Hydro Exploitation has one of Europe’s most modern inspection and maintenance workshops for hydroelectric components. To increase its process’ productivity and flexibility, the company has invested in a travelling column milling machine AXIA-70.
With a staff of 70 workers specialised in power generation technology, Hydro Exploitation SA in Martigny performs the control and maintenance for several hydroelectric plants. The whole process of inspection and maintenance of the components is done at Hydro workshops from machining and welding to verification and assembly.
“Besides the maintenance of our own electric plants, we have numerous customers across Europe; we work with the whole range of components for the hydroelectric sector, including Pelton, Francis and Kaplan turbines. The stop of a turbine implies elevated costs thus it is important the reliability of the manufacturing process”, explains Elmar Kämpfen, PDG de Hydro Exploitation SA.
Eric Léger, director of Production in the headquarters, adds: “it is one of the reasons why we have a highly qualified staff and machines with the latest technology. Our latest investment in the AXIA-70 for milling and turning components with a diameter up to 3,500 mm.
The machine allows machining in up to 6 axes thank to its turning plate and the B and C axis integrated in the head. Considering the parts size, small batches and variety of components; flexibility, precision and process reliability are important. Moreover, it has been decisive the machine rigidity as we work with material which are difficult to machine.”
In regard of the reasons for choosing a Correa milling machine, Eric Léger answers: “from our point of view, the Spanish manufacturer is perfectly adapted to our production challenges of our inspection workshop. The control system Heidenhain is adapted to our production strategies and it allows turning”. The large size pieces of up to 20 tonnes and the milling and turning operations should be done preferably in one set with the aim of guaranteeing precision and reducing working times.
Travelling column milling machine of 7 metres
The Correa AXIA has a cross travel (Y) of 1,500 mm, vertical (Z) of 2,500 mm and longitudinal travel (X) of 7000 mm and it allows pendular machining with a table of 3500 x 2000 mm and a rotary table of a diameter of 2500 mm and speed of 150 rpm.
Eric Léger explains that thanks to the two tables is possible to prepare one piece in the second while they work in the first one. The two tables can also be combined to work with long elements.
