The horizontal machining center with its ergonomic design is thought to answer all manufacturing needs

Turin, May 19, 2016 - Comau, a worldwide leading company in the industrial automation industry, presents SmartDriveComau 800L, the machining center designed to answer the needs of the automotive sector, which requires increasingly fast, precise and flexible mechanical processes.

SmartDriveComau 800L is a horizontal machining center that covers primary manufacturing needs, both as a single machining center or integrated within a highly flexible production line. This powerful machine, the latest from Comau Powertrain Machining & Assembly, is the new generation of a model that is already largely used in the market, and features enhanced performances.

SmartDriveComau 800L is equipped with linear motors, which allow several advantages. Most importantly, they guarantee more competitive cycle times, thanks to their high processing speed, and they accurately maintain this for up to 5 times longer than alternative solutions based on ball screws. This operative method decreases the number of machining centers required, which results in a reduced cost per piece. It also reduces the space occupied by the machines, thereby optimizing the plant layout.

SmartDriveComau 800L can perform processes with extreme flexibility, thanks to its circular interpolation. This allows the machining of bores with a standard high-speed cutter, using the same tool for manufacturing bores of different dimensions, which helps save time and costs. In addition, its renovated ergonomic design, compared to previous models, ensures easier and faster management and maintenance.

Furthermore, thanks to the "get help" icon, the operator can interact with the machine, interpreting and anticipating its requests much more easily. This results in reduced time required for diagnostics and, consequently, in an optimization of the production.

To meet the increasing market needs in terms of processes with low environmental impact, and to operate in compliance with the machining modalities of lean manufacturing, SmartDriveComau 800L is also available in a MQL (Minimum Quantity Lubrication) version, in which through-tool oil mist replaces the coolant traditionally required by the cutting process. The new design of the working chamber allows a more efficient disposal of shavings, while the vacuum and air filtration system guarantees more internal cleanness. The MQL version also includes an integrated system to monitor the temperature of the pieces and the machine, which guarantees greater process quality and the complete conformity of the pieces. SmartDriveComau 800L is also designed to deliver a significant cost reduction in terms of energy consumption, thanks to an energy saving package that grants savings of 15% compared to the previous version.

With 20 years of experience in industrial automation systems and more than 2,300 machining centers featuring linear motors installed all over the world, Comau is able to offer itself as a strategic partner for the integration of machining systems intended for any branch of the manufacturing sector. Such consolidated know-how has enabled Comau to develop the latest versions of its SmartDriveComau machining centers, not only by optimizing and enhancing the performance of the single centers, but also by improving the logistics needed for the installation and maintenance at the clients plants. For these reasons, the hardware and software interfaces that manage the transport and loading/unloading systems are pre-configured, in order to cut the time needed for the integration and final adjustments. The advantages are clear: when Comau integrates a system with SmartDriveComau 800L, the Overall Equipment Effectiveness, a coefficient measuring total efficiency of a plant, improves by 5% compared to competitive solutions.

About Comau

Comau is the worldwide leader in manufacturing flexible, automatic systems and integrating products, processes and services that increase efficiency while lowering overall costs. Headquartered in Turin, Italy, with an international network that spans 17 countries that employ more than 12,600 employees, Comau uses the latest technology and processes to deliver advanced turnkey systems that consistently exceed the expectations of its customers. Comau specializes in body joining & assembly, powertrain machining & assembly, robotics and maintenance, as well as advanced production systems and environmental services for a wide range of industrial sectors. The continuous development of its products and services enables Comau to lead the automation industry in meeting the unique requirements of each customer, and through all phases of the project - from design, implementation and installation, to production start-up and maintenance services.

www.comau.com