HISTORY
The
company was founded in 1959 at Samarate by Carlo VIZZOLINI, the
father of today’s president. A few years later (in 1964)
the company’s name became VIMAS Srl.
The business started in a few square meters in a workshop arranged
inside of a private house. At the beginning the activity consisted
of repairing devices used for oxyacetylene welding (pressure reducers,
valves, etc.). A short time later, by purchasing the first machine
tool (an old lathe which was built at the beginning of the century),
the manufacturing of mechanical components was started.
During this period a co-operation with Ernesto MACCHI, the present
co-owner, was started. A few years later (1967) the activity was
transferred to the new workshop of approx. 300 m2 located in Samarate.
Here the manufacturing of mechanical components was extended also
to other fields (hydraulic, aircraft and other components). Many
other machine tools were added to the activity. This became the
outline of the business, which corresponds to the present activity,
i.e. to supply a service as complete as possible to the customers.
As a matter of fact - further to the purchase of some grinding
machines so to be able to carry out nearly all the jobs inside
of the factory - other kinds of work were added, such as mounting
and testing of high-precision components.
These mechanical groups can be supplied ready for final mounting
by the customer himself.
In 1975 the setting up of a new factory building at Cardano al
Campo was started. This became the present seat of the company.
In 1976 the entire activity moved over to the new building, which
has a floor surface of approx. 800 m2
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In
1981 the first CNC turning machine was purchased. In 1984 the first
vertical machining center, in 1993 the first CNC grinding machine
and in 1995 a multi-pallet horizontal machining center were added
to the machine tool park. During this time, a close co-operation with
many companies in the machine tool business was started for supplying
high-precision parts. Then manufacturing of components for machine-tool
spindles was started. At present such parts are supplied separately
to many customers in the machine-tool field.
In 1991 manufacturing of complete cartridge-type spindles according
to the customer’s drawing was started. After a short time, in
order to satisfy the increasing need coming from the market, designing
of cartridge spindles was started, so to offer a full service to the
customers. Then in 1995 the company developed the first dressing device
for grinding wheels by using a diamond roller. In 1996 the first high-speed
spindle was developed. Following this, in 1999 the manufacturing of
high-speed spindles with synchronous permanent-magnet motors for milling
machines was started.
In 2000 VIMAS Srl. became a member of UCIMU, the association
of Italian machine tool builders. |
AT
PRESENT
After the continuous expansion of the business, VIMAS Srl. at present
employs 18 persons. The buildings cover a surface of more than 3000
m2 on a total surface of 10000 m2. |
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QUALITY
ASSURANCE
VIMAS Srl. has an air-conditioned test-room and is provided with 3D
measuring machines, roundness meters, etc. This enables to monitor
constantly the manufactured components allowing the issue of final
certifications on the products after testing, which in some cases
cover even 100% of the batch. Furthermore, most of the parts are identified
by a punched code and a serial number.
The test equipment is used for checking and certifying the complete
spindles, in order to issue the exact data about the operation temperature,
vibrations and geometrical accuracy. These test-sheets are then filed
so to supply the traceability of a product. For example, for the spindles
all data from the time of starting of the manufacturing to the acceptance
test are filed. This refers also to the identification data of each
single component (bearings, sensors, etc). |
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ASSEMBLING
AND TESTING
All assembling jobs of the precision components are carried out
in an air-conditioned ambient, where also the final testing of the
spindles is done on computerised test benches.
SERVICE
Our company carries out overhauling and maintenance of normal spindles
and high-speed spindles both of our manufacture and those of others.
In order to ensure quickness of repair jobs, the roller bearings
and other items subject to wear are always kept in stock. Our technical
personnel and external co-operators for the electronic systems carry
out all services at the customer’s premises for any analysis
of the problems.
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RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
We are continuously trying to improve our products and to participate
in the technological progress. From the point of view of satisfying
the needs coming from the market, our company is steadily developing
new projects especially on normal spindles, high-speed spindles
and profiling and dressing devices for grinding wheels. This fact,
further to the development of new products, has enabled us to obtain
in 2003 a patent for a spindle of highest precision (error on rotation
<5 micron at 800 mm from the spindle nose) for measuring devices.
At present a new patent application is under preparation. The new
projects are tested inside of our company on a test-bench and used
directly on our manufacturing machines.
THE FUTURE
A further extension of the covered surface with a new storing room
for raw materials and cutting equipment has been planned. This will
enable us to have a new grinding workshop, which will be completely
air-conditioned. Furthermore, the purchase of new machine tools
of bigger dimensions is being planned so to allow the company’s
manufacturing range to be increased. By acquiring new technologies,
it is our aim to automate furthermore the manufacturing jobs and
to simplify the work.
The range of normal spindles, high-speed spindles and dressing devices
will be developed further by taking into consideration the needs
coming from the market, however without neglecting the field dedicated
to accurate mechanical components made for third parties.
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