Basic, Performance, Expert

MAPAL’s strong focus on its customers’ needs when developing tool solutions is not new. With the arrangement of machining options into three solution levels – Basic, Performance and Expert – the company now offers a clear classification for tool selection options for a specific part. In doing so, MAPAL gives customers a rough indication, making transitions smoother in practice.

Basic versions include solutions with standard tools, which cover requirements in the manufacturing of prototypes or small series in a cost-effective way. The investment required is comparatively low, and the use of tools is flexible. As many changes are often still being made to the component and process at this stage, the flexibility achieved using standard tools is very helpful. Use of custom tools is avoided in the Basic solution where possible.

Performance solutions are designed for series production and focus on machining specific parts using custom tools. Here, multi-stage and combination tools can be used to process the workpiece more efficiently than with Basic versions. The Performance solution enables reliable series-ready production without quite fulfilling the very top requirements for quality and productivity.
 

Alongside electric drives, MAPAL is also placing its focus on other electric car components. These include auxiliary units such as the scroll compressor for thermal management and housing for power electronics and battery frames. The latter requires a great deal of milling operations which can also be illustrated well with the three-staged Basic, Performance, Expert concept. Comparatively simple standard tools can be used for tests or small quantities. The next level involves special solid carbide tools that combine several machining steps and ensure reliable machining. Accordingly, the Expert level brings milling cutters with special coatings or PCD milling cutters into play in order to take tool life to a higher level.

MAPAL determines the optimum solution for the relevant situation in direct dialogue with its customers. In many cases, customers will only take advantage of two of the three potential levels. This is because prototype production often takes place at specialist machinists, which means the OEM starts directly with series production. If the quality requirements are met and productivity is sufficient for the quantities to be manufactured, a Performance-level machining solution is used. Under certain circumstances, the demands placed on machine performance may also not be quite as high with this solution, which can be a criterion when converting existing lines to e-mobility. Of course, a manufacturer can also go straight from prototype production to a Performance-level machining solution, if, for instance, the focus is on costs per part above a specific production volume.

Open and goal-oriented communication with the customer remains at the heart of MAPAL’s approach. After all, an open dialogue is crucial in providing the right tool solution for every application and every customer.