ELMIRA, NY - Tier 1 suppliers, high-end job shops and defense contractors take note: to keep pace with demand for its top-selling Bridgeport High-Performance XP3-Series VMCs produced in Asia, Hardinge is adding new production capacity in the United States.

“We’re managing our global capacities to meet the torrent demand by initiating assembly in our 600,000-sq.ft. Elmira, N.Y., plant,” explains Gregory P. Grogan, Vice President/General Manager of North American Machine Operations Hardinge has manufacturing and assembly facilities all over the world, including North America, Europe and Asia. To date, each factory builds specific models that are then exported worldwide. Going forward, Hardinge plans to also consider the needs of individual markets and determine what products should be assembled domestic to the region, and what models should continue to be imported. It’s a global approach centered around meeting the demands of each part of the world.

But don’t look for the XP3 moniker. It’s been updated to the Bridgeport XR-Series and sports a sleek new look with a thin red stripe at the edge of the wider blue stripe, signifying the new Red-Line Series. Bridgeport gears Red-Line designation to a range of products designed
for high-productivity. Andy McNamara, Milling Product Manager, North America says, “the XR-Series (like its predecessor) has the best performance capabilities for the dollar bar none. In just three years, the line gained traction through word of mouth to the point where we’re finding it more difficult to keep pace with demand.” 

These high-specification vertical machining centers feature compact design, Fanuc 18i MB controls with highspeed nanometer contouring capability, rapid traverse rate of up to 1,700 IPM, high-performance spindle technology, and swing arm ATC with up to 48 tools. “The first two models – the XR 760 and XR 1000 – start Elmira production and assembly in September for delivery to the North American market this fall,” states David Austin, Director of Operations North America. “At first we will be assembling kits, but as we move toward 2007, many key components on the machine will be sourced domestically, many of which will be manufactured within our Elmira facility.”