Hummingbird MES and hyperMILL® make tool management at Labo transparent and efficient
Labo | Geldrop, Netherlands
Key Takeaway
Labo in Geldrop is the first machining company in the Netherlands to implement Hummingbird MES with the Tool Logistics module. This gives Labo complete transparency of its tool management, reduces setup times, and increases process reliability. The connection with hyperMILL® and modern measuring technology provides the foundation for efficient digital manufacturing.
Labo in Geldrop is the first Dutch machining company to implement the Hummingbird MES system from OPEN MIND. The precision manufacturer chose the Tool Logistics module to achieve greater transparency and efficiency in tool management. The result is reduced setup times, fewer errors, and complete control over the entire tooling process.
Labo specializes in producing fine mechanical components in small batches from 10 to 100 pieces. The company operates just below the OEM level and serves demanding sectors such as semiconductors, medical, datacenter, and analytical industries. In addition to manufacturing complex parts with tight tolerances, Labo also performs Grade 4 cleaning and cleanroom packaging in-house. All of this requires a stable and manageable process. To achieve this, Labo has been investing in digitization for years. On the machine side, the company applies DMG MORI Messenger to gain real time insights into machine status, downtime, and utilization. This data forms the basis for process analysis and improvement. Yet tool management remained a weak point. Much of it was handled manually, creating risks of errors and unclear information regarding planning, inventory, and tool usage.
“We want an environment where tooling is just as manageable as the rest of the process,” says Managing Director Mart Stokmans. “We want to get the right data to the right place with as few steps as possible.”
“Thanks to Hummingbird MES and the hyperMILL® tool database, our setup times have been significantly reduced and our entire workflow has become much more stable and predictable.”
Mart Stokmans, Managing Director, Labo
Efficient tool management with Tool Logistics
The implementation of Hummingbird MES, especially the Tool Logistics module, has fundamentally transformed Labo’s tool management. The module centralizes all tool data coming from the presetting equipment, links it to the hyperMILL® CAD/CAM system, and communicates directly with the machine. Every tool receives a unique identifier through a DataMatrix code on the holder, which ensures that all tool data is automatically recognized and assigned. This significantly reduces the risk of errors and reduces setup times.
Labo uses Hummingbird MES to lay the foundation for further production digitalization, where tooling is no longer a bottleneck but a fully manageable factor in an optimized process.
After presetting, the tool data is stored directly in the tool database.
“In the past, tools had to be selected, preset, and checked manually,” says Stefan van Aalst, Managing Director of OPEN MIND Benelux. “Now, all tool data is available in real time in one overarching system. A quick scan of the code gives you instant access to all data. This saves a lot of time and prevents mistakes.”
Tool data is also transferred automatically to the machine control, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of typing errors. “Three employees keep seventeen machines running. That means programming, setting up, and managing tools,” says Ruud Stokmans, CAD/CAM Programmer at Labo. “You can only manage that if your processes are extremely well organized.”
The long-standing relationship with OPEN MIND and the existing use of hyperMILL® supported the transition to Hummingbird. Labo’s hyperMILL® tool database was already well structured, enabling a quick integration. “Hummingbird was fully integrated within three days. We started by connecting six machines to the MES system. The rest will follow step by step.”
Automated tool data and measurement values
A key aspect of the implementation is the integration with the presetting equipment. Labo invested in a new set of measuring devices from Haimer, including scanners and QR code readers. These are directly connected to Hummingbird, allowing measurement data to be automatically added to the tool database.
“We used to rely on manual data entry,” says Stokmans. “One employee was constantly busy with tool presetting that was error prone and time consuming. Now, everything is digital. That employee can now focus on work with more added value.”
The investment in the full package, including Hummingbird, Haimer equipment, scanners, and interfaces, is comparable to the cost of half a CNC machine. “But the return is much higher. Not in extra spindle time, but in better utilization of our existing capacity.” Tools are changed faster, always set correctly, and available at exactly the right moment. This results in shorter setup times and higher process predictability. “Fifteen minutes for a tool change has become the standard. And that is mainly because all tooling data is complete and automatically processed in advance.”
Thanks to the unique QR code on each holder, tool data is written directly and without errors into the Hummingbird database.
Hummingbird also enables Labo to analyze tool usage. Based on the number of cycles and measurement values, the company can determine when tools need to be replaced. This prevents unnecessary wear or breakage and drives further standardization. “The software forces us to organize everything very precisely,” Stokmans says. “This has an impact on the entire process chain, from purchasing to machining.”
Future expansion
The introduction of Hummingbird MES is not the end point but the next step in Labo’s digitization journey. In the future, the company plans to extend the tool module to all machines and include turning operations as well. Labo is also exploring how to connect the MES system to its MKG ERP system.
“We are collecting more and more reliable data,” says Stokmans. “We eventually want to base our planning on that data. Not on experience, but on facts.”
The company is also considering automated tool cabinets and broader shopfloor control with Hummingbird. The modular design of the system enables gradual expansion. “We intentionally choose a phased approach. It has to remain manageable. But the initial results are very positive. Fewer errors, shorter setup times, and more stability on the shopfloor.”
Ruud Stokmans at one of the six DMG MORI machining centers connected to the Hummingbird MES system. Tool data is transferred digitally to the machine with no manual entry required.