was no easy task for the operator to set the tool perfectly." The new MEGA 72 flatbed lathe with FANUC 0i-TF plus with manual guide is characterized by extremely high stability for heavy duty turning. It can turn 3 m between centers with a turning diameter of 720 mm. "She is just a tad smaller than what we had (turning diameter 900 mm) but we can now also make smaller pieces on it. That makes it the ideal match for our diverse range of workpieces, because it turns particularly reliably and stably. And accessibility is much better thanks to the large enclosure and two doors." 

Service that had already proven itself

For Van Achter, it was immediately clear that the Bender Technology would become. "They had already proven themselves with us when our oldest lathe broke down. We couldn't get it fixed ourselves, in no time someone from Bender Technology on-site and then even after standard working hours. That kind of service is crucial for a company like ours." But the technology inside the machines had also amply convinced Van Achter. He even went to take a look at the showroom in Germany. "We have one here that is 20 years old and still running properly. For a turner, it's all about precision. When you work with large pieces and close tolerances, a lost piece is immediately a very expensive piece because of the lost working hours, the lost material ... With this purchase, we assure ourselves of the necessary precision," Van Achter concludes.   

MEGA 72 in figures

- Maximum cutting diameter: 720 mm

- Distance between centers: 3,000 mm

- Bed length: 4,652 mm

- X axis stroke: 400 mm/min

- Y axis stroke:2,900 mm/min

- Spindle speed: 30 - 1,500 rpm

- Maximum number of tools: 4

- Machine weight: 5,500 kg

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