MTC helps reshoring efforts

A Midlands supplier of commercial vehicle engineering and industrial hardware is reshoring component production from China with the help of experts from the Manufacturing Technology Centre.

Bloxwich-based Albert Jagger Engineering, which has been producing metal components for more than 70 years, has already reshored the production of almost 250,000 fastening components and in the process has, in some cases, reduced costs by up to 50%. The MTC worked with Albert Jagger to produce a new factory layout, introduce new CNC machines and automation, and re-train staff using VR and AR.

For further information www.the-mtc.org

Lantek increases its customer base

Lantek, a specialist in CADCAM, MES and ERP software – and an expert in the digital transformation of sheet metal and structural steel manufacturing – has added over 1100 new clients to its portfolio in the first half of 2020.

The growth is a new milestone for the company, reaching a total of 24,800 customers. Lantek says this increase is a remarkable achievement considering it happened in a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict measures taken by many countries in response. The regions with the greatest client growth in the first half of the year include China and Korea, followed by Europe.

For further information www.lantek.com

Tees invests £0.5m in new borer

Tees Components has invested £500,000 in a new CNC horizontal boring mill, a Hyundai Wia KBN 135CL from TW Ward CNC Machinery.

The machine will enable the company to double capacity of this type at its CNC machining facility in Skelton.

Used for CNC boring and milling, the technology is capable of machining extremely large parts to very small tolerances due to the extent of its axes (4 x 2 x 2 m) and rotary table-loading capability. The machine’s table accommodates 20 tonnes while the X axis is 4 m and the W axis is 700 mm, making it suitable for precision components needed by the defence, power, and oil and gas sectors. Even at this size, it is not the largest capacity on site at Tees by any means, and joins a suite of CNC horizontal borers following decades of heavy investment.

Sharon Lane, managing director, says: “This significant investment is an essential element in supporting the delivery of our increasing project pipeline, and we’re ready to push ahead with our growth plans.”

Ward CNC’s managing director Simon Whitworth adds: “We have a proud and long-standing relationship with Tees Components which began with the supply of a Webster & Bennett vertical boring machine four decades ago. Ever since that time they have continuously showcased their capability and commitment to their customers, and it is a privilege to support such an esteemed organisation.

“Now that the machine has been commissioned, we look forward to continuing this relationship by supporting Sharon and the Tees Components team with any technical or applications support required on their new projects,”
he concludes.

For further information www.wardcnc.com

Key energy parts made in Sheffield

Sheffield Forgemasters is manufacturing key components for a novel new device used by the renewable energy sector.

The company will supply GE’s Power Conversion Business with central components for rotating stabilisers – large turbine-like devices that work to stabilise electricity fluctuations on the electrical grid. An initial delivery will comprise a main rotator shaft and hub for a rotating stabiliser located in Moray, Scotland.
Kunal Popat, senior sales manager, says: “The challenge of forging these large components and then conducting a delicate heat-shrink fit to bond the hub to the main shaft of the rotating stabiliser is significant, and our research, design and technology team had considerable input into the design of both the components and the subsequent route to manufacture.”

For further information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Out with the old, in with the new

Ayrshire-based NPI Solutions has recently invested in two new Doosan vertical machining centres and a Doosan M1013 cobot – all supplied by Mills CNC.

The machines – a Doosan DNM 4000 and a DNM 6700 – were installed at the company’s 46,000 sq ft facility in the first week of July 2020 and replace two older machining centres that had served the company well but which had seen better days.

NPI’s decision to invest in new machine tool and automation technologies was made during the height of the pandemic in April. At a time when many manufacturers may have understandably been ‘battening down the hatches’, NPI selected a different route; one entirely in keeping with the company’s business ethos and approach.

Says Kevin Priestley, NPI’s managing director: “We’d become aware earlier in the year that two of our older machining centres were creating a ‘pinch point’ in our operations and were affecting productivity and efficiency. We decided that we wanted to replace the two older machines and approached Mills CNC to discuss a way forward.”
NPI is no stranger to Mills CNC. The company, since 2011, has made a number of strategic investments in Doosan machine tools and, prior to the addition of the two latest machines, had acquired three Doosan lathes and three Doosan machining centres.

“Doosan machines are reliable and represent good value,” says Priestly. “We like Mills. They know our business and we believe the company’s aftersales service and support is hard to beat.”

Prior to deciding on the Doosan M1013 cobot, NPI approached other cobot suppliers.

“The Doosan cobot was selected for its build quality, as well as its safety, payload and reach radius characteristics,” he concludes.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk