Mills CNC will showcase the Heller HF 5500 FLEX horizontal simultaneous 5-axis mill-turn machine at its Innovation Day technology event on October 8, 2026. The event will be held at the company’s Technology Campus in Leamington Spa and will feature 11 advanced machine tools.
The event is aimed at component manufacturers in the UK and Ireland seeking to improve productivity and process efficiency. Mills CNC will demonstrate the benefits of one-hit machining, with the Heller HF 5500 FLEX undertaking a live machining demonstration of a complex aerospace blisk made from a heat-resistant super alloy.
The HF 5500 FLEX was added to Mills CNC’s product portfolio at MACH 2026 in April. Its inclusion in the Innovation Day programme will give visitors an opportunity to see the machine in operation and learn about its capabilities through presentations by Heller technical representatives.
“DN Solutions’ acquisition of Heller back in 2025 has significantly increased the depth and breadth of advanced machine tool technologies we can now offer our customers,” said Tony Dale, Group CEO, Mills CNC. “Heller machines, like the HF 5500 FLEX, are premium machine tools recognised globally for their outstanding performance and are a mainstay advanced technology for many aerospace, automotive and power generation OEMs, Tier One and specialist sub-contractors machining high-integrity components,” he added.
The HF 5500 FLEX is equipped with a Siemens SINUMERIK ONE control and a 24-inch multi-touch screen. Its HSK-T mill-turn spindle delivers 45kW, 12,000rpm and 400N-m, while linear axes can achieve rapid speeds of up to 90m/min. The machine has a 630mm x 630mm rotary tilting table and a 50-tool automatic tool changer.
The FLEX configuration provides direct access for workpiece loading and setup without an integrated pallet changer. It can also be connected to external linear or rotary pallet systems. This configuration gives the machine a smaller footprint. The machine has a horizontal spindle with a narrow neck design that provides tool reach into complex workpieces. Its table can tilt through 225 degrees, allowing chips to fall naturally into the central conveyor and helping keep the machining area clear.
The HF 5500 FLEX also uses a counter bearing and YRT high-precision axial-radial roller bearing on its A- and B-axes to support machining under heavy loads. Thermal management features include active spindle thermal growth compensation, chilled spindle systems and cooling for the drives and electrical cabinet. Direct absolute linear encoders are used on all linear axes to maintain positioning accuracy, while ball screw thermal expansion is monitored and corrected in real time.
“The Heller HF 5500 FLEX is a powerful, fast, precise and flexible mill-turn machine that delivers simultaneous 5-axis machining performance and one-hit part processing,” Mr Dale said. Along with the HF 5500 FLEX, Mills CNC will demonstrate 10 DN Solutions machine tools and its latest SYNERGi automation systems at the event.
