The 10,000th model of NUM’s new-generation CNC kernel, Flexium, has been produced. This major milestone has been achieved within just three years from launch - marking a spectacular success for a mid-level CNC provider that serves mainly specialized machine tool builders.
"Machinery OEMs tend to be very conservative in introducing new technology, and we anticipated that volume sales of our new CNC kernel would not kick-in until typically years four to five of its lifespan," says Peter von Rueti, CEO of NUM. "2011 proved us wrong. We’re one of the longest-established CNC companies and we have never seen such a rapid design-in. Annual sales of Flexium have even overtaken those of our previous-generation CNC kernel, Axium, which controls machine tools produced by dozens of world-leading OEMs."
Reasons of success For some OEMs it’s the power of Flexium’s soft PLC controller that attracts. For most though, it’s the scalability feature of the platform, which allows it to be applied economically to small machines with up to five axes and spindles, or much larger machines with up to 200 axes. These attributes mean that machine tool OEMs are able to use the same control system across their complete range of machine designs - greatly reducing the workload on the engineering development team.
Another aspect of the CNC kernel’s success is related to the rise of Asian markets, and the particular way in which NUM works with clients. A partnership ethos has always been at the heart of NUM’s business philosophy. This is proving particularly advantageous in Asia where NUM’s willingness to provide young machine tool OEMs with in-depth engineering support on aspects such as writing software and tuning machines has won significant new customers.
Control and user interface as branding assets Software savings are becoming even more critical as the role of software in machinery design continues to expand. Twenty to thirty years ago software accounted for as little as just 5% of a machine’s cost. NUM thinks the value of software deployed in the average machine tool today has risen to the 10-20% range, and the machine’s electronics, engineering and software combined count for well over 50%. Being able to maintain just one PLC, and one user interface dramatically reduces the workload on busy engineering departments, and allows both faster deployment of new features to customers, and a simpler means for an OEM to create unique ’look and feel’ branding.
"With the rapid rise of Asian and Latin American economies, competition in the machine tool sector is getting more intense, and we view control and user interface software as playing a critical role in adding value and differentiating a company’s branding," adds von Rueti. "Making it easier for machine builders to adopt one universal CNC platform and software system was a key factor behind the development of Flexium, and we are expecting this capability to continue driving higher than average growth over the next 5 to 10 years."
For more information Switzerland NUM AG Battenhusstrasse 16 CH-9053 Teufen Phone +41 71 335 04 11 Fax +41 71 333 35 87 [email protected] [email protected] www.num.com
France NUM S.A.S. Immeuble le Naxos 56, rue des Hautes Pâtures F-92 737 Nanterre Cedex Phone +33 1 56 47 58 00 Fax +33 1 56 47 58 90 [email protected] [email protected]
Germany NUM GmbH Gottlieb-Stoll-Strasse 1 D-73271 Holzmaden Phone +49 7023 7440-0 Fax +49 7023 7440-10 [email protected] [email protected]
