“In the field of medical technology Tuttlingen is the clear number one in Europe”, explains Jean-Daniel Isoz, Manager of the Starrag Group’s “Precision Engineering” business unit. “With our Starrag tech centre in neighbouring Immendingen, we first and foremost want to increase the name recognition of the Bumotec company in the region and in the German-speaking part of Europe”. Bumotec SA from the Swiss canton of Fribourg produces machines for manufacturing high-quality, highly precise components such as those used in the watch and jewellery industry as well as for medical technology. “We already have customers in the Tuttlingen district”, states Isoz. “However, I expect to see considerable growth if we are able to expand by not only offering on-site service to existing and potential customers, but also demonstrating our machines for them – especially given the strong local competition”.
The location has been chosen well, as first class medical devices and products have been developed in this region at the edge of the Black Forest, for numerous generations. The new Starrag tech centre aims to directly appeal to manufacturers of prostheses and surgical instruments – both of which are specialities of the “Medical Valley”. Furthermore, located within a close distance of the tech centre are many manufacturers of cutting tools for medical technology, with whom the Starrag Group has worked closely in the development of tailored applications.
A competent team of sales managers as well as application and service technicians will selectively demonstrate medical technology applications on Bumotec machines in a rented building from October 2015. “We will start with demonstrations on the high-precision, multi-functional machine tools from the s191 Linear series, which is suitable for the complete six-sided machining of small workpieces”, reveals the manager of the Precision Engineering business unit. “I have high expectations based on the excellent reputation that the s191 already has in the sector, mainly due to its fl exible modular structure and the possibility of complete machining in a single clamping position”. By the start of 2016 at the latest, a new machine that is being specially developed for medical technology will be introduced. Known as the “little sister of the s191”, the machine, which has the designation s181, will be officially presented by Bumotec for the first time at the EMO in Milan.
In the long term, the Starrag tech centre in Immendingen (Tuttlingen district) will not only house Bumotec machines. “We generally want to increase our presence in southern Germany” says Isoz. “I can easily imagine that we will also be presenting other machines from the Starrag Group in the medium term. In order to approach these interesting and challenging tasks in an even more targeted manner in future, we are putting great effort into searching for experts in sales, marketing, service and application technology for the new Starrag location”.
