Published 10/21/2018

Italian Machining Technology at BI-MU 2018

The 2018 edition of the Italian machine tool trade show emphasized start-ups, additive manufacturing and the automotive industry.

Julia Hider

Senior Editor, Modern Machine Shop

The 31^st edition of BI-MU took place October 9-13 in Milan, Italy.

This large pallet changer from Rotomors is designed to work with vertical lathes to produce parts for the aerospace industry. This saves users time by enabling them to set up a new part outside the machine while another part is being turned.

The Parpas Group emphasized volumetric accuracy at the show. Its Diamond 30 milling machine has a thermostatic system, flexion and tension stabilizer and thermostat-controlled working area to help guarantee volumetric accuracy.

Fimat showcased its WM-Twin machine for cage window milling. The machine has two spindles, two milling heads and a robot arm for part loading and unloading.

OML’s self-centering Twin vises are opened and closed with an air gun. They’re designed to be shorter than other vises and provide accuracy and repeatability.

BI-MU had a special section devoted to start-ups. One company in this area was Azzurro Digitale, which was showcasing its METIS Smart Monitoring solution for molds.

Gerardi’s Mill Tec Zero workholding system combines the company’s zero-point clamping technology with magnetic workholding technology from Tecnomagnete. It has a modular grid with moveable chucks for flexibility.

BI-MU 2018, the 31st edition of the trade show for Italian manufacturing technology, opened with a meeting for foreign delegates during which representatives from UCIMU, the Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry of Economic Development introduced the theme of the show, “The digital era of machine tools.”

BI-MU also featured an emphasis on additive manufacturing. The Associazione Italiana Tecnologie Additive (AITA) booth hosted presentations from different companies about additive manufacturing throughout the show.

Ceever demonstrated a deburring application with a waterjet mounted on a robotic arm at its booth.

This B620 YS from Biglia (sold in America under the name Eurotech) has a subspindle, a Y axis, box and linear guideways for rigidity and a bar capacity of 70 mm. It is also equipped with a parts catcher for delicate parts.

BI-MU, the biennial Italian machine tool trade show, returned to the Fiera Milano convention center this year with new features and a focus on digitalization. The show’s theme of “the digital era of machine tools” was reflected in a section of booths devoted to start-ups, which included software, sensor and 3D-printing companies.

Additive manufacturing was a popular topic outside of the start-up area as well. During the show, the Associazione Italiana Tecnologie Additive (AITA) booth hosted presentations on a range of additive manufacturing topics given by companies including 3D Systems, HP, Renishaw and Siemens as part of the show’s BI-MUpiù Additive program.

The combination of foreign companies (40 percent of the more than 1,000 companies at the show came from 27 countries) and Italian companies reflected Italy’s role in the international machine tool market. According to data provided by UCIMU (the association of Italian machine tool, automation systems and ancillary products manufacturers), the country is the third-largest machine tool exporter, behind Germany and Japan.

Among Italian companies, customization and flexibility are frequent themes. This applied to all kinds of products ranging from milling and grinding machines to automation and workholding. Large machining centers are also common, as are companies that make accessories, like die splitters and pallet changers for large aerospace components, designed to work with these machines and the components they produce.

Another industry that received special attention at the show was automotive. FCA-Alfa Romeo showcased two of its cars. There was also an area outside the halls where attendees could test-drive cars from a range of companies, including Jeep and Fiat.