Poclain Žiri Improves Its Production With Two New Machines

Poclain Žiri in Slovenia supplies approximately 450,000 valves per year and is Poclain's main valve manufacturing plant. To keep on improving our production capacity in this plant, we installed two new machines and optimized the production process for greater flexibility and autonomy. Our fine machining operations are now five times faster.

Machining operations five times faster

In recent months, Poclain Žiri has developed its production tool with 2 new machines and optimized the process for greater flexibility and autonomy.

The new high performance grinding machine is used for the fine machining of pump pistons and valve spools. It provides higher quality results by maximizing dimensional accuracy. This machine has also allowed us to increase our machinability with a one-step grinding process and reduce our setup and cycle time. Our fine machining operations are now 5 times faster. 

We also upgraded our machining with pallet pool systems to handle workpieces from one station to another. This system allows us to link multiple machining centers into one system. With a reduced SMED, advanced tool life management, easy scheduling and 24-hour-a-day running capacity, we have increased our flexibility and autonomy. 

"I am pleased that Poclain is investing in the Žiri plant with state-of-the-art production machines. With each new investment in machining equipment, we upgrade our process with the latest technologies, reduce the cycle time and increase both the quality of our products and the flexibility of the process", Primož Kavčič, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, says. 

"These new investments in production allow us to learn new production standards and work with the latest machining technologies on the market. We now have shorter set-up times and better overall control of production, from tool life management to scheduling", Boštjan Kogovšek, machine setup expert, says.

Poclain Žiri, the heart of our valve production

This year, our Slovenian plant received the Gold Award for Innovation from "Innovative Slovenia", for our new freewheel valve. An event organized by the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This new valve is used to control the auxiliary drive of agricultural harvesters and enables energy savings due to reduced pressure losses and innovative control methods. 

Žiri's wide range of products includes brake valves, power transmission valves and motion control valves that are integrated into complete transmission and braking systems for demanding applications such as agriculture (tractors, combine harvester). Our latest developments in electrohydraulic braking also bring intelligence to the most demanding advanced control systems.

Our Slovenian plant was founded in 1949. At that time, it produced voltage indicators. Valve production started in 1976. Since then, we have always done our best to provide higher quality products. 

Focusing on our team's competences

In a challenging environment, we want to focus on optimizing our production tools so that our people can focus on process control and quality. As demand increases every day, we need more and more skilled operators on our team. 

With reduced processing times, we are focusing on training and empowering our 300 employees in Žiri. As a premium employer, we want to support their professional development and provide them with interesting career plans. 

Would you like to join our team ? 

Check out our open positions in Ziri: 

• Poclain on Deloglasnik 
• Contact Eva Kusič Mihelčič