GF Machining Solutions’ product portfolio
GF Machining Solutions provides state-of-the-art machining solutions to a broad range of industrial partners, many of which create products that enrich our everyday lives.
Strategy and solutions
GF Machining Solutions strives to be at the forefront of energy-efficient and sustainable manufacturing. As part of its goal to set the standard for intelligent machining solutions and become a trusted partner for the global precision machining industry, it provides state-of-the-art machining solutions to a broad range of industrial partners, many of which create products that enrich our everyday lives.
The division supports each machine throughout its entire life cycle, driving a new era of manufacturing that is more intelligent, connected and environmentally friendly. The division's laser texturing technology offers a cleaner and faster alternative to chemical etching. Benefits include eliminating the use of hazardous substances, reduced scrap thanks to a fully digital and repeatable process, and lower energy consumption.
The Sustainability Framework 2025 is the roadmap for the division’s sustainability journey. To minimize its environmental impact, the division has two primary goals:
- to maximize resource efficiency throughout each machine’s life cycle. The division works closely with its customers from the pre-sales concept phase to the end of the equipment’s life cycle, when the machine can be refurbished. Remote access solutions offer faster response times and a suite of remote maintenance services.
- to reduce each machine’s energy consumption. In addition to delivering maximum performance, GF Machining Solutions' innovations also help its customers reduce their energy consumption. For example, many of the machine models feature energy management systems (such as the Econowatt function) that initiate standby mode during idle periods while keeping auxiliary functions activated to maintain precision. Thanks to features such as improved control efficiency, higher energy efficiency and intelligent temperature control, the MILL X U series consumes 7% less energy than its predecessor.
The division is working to significantly reduce each machine’s lifetime carbon footprint via several steps. Firstly, the divisional R&D team has introduced energy reduction programs to drive hardware and software improvements that it implements and monitors annually. Starting with a 2020 baseline, GF Machining Solutions is targeting a reduction of 20% in energy consumption per machine for its laser machines, 20% for electrical discharge machining (EDM) and 35% for milling by 2025. As part of these multi-year programs, the R&D team presents its energy-reduction targets, including how and when they will achieve them, to management.
Secondly, to integrate the review process across broader management levels, GF Machining Solutions has adopted the sustainability radar – shared across all divisions – to perform sustainability assessments during its new product development. Using this tool, it is possible to measure and proactively manage the carbon footprint. The division will review implementation when key milestones are reached during the development process.
Finally, the division is working on improvements with its suppliers to ensure its purchased components have a smaller environmental footprint than previous generations.
Key innovations in 2022
In 2022, GF Machining Solutions continued its circularity drive, building on its 2021 spool redesign to make them recyclable by focusing on the EDM wire itself. In selected locations, the division has implemented recycling partnerships that are yielding their first results, recycling used EDM wires into new metal parts, such as faucets.
To reduce material consumption in wire EDM, the division has developed software algorithms. This process removes material from metal workpieces using electrical current supplied via a thin tight wire. Using the Intelligent Spark Protection System, customers now have greater control over the wear of the wires. The algorithm detects strain on the wire and adjusts its running speed accordingly. In doing so, the software ensures that the machine is using the minimum amount of wire that the cut requires. This can result either in less wire consumption (and waste) or faster cutting, which could result in less energy consumption.