The Innova Ultra VP4+ combines a 20,000-rpm spindle, 41.6-hp peak power, 28 inches of Y-axis travel, a 3,307-lb table capacity and a 40-tool ATC in a high-speed vertical machining center developed specifically for the North American market.

Innova Machine Tool is expanding its North American product offering with the Innova Ultra VP4+, a high-performance vertical machining center developed with KAFO around a combination of spindle performance, expanded work envelope, rapid machine movement and advanced CNC functionality.

The Ultra VP4+ is part of a broader Innova product-development program focused on engineering machines for the requirements of North American manufacturers rather than simply adapting existing catalog machines for the market.

The public debut at IMTS 2026 established the foundation for Innova's Ultra Series of high-speed linear-guide vertical machining centers.

Moving Beyond the Traditional 40-Inch VMC

The 40-inch vertical machining center has become one of the most common machine configurations in North American manufacturing. A typical machine in this class provides approximately 40 inches of X-axis travel with 20 to 22 inches of Y-axis travel.

The Ultra VP4+ was developed around a larger working envelope.

It provides 1,050 mm (41.3") of X-axis travel, 710 mm (28.0") of Y-axis travel and 635 mm (25.0") of Z-axis travel.

The 28-inch Y axis is particularly important. It provides substantially more front-to-back working capacity while keeping the machine within the general 40-inch VMC category.

For manufacturers, that additional Y-axis capacity can accommodate larger components and fixtures, provide greater flexibility in workholding, and allow more parts to be positioned within a single setup.

The machine's 1,150 × 700 mm (45.3" × 27.6") table supports workpieces and fixturing weighing up to 1,500 kg (3,307 lb).

20,000 RPM with 41.6 HP Peak Power

The Ultra VP4+ is built around a 20,000-rpm spindle rated at 25/31 kW (33.5/41.6 hp).

This combination of spindle speed and power broadens the machine's application range. Higher spindle speeds support productive machining with smaller-diameter cutting tools and applications requiring higher surface speeds, while more than 40 peak horsepower provides the power required for higher material-removal rates.

The objective was not simply to build a machine capable of reaching 20,000 rpm. The spindle is part of an integrated high-speed machine architecture incorporating roller linear guideways, high rapid-traverse rates and fast tool-changing capability.

X- and Y-axis rapid traverse rates reach 52 m/min (2,047 ipm), while the Z axis reaches 48 m/min (1,890 ipm).

The standard 40-tool automatic tool changer provides a 1.2-second tool-to-tool time and 2.5-second chip-to-chip time.

These specifications are important because spindle speed alone does not determine productivity. Reducing positioning, acceleration and tool-change time can have a significant effect on cycle time, particularly on parts involving numerous tools and machining operations.

Mitsubishi M830W CNC with Innova HMI

Control capability is another important part of the Ultra platform.

The VP4+ uses the Mitsubishi M830W CNC, configured by Innova with an extensive set of CNC functionality included from the beginning.

Rather than structuring the control around a basic configuration followed by numerous software functions that must be purchased and activated separately, Innova's objective is to provide customers with the advanced capabilities required to take advantage of the machine's performance.

Innova then integrates its own HMI over the Mitsubishi control platform, providing an Innova-specific operator environment while retaining the underlying capabilities of the Mitsubishi CNC.

This approach is particularly well suited to high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, where the machine may encounter frequent setup changes, different materials, complex programs and a wide range of cutting strategies.

Designed Around Productive Machine Capacity

The VP4+ also illustrates an important distinction between machine size and usable machine capacity.

A larger machining center is not necessarily the best answer when a manufacturer needs additional work envelope. Moving into the next machine class can mean greater floor-space requirements, higher capital cost and additional mass that may not contribute to the application.

The VP4+ instead places a 41.3" × 28.0" × 25.0" working envelope within a high-speed 40-taper VMC platform.

That is combined with a 3,307-lb table capacity, giving manufacturers considerable flexibility for workholding and heavier fixture packages.

Published positioning accuracy is 0.008 mm under ISO 10791, with published repeatability of 0.005 mm under ISO 10791.

The result is a machine designed to combine envelope, speed and load capacity rather than optimizing one specification at the expense of the others.

Where the Ultra VP4+ Fits in the Market

The Ultra VP4+ enters one of the most competitive portions of the machining-center market.

Manufacturers evaluating a machine in this class are likely to consider established platforms from companies including Okuma, Makino, Mazak, DN Solutions, Hurco and Hyundai WIA.

Innova is positioning the Ultra VP4+ in the upper end of the VMC market, where machine selection is driven by measurable productivity, construction, CNC capability and long-term value rather than purchase price alone.

Its combination of 28-inch Y-axis travel, 20,000-rpm spindle speed, 41.6-hp peak power, 40-tool capacity, 3,307-lb table load and 2,047-ipm X/Y rapids provides Innova dealers with a strong technical story when competing for manufacturers that need more capability than a conventional general-purpose VMC.

The 28-inch Y axis is one of the clearest differentiators. It allows the VP4+ to address applications that can become restrictive on conventional 20- to 22-inch Y-axis machines without forcing the customer into a much larger machining center.

Developed with KAFO to Innova Specifications

The Ultra VP4+ is manufactured in Taiwan by KAFO and has been developed collaboratively to Innova specifications for the North American market.

Taiwan has one of the world's most concentrated machine-tool manufacturing ecosystems, providing access not only to machine builders but also to casting, spindle, motion-control, CNC and machine-component suppliers.

Innova is using that manufacturing base differently than a conventional private-label machine program.

The Ultra platform is being developed around Innova-defined requirements for spindle performance, machine configuration, CNC integration, operator interface and North American applications. KAFO provides the manufacturing depth and machine-tool engineering capability necessary to turn those requirements into a production platform.

The distinction is important: the Ultra VP4+ is an Innova machine manufactured with KAFO, rather than simply an existing KAFO catalog machine carrying Innova branding.

A Clear Sales Proposition for Innova Dealers

For the Innova dealer network, the Ultra VP4+ can be positioned around several straightforward technical advantages:

• 41.3" × 28.0" × 25.0" travels provide an unusually large Y-axis envelope for its class.
• 20,000 rpm and 41.6 peak horsepower combine high spindle speed with substantial available power.
• 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) table capacity supports heavier workpieces and more substantial fixturing.
• 40-tool ATC provides greater tooling capacity for complex and high-mix work.
• 52 m/min (2,047 ipm) X/Y rapids and fast tool changes reduce non-cutting time.
• Mitsubishi M830W CNC with Innova HMI provides a highly capable control environment without building the machine around a long list of software upgrades.
• ISO 10791 published accuracy specifications provide measurable performance standards.

Taken together, these capabilities give dealers a machine that can be sold on productivity and application fit, rather than attempting to win business primarily through price.

The Beginning of the Innova Ultra Platform

The introduction of the Ultra VP4+ represents more than the addition of another VMC to the Innova product offering.

It establishes the design direction for the Innova Ultra Series: high-speed machining centers developed around strong spindle performance, expanded working envelopes, fast machine movement, capable CNC technology and configurations selected specifically for North American manufacturing.

The VP4+, introduced publicly at IMTS 2026 in Chicago, as the first opportunity for manufacturers and Innova dealers to see that strategy brought together in a production machine.

Beyond the show, its purpose is much simpler: give manufacturers more usable machining capability within one of the most important VMC classes in the North American market.

________________________________________-
By Bernard Martin, Head of Sales, North America