Eight times HEDELIUS in BAADER blue.

BAADER Group | TILTENTA 9-3600, FORTE 65
Field of application: Food processing machines | Company headquarters: Lübeck, Germany | Employees: 500

A 55-year success story.

Founded in 1919, the BAADER Group is one of the leading manufacturers of machines for fish and poultry processing and has 1200 employees worldwide, 650 at its headquarters in Lübeck alone. HEDELIUS Maschinenfabrik, based in Meppen, can look back on 55 years of success, employs 235 people today and is one of the leading manufacturers of vertical CNC machining centres in Europe. The two family-owned companies have enjoyed a successful partnership for more than ten years.

From the catch to the fish fillet.

People have been eating fish for 40,000 years. In Germany alone, per capita consumption is around 13 kilograms of fish per year. From the catch to the fish fillet on the plate, state-of-the-art processing technology is required, built by specialists such as the BAADER Group from Lübeck. Today's high-performance machines from BAADER, for example for processing herring, can cut up to 24,000 fish fillets per hour.

High variance, small batch sizes.

In Lübeck, more than 50 basic variants of the fish processing machines are manufactured on 14,000 m² of production space and sold in customised versions. Due to the large number of different basic models, a large number of components are required, mostly in small quantities. The average batch size is ten units, and the range of parts is very diverse. As BAADER machines are used in food processing, the issue of hygiene plays a prominent role. This starts with the material of the workpieces. Stainless steel is predominantly used, but aluminium, brass and plastics are also used to a lesser extent. The components must always be designed in such a way that bacteria cannot be deposited on uneven surfaces.

"In 2012, we were faced with the challenge of having to modernise our entire CNC chipping process," says Tim Sprenger, Production Manager at BAADER, looking back. "We wanted a supplier who was just as interested in a partnership as we were and who would approach the issue with us on an equal footing. We found what we were looking for at HEDELIUS."

"We have made a technological leap forward."

The RS 605 MAGNUM 5-axis machining centre was the first HEDELIUS to be delivered from Meppen to Lübeck. It is still in reliable use today. "On the one hand, our first HEDELIUS really initiated the modernisation of our machinery. The machine gave us safety in production again. Safety that the machines would work reliably," recalls Tim Sprenger. "But that wasn't all. We made a technological leap with HEDELIUS. We were able to use modern tools, a lot had changed in this area too, and the clamping technology had also become modern thanks to the zero point clamping system."

Over the following 10 years, the co-operation was expanded. Whether in the 5-axis or 3-axis range - BAADER was looking for further flexible programming and manufacturing systems. Today, eight HEDELIUS CNC machining centres are in use at BAADER. In the BAADER blue colour of your choice.

"We can simply rely on HEDELIUS."

One of the most recent additions to BAADER's machining department is the FORTE 65, a compact machining centre that was purchased with the aim of modernising 3-axis machining. "We were looking for a machine with a large tool magazine. In the FORTE 65, we have 65 tool places, as well as enough space for two vices and a clamping pallet. For us, these are simply ideal conditions for economical production. And it makes us very flexible."

The latest machining centre in the chipping range from BAADER in Lübeck is the largest from HEDELIUS to date: The TILTENTA 9 is a versatile 5-axis machining centre with a continuously swivelling main spindle, an extra-large X travel path of 3600 mm, a 900 mm NC rotary table and a large fixed machine table.

"We can simply rely on HEDELIUS," praises Tim Sprenger. "All eight machining centres were delivered on time. Whenever we bought a machine, we also bought the training courses in accordance with it. Even when we invested in the last machining centre, the TILTENTA 9, our machine operators were in Meppen for training before the machine was even delivered, so commissioning went perfectly."

Significant contribution to the quality of BAADER machines.

"And I would like to emphasise something else," adds the Production Manager of the BAADER Group. "We now have modern CNC chipping, which has made us a whole unit more competitive. HEDELIUS makes a significant contribution to the quality of our fish processing machines."

Matthias Funk, Managing Director Sales at HEDELIUS, is proud of the partnership with the BAADER Group. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, he says: "I am delighted that we can celebrate this together today: 10 years of partnership between BAADER and HEDELIUS. In a partnership, you first find each other, then you develop together and then there is trust and safety. I believe this is more important than ever in today's world. HEDELIUS says: Thank you very much."