Haas Automation Putting ‘Partner’ in Partnership
March 1, 2016
BARCELONA, Spain (March 1, 2016) – Your race team is testing in another country. It’s after normal business hours. You need to machine some parts. And you need to do it now.
This situation could prove problematic or, at least, time consuming for most any other race team. But Haas F1 Team is not any other race team.
The newest participant in the FIA Formula One World Championship and the first American-led Formula One entry in 30 years, Haas F1 Team is currently testing at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya to prepare for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix March 20 in Melbourne. And as part of that test, the organization is learning about its racecar and equipment, exhaustively trying it all out to avoid any malfunctions when on-track activity begins in Melbourne.
As part of that process, the team is finding better ways to do things. Enter the Haas Factory Outlet (HFO) in Barcelona.
Through the first of two scheduled test sessions beginning Feb. 22 and ending March 4 at the 4.655-kilometer (2.89-mile), 16-turn circuit, Haas F1 Team has literally called on its partnership with Haas Automation, the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America.
Specifically, the call went to the HFO in Barcelona, located about 30 minutes from the track. Needed were some modifications to the team’s wheel-gun sockets, which allowed for pit stop practice on Feb. 25. Also necessary was some manufacturing of components related to the wheel nuts on the racecar, as well as modifications to the team’s pit equipment.
Haas Automation machine tools used for these tasks included:
- The UMC-750, a 5-axis vertical machining center
- The ST-30, a CNC lathe
- The VF-2, a vertical machining center
The quick work was perhaps the best example of showcasing Haas Automation’s product, but also its customer service, available across a worldwide footprint encompassing more than 60 countries and 1,300 employees.
“We are proving Haas Automation is more than just a sponsor – they’re a true partner in building our organization,” said Guenther Steiner, team principal, Haas F1 Team. “On very short notice, the local HFO here in Barcelona was able to put skilled technicians to work and manufacture and modify the parts we needed. We’ve achieved a high level of efficiency by tapping into the resources of Haas Automation, and it’s allowing us to make the most of our test.”