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New Generation Precision: A Group in Growth
New Generation Precision: A Group in Growth
New Generation Precision: A Group in Growth
The Danobat group is a European market leader in the manufacture of precision-made machine tools.
The groups business sectors range from automotive, energy and aeronautics, to the railway and oil
industries. Philip Yorke talks to Antxon Lpez Usoz, director of innovation and product development at
the Danobat group, about the companys new generation of machines and its plans for further
global expansion.
A group in growth
The Danobat Group, founded in Spain in
1954, consists of a number of associated
companies each representing a different
aspect of the machine tooling business.
Danobat is an acknowledged Ieader in
grinding machines, lathes and saws.
while Danobat Sistemas is known for special and transfer machines. Then there is
Estarta and its centreless grinding machines,
Goiti for punching and folding machines,
the Lealde lathes and Soraluce with its
milling machines and milling centres.
In 1986 Danobat group created a centre
of excellence for technological innovation
called Ideko, which specialised in developing new technology relating to
machine tools.
The Danobat group owns two companies
in Germany, Bimatec-Soraluce leader in
milling machines and Overbeck specialised
in high-precision grinding solutions. Also,
Danobat is the owner of the long-established British engineering company Newall
In 2004, Danobat created a new production facility called Goimek, dedicated
to the advancement of high- precision
machining, and this was followed a year
later by the creation of Dano-Rail a
company that specialises in railway
maintenance.
Today the Danobat group has a
turnover of more than 160 million and
employs over 1040 people.
Customer driven
Essentially we are involved in two kinds
of businesses here: the production of
standard machines and the development
Whats new?
Much of our new R&D is devoted to
increasing the reliability and accuracy of
our products and trying to achieve greater
efficiency in the machining processes of our
customers. So, last year Danobat launched
advanced new products:
Ultra precision cylindrical grinding
machines with flexible concept for external
and non-round grinding applications, with
linear technology
Vertical stator case grinders for precision
grinding and measuring of the jet engine
Vertical turning centre for machining
parts in the aeronautics industry, rail
industry and the oil and valve industries
3D plasma cutting system based on
its Dantech research programme to
increase demands from the structural
steel industry
Milling centres fitted with rotating tables
attached to the machines longitudinal shaft
Modular design series of floor-type
milling machines
Strategic objectives
Antxon Lpez Usoz continues. To
firmly establish the group among the
worlds top machine tool sector leaders
we have to find our own special niche
in each sector. Our products must be
adapted to the industrial sectors that
we have prioritised. Our aim is to be the
best in each market sector.
The objective to provide the market with
machinery and hi-tech integral solutions,
is being realised thanks to the technical
research and development programmes in
order to meet our clients constantly
evolving technological requirements. The
Danobat R&D centre Ideko has launched
Hi-Mach, high performance research
facilities to investigate new machining
Antxon Lpez Usoz, director of innovation and product development
Industry Europe 41