Since its establishment in 1996, the SUD.Précision Company has always specialized in precision mechanics and precision micromechanics. To make this possible, the company has built a team of experienced old hands and young employees. As a result, there is a good balance in the age pyramid, which helps to ensure that contact with customers can be properly maintained. Because SUD.Précision also strives to build long-term relationships with its customers.
Yves PINTEAUX, General Manager: “Sud.Précision is actually still a fairly young company. Up to a few years ago the growth was steady, but the volumes in our orders have risen considerably in recent years. To achieve that growth, we doubled in personnel between 2013 and 2018, but even then we still need more capacity. We cannot get there with people alone, and those with the right technical profiles are also very difficult to find here. This meant we had to start looking for other solutions and as a result came into contact with RoboJob at the Salon de l’Industrie in Paris. It was Arnaud Degomme, business manager of RoboJob dealer Degomme-Boccard, who recommended RoboJob to us.
After the Salon de l’Industrie, we ordered a new machine with a robot. We chose a Mazak Variaxis I500, which was installed in November 2018. At the beginning of 2019 the robot was also installed: a Mill-Assist Essential Integrated with a 20 kg robot. We work a lot with aluminium and stainless steel, and have large series with short cycle times. To keep that cost-effective and efficient, the robot is really useful. For example, we can now work through the night without there being a high risk of tool breakage. We still work unmanned during the day.
Degomme-Boccard was responsible for the mechanical installation, and commissioning was then carried out by RoboJob. Everything was done in a few days.
We have now trained 2 operators, and one of them works with the robot every day. He really likes to work with it, and personally gets a lot of satisfaction from working with such new technology.
We’re also noticing that we get a lot more return from our Variaxis when we compare this with other machines. It’s also logical, given that the actual capacity is now much higher thanks to the Mill-Assist that keeps the machine operating at night. As far as we are concerned, this is a beautiful marriage between our five-axis unit and the robot.”
