HANBELL Selects SCHNEEBERGER Tool Grinders for Precision Profile Milling Cutter Production

HANBELL Precise Machinery Co., Ltd. was founded in Taiwan in 1994 and is now the world’s fourth-largest manufacturer of screw compressors, with annual revenue exceeding 600 million euros. A total of 1,300 employees work at three production sites:

• Precision Machinery Park, Taichung, with a production area of 10,000 m²

• Kuan-Yin Industrial Park, Taoyuan, with a production area of 10,000 m²

• Jinshan District, Shanghai, with a production area of 40,000 m²

Screw compressors are high-precision mechanical machines.

The compressor screws, in particular, are sophisticated, high-precision components. A pair consists of a concave and a convex rotor. When manufacturing rotors using profile milling, the goal is to minimize the need for rework in subsequent processes, such as grinding or polishing. Therefore, the use of high-precision profile milling cutters is of paramount importance. Even a profile deviation of just a few micrometers causes the screw pair to leak, reducing the compressor's efficiency. That is why HANBELL chose tool grinding machines from SCHNEEBERGER.

SCHNEEBERGER High-Performance Grinding Machines

The first Gemini DMR has been in daily operation since 2012. In recent years, SCHNEEBERGER has supplied four additional Gemini NGM machines. All five machines produce solid carbide profile milling cutters with diameters up to 42 mm. The Gemini, in particular, is extremely precise and reliably durable over a very long period of time thanks to its robust kinematics.

Automation

In 2025, the four Gemini NGM machines were integrated into a comprehensive automation system. The grinding machines are loaded by a 6-axis robot that travels over 10 meters on a central gantry system. The following additional stations are integrated into the automation system:

• Loading station (blanks)

• Tool storage

• Profile measuring machine from ZOLLER

• Tool-change station

• Unloading station (profile cutters)

This enables virtually unmanned production around the clock.

SCHNEEBERGER thanks HANBELL for the excellent collaboration. The pursuit of perfection in tool grinding and the ambitious goals in full automation have helped both companies take a step forward.