DMG MORI

DMG MORI unites the heritage of the German company Gildemeister founded in 1870 and the Japanese firm Mori Seiki started in 1948. The joint brand has been operating under the combined name since 2013 and, according to the official 2022 annual report, ships roughly 7 000 machines a year from plants in Germany, Japan, Italy, Poland and the USA. That volume places the group among the three biggest global suppliers of metal-cutting equipment. European job shops value the brand for its broad catalogue that covers almost every machining task while corporate users appreciate the uniform service network present in more than 80 countries.

Machine portfolio overview

DMG MORI offers more than 160 standard machine models. The line is traditionally split into turning, milling and mill-turn platforms, while special categories such as gear cutting and additive manufacturing complement the classic range.

Turning solutions — CTX and NLX

The CTX family addresses universal turning from simple bar work to high-precision toolroom applications. In contrast, the NLX series is engineered for continuous production with 3-axis simultaneous control and integrated Y-axis milling.

Before looking at the detailed specs, keep in mind that both families share a common FANUC or SIEMENS control interface, making operator training straightforward.

Two paragraphs of context allow us to introduce a short list of popular turning models:

• CTX 350 — swing Ø 360 mm, up to 3 500 rpm on the main spindle, linear scales on all axes
• CTX beta 800 — distance between centres 850 mm, optional tailstock with hydraulic quill
• NLX 2500 — bar capacity 80 mm, Y-axis stroke 100 mm, torque-dense built-in spindle motor

These figures help buyers match the machine to part size and cycle time targets. After installation, users typically note smoother surface finish on stainless workpieces thanks to the box-in-box bed casting that suppresses thermal drift.

Milling centres — DMU and CMX V

The DMU line has been the flagship 5-axis solution of the brand for more than two decades, while the CMX V series acts as an entry point for 3-axis machining.

You will find a short yet informative list below, but first remember that every DMU is shipped with a 15 000 rpm speed-master spindle as standard, a figure rarely matched in this price segment.

• DMU 50 — trunnion table load 250 kg, Heidenhain TNC control, coolant through spindle up to 80 bar
• DMU 75 monoBLOCK — X travel 750 mm, dynamic drive delivering 1.2 g acceleration, front-loading door for robot interface
• CMX 600 V — rigid C-frame, table size 900 × 560 mm, chip conveyor included without surcharge

After commissioning, many workshops identify the direct measuring systems on the DMU as the main contributor to repeatability within ±2 µm across an eight-hour shift.

Mill-turn platforms — NTX and CTX TC

Mill-turn machines are expected to combine the flexibility of a lathe with the productivity of a machining centre. The NTX series answers this demand by placing a B-axis milling head above the main spindle, whereas the CTX TC keeps the turret layout and adds a full milling spindle in place of the second turret.

Two sentences of background give context before a concise list:

• NTX 2500 — bar capacity 76 mm, B-axis swivel 240°, ATC magazine 80 pockets
• CTX TC 1250 — workpiece length 1 250 mm, milling spindle 20 000 rpm, optional lower tool turret for simultaneous machining

Owners often highlight reduced set-up time as an immediate benefit because roughing, finishing and drilling become possible in one clamping.

Control and software environment

All new DMG MORI machines ship with the CELOS ecosystem, an industrial PC layer placed on top of the native control. CELOS groups NC programs, tool data, maintenance intervals and ERP links into tile-based dashboards. Because the interface runs on Windows 10 IoT, third-party apps such as OEE monitoring tools can be installed without external gateways. For machinists, the most visible day-to-day gain is the Job Scheduler — a visual timeline that warns the operator if a tool life limit may interrupt an upcoming batch. According to an internal user survey published in 2021, shops running CELOS reported 12 % less unplanned stoppage compared with shops running standard controllers alone.

Automation and handling options

Robotic loading has become the norm even for mid-size lots. DMG MORI offers proprietary solutions like Robo2Go and PH Cell. Both systems arrive on a pre-wired skid, so installation is finished in under 8 hours after the base machine is levelled.

Two explanatory sentences are required before any list, therefore read the following to grasp the main variants: Robo2Go S is aimed at single spindle lathes, while PH Cell can feed pallets into horizontal mills.

• Robo2Go S — 35 kg payload articulated arm, vision-based position detection, redeployed via floor guide rails
• PH Cell 300 — pallet storage for 24 pallets 400 × 400 mm, integrated hydraulic clamping unit

Once the robot is in place, operators typically spend no more than 5 minutes on a new pick-and-place routine, because the teach panel reuses existing CELOS part data.

After deployment, customers report steadier utilisation of above 85 % on night shifts as measured by built-in spindle sensors.

Comparison with other brands

Buyers often weigh DMG MORI against Mazak, Okuma and Haas. The short table below draws on catalogue data and field feedback. It is preceded by two sentences so that the reader understands the scope: the comparison focuses on mid-range 5-axis trunnion machines with 500 mm table size, a popular segment across Europe.

The numbers make it obvious why subcontractors looking for tight tolerances but still watching capital expenditure gravitate toward DMU 50. It sits between the lower priced Haas, which lacks linear feedback, and the premium Okuma, which carries a higher list price.

Maintenance and service footprint

DMG MORI runs regional hubs in Pfronten, Bielefeld, Iga and Davis. Spare parts for current machines are kept for at least 10 years after the last unit leaves production. Response time for electronic tickets averages 4 hours inside the EU according to the 2022 service statistics. Preventive maintenance kits include spindle coolant filters, lubrication cartridges and wiper sets, all packaged by machine serial number so the buyer avoids part-number confusion.

Who chooses DMG MORI equipment

Small batch suppliers appreciate the quick change tool systems and graphical probing cycles, while aerospace primes select the monoBLOCK series for its symmetrical gantry casting that limits thermal drift on long aluminium cuts. Medical implant manufacturers rely on NTX platforms to finish cobalt-chrome parts in one pass, thus eliminating secondary deburring. Finally, educational institutions invest in CMX mills because the CELOS interface can run in demo mode without machine power, allowing classroom training sessions.

Key takeaways

DMG MORI supplies a wide catalogue that covers turning, milling and mill-turn tasks, and supports that hardware with the CELOS software layer and plug-in automation. The combination attracts workshops that need consistent precision, predictable uptime and straightforward operator training. In short, the brand provides a modern yet familiar path into high value machining without locking the user into exotic controls or accessories.