XXL projects are nothing new for Starrag's Bielefeld-based sales director for large projects, Heiko Quack. But one order pushed the boundaries in every direction: The customer, Metalex, not only had one of the largest portal-type machining centres in the Droop+Rein T product line built to date, but also contractually agreed to work together as partners on an equal footing.

Mr. Quack, what sets this project apart? Is it the size, the multifunctionality, the machining performance required from the Droop+Rein T portal-type machining centre?

Heiko Quack: Everything, because you don’t build a six-axis machine in these dimensions on a daily basis, with these milling and turning capabilities, with eleven machining heads, five tool systems and over 400 tools. Another special fact about this project is that Metalex wasn’t just looking for a machinery supplier.

They wanted a partner who could work with them to jointly develop and execute this project. He emphasised that this is also stated in the contract. Metalex expects us to work on this project together, to exchange ideas, to define a common goal and work towards it together, as partners. That’s the only way such an enormous project can be brought to life. And it wasn’t just the project management on both sides that was carried out as a partnership. The whole team of Metalex and Starrag employees working on the project did an incredible job! Of course, there were a few misunderstandings and differences of opinion over the almost-four-year timespan of the project. But neither side lost sight of their goal and always knew how to come up with a solution.