Thread: 'German quality' lathe? Optimum Maschinen.

Optimum Maschinen do claim as follows:

"Since 2003 OPTIMUM produces a large part of its metal processing machines in its proper factory at the Chinese Yangzhou with a German production manager and quality management representative.

Development, design and quality management mainly take place in Germany". (source: Optimum Machines: About us)


Well, sounds to me, like they have two Germans permanently stationed at an otherwise Chinese owned and run factory. Many other large machinery dealers around the world do exactly the same. And they all claim to have some input in "design, development and quality management". So I would personally rate Optimum machine tools as China made.


If you are after true German made Home/hobby machines, look at Wabeco (WABECO Maschinen) or Golmatic (be warned, Golmatic are unconventional and pricy: GOLmatic | Herzlich Willkommen bei GOLmatic Werkzeugmaschinen.).

There is also a very small company in nearby Austria (they speak German too) that is still making lathes and mills fore the home/hobby user. Klippfeld GmbH was founded in 1965, and located 15km south of Vienna. Their lathes and mills are known in central Europe but not much elsewhere. It is the only manufacturer I know of, that offers the option to purchase some of their lathe models (not mills) as partially pre-assembled kits, at reduced cost, to be finish assembled by the buyer himself. Prices are actually very fair, if you consider Austria is not exactly a low wage country. Have a look: Drehmaschinen und Fräsmaschinen Hersteller - Klippfeld

Perhaps there's an opening for an enterprising person to do a similiar thing in this country on a small scale.

I suppose its a matter of discovering what the most common lathe size ,ie ,12 x36 or 9x 20 and working from that.

I for one would be happy to pay extra for a "blueprinted" lathe that I could reasonably expect not to have trouble with for a good few years.

What do you think ?

This is another small hobby-lathe and mill maker, a few hours driving south of Vienna....close to Venice, where Italian is spoken: Ceriani - Construction precision machine tools

PS: be sure to look at the videos on this website. The men (I assume it is Ceriani junior) explains how all castings are sourced from Italy.

Interesting description of one of the lathes.
Is this "englatalian"? Nice looking little machines.

Precision Parallel Lathe
The lathes David are made of mechanical cast iron, they have all the constructive techniques of the big machine-tools.All the mechanical workings are executed exclusively in our company according to national standards and our scrupulosity.The components used are excellent quality. The machine is very reliable and it has a centesimal precision. By request, it is equipped with numerous fixtures chosen accurately. You can obtain many mechanical workings.

bollie7

Well I was thinking Google Translate, until I got to 'scrupulosity'. No stupid algorithm could come up with that.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

Perhaps there's an opening for an enterprising person to do a similiar thing in this country on a small scale.

I suppose its a matter of discovering what the most common lathe size ,ie ,12 x36 or 9x 20 and working from that.

I for one would be happy to pay extra for a "blueprinted" lathe that I could reasonably expect not to have trouble with for a good few years.

What do you think ?

I'm not sure if that is exactly what happens but Redfox Machinery equipment looks really well finished off compared to H&F.
In hindsight I should have got a Redfox mill.

Cheers

Justin

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