experts in speciality CNC lathes FAT

exPerts in sPeCiality CnC lathes

Based in Wroclaw, Poland, FAT S.A., is a leading European manufacturer of conventional and computerised numerically controlled custom-made lathes. The company is a member of HACO Group from Belgium, the world leader in sheet metal working machines.

FAT was established in 1945. The company was founded on the ground of two former German businesses: Gustav Trelenberg’s Metal Works and Friedrich Heckmann’s Machine Works. The origins of both companies reach back to the 19th century.

Initially, FAT produced machine tools, and mostly low and medium-sized conventional lathes. Up until the mid-1990s the company made and sold more than 50,000 machines. 1998 was a milestone year for FAT as the company was taken over by Belgium’s HACO Group, an internationally renowned CNC machine dealer and manufacturer.

Founded in 1965, and originally famous for sheet metal and woodworking machines, the passing of time has made HACO into more than just a manufacturer of press brakes and shears. Since the mid-1990s, it has evolved into a company that produces not only sheet metal machines, but also larger and more complex machine tools, such as lathes and special machines. With the takeover of FAT, HACO was able to offer the machines for the treatment of very large profiles and parts, affordable lathes and milling machines. The Wroclaw-based firm has focused on the production of both conventional and CNC controlled flatbed CNC lathes. Since 2001, its product line has been extended with a modern slant bed CNC Lathe and multifunctional turn- mill centres.

“Our machines are easy to operate thanks to high-level controls. They are also suited for machining a wide variety of different materials”, points out Mr. Ireneusz Ostrowski, the company’s sales and marketing director.

FAT employs 200 people in its Wroclaw facility. In 2017, FAT purchased Design Technologies International, a company from

Raciborz, Poland, which specialises in designing and manufacturing the modern, large size, numerically controlled machines used in the energy, aerospace and defence industries. In October 2019, FAT appointed a new CEO, Mr Stijn De Burghgraeve.

manufacturing from A to Z

“Based upon our long term experience in lathe production, we are able to construct the highest quality lathes at very competitive prices. Our machines are manufactured from A to Z in our factory in Wroclaw. More than 90 per cent of their mechanical parts are produced locally. The machines are equipped with high quality devices (electrics, electronics, wiring, bearings, ball screws, tools) delivered by the best world class suppliers, both from Poland and other countries. Cooperation with high-profile, class leading companies is a must for us, as our machines are ever more technologically advanced and they require components of the highest quality”, says Mr. Ostrowski.

A great example of the company’s high capabilities is a 22 metre long and 3 metre wide monster lathe (TUR 4MN) with a capacity of 90,000 kg. This huge CNC lathe, which weighs 450 tonnes, was made for the Ellwood City Forge in the US, a major force in the global open-die forging industry.

Another example of FAT’s technological advancement are impressive lathes FTM 1000 x 7500, FCTS900 x 3100 and FCT700 x 5000, a modern turning-milling centres designed and manufactured for foreign customers. These multi-purpose machines are equipped with modern tooling systems like milling heads, special tool turrets, tool magazine integrated with an automatic tool changer, an exceptionally big spindle bores, special solutions for using long boring bars, sub-spindles and other elements which enable efficient and precise machining. The biggest of these lathes has a maximum capacity for machine elements up to 7500 mm in length and up to 1000 mm in diameter. The shipping of such a large machine was a big logistic challenge for the company due to the machine being sent in one

piece. The whole operation ended with success and the machine safely reached the shipping port.

At the recent EMO Hannover in September 2019, FAT debuted the new generation of the TUR 560 SMN x 2000 CNC Lathe. This has been the company’s most popular model for a number of years. The machine now has a new updated modern and ergonomic design that comes with improved chip removal and new colours. As one of the first in the world, it uses the latest generation of Siemens Sinumerik CNC controls. The integration of Sinumerik ONE in the TUR 560 SMN maximises the productivity and efficiency of the machine thanks to the seamless interaction between the virtual and real worlds.

“We are moving towards bigger and bigger special projects, toward large machines with advanced technology. Our aim is to provide huge stand-alone machines and to manufacture complete production lines for complicated machining operations to include turning, grinding, boring, milling and other complex operations. We

Brammer Powered by Rubix

Brammer S.A. is Polish brand and part of Rubix Group – europe’s largest supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (mRo) products and services. The leading industrial distributor by market share and the only one with pan-european footprint, carrying all premium brands. As a multi-specialist, provides products and services, backed by a growing digital business. Brammer S.A. offers specialist expertise in specifying, providing and installing an unrivalled scope of industrial parts, with a tailor-made service for all customers.

Find out more at www.brammer.pl

build each machine according to the individual requirements of the customer and we offer special, non-standard solutions with lots of options for customisation. Recently we have built and dispatched the 20-meter-long multi-axis lathe with 15 meters turning capacity to Sweden. And now, we are building two more such machines for our customers in Austria and Russia,” Ostrowski added.

Well-known worldwide

On the domestic market the company does not have any competition, it is the undisputed market leader. FAT is also one of the European leaders in its sector. With an international sales network, over 80 per cent of FAT’s production is sold abroad. Its main foreign markets are Western European Countries. The company’s machines are also well-known beyond Europe, in North America, Africa, Australia and Asia. FAT’s foreign sales are realised through a network of more than 30 local dealers who have a thorough knowledge on the local market conditions.

The growing number of orders for more and more sophisticated machines makes FAT plan to move its production to the outskirts of Wroclaw, where the company is to build a new, ultra-modern, compact factory.

For more information, visit: www.fathaco.com