Hurco Companies Inc.
| Public | |
| Traded as | Nasdaq: HURC |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Machinery |
| Founded 📆 | 1968 |
| Founder 👔 | |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , Indianapolis, Indiana USA |
Area served 🗺️ | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products 📟 | Machine tools |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | Hurco.com |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Hurco Companies Inc. is an American industrial technology company best known for its easy-to-use CNC control and software. In 1976, it was the first machine tool builder to file a patent application for an "Interactive Machining System" (marketed by the company as "Conversational Programming") for which a patent was granted in 1984.[1] In the 1990's, the company began to enforce the patent and worked out license agreements with other machine tool builders. The exception was Haas Automation, which refused, so the two companies took their dispute to court with Hurco prevailing in 2000.[1]
Today, Hurco designs, manufactures, and markets software, CNC controls, machine tools and automation solutions. Through a subsidiary, it also designs and manufactures machine tool components.[2] As a machine tool builder, Hurco manufactures vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, five-axis machining centers and lathes/turning centers. The company has manufacturing operations in the United States, Italy, Taiwan and China. The company also has sales and service operations in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Hurco’s software is called WinMax and is used to program its CNC control, called MAX. WinMax software is designed to be user-friendly as it leads the operator thru an intuitive process to build a program, by following prompts and verifying progress through the use of 3D Solid graphics. Through the use of industrial design, the control console is engineered to be ergonomic to improve the operator’s experience.[3]
Hurco is a public company, traded on the Nasdaq exchange in the United States. The multinational company’s headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana.[4]
History[edit]
Hurco was founded in 1968 by Gerald Roch and Ed Humston in Indianapolis as Hurco Manufacturing Co. Inc. The company’s first product was a CNC backgauge for press brakes marketed under the Autobend brand. The company went public in 1971 and exhibited its first CNC milling machine at IMTS in 1974. Hurco introduced its B-Series CNC in 1978 and the first Ultimax twin-screen CNC in 1984, with one monitor for data and another for graphics. Updated versions of the Ultimax CNC were released throughout the 1990s. WinMax CNC utilizing Microsoft Windows Embedded Industry operating system as an interface was launched in 2015, with subsequent versions released since.[5]
In 1978, Hurco launched its first vertical machining center called the MB1 with an automatic tool changer (ATC). Its BMC Series of vertical machining centers started in 1986. In 1991, the company introduced its first 5-axis machines, the MA Series. Higher performance VMX Series vertical machining centers began in 1997 with value priced VM Series starting in 2003. VMX-SRT Series swivel head 5-axis machines (with embedded C-axis in the table) were launched in 2012. Hurco started its value priced TM Series CNC lathes in 2004, with higher performance TMX models beginning in 2008. Many other specialty models were introduced throughout the years as well.[6]
In 2013, Hurco acquired LCM Srl (Castell’Alfero, Italy) a machine tool component supplier that provides electromechanical spindles, swivel heads and rotary plus tilting tables.[7] The company acquired machine tool builders Milltronics Manufacturing Co. (Waconia, Minnesota) and Takumi Machinery Co. Ltd. (Taichung City, Taiwan) in 2015.[8] In 2018, Hurco celebrated its 50th Anniversary by “ringing the bell” at the Nasdaq exchange in New York on live television broadcast by CNBC.[9] The company acquired ProCobots LLC (Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania), a provider of automation solutions using cobots for high-mix low-volume part production in 2019.[10]
Innovations[edit]
Hurco first innovation was Conversational Programming, important because it simplified programming as the operator does not need to understand G-code, but rather just answer questions according to required part dimensions and other details. In the years since the original patent, offline CAM systems have become a popular method to program a CNC so today’s WinMax< accepts multiple methods of programming, including Conversational, direct input of G-code and CAM.
Hurco also has been an innovator in the field of motion control, evidenced by its many patents.[11][12][13] Once a part program has been written and stored in the CNC control, the process of interpreting and executing the commands involve motion control to position the cutting tool and/or workpiece. Several of Hurco’s motion control patents awarded between 2008-2011 were grouped together and marketed by the company collectively as UltiMotion, starting in 2012.[5]
UltiMotion utilizes complex algorithms for curvature control data smoothing, surface finish management and tolerance-based trajectory planning that control the feeds and speeds of the machine tool to produce the required results. This is all achieved independent of the operator’s knowledge or skill. UltiMotion does not require the operator to input any special codes or manipulate any settings.
In 2014, Hurco introduced software called AdaptiPathTM to apply trochoidal milling strategies to conversational programs. In 2017, Hurco introduced the ability to import a solid model STEP file directly into the CNC and assist the operator to write the CNC program without the use of an offline CAM system. The software requires no data entry and is called Solid Model 3D Import.[3]
The company also has many other patents related to machine tool design, software, CNC controls and additive manufacturing.[14]
Motorsports Involvement[edit]
In 2011, Hurco became a sponsor of the Ed Carpenter Racing IndyCar team that competes in the Indianapolis 500 as well as other IndyCar races throughout the United States and Canada.[15] The company also became a sponsor of an NHRA racing team in 2017, John Force Racing, that competes in Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car drag races throughout the United States and Canada.[16]
Certifications and Standards[edit]
Hurco Companies Inc. is an ISO 9001:2015 quality certified company.[17] It adheres to the following industrial standards:
- Standard for Industrial Machinery NFPA-79[18]
- UL Standard for Industrial Controls UL-508A[19]
- Canadian Standard Industrial Electrical Machinery CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 301[20]
- Canadian Standard Industrial Control Panels and Assemblies[21]
- European Union (EU) Safety Directive 2006/42/EC (each machine certified independently).[22]
References[edit]
- ↑ 4477754, Roch, Gerald V.; James P. Wiles & Chris L. Hadley, "United States Patent: 4477754 - Interactive machining system", issued October 16, 1984
- ↑ "Hurco Cos Inc - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Five-Axis Conversational Programming from a Solid Model". www.mmsonline.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ "Hurco Companies, Inc. (HURC) Company Profile & Facts - Yahoo Finance". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "CNC Machine Tool Manufacturing History". www.hurco.com. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ "CNC Machine Tool Manufacturing History". www.hurco.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "SEC Filing Hurco Acquires LCM Sri". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "SEC Filing Hurco Acquires Milltronics and Takumi". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Hurco to Ring Closing Bell at Nasdaq to Celebrate Anniversary". www.moldmakingtechnology.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "SEC Filing Hurco Acquires ProCobots". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ 7693588, Hong, Jiawei & Xiaonan Tan, "United States Patent: 7693588 - Method of curvature controlled data smoothing", issued April 6, 2010
- ↑ 7933677, Lankalapalli, Kishore; Jr Gorgol & Yongxing Hao et al., "United States Patent: 7933677 - System and method for surface finish management", issued April 26, 2011
- ↑ 7450127, Hong, Jiawei & Xiaonan Tan, "United States Patent: 7450127 - Method of tolerance-based trajectory planning", issued November 11, 2008
- ↑ "Patents Assigned to Hurco Companies, Inc. - Justia Patents Search". patents.justia.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Hurco | Partners | Ed Carpenter Racing". Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ "HURCO RACE SHOP TOUR | John Force Racing Official Site". Retrieved 2022-07-08.
- ↑ "Hurco Certificates & Patents". www.hurco.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Intertek ETL Listed Directory". ramuk.intertekconnect.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Intertek ETL Listed Directory". ramuk.intertekconnect.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Intertek ETL Listed Directory". ramuk.intertekconnect.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Intertek ETL Listed Directory". ramuk.intertekconnect.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ "Directive 2006/42/EC - new machinery directive | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA". osha.europa.eu. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
External Links[edit]
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