EMO Hannover 2019 is the place to take a first look at that evolution across all technologies
As GF Machining Solutions’ products evolve to a fresh and more modular appearance, EMO Hannover 2019 visitors will be among the first in the world to get a glimpse of the updated aesthetic. Nearly two years in the making, the design update enhances the products’ visual appearance under the brand of GF Machining Solutions, a Division of GF. Hall 27, Stand B26 at EMO Hannover 2019 is the place to see the evolution of GF Machining Solutions’ product design.
It was exactly 64 years ago that GF Machining Solutions launched the first Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) solution for commercial use at EMO Milan 1955. Since then, the GF Division—ever connected to customers’ needs—has innovated relentlessly and steadily expanded its technology portfolio. Over the past 20 years, Milling, Spindles, Tooling and Automation have been added to that portfolio and, in the last decade alone, Laser texturing, Laser micromachining, Additive Manufacturing, Software and Digitalization solutions have been integrated.
‘GF Machining Solutions is unique’
“This machine design update will bring a cohesive appearance to all of our many products across all of these technologies,” said Fabio Ferraro, GF Machining Solutions Machine Design and Standardization Manager. “GF Machining Solutions is unique today in that we have so many technologies under a single brand. We want customers to see any of our machines and immediately know they are looking at a GF Machining Solutions product.”
In late 2017, GF Machining Solutions invited a number of industrial designers to pitch their concepts for a new product design, giving them only two “musts”: Their concepts were required to include the GF logo and the applicable technology logo. The firm that was selected to lead the design update focused on modularity, delivering a concept in which all products became as cube shaped as possible.
Three phases
“At EMO Hannover 2019, our guests will see the evolution to our new design because all of our machines at EMO will be in one of three design phases: updated with only minor changes, in the new design featuring some very nice adaptations in terms of colors and other design elements, or in a dedicated design specifically for our products developed with a partner,” Ferraro explained. “In the updated design phase, for example, our products will feature subtle changes such as the addition of an LED-lighted GF logo, the technology identifier and two orange stripes.”
Products with the new design fully applied will have the LED-lighted logo and technology identifier as well as additional harmonized features. These include:
• Cohesive machine colors in white, gray, and black
• A cubic shape and a winged black design element at the top of the machine whenever possible
• A black handle on a gray operator door; horizontal orange unifying stripes above and below the machine panels
• And a homogenous approach to the design of the operator console and its supporting arm
The dedicated design identifying products developed with partners or dedicated products will have a white operator door with unifying orange stripes running vertically along each side, and will feature the LED-lighted GF logo, the partner’s logo in white LED lighting, and the technology identifier.
“This is an ambitious undertaking because we have so many different technologies, products, and production sites around the world,” Ferraro added. “As our new machine design becomes visible, customers will recognize all machines across our portfolio as coming from one source: GF Machining Solutions.”
