MORI SEIKI｜NEWS

In August 2003, we saw the start-up of Mori Seiki's new multi-axis machine production facility, the Chiba Campus, amid the lush greenery of Chiba Prefecture's Funabashi High Tech Park. The Chiba Campus, designed to put out cutting-edge multi-axis machines, is the third and latest addition to our network of production bases. The Iga Campus specializes in machining centers and CNC lathes and the Nara Campus focuses on high-production systems. Being able to develop and produce different sides of our product lineup in specific facilities and maintaining solid communication links between all locations is going to give us the ability to accelerate our business development in the future.

The Chiba Campus, which houses the development, manufacturing, and service functions of multi-axis machine production, is linked online for more efficient operation. The new SuperMILLER 400 is produced here, along with the MT Series, the ZT Series, the SuperHiCELL Series, and the Pick-up Turn Series, among other products. The Chiba Campus is fully equipped with the facilities to handle oversize machines, wheel turning centers, as well as design, production, and inspection/repairs of special-order machines.

The Chiba Campus is fully equipped with all the cutting-edge equipment and facilities and original functionality you'd expect to find in a next-generation factory, such as a development section promoting digital design, a manufacturing section with the industry's first auto camp site system, and the ability to use the entire production floor as a showroom. A brief overview of the various functions:

Development
The development section has a development team of over 100 experts working hard to promote the latest in digital design using 3-D CAD. Our team can work on the latest in next-generation machines, several different new products, at the same time by using our IT at full force, our advance development power, and one of the largest development teams in the industry.

Manufacturing
The manufacturing section is equipped with five high-precision 5-station machine tools, including big 3.2 m (10.5 ft) wide machines, ship-precision finishing machines, and many machining centers. In the manufacturing section, production of multi-axis turning centers proceeds on two production floors: the machining floor, which is in charge of high-precision parts, and the assembly floor, which uses the industry's first auto camp site system. The auto camp site system delivers immediate assembly of a machine by gathering together the needed parts in one location ahead of time. The sites compete among themselves, adding the benefit of extra energy to the production floor. This approach is an industry first, and assembly time has already been cut by more than half. With a monthly production volume of up to 80 multi-axis machines, delivery to customers is smoother than ever before.

Service
The Processing Technology Center proposes the best cutting and system solutions for customer production, the Applications and Machine Acceptance Center provide meticulous follow-up service, and the Service Center and Parts Center Group deliver rapid after-sales service. All our specialists respond to customers' requests with thorough service. We have also added the Chiba Technical Center as a sales base covering the Tokyo and Chiba areas.

Training
A large seminar room that can hold up to 150 people is available. We use it to give seminars and workshops that will improve customers' technical skills.

Showroom Functions
One of the most interesting things about the new plant, however, is the fact that the entire production floor can be turned into a showroom. We promote a clean environment that can be viewed in comfort, including machining and machine assembly processes. Our goal in designing the plant was to have customers who visit the plant take away new ideas. We always have at least 10 machines standing by in the product display area ready for cutting demonstrations.

Multi-axis machines have begun to take center stage on the production floor as machining systems that can flexibly handle small-lot variable-item production. We designed the Chiba Campus to specialize in multi-axis machines because we saw the potential hidden in this type of machine tool. Because of that, we wanted the plant to be as open and transparent as possible, so that customers could get to know multi-axis machines better. Our entire team is waiting for you to come and visit, so please do so.

Line up of multi-axis machines

Super Integrated Machining Cell A multi-axis machining center based on a 5-axis control function with the addition of a turning function.	Multi-Axis Turning Center Equipped with a tool spindle to answer all your process integration needs.
Multi-Axis Turning Center A 4-axis control capability that can complete all of the machining required for individual workpieces through process integration.	Synchronized Machining/ Dual process Turning Center with Y-axis Dual spindles and turrets for simultaneous machining of both surfaces.