GF Machining Solutions invites to GF Global Solutions Days, its first major customer event in 2023
Media Release
Biel, Switzerland, March 2023
In its Strategy 2025, GF Machining Solutions focuses on robust segments, intelligent
solutions and customer experience. In line with this, the company is inviting
international customers to its first big global event in 2023, the GF Global Solutions
Days in Losone (Switzerland) from 28 to 31 March 2023.
The GF Global Solutions Days are taking place in GF Machining Solutions’ main
production plant for EDM in Losone (Switzerland) according to its motto “Your experience
+ Our solutions”. Each of the four days of the event will be dedicated to a different market
region to focus better on the customers’ specific needs and offer them presentations in
their own language as far as possible. On day one, customers from Asia and the
Americas are welcomed; the second day will belong to customers from Europe; the third
day to the ones from Austria, Germany and the Benelux Union countries and the last and
fourth day to customers from Switzerland, where the company’s headquarters are located.
Approximately 150 customers are expected per day.
The event starts daily at 9 a.m. with a plenary presentation at Palexpo Locarno by the
company’s President Ivan Filisetti and the Heads of the Market Regions, followed by live
demonstrations and a factory tour at GF Machining Solutions’ facility in Zandone (Losone).
The facility, which hosts the Sales Company Sales Switzerland and a production plant,
has been inaugurated in 2022, after it has undergone significant changes to improve the
sustainability of the site and facilitate the exchange between employees. The visitors will
have the opportunity to get to know the site at this event while being able to learn more
about the presented machines and technologies.
Live demonstrations on GF Machining Solutions’ main machines
A highlight of the event will be the live demonstrations on GF Machining Solutions
machines. The demonstrations will be performed on the AgieCharmilles CUT X series and
the AgieCharmilles CUT E 600 as well as the AgieCharmilles FORM X series with the
WorkPartner 1+ for EDM, the AgieCharmilles LASER P 400 for Laser, and the Mikron
MILL S 400 U and the Mikron MILL P 800 U S for Milling. Customers will learn about
increasing their productivity in EDM, lead frame machining with Laser and wet graphite
machining with Milling.
A field in which GF Machining Solutions has brought about great developments in the last
years is Wire-cutting EDM. The CUT X series is the result of over 100 years of experience
in EDM, which lead to extreme accuracy and surface quality, while the CUT E 600 is a
machine that offers unparalleled efficiency. Especially TurboTech as a new set of cutting
technologies can achieve high-speed results. TurboTech is available for different wire
types and diameters. It increases the productivity while maintaining a high accuracy
standard and reduces the cost per part.
In Die-sinking EDM, the FORM X series guarantees high precision by mastering
temperature fluctuations, while the automation with WorkPartner 1+ can add capacity to it.
The Laser engraving, texturing and structuring solution LASER P 400 U combines
outstanding quality, efficiency and femtosecond Laser technology in the smallest footprint
possible. It is not only suited for Laser texturing; its micromachining capabilities can also
satisfy the demand for micro geometries and micro cavities. Laser can substitute
traditional technologies or complement technologies like EDM or Milling to help customers
increase their productivity and flexibility. At the Global Solution Days, live demonstrations
of a lead frame chamfering, a carbide forming tool and an embossing punch in carbide will
serve as examples for this.
For Milling, GF Machining Solutions presents the MILL S 400 U, a five-axis machine with
which high dynamic, precision and surface finish can be achieved, for both mold and part
production. The second milling machine presented at the event will be the MILL P 800 U
S, an innovation launched in 2022. This solution delivers intelligent productivity to help
customers overcome their challenges and grow according to their needs, with limitless
automation possibilities.
Customer experience at the heart of the event
After the live demonstrations and the factory tour showing the EDM production line as well
as examples of Milling, Laser and Additive Manufacturing machines, experts in different
technologies, Automation, Digital Business and Service + Success will be available for
deeper discussions with customers about their particular applications. An evening
program will be offered on the days prior to the event to foster exchange with the
participants in a more informal setting.
“With the Global Solutions Days, we want to offer our customers the possibility to see all
our technologies in one single location and give them the opportunity to speak to experts
about their specific challenges”, says Ivan Filisetti, President, GF Machining Solutions.
“We will focus on their experience to make sure we can add real value to it.”
Positive company results for 2022
GF has recently disclosed its business results for 2022. The strong results show that the
approach to focus on sustainable solutions and a well-balanced global footprint has paid
off. In 2022, GF’s business momentum further accelerated, mainly driven by increasing
sales of products and solutions with environmental or social benefits. GF Machining
Solutions reached an order intake of CHF 945 million thanks to robust end markets, such
as Medical and New Mobility, but also due to a recovering Aerospace industry. Sales
increased to CHF 948 million thanks to a good market development in milling applications
and strong sales in laser texturing and EDM. Sales of automation solutions also increased
significantly and Service + Success remains a solid pillar of the GF division.
GF Machining Solutions will not participate at EMO Hannover 2023, but will focus on
improving the customer experience on site instead, of which this event is an example. The
last years have shown that customers can get a far better overview of the company’s
products and services in its global Centers of Competence (CoCs), production plants and
Sales Companies than at busy trade shows. GF Machining Solutions has invested heavily
in its digital events, which were able to bring customers together despite the global
pandemic, and in its CoCs, where global application teams can show solutions in a real
life environment with more time to answer to customers’ questions. More customer-centric
events will follow during 2023.
On the first day of the event, Johnson Chen, Head of Market Region China, and Ivan Filisetti,
President, GF Machining Solutions, held introductory presentations at Palexpo Locarno.
At the production plant in Losone, the visitors are divided into groups for a factory tour and live
demonstrations on the machines.
One of the highlights of the event is the presentation of the CUT X 350 with an explanation on
the benefits this machine can bring to customers.
For Milling, GF Machining Solutions presents the MILL S 400 U, a five-axis machine with
which high dynamic, precision and surface finish can be achieved.
At the center of the event are the applications that can be manufactured with GF Machining
Solutions’ technologies.
This showcase displays the capabilities of GF Machining Solutions’ Additive Manufacturing
machines.
An average of 150 customers per day attend the event, where each day is dedicated to a
different market region.
More information:
Johanna Lüder
Internal Communications and Media Relations Manager
Phone: +41 32 366 10 52
Mobile: +41 79 824 81 65
johanna.lueder@georgfischer.com
GF Machining Solutions SA
Roger-Federer-Allee 7
2504 Biel/Bienne
Switzerland
www.gfms.com
GF Machining Solutions
GF Machining Solutions is one of the world’s leading providers of complete solutions for precision components and tools manufacturers and the mold-making industry. The portfolio includes milling, EDM, laser texturing, laser micromachining, and additive manufacturing machines. Additionally, the division offers spindles, automation, tooling, and digitalized solutions backed by unrivaled customer services and support. With its solutions, the division advances energy-efficient and clean manufacturing. GF Machining Solutions is a globally acting Division of the Georg Fischer Group (Switzerland) and maintains a presence at 50 locations worldwide. Its 3,398 employees generated sales of CHF 948 million in 2022. More information can be found at www.gfms.com.