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Adding value is key to the success of any company and following its investment in two XYZ ProtoTRAK controlled machines, electric drive specialist Duvivier-Motronic has been able to increase the service and customisation that it offers to customers.

Synonymous with the rewinding, repair and sales of electric drives, Brugge-based Duvivier-Motronic originally began trading in 1925 as a specialist in the automotive electrical sector, including the repair and installation of dynamos. Then, as factories began the switch from steam engines to electricity the business began to evolve in different directions, diversifying into motor rewinding and adjustment as the power supply was changed from 110 volts DC to 220 volts AC. Current Managing Director, and the founder’s grandson, Filip Duvivier joined the business in 1987 and moved it forward again, introducing the sales of new motors, reducers and pumps in addition to the refurbishment and modification that was already well established.

The two XYZ machines are helping to transform the business of Duvivier Motronic

When I saw how easy the ProtoTRAK machines were to operate, my choice was made very quickly. These machines are perfect for my type of work which is mainly one-off and small series batches. Better still we didn’t require any previous knowledge of CNC.

The success behind Duvivier-Motronic has been its philosophy of combining knowledge, service and sales and as the business looks to develop further it reviewed the service element and invested in two machines from XYZ Machine Tools, through its Belgian agent Crispyn Machines in Maldegem. The addition of an XYZ SMX 4000 bed mill and an XYZ SLX 425 ProTURN lathe is allowing it to add greater customisation to the products and services that it offers. Key to this is the ease of use of the ProtoTRAK control system. “When I saw how easy the ProtoTRAK machines were to operate, my choice was made very quickly. These machines are perfect for my type of work which is mainly one-off and small series batches. Better still we didn’t require any previous knowledge of CNC. “

The machines are being applied in Duvivier-Motronic’s core activity of sale and repair of electromechanical drives covering items such as “electric motors, gearboxes, reducers, pumps, frequency controllers, drum motors, special motors and drives for the food industry and many other sectors. And the ability to quickly make modifications to meet the needs of customers has been enhanced with the arrival of the XYZ machines.

An example of some of the stock at Duvivier.

“Investing is very important for us and, when I saw the relatively small price difference between a conventional manual machine and the XYZ ProtoTRAK machines, the justification to move to CNC was immediately obvious because we can now make complex pieces, to a very high standard, very quickly. When compared to our previous teach-in lathes, where the control was complex and time consuming making single and very small series is now profitable every time with ProtoTRAK.”

Initially Filip Duvivier wasn’t looking to move to CNC, but a visit to Crispyn’s showroom allowed him to compare conventional machines against the ProtoTRAK and witness demonstrations first-hand. This demonstration capability is a feature at all of XYZ Machine Tools’ European distributors. “We feel it is vital for customers to be able to see for themselves and get hands-on with the ProtoTRAK control. Once they experience its ease of use that allows a non-CNC person to be programming complex parts in just a few hours, they are quickly reassured that XYZ Machine Tools provides the solution they are looking for,” says Howard Bamforth, XYZ Machine Tools Export Sales Director. “And, they still retain the ability to switch to manual mode and grab the handwheels, just like a conventional digital-readout machine, if they need to.”