The performance characteristics of Eural Gnutti's lead-free aluminum – a world-leading manufacturer of drawn bars made from aluminum alloys for machining and one of the largest suppliers of extruded bars and profiles – precisely meet the requirements of Tornos France, which focuses on machinability and chip control in precision turning operations. In this context, alloy 2033 proves to be particularly suitable for high-speed machining cycles with tight tolerances, leading to better operational management and consistent performance.
Tornos France, a subsidiary of the Swiss Tornos Group, is a traditional machine tool manufacturer specializing in bar turning, particularly with long turning machines. With over 140 years of experience and a presence in more than 20 countries, the group boasts thousands of installations worldwide in high-precision industries such as automotive, medical, and luxury sectors. Thanks to its current machine park, Tornos is today a leading technology partner for complex applications with high value creation.
The synergy between Eural and Tornos confirms the growing interest of the industry in lead-free aluminum solutions that combine high performance with stable and reliable machining processes. In addition to these advantages, the surface quality, which is particularly important for this sector due to the demand for high and consistently maintained aesthetic standards, comes into play. In this context, the material's ability to ensure shiny and homogeneous surfaces, which are ideal as a basis for subsequent treatments and coatings with precious metals such as gold, silver, or palladium, represents a key element in further enhancing the qualitative and aesthetic level of the end product.
Eural's alloy 2033 opens new perspectives for the luxury and watch industry
In the luxury and watch industry, which has traditionally been associated with the use of other alloys such as lead-containing brass, there is an increasing necessity to use more sustainable materials – in response to legal, ecological, and safety-related requirements regarding skin contact. In this scenario, lead-free aluminum presents itself as a concrete alternative that combines technical performance, lightness, and higher sustainability while maintaining consistent quality standards. At the heart of the project is the Eural 2033 alloy, which is characterized by excellent machinability in terms of chip formation – a crucial factor in automated processing and also the greatest operational challenge. In addition to these advantages, ensuring higher operational continuity leads to a reduction in tool breakage or wear. Thus, alloy 2033 represents a solution that anticipates market developments and is the ideal choice for the most demanding market segments.
Practical application, concrete results: the practical test of alloy 2033
On the occasion of Simodec and as proof of the qualities of the alloy, Tornos put its Swiss XT lathe into operation live to produce a practical, lightweight, and durable object that showcases the potential of the machine tool and the material used. The choice fell on a pocket knife, where functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand to highlight not only the machining performance but also the end result in terms of surface quality and material yield – aspects that are becoming increasingly important in the respective industries of both companies. The product, designed from the outset according to a 'Full-Metal' logic, has managed to maximize the properties of the alloy without heterogeneous materials impairing performance representation. Unlike the most common designs that feature inserts or components made of plastic or wood, every element was made exclusively of metal: handle from alloy 2033, blade and ring from stainless steel, and screw from titanium.
Specifically, the handle was processed by turning, milling, drilling, and threading, followed by a finishing process through tumbling, resulting in a particularly shiny surface. The use of steel tools in conjunction with an increased cutting speed also contributed to improved chip removal. The results achieved showed high machinability and production continuity as well as unparalleled surface quality.
Additionally, there is a solid mechanical strength of the end product, even under impacts, and its full compatibility with surface treatments such as anodizing and decorative surface finishing.
Patrice Armeni, Managing Director of Tornos France, states: 'This application has demonstrated the potential of Tornos machines and their actual efficiency in the precision processing of a high-performance material like Eural Gnutti's alloy 2033 in practice.' And he adds: 'Although the material selection does not fall within our area of responsibility, the insights gained prompt us to recommend this alloy to our customers.'
Sébastien Vadillo, Sales Manager for France at Eural Gnutti, comments: 'I thank the Tornos team for the fruitful collaboration, thanks to which we were able to quickly determine the optimal parameters and confirm the value of 2033 even in new application areas.' And he concludes: 'The contribution of Eural's Machining Trials Service, which supports the customer, has allowed us to direct the choice to the most suitable alloy and thus accelerate the transition from idea to production.'
Contact:
www.eural.com
