On June 9th 2023, Fagor Automation and precision machine tool builder Danobat inaugurated the companies’ new headquarters in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. After the ceremonial ribbon-cutting event, attended by customers, press and local politicians, attendees had an opportunity to visit their respective showrooms to get a taste of the technology each company offers.
Danobat Showroom
Danobat, for example, had the Danobat LG-1000 and CG-1000 OD/ID grinding machines as well as the highly universal, highly popular Overbeck IRD-400 ID/OD & Radius grinding machines on display. The LG-1000 and CG-1000 machines are predominantly used for both small-batch and high-production OD and ID work. The Overbeck IRD-400 on the other hand, equipped with multiple ID grinding spindles and an OD grinding spindle, is best suited for small to medium sized batches in a variety of industries, such as Mold & Die, Tooling, Spindle and Gear Manufacturing, Bearing and Medical industries.
Danobat Showroom Machines – Technical Highlights
As it is part of the DNA of Danobat, all three machines feature machine beds made of natural granite, which results in best-in class rigidity, stiffness, damping properties and you guessed it, ultimate thermal characteristics, quintessential for achieving sub-micron part tolerances with excellent surface finishes.
Other technological highlights of these machines are direct drive linear motors along with water cooled, direct drive work head and wheel head spindles as well as direct drive torque motors for the work head B0 (IRD-400)- as well as wheel head B1-Axis.
Fagor Automation Showroom
Fagor’s showroom highlighted the flexibility of the company’s CNCs, which are designed for OEMs to easily adapt them to any machine. Because they are compatible with different common programming languages, the company says anyone who can build a website can design a custom interface that meets the needs of its customers.
This means OEMs can easily design interfaces for specific processes required by machine tool users. Additionally, the company sells turnkey packages to retrofit traditional knee mills and lathes with CNC, a great help for machine shops who need to keep older mills running after talented machinists retire.
Open For Business
At the event, Rolling Meadows Mayor Lara Sanoica welcomed the two companies to Illinois, and Economic and Commercial Councilor Maria Jesus Fernandez of the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain thanked both companies for demonstrating Spain’s manufacturing leadership to the world.
Danobat President Manex Ochoteco expressed his confidence in housing the company’s Sales, Marketing and Applications Engineering departments in Illinois, saying, “This facility will be the center of our company’s U.S. presence.” Danobat Group GM Pello Rodriguez welcomed the opportunity to showcase the companie’s products and capabilities, allowing for a more meaningful engagement and collaboration with customers, with the objective to provide solutions to solve their manufacturing challenges for the future.
Fagor CEO Jose Perez thanked the mayor for assisting the companies in building this new facility and discussed the value of the Chicago area for the company. He specifically thanked local colleges for connecting Fagor to the talent pool of skilled workers in the region. Fagor GM Harsh Bibra expressed his optimism for the new facility, declaring, “This is the place where we fulfill the dream of our customers.”
