“For a strong, reliable machining solution you won’t go far wrong with a Victor Taichung machine. With millions invested in Taiwan in a new Smart Factory, which ensures efficient product development and volume manufacture, it’s easy to see why we see plenty of these robust and reliable machine tools in action all over South Africa and the world. There is a bright future for Victor Taichung CNCs with new models being launched regularly. Now, at the end of March 2024 they are releasing XX machines that will make machine shops take notice once again of the Victor Taichung products,” explained Dudley Meredith who has been with the company in South Africa since March 2002 and is the Managing Director.

“We are the sole agent for Victor Taichung Machinery, the number one machine tool builder in Taiwan, and have been since 1986. The company was established by my father Alan Meredith and the late Mario Ostacchini. In those days the name of the company was Victor Machine Tools, which later became Victor Fortune South Africa and now Victor Taichung South Africa. They had the vision and were among the pioneers in importing CNC machine tools from Taiwan and we have sold well over 1 000 machines and 250 plastic injection moulding machines to companies in South Africa. Their recognition in Taiwan is acknowledged by the number of awards that they received from Victor Taichung in Taiwan.”

For flexible automated production, Victor CNC can integrate the EWR-03 articulated robot system that can tackle parts weighing 3 kilograms of dimensions up to 120mm diameter. Part loading/unloading time can be just seven seconds

“Victor Taichung South Africa supplies new generation CNC machine tools including horizontal turning lathes, vertical turning lathes, horizontal machining centres, vertical machining centres, 5-axis machining centres, alloy wheel machining centres and plastic injection moulding machines across the general engineering, automotive and plastics manufacturing industries in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.”

“Victor Taichung Machinery, based in Taichung, Taiwan is an unusual company because it is one of only two companies in Taiwan to have its own foundry. Unlike many Taiwanese companies that just assemble machines, Victor Taichung builds its CNC and injection-moulding machines from the ground up, using its own castings and spindles. The company also uses the Japanese concept of multi-tasking machines, which do both milling and turning at the same time, to manufacture its own products. The company was established as Victor Taichung Machinery Works Company in 1954.”

“The company also carries a wide range of spare parts in stock and the company’s service engineers are experts in their field and have all received in-house training at the OEM factory in Taiwan.”

For parts beyond 3 kilograms that require automation, Victor CNC can integrate a gantry-type robot system that can efficiently feed two turning centers to improve productivity rates whilst minimising floor space requirements. Part changeover time is less than 15 seconds, which includes door open/close cycle

Victor Taichung Machinery is now part of the umati community
“In January 2024 Victor Taichung Machinery announced that they are now part of the umati community. umati (universal machine technology interface) is a community of the machine building industries and their customers for the promotion and adoption of open, standardised interfaces based on OPC UA. The aim of umati is to reduce communication costs between equipment manufacturers and users, and expedite the development and installation of IoT (Internet of Things) for manufacturing equipment through the umati interface standard.”

What advantages does umati offer
“By having a common communication foundation, various equipment in different industries are allowed to connect to each other on the same platform, making data transmission between machine tools, product management systems simple and fast. umati standardises the information of IoT interfaces, expediting the integration process of smart factories. This facilitates the accelerated development of various smart applications.”

“In the future, both machinery manufacturers and manufacturing operators can enhance equipment value or optimise production processes through value-added applications on this platform.”

The robot gripper system

“The joint connectivity initiative is by the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) and VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association). Over 30 specialist groupings in more than 17 associations are working on technology-specific interfaces, the “Companion Specifications”. This high level of collaboration forms the basis of true, open interoperability between machines and software systems, from the shop floor to the cloud. Only the VDMA has the means to unite the necessary integrative forces from the wide range of production domains.”

“umati celebrated its first major appearance at EMO Hannover in 2019 with a live demonstration. The global network of partners has now grown to over 320 members and counting. These partners include OEM manufacturers in additive manufacturing machinery, geometrical measuring systems, industrial joining technologies, machine tools, plastic and rubber machinery, machine vision equipment, robotics, surface technology equipment and woodworking machinery.”

Tending operations
“The automation market is growing rapidly, with affordable, space-saving robots and pre-engineered robotic work cells available for shops with tighter floor space limits and broader needs. From robot frames to racking systems, grippers, software and more, new automation technologies optimise workflow and deliver high consistency, efficiency and quality.”

Deploying robots for machine tending often improves throughput and operational safety while maximising overall equipment effectiveness

“Today’s highly repeatable and flexible robots help to orient, produce and transport parts for both low-volume, high-mix and low-mix, high-volume shops. Tending, warehouse and secondary operations all see improvement from the implementation of these robots, reducing costs and improving profits per square foot.”

“Deploying robots for machine tending often improves throughput and operational safety while maximising overall equipment effectiveness. Today’s robots also boast smaller space requirements, with compact and lightweight six-axis robots that can be mounted close to workpieces and machines in existing lines and cells. These types of robots are well-suited for extracting machined parts out of chucks and for loading mills. Robots with heavy-duty drive systems and higher vibration ratings extend this functionality to large parts.”

The cover image features Victor Taichung’s robust Vturn-NP16 turning center, which boasts a compact footprint of just 1 488mm in length by 1 956mm wide, and has a height of 1 775mm, Z-axis travel of 250mm, a 570mm diameter swing-over-bed and a 260mm maximum turning diameter

“On the cover we feature our robust Vturn-NP16 turning center, which boasts a compact footprint of just 1 488mm in length by 1 956mm wide, and has a height of 1 775mm, so even the most compact machine shop can now benefit from the productivity, rigidity, precision and longevity of a Victor CNC machine tool. Heavy stock removal and highly productive machining of difficult-to-process materials are the machine’s forte.”

“Of one-piece slantbed design, it has a chip disposal system at the rear of the machine to minimise the footprint. The compact turning center has Z-axis travel of 250mm, a 570mm diameter swing-over-bed and a 260mm maximum turning diameter. Spindle power is 11kW, speed 6 000rpm, and there’s a 12-live-position station servo-driven tool turret, plus an option of a 12-position, C-axis BMT-45 milling turret for single-hit machining of complex components. Driven tool power is 2.2kW.”

A single Victor Vturn-NP16 turning center with a robot system and pallet changer

“As standard, the Vturn-NP16 is supplied with a three-step warning light, coolant flush on the Z-axis cover, toolholders, fully enclosed guarding and a hydraulic 6-inch chuck with soft jaws and a Fanuc 0i-TF CNC control system having Manual Guide I System that offers ease of programming.”

“The Vturn-NP16 turning center is a machine said to be easily mastered by subcontractors that are entry-level CNC users, whilst more experienced machinists can take full advantage of the capability and rigidity characteristics of the machine.”

“For flexible automated production, Victor CNC can integrate the EWR-03 articulated robot system that can tackle parts weighing 3 kilograms of dimensions up to 120mm diameter. Part loading/unloading time can be just seven seconds.”

The popular Vcenter-P106 includes rapid feeds of 48/48/32m/min, 12 000rpm, spindle output of 18.5kW, BBT 40 / 30 tools, roller guideways, bottom guarding flush and screw chip remover

“For parts beyond 3 kilograms that require automation, Victor CNC can integrate a gantry-type robot system that can efficiently feed two turning centers to improve productivity rates whilst minimising floor space requirements. Part changeover time is less than 15 seconds, which includes door open/close cycle.”

About Victor Taichung Machinery
Victor Taichung Machinery, dedicated to technological innovation and high-quality products, continues to develop the next generation of CNC machine tools. In response to the trends of Industry 4.0 and the sustainable development of businesses, Victor Taichung Machinery has invested NT$3.5 billion to acquire land and build a facility in the Taichung City Precision Machinery Innovation Technology Park. The facility covers nearly 9 400m², including the headquarters building and smart factory, with a total construction area of 17 300m².

The Victor Taichung Vcenter-P106 with a rotary table

Within the facility, four Industry V4.0 intelligent automated machining production lines, eight smart assembly lines, elevated automatic warehousing, and AGV unmanned transport vehicles have been implemented. The integration of IoT with ERP, APS, MES, and other systems is utilised, and a situation room has been established to efficiently convey information. This enables real-time monitoring of the factory’s production progress, providing feedback to the coordination centre. Supervisors can utilise management based on data, shifting from traditional experiential decision-making to data-assisted decision-making, thereby improving their adaptability and reducing the risk of erroneous decision-making by each management team.

For further details contact Victor Taichung South Africa on TEL: 011 392 3800 or visit www.victor.co.za