Photo credit: FFG
FFG recently celebrated the grand opening of its North America Technology Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Eighteen machines were on display performing live cutting demonstrations. CNC equipment of vertical/horizontal milling and turning solutions for high speed, die/form, heavy duty, multi axis, multitasking and high volume machining solutions across various FFG brands including MAG, SMS, Feeler, Leadwell and FFG DMC was displayed. The machines on display included two-, three-, four-, 4+1 and even five-axis, and two days full of technical seminars were presented from a number of FFG’s technology partners.
MAG, FFG’s flagship machining business in North America, underwent two phases of expansion at its existing manufacturing facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The 2021 expansion consisted of 20,000 square feet, which expanded FFG’s and MAG’s parts warehouse and spindle/fixture building/repair. In 2023, the Phase II expansion was completed, which added an additional 30,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space, and FFG dedicated 10,000 square feet of this Phase II expansion to the establishment of its North America Technology Center. “The technology center will be used by our North American dealers to demonstrate to their customers as well as validate the applications of part machining and processes,” said Mike Jude, director of sales for FFG Americas. “The FFG North America Technology Center will enable distributors, partners and end users to consult and collaborate with experts, compare different technologies, run test cuts, perform cycle time analysis and see FFG machines and technologies first hand.”
FFG now offers a complete product line of machining equipment and solutions from its 200,000 square foot Sterling Heights operation, ranging from stand-alone machines to fully integrated and automated machining lines. Brian Prina, president of FFG Americas, says, “Our technology center brings together multiple FFG companies under one roof to best support and service the North American market, including machine demonstrations, training and service parts.”
FFG’s strategic partners in CNC control, spindles, robotics, cutting tools, tool holders, rotary tables, probing, workholding, rod feeding, mist collection, high pressure coolant and equipment financing also displayed and presented various products and machining solutions. Attendees could choose from 12 different topics and attend presentations of interest from FFG’s strategic partners, which included Blaser Swisslube, FANUC, Fullerton Tool, GSA+ & Granch, Huntington Bank, Jergens, Kennametal Inc., LNS North America Inc., MD Tooling, Renishaw, Setco and Siemens.