Progress report on DMG MORI’s Machining Transformation - Aerospace Manufacturing and Design

Oct 23, 2024

DMG MORI Co. Ltd. President Dr. Eng. Masahiko Mori recently outlined the company’s Machining Transformation (MX) journey.

“Our mission is to try to reduce the total number of machining centers installed worldwide from five million today to one million by 2055,” he explains. “We can integrate milling, turning, measurement, sensors, grinding, and additive technologies in one platform to replace older, more labor-intensive machines.” He notes current global machine tool production capacity is about 20,000 units per year, so it will take 50 years at current build rates to reach the goal.

Mori emphasizes the replacement of current, inefficient 2-axis or 3-axis machine tools with cutting-edge 5-axis technologies is essential to reduce the number of skilled operators needed, work in progress between machines, and power consumption – ultimately reducing carbon emissions.

As an example, using DMG MORI NLX series 5-axis milling machines with autoloaders, a Japanese semiconductor equipment maker reduced the number of machine tools, processes, and operators required while still producing the same number of parts per month. The parts maker reduced machining centers needed by more than half, number of processes by two-and-two-thirds, and operators from 17 to 1.

Mori also discussed the company’s WALC CARE preventive maintenance using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze sensor data for early detection of machine tool spindle, feed axis, and rotary axis abnormalities to reduce eight-day downtime in conventional troubleshooting to two days.

DMG MORI plans to recycle 1,000 tons of sheet metal and castings from cutting chips and discarded machines for use in new machines. It’s part of a goal in 2025 to reduce the emissions from casting materials production by 1,800 tons. Throughout its entire supply chain, DMG MORI plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. https://us.dmgmori.com

CERATIZIT Group promoted Troy Wilt from national sales manager to managing director of CERATIZIT USA, Cutting Tools Division. Wilt began his career in 1989 and joined CERATIZIT in 2021. https://cuttingtools.ceratizit.com

Machine tool accessories and automation provider Lyndex-Nikken promoted Osmar Takeuchi to president. He previously served as vice president and recently celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the company. https://www.lyndexnikken.com

AE Industrial Partners (AEI), a private equity firm investing in national security, aerospace, and industrial services, appointed former U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy as an operating partner. McCarthy brings more than two decades of experience across the military, government, and private sector with positions that include: U.S. Army Special Operations Command; special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense; vice president, Lockheed Martin for sustainment, customer solutions, and program integration of the F-35 program; and Undersecretary of the Army. At AEI, he’ll work with companies developing technologies critical to national defense. https://www.aeroequity.com

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