Starrag Berthiez VT Series

$1,200,000 - $3,500,000 Updated 2026-03-19

Key Specifications

max turning diameter

2,800 mm (110 in)

max workpiece height

2,650 mm (104 in)

max workpiece weight

17,000 kg (37,479 lb)

turning diameter range

1,400 - 2,800 mm

guideway type

Hydrostatic

coolant pressure

Up to 350 bar high-pressure

Overview

The Starrag Berthiez VT Series is a line of heavy-duty vertical turning lathes designed for machining large-diameter, heavy workpieces in aerospace, energy, and general heavy industry. Built under Starrag's Berthiez brand with decades of French precision turning heritage, the VT Series handles workpieces up to 2,800 mm (110 in) in diameter, 2,650 mm (104 in) in height, and 17,000 kg (37,479 lb) in weight.

The VT Series features a compact single-column design that provides excellent operator and service access while maintaining the structural rigidity needed for heavy cutting loads. Hydrostatic guideways ensure smooth, vibration-free axis motion at all feed rates, eliminating stick-slip behavior that compromises surface finish during fine turning passes. This is particularly important when finish-turning large bearing surfaces and sealing faces on turbine casings and valve bodies.

The machine supports turning, drilling, milling, and grinding operations with additional head attachments, delivering multitasking capability that reduces the number of setups required for complex large components. High-pressure coolant supply up to 350 bar provides effective chip breaking when machining difficult materials like Inconel, Waspaloy, and other nickel-based superalloys common in aerospace and energy applications.

The VT Series competes with vertical lathes from Schiess, Dorries, and Toshiba in the large vertical turning segment. New machines typically price between $1,200,000 and $3,500,000 depending on swing diameter, ram configuration, and multitasking options. The compact single-column layout makes the VT Series an efficient choice for shops that need large vertical turning capacity without the footprint penalty of double-column gantry-style machines.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Turning Diameter	2,800 mm (110 in)
Max Workpiece Height	2,650 mm (104 in)
Max Workpiece Weight	17,000 kg (37,479 lb)
Turning Diameter Range	1,400 - 2,800 mm
Guideway Type	Hydrostatic
Coolant Pressure	Up to 350 bar high-pressure
Construction	Compact single-column design
Operations	Turning, drilling, milling, grinding
Milling Grinding	Optional head attachments
CNC Control	Siemens SINUMERIK ONE / Fanuc 31i

Specifications sourced from starrag.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

2,800 mm maximum turning diameter and 17,000 kg workpiece capacity handle the largest aerospace casings, energy components, and heavy industrial parts without compromise
Hydrostatic guideways eliminate stick-slip at all feed rates, delivering superior surface finish on large-diameter bearing surfaces and sealing faces critical in turbine and valve applications
350 bar high-pressure coolant system provides effective chip breaking on nickel-based superalloys and other difficult aerospace materials that generate long, stringy chips
Compact single-column design provides excellent operator access and service accessibility while maintaining structural rigidity for heavy cutting loads
Multitasking capability with milling and grinding head attachments reduces setups on complex large components, eliminating risky handling of multi-ton workpieces
Berthiez heritage in precision vertical turning brings decades of proven design refinement for critical aerospace and energy industry applications

Limitations

Price starting above $1.2 million makes the VT Series a major capital investment that requires consistent high-value large-part work to justify
Machines of this size require substantial foundation engineering, overhead crane capacity, and floor space that not all facilities can accommodate
Starrag service presence is limited outside Europe and key aerospace regions, which can impact response times for shops in smaller markets
Single-column design, while compact, offers less rigidity than double-column gantry configurations when pushing maximum diameter and cutting force limits

Best For

Aerospace manufacturers turning large turbine casings, combustion chambers, and structural rings from nickel superalloys and titanium for jet engines and industrial gas turbines Energy sector companies machining large valve bodies, pump casings, and generator components for power generation, oil and gas, and nuclear applications Heavy industry manufacturers producing large flanges, bearing housings, and gear blanks that require precision turning on parts weighing several tons Defense and naval contractors machining large-diameter propulsion components, pressure vessels, and structural assemblies Job shops specializing in large one-off and small-batch components where hydrostatic guideway precision and multitasking reduce total cycle time

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the maximum workpiece size on the Berthiez VT Series?

The VT Series handles workpieces up to 2,800 mm (110 inches) in diameter, 2,650 mm (104 inches) in height, and 17,000 kg (37,479 lb) in weight. The turning diameter range spans from 1,400 mm to 2,800 mm depending on the specific VT model configuration.

02 Why does the VT Series use hydrostatic guideways?

Hydrostatic guideways float the moving components on a pressurized oil film, eliminating metal-to-metal contact. This provides zero stick-slip at any feed rate, superior vibration damping, and virtually unlimited service life since there is no mechanical wear. For large vertical turning where surface finish on bearing and sealing surfaces is critical, hydrostatic guides deliver measurably better results than linear or box-way alternatives.

03 Can the Berthiez VT Series perform milling operations?

Yes. The VT Series accepts optional milling and grinding head attachments that extend capability beyond standard turning and boring. This multitasking reduces the number of setups required for complex large components, avoiding the time, cost, and risk of moving multi-ton workpieces between dedicated machines.

04 How does the VT Series compare to the TVU Series?

Both are Berthiez vertical turning machines, but they target different application ranges. The VT Series focuses on the 1,400-2,800 mm diameter range with a compact single-column design, while the TVU Series is configured for even larger and more complex multitasking applications with enhanced milling and grinding capability. The VT emphasizes turning-centric operations with optional multitasking, while the TVU is built as a full turning and milling center from the ground up.