Investment secures future growth

Supplying predominantly to the aerospace industry, the Bowmill Group has invested in three machine tools from Matsuura in the past three years.

The company’s journey with Matsuura started in 2019 after securing a prime contract that required a high accuracy yet flexible machine. As part of its research, Bowmill reviewed the MX-330 PC10 from Matsuura. The MX-330 PC10 offers full five-axis capability and probing, which is critical for the company’s required positional tolerances (3-4 µm). Notably, the MX-330 PC10 also has 10 pallets, allowing Bowmill to run several component variations through the same machine and utilising unmanned/lights out operations. Having seen the machine in real-time operation, and after rigorous evaluation, the company chose to invest in this machine for its main site in Poole.

After six months of running the machine, improving cycle-times and implementing flexible manufacturing sequencing, Bowmill decided to purchase a second Matsuura MX-330 PC10 (for its Tewkesbury site) in March 2020. The MX-330 PC10 features 10 pallets and 90 tools.

Some months later, the company needed a larger five-axis machine (500 mm cube) for Tewkesbury and, due to increasing customer demand, once again looked to Matsuura. Following the success of the first two MX-330 PC10, Bowmill decided to purchase a Matsuura MX-520.

MD Nick Epps says: “Despite the global situation, investing in the MX-330 PC10 and MX-520 machines has been key to the future success of our business. We’ve already seen significant improvement to cycle times and OEE data on numerous components, and this has been equally supported by the service and technical support from the Matsuura team, which has been exceptional.”

For further information
www.matsuura.co.uk

Major UK investment at Mazak

Yamazaki Mazak has continued its commitment to high-quality, home-grown machine tool manufacturing by making another substantial investment in production equipment at its UK-based European manufacturing plant. The latest multi-million-pound investment includes the installation of a twin-pallet Versatech V-140N/280 and a FJV-60/80 double-column vertical machining centre. These two models will manufacture large component parts for new Mazak machines built in Worcester, demonstrating the company’s trust in its own technologies.

“When it comes to selecting the best tools to manufacture our machining solutions, Mazak stands out as one of the few machine builders able to practice what it preaches,” states Stuart Astley, production director at Yamazaki Mazak UK. “We don’t just present our machine tools as market leaders to customers, we know their quality well. As such, they are always first-choice when we’re looking to expand the plant’s production capacity.”

For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Key European appointments at Anca

Tool and cutter grinding machine specialist Anca is making a number of key European appointments, strengthening its leadership team and commitment to servicing the region.

Edmund Boland takes the role of general manager Europe; Martin Winterstein – an external appointment – becomes sales manager Europe; and Jan Langfelder moves to global key accounts manager. Anca Europe has been operating for over 30 years, supported by a purpose-built technology centre in Weinheim, Germany, a UK facility, and local sales and technical support in most European countries.

For further information www.anca.com

10-pallet Kitamura takes centre stage

Now in its 17th year of business, Hi-Spec Precision Engineering has evolved from a small start-up business to an established subcontract manufacturer that has fully embraced the latest CNC technology and, more recently, automation technology to drive growth and productivity. A case in point is a new 10-pallet Kitamura Mycenter HX250iG horizontal machining centre from Dugard.

As well as its subcontract business, the company is also renowned in the music industry, manufacturing custom precision-crafted electric guitars. Indeed, the company claims to be the only UK manufacturer and sales outlet for precision guitar components such as bridges, control plates, pick-up screws, neck ferrules, neck screws, pick-up surrounds and more. These components are now available for machining on the Kitamura Mycenter.

Managing director Darren Grainger says: “Our milling work has increased a lot over the past year and cycle times are getting longer with more complex components. This means that some jobs can occupy a machine for up to two weeks at a time, so we needed to look at some way of getting higher production rates and more unmanned hours. Horizontal machining centres are known as production machines and seemed like the obvious choice. The 10-pallet pool is the icing on the cake.”

He adds: “We have one order for 300 parts that is about to arrive and each part requires two operations of more than 30 minutes each. This order will tie up one of our existing machines for four weeks doing the first operation and another four weeks completing the second operation. On the Kitamura machine, we will be able to reduce this cycle time from eight weeks to less than two.”

For further information
www.dugard.com

Zeiss is official supplier to Williams Racing

Williams Racing and Zeiss have struck a new multi-year partnership that sees the latter become an ‘Official Supplier’ of the Formula One team. The partnership will see Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions provide a range of equipment benefiting departments across Williams Racing, including Wind Tunnel, Quality & Inspection and Prototype & Test.

For instance, installing a new, class-leading Metrotom 1500 industrial computed tomography (CT) system at the factory in Grove will expand the team’s in-house capabilities and deliver greater insights into the quality and integrity of components. With Williams Racing’s continued commitment towards greater business efficiencies, Zeiss will play an integral part in this evolution.

For further information www.zeiss.com/metrology