Mark Barberien of M.B.S NV

The story begins in 1994 in the village of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver, between Brussels and Antwerp. The owner started production of standard and special carbide tools in a garden spot with an area of just 35 m2. At the time, the means of production included one universal, one cylindrical and one drill bit grinding machine. Soon the young company had customers throughout Belgium and the surrounding countries.

As the volume of orders increased, and due to the increasing quality requirements, Mark decided in 2005 to invest in a SCHNEEBERGER CNC machine. He chose a normaCFG. This universal tool grinding machine was the ideal match for his existing mix of products and opened up new possibilities.

In particular, Mark points to the benefits of the QUINTO programming software, which allows him to produce the widest selection of tools flexibly and easily. He also liked the user-friendly integrated ISO programming right away. This makes it possible to incorporate cylindrical grinding operations on the tool grinding machine, or implement undercuts, whistle notch, slots for feeding the cooling channels and much more.

The commissioning of the new CNC machine in 2006 resulted in increased productivity and led to further growth. Customers appreciated the consistency and quality with which their orders were completed and further expanded their partnership with M.B.S NV. The normaCFG also had to operate unmanned from this point on, and thanks to the modular construction of SCHNEEBERGER machines, there was no problem retrofitting the automatic handling system. Now it was possible to exploit the remaining nights and weekends too. M.B.S NV was still on a growth trajectory. In 2012, the decision was made to further expand production capacity. Things had become too tight in the garden spot and new premises were needed. It would take a while until the right property could be located.

Then in 2015 construction could begin on the new factory building, which was only 3 km away from the old location. Mark Barberien was already planning for the future and created the new building with the necessary room to spare.

In the meantime, he had also ordered one of the new normaNGC machines. Mark’s good experience with his first machine counted in this decision: the robustness and reliability of the machine, the high material removal rate, the auton- omous operation of the normaNGC, its compact design, and last but not least the reliable service he had received from SCHNEEBERGER. In 2016, at the same time the new factory space was completed, the new machine was also delivered to M.B.S NV.

With the normaNGC, the company now has the latest CNC tool grinding technology. With its automatic loader and VARIO pallet, this machine is also designed for unmanned operation. Moreover, it can perform cylindrical grinding operations at up to 800 rpm. This allows stepped drill bits, reamers and stepped reamers to be produced all in one setting, in the best possible quality. The surface finish achieved can no longer even be distinguished from a centerless ground blank.

With their CNC grinding machines, M.B.S can now produce standard and special tools for drilling machines, stepped drills, end mills, profile cutters and inserts with even more flexibility. The cornerstone for the future expansion of this successful firm has thus been laid.