In an unprecedented move to provide potential users of every size and from across all industry sectors with unrivalled levels of technical support – and machine prove-out - Starrag China has opened a technical centre in Shanghai to serve the Swiss-based machine tool solutions provider’s ever-growing customer base in China.

As well as housing a number of Starrag machines that are under power to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness and production efficiencies - the new 2,200m² Starrag Shanghai TechCenter also offers visitors world-class applications engineering expertise coupled with superlative training for machine operators and programmers so that customers can quickly attain a seamless, integrated route to ‘Engineering precisely what you value’.

The in-situ Starrag LX 051 (for turbine blades) and NB 251 machines (for impellers and blisks) are currently complemented by the multi-axis Bumotec s191 and s181 multi-tasking machining centres – ideal for use in the luxury goods, jewellery, medical and watchmaking industries, for example — as well as a Heckert H50 machining centre which is targeted at a wide range of different parts across varying industrial sectors.

These machines are all under power for demonstrations as well as for test cutting, with Starrag China applications engineers on hand to share their experience in getting the best from each machine and process.

Indeed, the applications engineers will also be available to provide insights into the benefits of Starrag’s world-class processes and technologies – such as the Integrated Production System – to permit unrivalled end-to-end manufacturing gains.

The Starrag NB151 blisk machine and the Starrag STC1250 and Heckert X40 machining centres will be installed, to support these with additional engineers and operators, therefore giving visitors to the TechCenter a comprehensive insight into the wide-ranging capabilities of the Starrag product ranges.

Starrag China’s managing director Tony Liu said: “All over the world, Starrag succeeds not only because of our high-performance machines but also due to the effectiveness of our ‘smart technology solutions’, and it is no different in China where, now with the TechCenter, we have created the perfect platform on which to co-operate closely with our customers.”

He adds: “Of course, the machines are superb but to make them perform at the best of their capabilities consistently well, day in and day out, they must be complemented by well-trained operators and programmers who can fully capitalise on our globally-proven production technologies and processes. So, imparting the correct high-level machine operating and manufacturing skills is equally important to us.”