Jiangyin Wilson Precision Equipment Co. (Wilson) is a high-tech company specialising in the machining of medium-sized and large precision components. Wilson is an important supplier to the wind power, compressors, machine tools, and textile machines industries, among others. With increasing market requirements for quality and precision, and as part of global industrial modernisation, Wilson decided to consistently upgrade its production systems to remain competitive over the long term.
Gao Wenjie, deputy CEO of Wilson Machinery (Taixing), said: "In 2013, we decided to enter precision machining for the wind power industry – the start of our collaboration with
Starrag." The extremely high requirements for shape and position tolerances could no longer be met with the existing machines. The large-dimensioned Dörries vertical lathes from Starrag provided the necessary precision and stability. With the purchase of a Dörries vertical lathe with a 4m diameter, Wilson laid the foundation for successful development. Even after more than ten years, this machine continues to impress with high accuracy, efficiency, and reliability.
Mr Wenjie continued: "The excellent output of the Dörries machine far exceeded our expectations and supports the dynamic development in precision machining for the wind power industry, thus creating a solid basis for further collaboration between Wilson and Starrag. In 2024, when we were faced with the important decision of modernising our machines, we immediately chose Starrag again and ordered nine machines, including Dörries vertical lathes and Heckert horizontal machining centres."
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Dörries vertical lathes not only meet the strict shape and position tolerance requirements for precision components in wind turbines, but also significantly improve product quality and production efficiency at Wilson thanks to their technical strengths. The linear drive systems, designed for precision and heavy-duty cutting, have hydrostatic guides.
This means that vibrations can be effectively reduced. Under prolonged, high loads, these lathes retain their high rigidity and thermal stability, ensuring continuous, high-precision output. Equipped with multifunctional tool heads and a multifunctional tool magazine, they enable a range of machining processes, including turning, cutting, drilling, and grinding. Compared with similar machines, machining efficiency increases by more than 25%, thereby considerably reducing lead times for important components. They also feature a flexible tool supply system for quick tool changes and a modern digital control system. This enables automatic machining, reduces manual interventions, and improves production efficiency.
Zheng Weidong, head of the equipment department at Wilson, explained: "The output of these Dörries vertical lathes is crucial for machining large precision components in the wind power industry. The excellent precision and efficiency of the Dörries vertical lathes have facilitated the entry into finishing wind turbine system components and will continue to drive this development forward."
Production is complemented by Heckert horizontal machining centres, designed for high-precision, heavy-duty cutting. They machine workpieces weighing up to 13 tonnes with exceptional accuracy. Straightness and flatness deviations under 7µm, as well as positional deviations below 0.02mm, are achieved within a machining range of two metres.
Mr Weidong added: "The dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of the machined workpieces reach a new level and thus satisfy all our requirements in relation to product accuracy."
In addition, both Heckert horizontal machining centres have a tower magazine for large and heavy tools. It allows tool diameters up to 950mm, tool lengths up to 800mm, and tool weights up to 50kg, thereby significantly increasing machining efficiency for demanding applications with high tool requirements. Integrated anti-collision systems ensure high process reliability, efficiency, and stability.
The efficiency of the Starrag machines speaks for itself and has made a significant contribution to the excellent production environment that Wilson has created. Wilson uses a unique foundation structure, which provides extreme stability. In conjunction with precise temperature control, this setup offers excellent conditions for many highly complex machining tasks, which can only be realised with difficulty by other machines and competitors.
Mr Wenjie said: "The excellent machines from Starrag are the driving force behind the improvement of our machining performance. They are not only unrivalled in their output but also characterised by outstanding reliability and stability in long-term operation, allowing us to be optimistic about future development."
The cooperation between Starrag and Wilson is based on mutual trust and understanding, technical expertise, and the close alignment of both partners in terms of corporate culture and philosophy.
Mr Wenjie, praising the Starrag team, said: "In the course of the collaboration, the Starrag team demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and expertise. The team members not only drew on their global industry experience, taking into account the characteristics of the Chinese market to provide professional advice, but also completed the installation and maintenance work on schedule and flawlessly in terms of quality and quantity, so we weren't faced with any worries."
Tony Liu, general manager of Starrag Group China, highlighted that Wilson places great importance on innovation, quality, reputation, and longevity. This clear positioning aligns closely with Starrag’s corporate culture. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, it was possible to establish high-precision, efficient, and stable production for wind turbines tailored to the local Chinese market.
Starrag and Wilson say they will consolidate their partnership and continue to develop precision manufacturing. The next level will be reached through innovative technologies and high-performance plants. Starrag says it looks forward to working alongside Wilson in the future to further increase the high quality already achieved by the Chinese production industry and to herald a new era of precision machining.