12 June 2026
DELTA S.r.l., a specialist in high-tech surface grinding machines, announces the introduction of the new Mini 20 model. With this launch, the DELTA Mini 20 expands surface grinding range to meet even more demanding requirements. This model significantly extends the capacity range of its popular Mini travelling-column line. Available through UK agent RK International Machine Tools Ltd, the fully automatic Mini 20 is designed for high-precision applications. It offers a maximum grinding length of 2100 mm. Furthermore, it has a max grinding width of 600 mm (or 650 mm with the 100 mm wheel option).
DELTA was established in Pavia, Italy, in 1955 by Oreste Marchesi and Pietro Ceri. Initially a precision metalworking shop, the company quickly pivoted to producing surface grinders. A fundamental step in DELTA’s development occurred in the late 1960s. At that time, the company designed and constructed flat-surface grinding machines. These machines incorporated the high-accuracy Mackensen hydrodynamic spindle as a standard feature.
In the early 1980s, DELTA pioneered the use of the travelling column design in large-size surface grinders (the Maxi family). Previously, this structure had been seen mainly in milling and boring machines.
The company successfully scaled this technology to the smaller end of the market with the introduction of the Mini family in 2005. Today, DELTA manufactures its machines at its modern headquarters in Cura Carpignano, near Pavia, Italy. As a result, DELTA is recognised as a leader in producing travelling column grinding machines.
The Mini 20 is a high-precision, fully automatic horizontal-spindle plane-surface grinding machine designed for both mass-production and single-piece precision applications. The core innovation lies in its rigidity and movement systems:
The machine’s foundational structures—including the base, table, column, and wheel-head—are constructed entirely from high-quality, stress-relieved Meehanite cast iron. This structure, optimally designed using finite element analysis in collaboration with the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Polytechnic of Milan, provides maximum stiffness and high vibration absorption. The travelling column design eliminates the “overhang” error and stability problems typically associated with moving-head grinding machines, ensuring flatness.
The Mini 20 features hydrostatic ways on all axes (X, Y, and Z), utilising a closed-loop pressurised oil delivery system. This provides significant operational advantages, including “zero wear” (maintaining the machine’s original geometric accuracy throughout its life) and zero sliding friction, thereby enabling optimal exploitation of the installed power. The hydrostatic support eliminates “stick-slip,” guaranteeing extremely smooth and highly accurate movements with superior repeatability. The large table, measuring 2000 mm by 500 mm, always rests fully on the basement during longitudinal travel due to this full grip slideway system.
The spindle is supported on the wheel side by an oversized Mackensen type hydrodynamic bearing. The hydrodynamic principle ensures no metal-to-metal contact, resulting in extremely long life, quiet operation, zero wear, and superior surface finish capability.
The machine is offered with three levels of automation: Diastep, CN Plus Touch Screen, and CNC. The standard Mini 20 Diastep model utilises the proprietary Diastep control unit, which is an intuitive, teachable grinding system developed entirely in-house by DELTA. This user-friendly control allows operators to manage surface (continuous or step by step) or plunge grinding cycles, rough and finish passes (with a minimum increment of 0.001 mm), and automatic wheel dressing with compensation. Full machine operation is guaranteed after only a half-day of training.
The Mini 20 is suitable for handling substantial workpieces, supporting a maximum admissible load of 1500 kg on the table. Additionally, the machine has an approximate net weight of 7000 kg.
RK International Machine Tools Ltd, the UK agent for DELTA, has been appointed to handle the introduction of the Delta Mini 20 to the UK and Ireland.
With a 15 year relationship between DELTA and RK International Machine Tools, we are seeing a growing number of customers become aware of the build quality and attention to detail, comments Simon Rood, Director at RK International Machine Tools. Furthermore, where customers are demanding more and more accuracy from their grinding machine, the DELTA range perform to the highest levels.
Today, DELTA is still under the watch of the Ceri and Marchesi families with two members from each family, running the daily activities at the facility in Italy.
The ability of DELTA to design machines and the machine control software entirely in-house, as highlighted by Sales Director Giovanni Marchesi, ensures that the machines can be highly customised and maintained. This is a key advantage in complex manufacturing environments.
Get in touch today:
Need an advanced grinding solution for your application?
Contact RK International for a free feasibility assessment.
📞 +44 (0)1322 447611
✉️ sales@rk-int.com
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