SILMISA trusts VURCON to take the next step: precision, productivity and autonomy with the largest machining center in the range.
Recycling machinery manufacturer SILMISA has optimized its production capacity by integrating the 3-axis VURCON VL-178 vertical machining center . Thanks to the rigidity of its ductile iron structure and its high-power spindle, the company has been able to bring in-house the CNC machining of large-format structural components to strict dimensional tolerances. This technical investment has significantly reduced cycle times in heavy roughing operations, eliminated dependence on external suppliers and shortened lead times on its assembly line.
Who SILMISA is: engineering and the recycling industry under one roof
SILMISA is a Spanish manufacturer of machinery for the recycling sector with a nationwide reputation. Its activity goes far beyond assembling components: the company has its own engineering department that designs and develops its machines from scratch, and an in-house machine shop that manufactures the critical components those machines require.
This vertical integration (engineering, machining and assembly in the same company) is precisely what sets SILMISA apart in its sector. Designing a recycling machine and manufacturing its most dimensionally demanding parts in-house is not common in the Spanish market. It is a commitment to total control of the process, the traceability of every component and the quality of the final product.
The machinery manufactured by SILMISA operates in high-demand industrial environments: waste treatment plants, material sorting facilities, compaction and shredding lines. Its machines must withstand continuous duty cycles, high mechanical loads and intense vibration conditions. That translates directly into one requirement: the machined components cannot fail.
The context: modernization and increased capabilities for a growing workshop
SILMISA's growth as a recycling machinery manufacturer put increasing pressure on its machine shop. The engineering department was designing ever more complex components with more demanding dimensions. The market was asking for tighter lead times. And the available machining capacity was starting to limit what the company could produce and how quickly.
The specific challenges were clear:
Larger and more complex parts. New machinery developments required larger structural components (frames, brackets, transmission elements) that called for a larger working area and a more powerful spindle to machine them efficiently.
Cycle times that were holding back production capacity. In an environment where the workshop machines parts for internal use, every machine hour lost is directly an hour of delay in final assembly. Reducing cycle times was not an abstract efficiency improvement: it was a direct lever on delivery times to the customer.
Non-negotiable dimensional requirements. Recycling machinery components work under severe dynamic loads. An out-of-tolerance part is not just a quality defect: it can compromise the service life of the entire mechanical assembly. Dimensional stability during machining was a requirement, not a wish.
Production continuity. A workshop that feeds an assembly line cannot afford unplanned stoppages. The reliability of the machine tool is as critical as the reliability of the product it manufactures.
The decision: VURCON VL-178 Machining Center
After evaluating different options on the market, SILMISA's technical team opted for the the 3-Axis VURCON VL-178 Machining Center.
It was not an impulsive decision, nor one based solely on price. It was a technical decision: the VL-178 met, point by point, the requirements that SILMISA's engineering department had identified as critical for its manufacturing process.
Technical features of the VURCON VL-178 relevant to the case
The VURCON VL-178 is a 3-axis vertical machining center designed for intensive production of medium and large parts with high precision requirements. The features that proved decisive for SILMISA:
Large working area on all three axes. The VL-178 offers travels in X, Y and Z that make it possible to machine the largest structural and functional components SILMISA produces for its recycling machines: parts that, on smaller-format machines, required multiple setups or could not be machined in-house.
High-rigidity nodular cast iron structure. The base, column and head of the VL-178 are made of ductile (nodular) cast iron. This design decision is no accident: structural rigidity is the factor that most directly determines dimensional stability during machining. In roughing operations with aggressive feeds on steel or cast iron (common materials in recycling machinery), a rigid structure makes the difference between a part within tolerance and a rejected part.
High-power, variable-speed spindle. The versatility of the VL-178's spindle allows efficient work both in roughing ferrous materials and in finishing aluminum or tool steels. For a workshop like SILMISA's, which machines parts in very different materials and geometries depending on the project, that versatility translates into real production flexibility.
Automatic tool changer (ATC). The tool changer of the VL-178 reduces idle time between operations. In short and medium runs (the usual profile in machinery manufacturers' workshops), setup and tool change time carries a proportionally high weight in the total cycle time. The ATC tackles that point directly.
State-of-the-art CNC control. The VL-178's control system combines computing power for managing complex toolpaths with an interface designed to shorten the learning curve. For the SILMISA team, this meant faster commissioning and the ability to program medium-complexity operations directly at the machine without always having to post-process from CAM.
Design geared to preventive maintenance. Easy access to the VL-178's lubrication points, filters and wear components allows the workshop's own team to carry out first-level maintenance without the intervention of an external service technician. In continuous production, that is measured directly in machine availability.
The onboarding process: from decision to production
At VURCON we understand that the value of a machining center is not limited to its technical specifications. The way it is integrated into the customer's production process largely determines when and how much return the investment generates.
With SILMISA, the process included several distinct phases:
Pre-sales technical analysis. Before confirming the machine, the VURCON team worked with SILMISA's engineers to validate that the VL-178 met the requirements of the range of parts to be machined: dimensions, materials, critical dimensions, production volumes. This step avoids later surprises and aligns expectations from the outset.
Installation and commissioning. The VL-178 was installed in SILMISA's workshop with direct technical assistance from VURCON: leveling, geometric verification of the axes, acceptance tests and adjustment of the CNC parameters to the customer's production process.
Technical training for the team. SILMISA's workshop operators and programmers received specific training on the VL-178: operating the control, programming machining cycles, setting up offsets and tools, and the preventive maintenance protocol. The goal was for the team to be able to operate and maintain the machine with real autonomy from day one.
Active after-sales support. Once in production, VURCON maintains a technical assistance channel available to SILMISA for any optimization query, programming question or technical issue.
Results: what changes in the workshop when the machine is the right one
Adding the VURCON VL-178 Machining Center to SILMISA's workshop has had a concrete impact on its day-to-day operations and its production capacity as a manufacturer:
Machining autonomy for large-format parts. SILMISA can now machine in-house components that it previously had to outsource or that limited the design of its own machines. That in-house capability strengthens its control over quality, lead times and manufacturing costs.
Shorter cycle times in roughing and semi-finishing operations. The combination of spindle power and structural rigidity of the VL-178 allows higher feeds and depths of cut than SILMISA could apply with its previous machines, while maintaining or improving surface finish and dimensional accuracy.
Faster workshop response to engineering. When SILMISA's engineering department needs a component prototype or a part for validation, the workshop can respond more quickly. That speeds up development cycles for new machines and shortens the time from design to the first functional assembly. 
Dimensional stability in repetitive production. The rigidity of the VL-178's structure guarantees that part number one hundred comes out with the same dimensions as part number one. In components that will work in machines subject to severe mechanical loads, that consistency is essential.
Less dependence on external technical service. The VL-178's design, geared to preventive maintenance, has allowed the workshop's own team to handle first-level interventions, reducing response times to any incident and the associated maintenance costs.
What this case reveals about machining at machinery manufacturers
The SILMISA case illustrates a reality that many industrial machinery manufacturers know well: the in-house machine shop is a strategic asset, not an overhead cost.
When the workshop can machine with precision, speed and reliability, the manufacturer gains autonomy over its product, shortens its development times and protects its margin. When the workshop becomes a bottleneck, that autonomy erodes, and with it the ability to compete.
Choosing the right machine tool is not a purchasing decision. It is an engineering decision with direct consequences for the manufacturer's competitiveness.
Why SILMISA chose VURCON
SILMISA was not looking for the cheapest machining center or the one loaded with the most features. It was looking for the machine with the best balance of performance, reliability and total cost of ownership, and a manufacturer that understood its process and could support it beyond delivery.
At VURCON we build machining centers for companies that demand that level of commitment. We get to know our customers' processes before recommending a machine, and we keep following their progress long after the machine is in production.
SILMISA is a company that builds machinery that has to last. At VURCON we make machines with the same philosophy.
Does your company manufacture machinery and need to expand or improve its machining capacity?
If your in-house workshop is limiting the capacity of your engineering department, or if you are assessing which machining center best suits your manufacturing process, we can help you make the right decision.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about the VURCON VL-178 Machining Center
What advantages does the ductile iron structure of the VURCON VL-178 offer?
Ductile (nodular) cast iron provides excellent absorption of mechanical vibrations and high structural rigidity. This is essential for maintaining dimensional stability and precision in heavy roughing operations on hard materials such as steel.
How does the Automatic Tool Changer (ATC) optimize short-run production?
The ATC system automates tool replacement in seconds, eliminating manual stoppages. In the manufacture of short runs or prototypes, this drastically reduces idle time and maximizes the machine's effective cutting time.
What impact does its advanced CNC control have on the workshop's daily operations?
This system combines computing power for complex toolpaths with an intuitive interface. It allows operators to program medium-complexity machining cycles and adjust offsets directly at the machine, reducing constant dependence on CAM software.
How does the design of the VL-178 contribute to autonomous preventive maintenance?
The center is designed with easily accessible lubrication points and filters. This allows the workshop's own staff to carry out first-level maintenance tasks, improving the OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) indicator without depending on external assistance.
See the VURCON VL-178 Machining Center or contact our technical team at vurcon.com.