MTA Vietnam 2016 unveiled: Automation, fiber lasers, machining centers, plasma systems

Whether or not the recently concluded MTA Vietnam 2016 in Ho Chi Minh presented any big surprises to solidify its position depends on the feedbacks from exhibitors and visitors alike. What’s certain is the substantial presence of international brands, which is a testament to the importance and value MTA VIETNAM brings to the industry and the region.

Steve Bell, General Manager – ASEAN, Renishaw plc

“This is the first time we are presenting the Equator™ gauging system here in Vietnam, in this kind of automation.” Steve showed the Equator™ together with a Fanuc robot that is simulating -- taking the part of the machine tool, inspecting the part, and then feeding it back for information. As a result, the future parts can be corrected by updating the machine tool offset.

When asked about the company’s future in Vietnam, Steve commented, “We see the future as looking very bright for Renishaw. The reason for that is we are largely involved in helping customers automate. For most, when they think about automation it means reducing labour, and taking labour cost aside in the equation. But the primary goal of automation is to improve the manufacturing process and to have a more consistent process in order to create better quality and less scrap. With every manufacturing company gearing towards automation, we see a good future for our product.”

Carina Albrecht, Head of Marketing Asia Pacific, TRUMPF Asia Pacific (Pte.) Ltd

During the booth interview, Carina highlighted TRUMPF’s new programming software TruTops Boost. “Customers are always looking for machines that produce fast. But rather than just looking at the production speed of the machines also the whole overall production processes need to be considered. Only a lean pre- and post-processing will allow manufacturing companies to make full use of the fast machines and offering them a competitive edge. So in order to support our customers with the processes around the actual production, we have developed a new programming software TruTops Boost. We developed this new software to really make the programming easy and prepare the machines to move ahead. By a click of the button, users can automatically generate their NC program. This will help manufacturing companies to save time and to reduce their overall production lead time.

Carina also emphasised on the TruLaser 1030 fiber machine which the company displayed at the exhibition. “This very robust 2D laser cutting machine is in demand in Vietnam. We see many companies starting to transfer their technologies from punching technology or manual processing to laser cutting.” This machine model makes sure that all standard materials, such as mild stainless steel, aluminium, and non-ferrous materials are processed reliably and cost effectively.

Talking about opportunities in the South East Asian marketplace, Carina mentioned that they see a lot of demand for their technologies in the region, which is why TRUMPF has recently set-up own subsidiaries in Thailand and the Philippines. With this extension the company is now locally present in all key manufacturing markets in the South East Asian region. 

machines, always the high-end model. And that is a very good sign for the market -- very mature market.”
 

Wai Yip Lee, General Manager, Hurco (South East Asia) Pte Ltd

This year, Hurco brought two of its best-selling 3-axis machines, the VM20i and VMX24Mi. “We aim to give the prospective customers a choice and comparison between our general purpose machining center and also the performance machining centers. Wai Yip mentioned that they are running live milling demonstrations for 2 different parts, 2D and 3D, in one machine to showcase the versatility of their Hurco Max5 Controller. The 2D part, programmed conversationally on the Hurco Max5 controller, features the in-built AdaptiPath software used for trochoidal milling strategy. Ultimotion, Hurco’s proprietary motion control technology, further enhances the surface finish and reduced cycle time for both 2D and 3D parts, up to 30%.

“We want them to see how our Max5 control and machines can improve their productivity thus adding value to their organisation,” he stated. Wai Yip said everyone is upbeat about the Vietnamese manufacturing sector and investment sentiment is high.

“The Korean and Japanese investment have and will continue to play a major role in shaping the manufacturing sector in Vietnam. We will continue to focus on expanding our presence and support base in Vietnam with our local partner so that we can to play an active role as a machine tool solution provider to this expanding manufacturing sector. 

For Hurco in South East Asia, Wai Yip explained that they are in the process of reshaping their team and enhancing their capabilities to take on the role of a machine tool solution provider and a true business partner. “We don’t want to be seen as just one of the many machine tool builders.  Machine feed rates and spindle speeds do not make sense unless we understand the customer applications and process flows.  With globalisation, machine shops need to innovate and improve productivity to gain an edge over global competitors. 

In recent years, machine shops have shown keen interest towards 5-axis machining, but they are either unaware about the direct benefits to their business or concerned about the steep learning curve involved with transiting to 5-axis. We have started providing turnkey solutions to such customers to make the transition to 5-axis a rewarding experience.  We have the capability to provide a full solution from reverse engineering to producing the 1^st article for our customer through our close cooperation with selected partners. He added, “We have completed a few projects in Taiwan and are humbled by positive feedback received from our customers!”

Israel Gonzalez, Regional Director, Hypertherm Asia-Pacific

“We officially introduced our Max Control Gouging Shield to the Vietnam manufacturing industry at the show. Designed for jobs that require the removal of very precise amounts of metal, the new Max Control Gouging Shield allows the user to have greater control when gouging with Powermax^® air plasma systems. The tip of the shield is engineered and machined in a way that enables the operator to create a very shallow gouging profile for precise metal removal. Gouging allows users who were previously using carbon arc to use the same plasma system for expanded applications.”

Accompanying the launch of Max Control Gouging Shield is the complete range of Powermax^® plasma systems, for both handheld and mechanised metal cutting. Of particular mention is the Powermax45^®, which was recently recognised as the bestselling plasma system of the series at Hypertherm, having sold our 100,000^TH unit earlier this year. The popularity of the Powermax45 is due in large part to its incredible versatility. It is portable — weighing in at 16 kg — yet powerful enough to easily cut 12 mm thick metal. It is also versatile enough to be used for mechanised cutting, and for automated cutting of repeated shapes.

Hypertherm has been present in the Vietnamese market for more than ten years and we have successfully built a strong presence domestically. MTA Vietnam marks our first direct participation in a trade exhibition in Vietnam, and it reinforces Hypertherm’s commitment to the metalworking industry in Southeast Asia.