New five-axle on the shop floor provides new schwung

With the arrival of Mazak's CV5-500, a Belgian first, in combination with RoboJob's automation solution, the contours of the future of the Willebroek-based company are already clearly outlined: continue to invest and automate according to customer needs.

From customer to owner. That's the leap Eddy De Reys made in 2018 when he took over the shares from co-founder Luc Orinx. Since then, he and the other founder, Paul De Brucker, have been at the helm of CNC Metal in Willebroek. So he knew firsthand what kind of meat he was getting into the tub. "The investment was made out of the firm conviction that there will always be a need for top-notch turning and milling. It is the basis for so many products and devices. Corona has meanwhile opened the eyes of many industrial companies that there are serious disadvantages to having products come from the East. Co-founder De Brucker confirms, "The speed of execution they can get with us, they will never find there. We sometimes deliver pieces the same day. That flexibility and service is priceless for many companies."

Quality of employees

CNC Metal has also built up a nice list of references, including major players from the wide region around Willebroek in pharma, food, chemicals, machine construction ... Not coincidentally sectors that monitor quality with an eagle eye. Because what makes CNC Metal so strong is the quality of the people on the shop floor, which translates into the work delivered. De Reys: "The war for talent is a reality in every technical sector. The great variety of machines and parts to be produced means that we do not need 'button pushers' here, but employees with technical insight who can and dare to read a plan. In return, they are constantly presented with new challenges to get as much satisfaction from the job as possible. When they commit 100% to CNC Metal, it is our duty to make those eight hours they are here as enjoyable as possible. By making them work accurately, correctly and safely with the right machines." 

Quality of machines

Indeed, the second pillar in CNC Metal's success story is its machinery. De Brucker: "The fact that orange predominates on the shop floor is no coincidence. By choosing the same supplier, you create great flexibility between people and machines. From the oldest to the newest, they work according to the same logic. Everyone can work with them. The machines Mazak delivers are also simply well built and reliable." The new investments have given a new schwung to the company . In recent years, the company had experienced some investment delays. "To remain attractive for employees and competitive for customers, we now want to invest again in new equipment step by step." A first example of that strategy is Mazak's new five-axle machine, the CV5-500 with accompanying automation. which has been on the shop floor since August. CNC Metal thus signed up for a Belgian first. 

Reliable unmanned operation

That it became a five-axle unit is in line with CNC Metal's ambition. De Reys: "For us, business is about finding the best possible price while maintaining quality, accuracy and speed of execution. The small series and piece work that we do here makes it interesting to have a machine that can finish everything in one setup in five planes within the tightest tolerances. The warehouse with more than 48 tools, means you can do very much and set-up times are limited." Working unmanned at night, however, requires a very reliable machine. The CV5-500 proved to be the perfect candidate for that role. Because standardization or not, for every investment they still test the market. "Five-axle machines are the future. This may be seen as an entry-level model, but the machine offers very many possibilities to finish products perfectly at a good price. Combine that with Mazak's support and you can see why there was no reason to change."

Becoming more efficient, being able to do more

The goal is to increase productivity by 100 nights a year with the RoboJob installation. "There is already an Integrex here, now we are combining five-axis working with automation for the first time. A tandem that works flawlessly and was also programmed in no time by our employees. They are now undergoing additional training to also make complex pieces plug-and-play. Because that is possible with this machine." This is the path CNC Metal wants to continue on. "Continue to invest and automate according to the needs of our customers so that we can grow in a healthy way. Mazak's machines help us to be more efficient and to be able to do even more," concludes De Brucker.