![\"\u201cHaas](\"http:\/\/mfgtechupdate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Haas_Vamec-11-red.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cHaas machines give us the technology to do what we want to do, quickly and cost effectively,\u201d comments Matteo Vannini. \u201cFurthermore, there\u2019s no need to lease the machines or get a big loan from the bank; they\u2019re affordable and reliable.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\nRacing is in the blood at Vamec. In his day, founder Vincenzo Vannini was a passionate kart competitor who first took to the track in 1968. After subsequently becoming a preparer and mechanic for various international teams, he established Vamec in 1994 with the intention of manufacturing purpose-designed components for a sport that had previously relied on non-specific parts such as those found on motorcycles, tractors and lawnmowers.
\nSome 20 years later, with Vincenzo\u2019s sons Matteo and Fabio running the workshop and business administration functions respectively, Vamec has become a world leader in the development and manufacture of components, accessories and equipment designed specifically for competition. Its Tryton carburetor series, for example, is used by both national and international kart racing teams.
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<\/a>Matteo Vannini, son of founder Vincenzo Vannini, runs Vamec\u2019s busy workshop.<\/p><\/div>\nIn recent years, the sport of karting has moved up several gears to become as competitive and professional as the upper echelons of motor racing to which its drivers aspire. The potential rewards for talented young drivers who reach F1 are there for all to see. It\u2019s a shot at fame and riches in which many are prepared to invest heavily.
\nVamec has also invested with the sport, purchasing numerous CNC machine tools and adding components to its catalogue, including various engine and chassis parts, pit stands, jigs and tools, which are supplied to teams and individual racers all over the world. More recently, the company also made engine parts for Moto 3 motorcycle racing, and has even remade parts for a collectable Ferrari F1 car owned by a Californian enthusiast.
\nVamec\u2019s goal, according to its founder, is to be as close to the customer as possible. This approach is an insider\u2019s strategy, after all, Vincenzo knows what it\u2019s like to race and to run a team \u2013 he understands how valuable good support can be. \u201cThere are lots of companies that make and sell standard, replacement parts, but we want to develop our relationship so we can support customers as much as possible,\u201d he says.
\nFor many years, Vamec bought well-known, far-eastern CNC machine tools, until in 2013 Vincenzo placed an order for the newly launched Haas UMC-750 universal machining center. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t believe the value offered by the UMC,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019d heard very
\ngood things about Haas machines, so we placed an order even though we knew the machine had only just been launched and the delivery date was quite a way off.\u201d
\nIn the meantime, Vamec looked at other Haas machines to see if they also offered similar value and performance. The company quickly decided to invest in a VF-2SS super speed vertical machining center, mostly for one-off, three-axis work. \u201cAll of our other machines were busy, so we needed another,\u201d says Matteo. \u201cAgain, the price and claimed performance of the VF-2SS were very attractive. As soon as it was installed we moved one or two jobs from the adjacent Japanese machine. We had to make some very minor modifications to the program so it would run on the Haas control, but that was straightforward. The first part we made, well, we just couldn\u2019t believe it! The Haas did the job better than a machine that cost a lot more. The surface finish was better and the cycle times were shorter.\u201d
\nA little later, in July 2013, the company took delivery of its UMC-750, and soon, Matteo says, the machine was making 70-80 different parts, mostly one-offs.
\n\u201cThinking in five axes was new to me,\u201d he recalls, \u201cso I took it slowly to start with. It\u2019s not that the machine is difficult to use \u2013 on the contrary, the control is the same as the VF-2SS, so it was immediately familiar. It\u2019s the CADCAM part of the process that is different and took a little longer to understand. Of course, our need for accuracy and capability will only increase over time, but we are in a very good position now that we have access to an affordable, very good machine like the UMC.\u201d
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