New distributor for Ferrari machine tools

After an absence from direct sales into the UK market of over 15 years, Italy-based machine tool builder, CB Ferrari, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, has appointed IWSH as its UK distributor.

The agreement covers the entire CB Ferrari range of high performance, multi-axis, machining centres, polishing machines and laser systems, all of which are ideally suited to applications within the aerospace sector and blade manufacturing in particular, with its A, S and N series of machines. Ferrari’s D series large capacity machines meet all the demands required by mould and die makers.

CB Ferrari manufactures a series of 3-, 4-, and 5-axis machining centres, including high-speed linear motor machines, that are targeted at blade machining and also complex shaped components. Because of this speciality CB Ferrari has invested heavily in in-house development of software that optimises cutter paths when machining turbine blade profiles by producing a true geometric shape in-line with the blade’s CAD profile to 0.02mm.

For the mould and die sector its D-series full, simultaneous, 5-axis machines have axis travels up to 3,000 x 2,200 x 1,000mm, and can be supplied with tilting head/integral rotary table or an optional 2-axis spindle head.

CB Ferrari’s series of polishing/grinding machines feature the same path optimisation software as the machining centres, making them also ideal for finishing turbine blades, greatly reducing the amount of hand finishing and improving product quality.

In addition to the metalcutting and polishing range CB Ferrari also offers 3- and 5-axis laser systems for texturing, drilling and welding. Here it has developed its Liquid Jet Laser technology that allows deep-sided cavities with parallel sides to be lasered. The ability to cut in this way also opens up opportunities normally associated with wire-cut EDM systems.

“We have experience of working on the existing Ferrari machines installed in the UK and the quality of the machines and their capability seemed to be a perfect fit for UK manufacturing,” says Ian Warren, IWSH’s head of sales and operations.

“The machines, while renowned for their aerospace applications, are also widely used in the mould and die and medical sectors. We believe that there is significant potential for the technology manufactured by CB Ferrari in the UK and what gives us even more confidence is the fact that they design and manufacture the key elements of the machines, including spindles, in-house.

“This control of quality is evident in the finished machines. Add to this their expertise in blade manufacturing software and we believe that their range is a perfect fit for the high added value manufacturing sector that we are renowned for in the UK.”

Cornwall-based IWSH is a leading specialist in retrofitting, service and repair of a wide range of machines and CNC controls, in particular Fanuc systems. It also has onboard extensive machine tool sales experience gained with leading UK machine suppliers.

The company says the association with CB Ferrari is an ideal opportunity for it to extend its existing remit by adding new machine sales to the services it already provides to customers, including existing users of CB Ferrari machines.

IWSH www.iwshltd.com