In addition to a large number of machining centres from another manufacturer, Hofsstetter purchased Heckert machining centres with horizontal spindles in 1995 and 1997. This horizontal spindle makes the chip discharge easier, particularly important as up to 70 percent of the unmachined part is cut away on many workpieces. 

Stefan Zatti, board member and the head of Sales & Marketing, recalls: "We bought the two Heckert machines because they offered such excellent value for money. In the following years, the two CWK 800 proved to be reliable machines with high availability, which is why we returned to the Starrag Group when we were looking for larger machines for plate production. Another important factor was that we had found Starrag to be a reliable and stable partner."

The decision makers from Hofstetter were so impressed by their visit to Chemnitz, where the Starrag Group subsidiary Heckert is based, that instead of the one type CWK 1250 machine originally planned, they bought two. Alongside the high quality of the machines, the crucial features included the pallet changing system, which allows automatic removal and loading of workpieces. Instead of an expensive pallet interchange, the CWK 1250 provides two pallet positions, and two workpieces can be secured on each pallet. This enables a sequence of up to four workpieces to be processed without human intervention. Zatti says that the CWK 1250s enabled the company to go "from 100 percent outsourcing to 100 percent in-house plate production" within a year. After eight years, the machines' production capacity was exhausted due to the high number of operating hours, and it was time to think about investing in replacements.

"There was no question that we would buy from Starrag again", Zatti recalls. "We had got to know one another well over the years and developed a close partnership that goes beyond a normal supplier relationship. When problems occurred, as they inevitably do over the years, we always worked well together. The other factor that was important for us was that both department managers and machine operators - the people who use the equipment every day - were totally behind the decision to use Heckert."

So, in 2009, Hofstetter ordered the first of three HEC 1250s, each with three pallet positions. The other two machines followed at intervals of a year, bringing the company up to full capacity by 2011. Thanks to the third machine, they have capacity for in-house production of other components that were previously subcontracted to suppliers.
The three machines stand next to one another in a specially constructed hall. Albert Kuster, plate production foreman, says: "We mainly use one of the three machines for rough machining, not because it's not capable of fine work, but because it can transport the chips directly into large troughs. On the other two machines, we use normal chip collectors, we would be too small to hold the chips produced in the rough work during an unmanned night shift or at the weekend."

"Right from the start, we were impressed with the assembly by Heckert staff.  We were able to choose the service team and chose the Heckert employees we'd been working with for a long time. Commissioning took six weeks for each machine, which is very good for such large machining centres. Another very positive point for me was that Heckert was responsive to our comments and suggestions for improvements. The second machine incorporated improvements that we had suggested based on our experiences with the first machine - and the first machine was updated alongside commissioning of the second one."

"Our concerns were addressed," Zatti continues, "and that feels good. The three machines - and the new hall to house the machines - was a major investment for our company, and with the CWK 1250s we have more than doubled our capacity. The fast commissioning meant that we could start getting a return from the machines right away. This is important in terms of our return on investment Our injection moulding tools produce up to a million premouldings per day, and this can only be achieved if the tool and its production meet the very highest standards.

There is a good reason why we are number two in the world for PET tools - we have reached this position thanks to our premium quality and short lead times, and the HEC 1250 machines contribute to our success in both of these areas."

Zatti has only positive things to say about cooperation with the manufacturer: "The product is right, the price is right, the service is right - this has been confirmed over many years and now with seven Starrag machines. We do not have a typical supplier relationship with our suppliers, we see it as a partnership and this has always worked outstandingly well with the Starrag Group, even at times when we had a difference of opinion. If you want to move mountains, you need a partner you can rely on - and that's exactly what we have found in the Starrag Group."