Fernando
Ferreira, Engineering and Systems Manager of the Simoldes Group (Portugal),
says, "Whenever anyone asks for our opinion,
we recommend ONA."
What are your principal markets?
It's part of the strategy at Simoldes to seek stable markets, diversified clientele, mainly in Europe, Mercosur, and the Andino Pact. Our sales abroad, to countries including France, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, and England, account for 20% of exports. We sell mainly to car makers, with over 80% of our moulds going to Renault, Volvo, Saab, Mercedes, BMW, Opel, Mitsubishi, Citroën, Peugeot, Volkswagen, and Ford. We also supply to outstanding major buyers in electronics and household appliances, including Hoover, Philips, Salora, Thomson, Electrolux, and Siemens.
What would you say about equipment and collaborators?
We insist on high quality in both cases. Our firms use the finest equipment in the world where performance and precision are concerned. As regards design and production, our firms use the best computing system developed in Europe for the plastic mould industry. We have nearly 850 qualified collaborators. Our production technology is the most advanced there is, and we work directly with the client.
How would you assess EDM as a machining method?
Initially EDM was used only to supplement other methods in mould making, and only when there was no alternative, i.e. when the requirement for a high-quality finish was enough to justify the length of time involved. Today, however, EDM is seen as a leading technology. It facilitates precision work, optimization of the manufacturing process, and high-quality finish. Adherence to lead times, which is crucial for competitiveness, is easier.
You
already had thirty-five ONA machines when you last purchased from us.
What were you looking for?
Owing to the high number of large moulds that it makes, MDA, one of the firms in the Group, needed another PD-6.120-A3, along with a central filtering unit in addition to the one we had. Also, Oliveira de Azeméis needed more medium-size EDM equipment for its new manufacturing unit. It purchased three machines in the TECHNO range (a 400, a 600, and a 700), along with a central filtering unit. For Brazil we've purchased two TECHNO units (an H-400 and an H-600), a PD-6.120-A3, and a centralized filter, with a view to backing up moulds sent from Portugal and undertaking new projects. We opted for ONA owing to the high quality of its equipment, its very fine service, and the good relationship it enters into with clients.
In what sort of work do you use mainly ONA technology?
Erosion work with large electrodes, e.g. in making bumpers, and for finishing small friezes or styling work.
One of the items purchased was a TECHNO H-700. This is one of the biggest of the units shown by ONA at the machine tool fair in Bilbao. What do you believe are its principal advantages?
Magnitudes, to begin with. The tank dimensions, the travel length, the weight on the table. Accessibility is very good. And then also there's a very fine generator. These factors contribute greatly to productivity.
The new ONA machines have centralized filters. How do you rate them in light of your experience?
We've been using this filtering technology since 1993, and our experience has been good. It helps you to optimize space within your layout, to manage the dielectric, and to raise plant safety.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate our technical assistance, our technology, and the quality-price ratio where our machines are concerned?
Technical assistance, 8; ONA technology, 8; quality-price ratio, 9.
Would you recommend ONA to other firms?
Well, look at the number of machines the Group has, and the recent purchase we made. Clearly we're satisfied with ONA machines, and happy with ONA personnel. We recommend ONA whenever an opinion is asked for.
