Holger Pentzold learnt and worked at Heckert and has since remained loyal to the Heckert brand in his own company: “I know what the machines are capable of, and I can rely on them 100%.” His company, a service provider for precision machining, is based at the ITC – the Chemnitz Industry and Technology Centre near Starrag GmbH.
Pentzold Metallbearbeitung und Musterfertigung (PMM) was founded in 1992 by Günter Pentzold. His son Holger Pentzold has been running the company for 28 years, supplying foundries and companies in the automotive, agricultural machinery and general mechanical engineering industries with precision parts. He explains: “We primarily manufacture series parts with varying batch sizes of 10 to 15,000, but also prototypes. Our in-house fixture and tool construction and a modular system for clamping fixtures allow us to react quickly and flexibly to customer requirements.”
Nothing is possible without automation
Six years ago, Pentzold began to automate his machinery to increase flexibility further and manufacture more economically.
He argues: “Firstly, it is difficult to find good employees, and secondly, it is even more difficult to get them to work regular night and weekend shifts. However, high-quality machines cost a lot of money and therefore need to be utilised in as many shifts as possible.”
And Pentzold does not compromise on the quality of his machines.
“We mainly machine gearbox housings, chassis and engine parts, and hydraulic components made of steel and cast materials, so we need very stable, reliable machines. As a contract manufacturer, the flexibility and long-term accuracy are also important.” This is why he chose Heckert machining centres from Starrag GmbH in Chemnitz.
The reason why the machining professional repeatedly buys Heckert machining centres is quite apparent. PMM has been in the Chemnitz Technology Park (ITC) since 1999 – right next to the Starrag plant. “Nevertheless, we research the market for alternatives before almost every investment,” explains Holger Pentzold. “But it’s all in vain – we have repeatedly decided on universally applicable, horizontal Heckert machining centres.”
This was also the case in 2018 when the entrepreneur started automated production with the then-newly developed Heckert H50 compact machining centre with an integrated six-pallet system.
Beta testers just 500 metres away
“We took delivery of the H50 immediately after its initial presentation at AMB and were effectively the first beta testers,” recalls Pentzold. “The proximity of our production hall to the manufacturing plant was convenient for Starrag and us. In the event of any problems, the Starrag technician had to cross a few halls, and they were soon on site, where they could get an idea of the difficulties, which were then usually quickly resolved and incorporated into fundamental corrections.”
It was important for PMM to quickly enter into automation, which was achieved with the Heckert H50. This is because it was equipped with a linear storage system developed by Starrag and six pallets. It was a highly compact, user-friendly solution in which the pallets could be managed via the machine control.
“Our production manager can set up the machine and prepare the pallets in the first shift,” explains Holger Pentzold, “so that the machine operator only has to press the start button.”
The machine impresses with its high dynamics of 80m/min rapid traverse.
“For example, we machine a gearbox housing for lifts that requires a hole that we have to machine from both sides. With the Heckert H50, we achieve the required concentricity of 10μm.”
Automation further expanded
The machine was quickly utilised to capacity. The 500 pallet size was too small for many orders. In 2022, Pentzold and his team invested in a Heckert HEC 630, automated with an Erowa Loadmaster shelving system with 21 pallets. It is a significant purchase in every respect. This machining centre works with 630mm pallets and allows components up to 1,500kg, 1,550mm diameter and 1,250mm height.
“It covers an even wider range of components than our old CWK630, which we replaced with it,” Pentzold is pleased to add: “We also opted for an SK50 Big Plus spindle with 7,500rpm for the HEC 630. The higher speed of this spindle increases the machine’s range of applications even further.”
PMM was advised by Sebastian Höbler, the regional salesman at Starrag GmbH Chemnitz.
He points out: “The control system compensates for any spindle growth that may occur. The HEC 630 is ideal for automation thanks to its high process reliability.”
The machine also has free chip fall, tool breakage monitoring and Balluff identification of the tools, which are available in sufficient variety in a magazine with 270 slots.
Speaking of automation, the decision was made in favour of the Loadmaster system from Erowa, which is also suitable for heavy and large parts up to 1,400 mm. Erowa could also customise the pallet system to the machine and the spatial conditions.
When Günter Pentzold founded PMM in 1992, he was still employed as a fitter at the former Heckert plant. After work and at weekends, he used a second-hand Heckert CW500 to carry out small milling jobs in an old tractor workshop in the Ore Mountains.
In 1999, PMM was one of the first tenants to move into the Chemnitz Industrial and Technology Park (ITC), which was built in the office tower and six halls of the former Heckert site. Business was successful. PMM invested in further Heckert machines. Today, Holger Pentzold is the owner of the company, which employs ten people.
Like his father, he is completely convinced of the quality of Heckert machines. After all, he is familiar with their performance as a user, and he knows what’s behind them: Holger Pentzold trained as an electrician at Heckert.
