Koepfer America’s Gear Technology Tour Visits Italy

Koepfer America sponsored a group of North American gear manufacturers on a technology-focused “Italian Gear Tech Tour” November 16-22, 2014 to see the latest Italian gear products that will be introduced to the North American market. The group consisted of select representatives from the industry’s leading gear manufacturers who received a personal look into these companies as well as tours of several gear manufacturers, such as Corradini Giacomo Gears and OMIG Ingranaggi.

The tour took place in the northern region of Italy, where the country’s heart of manufacturing is concentrated. A key stop was to CLC, one of Italy’s fastest growing gear machine tool manufacturers. There, the group saw the company’s horizontal hobbing machines, which are designed to provide new options for the U.S. market. The machines’ flexible customization enables hobbing long, shaft-type parts ranging to 3 m (118 inches) long.

Another stop on the tour was to Fubri, where the group got a close-up look at the many operations involved in manufacturing a gear cutting tool, such as relief grinding, gash milling, and final inspection and certification. The tour group learned about Europe’s new high-speed steel, MC90, which features a specialized, high-quality heat treatment process that provides a material competitive with carbide.

The group also visited other gear manufacturing facilities, such as MELO Ingranaggi and STM. The tour also included cultural visits to the Lamborghini and Ferrari museums, a castle tour and choice culinary experiences.