PUMA 700XLY+ with six center supports helps Hetraco achieve production innovation.

　　The PUMA 700XLY turning center, equipped with six steady rests (including three double steady rests), helps the company move forward.

 

 

　　At present, tens of thousands of components are used in aerospace, shipbuilding, turbine, and marine equipment applications. Among these, bolts and nuts are fundamental; however, their dimensions and materials vary widely, necessitating the adoption of different manufacturing processes tailored to their specific properties.

　　Hetraco, a Dutch company, specializes in manufacturing high‑end specialty bolts, nuts, rivets, and bearings. Recently, Hetraco acquired the PUMA 700XLY, a new turning center equipped with six independently controllable steady rests, which is now being used to machine custom‑made components. These six steady rests provide comprehensive support for long workpieces, ensuring stable and reliable operation throughout the production process.

　　[Addressing Challenges] The demand for quality, reliability, and short lead times

　　Dean Machine Tools’ medium- and large‑size turning centers help boost production output and enable the machining of large components.

　　Hetraco, located in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, is a company specializing in the manufacture of bolts, nuts, and rivets made from a variety of materials, including steel, stainless steel, composite steel, and nickel alloys. The company enjoys strong industry competitiveness in producing high‑quality rolled fasteners.

　　At present, Hetraco’s technical expertise has earned high recognition in the market, and its products deliver outstanding performance across demanding industries such as component manufacturing, petrochemicals, and the marine and coastal sectors.

　　Rob Meilig, Sales Manager at Hetraco, said: “Our customers typically operate in high‑value industries that demand top‑notch quality, exceptional reliability, and short lead times. To meet these requirements, our factory has been running at full capacity. Now, Dean Machine Tools’ turning centers have significantly boosted our output, enabling us to produce larger components.”
 
　　“We plan to meet the company’s market demand by introducing this new type of lathe.”

　　[Solution] Ensure the surface quality and dimensional accuracy of long-threaded bearings.

　　Find the answer on the PUMA 700XLY turning center and its six steady rests.

　　To broadly increase the output of machined products and, in particular, to ensure the stable production of bearings (M100–M200) amid growing demand, Hetraco has invested in Deckel Maho’s turning center, the “PUMA 700XLY.”

　　Hetraco’s Production Manager, Marco van Schoonhoven, stated: “In response to customers’ requirements for surface finish and dimensional accuracy, we compiled a list of machine tools capable of addressing these needs, along with suitable tooling and specified zero‑defect tolerances. Based on this list, we determined that the PUMA 700XLY fully meets all our requirements.”

　　Thanks to the Dean Machine PUMA 700XLY’s 5-meter turning radius and its 12-tool turret on the Y-axis, Hetraco can also perform milling operations.

　　In addition, to achieve optimal cooling and chip evacuation, the PUMA 700XLY is equipped with a high-pressure system (70 bar) and, from an ergonomic standpoint, features an automatic switch and six center supports mounted on the rotary unit. These center supports generate relatively low vibration compared to the workpiece, effectively preventing long‑span bearings from sagging and ensuring stable machining, superior surface quality, and precise dimensional accuracy.
 
　　It is particularly worth noting that these six center supports consist of three dual‑center units, each of which can be controlled independently. Furthermore, the PUMA 700XLY features a design that provides continuous bearing support, enabling more stable machining.

　　Optimize space utilization

　　A single machine tool typically accommodates one or two steady rests. At present, no company in the Netherlands operates a machine tool equipped with such a large number of steady rests; therefore, installing six steady rests—three double‑ended ones—undoubtedly posed a significant challenge for Dormac, the Dutch distributor of Dean Machine Tools.

　　Arthur Hoogland, manager of Dormac CNC Solutions, said: “We’ve been searching for this rare machine tool capable of mounting six center supports, and we’ve finally found it.”

　　Dormac, together with Staalmach— which supplied the SMW Autoblok tool support for this project—has developed a method to compactly integrate all conduits and components.

　　[Future Plans] Continuously improve productivity.

　　Through the stable operation of six center supports, we continue to make steady progress in productivity growth.

　　After using the PUMA 700XLY for several months, Hetraco’s Production Manager, Marco van Schoonhoven, said: “We are very satisfied with the overall installation performance. Of course, the six center supports have made some of the already installed programs slightly more complex, but these issues can be resolved through minor adjustments, resulting in improved productivity.”