Turning ideas into reality in Portugal

Art In Vogue headquarters in Gondomar

Located near Porto in Portugal, Art In Vogue (AIV) is a small but dynamic company comprising two entities — AIV Metal Solutions, which specialises in metal treatments and forming, and AIV Metal Machining, which produces high-precision components. Customers ideas are turned into reality by 35 specialists who are guided by the company’s motto: ‘You imagine it, we create it’. This reflects AIV’s vision that production limitations should never curb creativity, with the company’s added value lying in finding the most cost-effective way to manufacture.

AIV’s CEO Bruno Correia said: “40 years ago, the company produced components for bags within the leather goods sector. However, in 2000, this traditional industry in Portugal faced an economic crisis, prompting us to explore new market opportunities. We expanded into shoe production, achieving significant export volumes, and later entered the precision parts machining sector. In 2018, we invested in CNC machinery, building on our existing turning machine capabilities. Currently, we have 11 CNC machines, including the first fully equipped Bumotec turn/mill centre installed in Portugal.”

Pictured right: Bruno Correia, CEO of Art in Vogue SA and Daniel Fernandes, director of operations

He continued: “The strategy regarding this new investment is to strengthen our position in the luxury goods market, particularly in the watchmaking industry where opportunities are already available to us, to reinforce jewellery activities, and to explore opportunities in Medtech and the defence markets. We export 30% of our production to France, Germany, Switzerland, and occasionally Italy.”

Mr Correia explained: “When we started machining parts, we thought that investing in a Bumotec machining centre from Starrag was out of our financial possibilities. It was a goal which seemed inaccessible. Then the business grew along with the customers’ expectations for accurate and complex components. We were used to engineering solutions ourselves to adapt our production means to reach customers’ goals. But we reached the limit, and we needed to invest in high-end solutions to be efficient and reassure customers.

“Personally, I knew about Bumotec machining centres through a few of our customers who were already using them. I convinced our operational director, Daniel Fernandes, who was not accustomed to this mindset, that it was the right solution to work 24/7 without interruptions by just loading bars and producing finished parts. Today, he only wants to work this way, believing that it is the most efficient and productive production solution.”

Most complex dual-working station
He added: “When the decision was made to invest, we contacted Tornos Iberica, the Bumotec agent in Spain and Portugal. We discussed our project and then visited Starrag Vuadens, the home of Bumotec in Switzerland, becoming the first Portuguese company equipped with a Bumotec s181, the most complex dual-working station nine-axis machining centre from Bumotec.”

Pictured left: the new Bumotec s181 installed at AIV Machining Solutions

Mr Correia said: “The efficiency of the machine is enhanced by the counter spindle operating in hidden time, which allows us to reduce production time by 40%. Despite being one of the most complex machining centres in the Bumotec range, it offers incredible possibilities for making production as cost-effective and stable as possible. This capability is supported by the bar feeder, which operates autonomously 24/7, including at weekends.”

Daniel Fernandes, director of operations at AIV, added: “My first contact with a Bumotec machine was at a customer facility in Switzerland. I did not know about this technology, but then after our visit to Starrag Vuadens, I discovered an amazing machine concept working with exceptional efficiency. Nowadays, the Bumotec s181 turn/mill centre is considered a star on our shopfloor. We were used to turning machines and some milling machines from other brands. The concept of this machine was totally different from what we are familiar with.

“We had to learn the philosophy of programming. To do so, we received efficient training from the Bumotec applications team, which allowed us to feel at ease rapidly. The result is clear: the part currently being produced on the Bumotec s181 was initially made on a turning machine with multiple setups. We reduced production time by 50%, and the quality of the finish is far better now.”

Pictured right: machining area of a Bumotec s181 machining centre

Mr Fernandes added: “Starrag Vuadens SA provided two training sessions. The first occurred during the acceptance process when the machine was in production. The second training took place at our factory when the machine was installed. Whether we need support from Bumotec’s headquarters in Switzerland for the process or from their Portuguese partner for mechanical assistance, the response is fast and efficient.

“Our entire team is now confident working with this technology. We have specialists who can deliver parts that often exceed the quality of those submitted by customers as reference models. We sometimes declined contracts in the past because we lacked the capabilities to produce complex parts. Now, we can manage most machining projects across all market segments.”

The current part being produced on the Bumotec s181 is an attachment for the leather goods sector. Mr Fernandes said: “We had a contract for large quantities. We started to produce the parts before acquiring the Bumotec machine, and the estimated production time for the project was six months. Now, working 24/7 and reducing cycle time by 50%, we know that we can do the whole project in less than three months.”

Results were impressive
He continued: “Additionally, we conducted machine tests with various raw materials, including cobalt, stainless steel, titanium, and brass. The results were impressive, and the cutting tool’s lifespan has increased significantly. Since acquiring the Bumotec, we are still on a learning curve to understand the full benefits of the machine and how far we can push the limits on tool life.”

Pictured left: the new building for AIV Machining Solution in Gondomar

Discussing the daily routine, Mr Fernandes said: “When we arrive in the morning, we inspect the parts produced at night, then check the tools and clean the machining area. Fortunately, we have spare tools in the tool magazine in case of breakage at night. This ensures the machine will automatically control and replace the tools, if necessary, without manual intervention. Finally, we add some bars to the bar feeder, and we launch the production again for the day. We do a check before leaving for the night, and we repeat the routine again the following morning.”

Looking ahead, Mr Correia concluded: “My vision for the next five years is to become a leading precision machining sub-contractor in Portugal before reaching the same status in Europe as a whole. Our strategy is to diversify in the MedTech industry and defence segments with connectors while expanding in the luxury goods world. Simultaneously, we are enhancing the galvanic process of anodising to provide a complete solution on raw materials as well. We have added a new building extension for our machining division and we have space ready to add a new Bumotec machine in the future when the time is right.”

Bumotec turn/mill centres are available in the UK from Birmingham-based Starrag UK Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Starrag Group.