Climax Portable Machine Tools Receives Contract From Hitachi Canadian Industries
Newberg, OH - Climax Portable Machine Tools, a global provider of machining solutions based in Newberg and Duren, Germany, announced a contract from Hitachi Canadian Industries Ltd. (HCI) for its CM6000 portable circular mill for use in the precision machining of wind tower flanges. The contract also includes training Hitachi machinists on the basic operation and maintenance of the equipment.
The metals-removal capabilities, precision and portability of the Climax tool were key factors in HCI's choice of the CM6000 circular mill. The tool enables machinists to achieve a surface flatness tolerance of .002 inches (0.051 mm), minimizing the likelihood of excess vibration and stress on the wind turbine and extending its life. It also can create a 60rms micro finish, far exceeding the requirements of the wind industry. Furthermore, the circular mill cuts machining time up to 75 percent, taking only 2 hours to machine large flanges compared to 12-14 hours when using single-point machining tools.
HCI is a power generation component manufacturing company headquartered in Saskatoon, Canada, and is owned by Hitachi Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). It is Hitachi's only facility devoted to wind tower production, and supplies wind towers to wind farms throughout North America. In addition to wind towers, HCI also manufactures pressure vessels and heat exchangers, and provides parts and services for the steam and gas turbine industry.
As the demand for alternative energy sources grows, it is driving the need for greater innovation and manufacturing capacity within the wind industry. In response, Hitachi Canadian Industries implemented a new equipment integration plan designed to accommodate the market's growing demand for larger wind towers. HCI is integrating the portable CM6000 into its manufacturing process so that flanges that are out of spec can be re-machined right on the assembly line, saving substantial time and labor. Training on the new circular mill already has taken place.
"Hitachi continually looks for new techniques that will enhance our manufacturing process, and to partner with suppliers who have the same passion for innovation and technology that we do," said Tom Kishchuk, president and CEO of Hitachi Canadian Industries. "Climax not only understands the needs of the power industry, but also develops tools that have the versatility and precision we need. The Climax circular mill will play an integral role in enabling us to manufacture the highest quality wind towers to satisfy our customers' most stringent specifications and aggressive delivery schedules."
"To keep up with the rapid pace of turbine development within the industry, companies manufacturing wind towers need innovative tools that maximize the productivity of their manufacturing and installation operations in order to meet demand," said Geoff Gilmore, president and CEO of Climax Portable Machine Tools. "This order from Hitachi Canadian Industries, one of the major manufacturers of wind towers in North America, validates our ability to provide innovative machine tools that will optimize the manufacturing process, and enable them to compete more effectively in the growing wind market."
Climax is experiencing robust demand for its engineering services and portable machine tools within the booming wind industry. This demand is making the company's family of portable milling machines its fastest growing product line. Climax circular mills are acknowledged for their ability to provide the precision and power needed to meet critical flatness tolerances for wind tower flanges and also to significantly speed up the milling operation, maximizing productivity. In addition, because of their modular design, these portable mills can be set up usually within 30 minutes, making them ideal for field work during tower installation or for maintenance and repair operations.
To date, the company has engineered and developed circular mills and flange facers for major wind tower manufacturers and service companies in North America, Asia and Europe.
SOURCE: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.