Microlan wants to fly with the feet on the ground
With this objective in the spotlight began the road to "the manufacture of parts that can not do any". In numerical control, turning, milling center vertical and horizontal is common. In order to get out of this script was established on 5 axes machine. "Just put me to look at the type of machines suitable for my purposes, the complex pieces, went to Intermaher because my reference of them was very good, while I had been using for a long time of another brand". The line of Mazak gave me lot of confidence and also the price was in line with what I wanted. I was fortunate to attend the facilities of Intermaher shortly before the fair BIEMH, which meant that they had the range of exposed machine and that I could learn about in a single morning. My initial idea was the Integrex, an integrated machine of torneado-fresado. "I I debated the issue with the specialists of Intermaher, who understood my interest by making pieces in 5 axes continuous or perform many operations on a single mooring".
Views its intentions, the work of advice from the specialists in this supplier was important, to the point that back the initial idea to make him see this customer to a 630 Variaxis, a machine whose concept is very versatileit conform more to their needs. "Indeed, allow me to do work of 5 axes continuous in three axes, four axes, use the table as a divisor, with a mooring work at various angles..." Anyway, I liked it and I watched her work. I also saw lathes, which also convinced me. All this occurred in April 2004 and in may, without yet completing the production workshop, already had commissions from clients. "At the fair in Bilbao, I made the purchase of two machines, the Centre and the winch, and a week already had them in the factory."
The installation of the machines, the recruitment of workers and their training gave way to the summer, and already since October 2004, Microlan mechanical industries came into operation with seven people. As it is logical in a company which is in its infancy, at first he made all kinds of work, but the conviction of the type of piece that had to move was well entrenched in the mind of Javier Etxeberria. "I have discarded the single piece work, because they do not conform to our capabilities, and I confirmed that I want to go to the small and medium series." You know where you want to go and which way is.
Now his works are highly diversified. He works for Simes Semco dedicated to systems of fixation, Meler, manufacture of equipment of injection of tail, Master automations, VW Navarra and Miasa (automobile industry), Centralair (compressed air) or MTorres (aeronautical).
This current diversification will be reduced. "I want to bet on Aeronautics because I believe that with the entry of the countries of the East, the simple work may end up there." I intend to specialize in more complex work. I also think that the aeronautical sector is very interesting now. It is growing in the State and the Basque country, although I am aware that is a very demanding industry. "But knowing doing things with clear aims can be competitive and provide a good service".
In companies such as stops (Madrid), group Aciturri, Gamesa, ITP or Tada (Seville), with which he has already contacted or intend to do so in the near future, must be submitted with good media. "That is why I had clear from the start he needed first-order machines, as well as a good quarter of measurement, where incidentally I'll install soon a machine of measure for coordinates." "A good system of CAM, with which I am, is also fundamental."
It is a sector with very complex parts and very narrow tolerances, steep sided, flat faces, positioning... Programming, no doubt, also concerned Etxeberria. "The programming of Mazak is very simple." In addition, in the case of the Variaxis, for example, once picked up the piece origin, although you gires the fourth and fifth axis, control loses the origin, which is still in memory. Only in the case of the 5 axes continuous programming is needed from a peripheral CAM. But if it is not the case, you can schedule on site very easily and without work. Another advantage of Mazatrol is that when you program in conversational really run the program in conversational, you don't have to transferizar to an ISO language, something that other controls do happen. "In the Mazatrol everything is live, something which I much appreciated".
Special pieces
QTN Mazak CNC lathe has turrets motorcades in the C axis, allowing to make operations of milling for low volume, without removing the piece from the plate. IE fails to do what makes an Integrex in milling, but it allows you to avoid having to move the pieces to a machining center and get them finished lathe in many cases.
"Piece of machining center, I can respond well to fourth axis or no vertical center and structural pieces of up to 600 x 600 mm" "I will not go in the area of the mold or die because is it out of the experience that I have".
Investment in machinery gives the Microlan responsible for granted. "The aeronautical sector is demanding in terms of measures, tolerances, but also in terms of product." It requires a complete service. Why I enlarge the range of machines, a little on the basis of which insist on the client. It is certain that I will have a machine with turning and milling integrated. I would like to arrive at a small company of 15-18 people that can control me. However, future investments will depend on the market.
The optimistic message continues. "It makes me illusion form part of this qualitative and quantitative step that is occurring in the aeronautics sector in Spain." It is a personal challenge to form part of this project will, although I am aware of that, for the time being, am not part of the family of companies working in this sector. "But I will form, I have no doubt of that."
