Finishing workpieces accurately and qualitatively in a single fixture

Accuracy does not come out of thin air. It is the result of a meticulous process in which all the radars of the chain are optimally tuned to each other. Stevelinck from Sint-Niklaas has found its ideal match with Germond's machines. They not only stand for the quality and precision Stevelinck strives for, but are also supported by the expertise and excellent service of the supplier from Izegem.

Stevelinck in Sint-Niklaas specializes in turning and milling. "My father Henri knew his trade to perfection and wanted to do something with it," says business manager Tom Stevelinck. "It started in our garage with one lathe and a saw machine in 1979. Without ever having to advertise, the business grew organically. Word of mouth from local businesses looking for parts actually did the work." Meanwhile, thirteen employees work at Stevelinck. In all those years, one thing has always been paramount: delivering quality. "My father was a crack at what he did and also shared his experience with the employees. That means we can always technically continue where the rest stops. We don't necessarily go after complex projects, we are competitive in simpler pieces as well, but we can be of enormous added value when the demands are high. In the coming years, we want to apply our commitment to quality and precision even more to larger pieces. That is the direction in which we want to evolve."

"On Germond's recommendation, we chose Kennametal's quick-change system as an option. With each new setup, the job is now done in seconds instead of minutes and that with an accuracy of 4 µm."

Strong in service

Stevelinck himself knew an engineering education. "It gave me a taste for designing mechanical parts and machines. But I also spent years behind the machine myself. You still have to keep a certain feel for the work you deliver. Precision and quality lie in a combination of things. It starts with good craftsmanship, but also comes from choosing the right machines and tools and the way you finish." So it should come as no surprise that Stevelinck has been a child of Germond of Izegem for years. "The first contacts date back to the 1990s with the purchase of a sawing machine that has always acquitted itself excellently of its tasks. But more importantly, Germond's expertise and service have made them a real partner for us. Whenever we have a problem, they go out of their way to solve it in no time so we can get back to work. Service will become an even more critical factor in the future," Stevelinck predicts.

Excelling in stability, speed and accuracy

The most recent purchase was the DOOSAN Puma 3100LY. Stevelinck explains why it had to be there: "The fewer fixtures, the higher the accuracy we can aim for. Five-axis machining has already made its way onto the shop floor, but we also wanted a lathe that we could mill on at the same time. A machine that allowed us to completely finish workpieces in one setup to a high quality. That it became DOOSAN has to do with the stability of the machine and the block guide, which in turn encourages precision. This is what we strive for every time. And the sharp delivery time, after less than two months the machine was already producing at our place, was also a plus." The machine left the option for powered tools. Stevelinck: "On Germond's recommendation, we chose Kennametal's quick-change system as an option. With each new setup, the job is now done in seconds instead of minutes and with an accuracy of 4 µm. Incredibly fast and an incredible asset."

Managing Director Tom Stevelinck (center): "That technical expertise is what typifies each of the people on our dynamic team. They are bitten by technology and the drive to do better and better."

Proper summation of factors

The combination of turning and milling and working with an extra Y axis, requires the right expertise from the man behind the machine. "We always try to make the right match between the operator and the machine. Because this does involve a very distinct way of working, we have recruited a specific profile for this. That technical expertise is what typifies each of the people in our dynamic team. They are bitten by the technology and the drive to do it better and better. Precision in turning and milling is a sum of the right cutting speed, parameters, tools, operator, machine and supplier. At Germond, we feel that same drive to grow by helping each other. We are happy to have such a partner," concludes Stevelinck.   ν