Mills CNC’s ‘Innovation Day’ Technology Show, focused on best-practice one-hit machining, advanced multi-tasking machine tools and integrated automation systems and solutions, will demonstrate to visitors how they can increase their productivity, improve their process efficiencies and maintain their competitive edge.
The event is being used, and also provides the ideal hi-tech venue, to formally introduce a Heller HF 5500 FLEX horizontal simultaneous 5-axis mill-turn machine to UK and Irish component manufacturers.
Mills CNC has announced that it will be hosting a one-day advanced technology event at its Campus facility in Leamington on 8th October 2026.
The event, focused on innovation and best-practice, provides UK and Irish component manufacturers with a unique opportunity to find out more about the productivity and process efficiency gains that can be achieved by embracing one-hit machining and investing in advanced multi-tasking DN Solutions’ and Heller machine tools.
The event has also been selected as the ideal venue and platform for Mills CNC, following DN Solutions acquisition of Heller last year, to introduce and ‘get under the bonnet’ of a proven Heller machine to customers and event visitors.
The machine, a Heller HF 5500 FLEX, was a late addition to Mills’ machine tool line-up at the MACH Show in April 2026 but now, at this smaller and more targeted event, the HF 5500 FLEX will share centre stage with ten DN Solutions’ machines.
“DN Solutions’ acquisition of Heller in 2025 has significantly increased the depth and breadth of machine tool technologies we can now offer to our customers.
“At our Innovation Day event, customers will be able to not only see the Heller HF 5500 FLEX being put through its paces machining a high-precision aerospace blisk, but will also be able to find out more about the machine and its strengths via a series of live in-person presentations delivered directly by Heller technical representatives.”
Tony Dale, Group CEO at Mills CNC
Heller HF 5500
The Heller HF 5500 FLEX, a horizontal simultaneous 5-axis mill-turn machine, equipped with the new Siemens (SINUMERIK) ONE control and a 24” multi-touch screen, is a heavy-duty machine that has been designed and built for simultaneous 5-axis machining and complex mill-turn operations.
The machine features a powerful HSK-T spindle (45kW/12,000rpm/400N-m), up to 90m/min rapid rates on its linear axes, a rotary tilting table with a 630m x 630m pallet and a high-speed 50-tool position ATC. The machine also has fast and easy table loading capabilities.
For the event, the HF 5500 FLEX will be undertaking a challenging machining demonstration i.e., the fast and precise processing of a complex aerospace blisk component made from a heat-resistant super alloy.
Other highlights
Whilst much of the initial limelight is on the Heller HF 5500 at Mills’ Innovation Day, ten DN Solutions’ machine tools will also be showcased at the event.
These machines, all multi-tasking, one-hit machine tool icons in their own right, include two DVF 4000 simultaneous 5-axis centres (one integrated with an automatic workpiece pallet changer), two DN Solutions mill-turn machines (an SMX 3100 and a recently-launched DNX 2100S), a large-capacity V8300M vertical turning lathe with driven tooling capabilities and a NHP 5000 horizontal machine integrated with a (12-pallet) linear pallet system (LPS).
Mills is also using the event to showcase its latest automation systems to attendees.
First introduced at MACH 2026, the company’s innovative T-series, designed for High-Mix/Low-Volume production, can be integrated with CNC lathes, machining centres and mill-turn machines to create flexible, high-productivity automated manufacturing cells capable of lights-out, unattended operation.
“Our Innovation Day, best-practice event is focused on one-hit machining and is aimed at UK and Irish component manufacturers who, owing to older and less capable machine tools and/or outdated and labour intensive processes, may be struggling to improve their productivity and maintain their competitive edge.
“Although one-hit machining is not a new concept, the continuous development of new machine tools capable of delivering single set-up machining means that the one-hit machining landscape is constantly changing and improving.
“Our Innovation Day event provides a unique opportunity for visitors to check out the very latest DN Solutions and Heller multi-tasking machines, and to see how they can revolutionise their productivity and help them realise their true potential.”
Tony Dale, Group CEO at Mills CNC