FFG Celebrates Grand Opening of Technology Center

FFG recently celebrated the grand opening of its North America Technology Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Eighteen machines were displayed, performing live cutting demonstrations. CNC equipment of vertical/horizontal milling and turning solutions for high-speed, die/mold, heavy duty, multi-axis, multitasking and high-volume machining solutions across various FFG brands, including MAG, SMS, Feeler, Leadwell and FFG DMC were showcased. The displayed machines included two-, three-, four-, 4+1 and full five-axis, and two-days-full of technical seminars were presented from a variety of FFG’s Technology Partners.

MAG, FFG’s flagship machine tool operation in North America, underwent two phases of expansion in its existing manufacturing facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The 2021 expansion comprised of 20,000 square feet, which expanded FFG’s and MAG’s spare parts warehousing and the spindle/fixture build/repair operations. In 2023, the Phase II expansion was completed, which added another 30,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space, and FFG dedicated 10,000 square feet of this Phase II expansion to the establishment of its North America Technology Center. “The Technology Center will be used by our dealers in North America to showcase to their customers as well as to validate the applications of parts machining and processes”, says Mike Jude, the director of sales of FFG Americas. “The FFG North America Technology Center will enable distributors, partners and end users to consult and collaborate with experts, compare different technologies, run test cuts, conduct cycle time analysis and see FFG’s machines and technologies firsthand.”

FFG now offers a complete product line of machining equipment and solutions from its 200,000 square feet Sterling Heights operation, ranging from stand-alone machines to fully integrated and automated machining lines. Brian Prina, president of FFG Americas, says, “Our Technology Center brings multiple FFG companies together under one roof to best support and service the North America market including machine demonstrations, training, and service parts.”

FFG’s strategic partners in CNC controls, spindles, robotics, cutting tools, toolholders, rotary tables, probing, workholding, bar feeding, mist collection, high-pressure coolant and equipment finance were also displaying and presenting various products and machining solutions. Attendees were able to choose from 12 different topics and to attend presentations of interest by FFG’s strategic partners, which included Blaser Swisslube, FANUC, Fullerton Tool, GSA+ & Granch, Huntington Bank, Jergens, Kennametal Inc., LNS North America Inc., MD Tooling, Renishaw, Setco and Siemens.