New inserts provide higher quality in less time

Machining plastics requires expertise. As Europe's largest distributor of plastic semi-finished products, Vink also puts its wealth of material knowledge and experience in machining plastics at the service of clients. This is done from the Vink Machined Products department. For the past year and a half they have relied on the tools of the Hoffmann Group. A golden move because in addition to the reduction in tooling costs, the cooperation has already resulted in various process optimizations that save time and increase quality. During the Open House of Yamazaki Mazak, Vink and the Hoffmann Group enthusiastically presented the win-win possibilities.

The new GARANT MKD change plates ensure that the pieces come off the machine transparently at Vink from now on. A huge saving in time and post-processing.

With its more than 2,000 employees and presence in sixteen countries, the Vink Group can call itself the largest distribution network for plastic semi-finished products. There is also an important branch in Belgium with more than 16,000 m² of storage space to live up to the 24-hour service. But above all, Vink wants to be more than just a supplier and offer customers solutions. Manager Division Machined Parts Hans Coppens: "On the one hand, through an extensive range of semi-finished products in all kinds of plastics. On the other by using our knowledge and expertise in these materials for customers. That is the added value they are looking for. In the Fabricated Product Department, we always produce to customer specifications with just-in-time production and ditto delivery. That is why it is important to always have the right tools available. After all, they guarantee high quality and an acceptable price for our customer."

The strength of the cooperation between Vink and the Hoffmann Group lies in the desire to share knowledge in order to optimize processes.

Collaborating on process improvements

In the past, Vink chose specific tools from different brands for each operation. Until a year and a half ago, the Hoffmann Group made its appearance on the shop floor. "We couldn't find what we were looking for in the range of existing suppliers. A co-worker recommended looking at the Hoffmann Group. I created an account that same day and immediately found what I was looking for and, on top of that, a quarter cheaper and a lot faster delivery (within 24 hours). The service also turned out to be excellent with the first order and that's how the ball started rolling," recalls Kevin Janse, planning engineer. Just as Vink wants to be of added value for its partners, the Hoffmann Group itself was also keen to help optimize processes. Coppens: "The great thing is that their approach starts from the same vision of sharing knowledge and working together."

The arsenal of tools at Vink will soon be perfectly controlled thanks to the GARANT Tool24 tool dispensing system.

MKD inserts excel

Each time a challenge is put forward and the technical specialists of the Hoffmann Group work on it to achieve a better result. A good example of this is the introduction of the Garant MKD change plates. Janse: "For a customer, we make transparent bulbs for light fixtures. High-end products from which impeccable quality is expected. After all, the light has to be scattered correctly. After the pieces come off the lathe, they have to undergo fifteen minutes of post-processing to make them transparent and give them the perfect high gloss." A corollary to the new GARANT MKD inserts that were in the spotlight at the last EMO. They use monocrystalline diamond (MKD). Unlike the more common polycrystalline materials, MKD is pressed and not bonded. In addition, they undergo laser processing that eliminates bumps in the main cutting edge. The result? A higher degree of finish that can often be achieved in one fixture.

Huge reduction in manual post-processing

Janse immediately saw the potential of these new tools. "After an extensive demo by the Hoffmann Group with our own product, we were convinced. From now on, the pieces come off the machine already transparent. To get the same result, we only have to sand the final pass for that high-gloss effect. The work on the machine may take a minute longer, but what we save in post-processing is phenomenal." Results that are indeed worthy and were extensively raved about during Yamazaki Mazak's Open House days. "We were keen to highlight this collaboration," indicates Coppens. "And since three anniversaries coincided, 50 years of Vink Belgium, 100 years of Hoffmann and 100 years of Mazak, we bundled that knowledge and expertise in the production of a shot glass, which was then robotically unloaded. An interaction that in that way also worked inspiring for us, because we certainly want to explore the possibilities of automating ourselves in the future."