Kellenberger Opens New Facility for Large Part Machining
New building facilitates complete machining of large workpieces such as the bases for the company’s grinders, which are some of the most precise in the world. The design and layout of the facility are a model for large part machining.
L. Kellenberger & Co. AG, part of the Hardinge Grinding Group, has opened a new facility for complete machining of large workpieces, including the bases for its line of high-precision grinders. The building was specifically designed for grinding and machining of large workpieces to close tolerances. It is located in Romanshorn, a town near Kellenberger’s headquarters and main factory in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and represents an investment of roughly CHF 11 million for the new building and related infrastructure. About 20 new jobs were created.
“The added capacity was necessary for us to meet increased customer demands and will allow us to continue the manufacturing of all critical components in-house to maintain the highest quality of machine components,” says company president Jürg Kellenberger.
Constructed to provide a climate-controlled, energy-efficient environment for such work, the building currently houses a newly rebuilt Waldrich-Coburg grinder. A second Waldrich machine of similar size will be installed in the fourth quarter of 2012. Now undergoing a complete rebuild, this machine was relocated from a leased building recently vacated by Kellenberger. The foundation for this machine is already in place. Also in operation are two Dixi high-precision milling machine moved from Hardinge’s plant in Elmira, New York, and a Unisign VMC. Total production space is slightly more than 31,000 square feet.
Special features of the building include a centralized coolant filtration and chilling system and overhead gantry cranes, including one of 10-ton capacity. The interior space is lit entirely with high-intensity LED fixtures. The building is believed to be the first of its kind in Switzerland to use LED lighting exclusively.
For a slide show of the opening ceremonies and tour of the new facility, click here.
