Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of machine tools from DN Solutionsand Zayer in the UK and Ireland, recently supplied Surrey-based mechanical and fluid power transmission specialist JBJ Techniques with a new FANUC-controlled vertical turning lathe.The machine, a DN Solutions 24” chuck Puma V8300M was installed at the company’s 669 sq m facility in Redhill in January 2024, replacing an older Doosan VT750M vertical lathe acquired by the company back in 2012.

JBJ’s new machine, with its compact footprint and box guideway construction, features a powerful, high-torque spindle (30 kW/2000 rpm/3153 Nm) making it suitable for machining hard and difficult-to-machine materials and for heavy-duty turning operations.The V8300M also has driven tooling (18.5 kW/4000 rpm) to increase the machine’s flexibility, enabling the production of complex parts in one set-up without the need for component transfer between machines.Furthermore, the integration of a 12-tool position, side-mounted ATC, in addition to its existing 12-tool station turret, increases the machine’s productivity potential by reducing downtime caused by tool-change operations.

Says Ben Stubberfield, JBJ Techniques’ works director:“Our new V8300M is a fast and flexible machine andhas significantly increased and improved our in-house vertical turning capacity and capabilities.The new machine has replaced a previously-acquired VT750M vertical lathe which, although serving us well over the past 12 years, didn’t have a big enough turning diameter to produce some of our larger components.This resulted in us having to use an older and much slower lathe for these applications which, on occasion, affected our process efficiencies and lead-time fulfilment.”

With its reputation built on quality, service and speed of response JBJ Techniques, as part of its company-wide continuous improvement programme, decided back in 2023 to replace the VT750M with a new vertical turning lathe offering a larger turning diameter.

“We approached Mills CNC with our requirements and were introduced to the new DN Solutions V8300 series which, as well as having a bigger working envelope than the VT750M, also featured the additional side-mounted ATC and the advanced FANUC 0iTP control,” explains Stubberfield.

As a consequence, the company invested in a compact Puma V8300M, a machine with live tooling, an 830mm turning diameter and 690mm turning height. Since its arrival, the V8300M has been put through its paces machining a diverse range of components made from an equally varied range of materials that include stainless steel (304 and 316 grades), super duplex stainless steel, carbon and alloy steels (EN8, EN24), and cast iron.Parts machined on the V8300M are typically largeand heavy. Machined in small batches, component cycle times can often be long, depending on the specific application.

JBJ Techniques has come a long way since its formation in 1974. The family-owned business currently employs 25 members of staff and is a specialist manufacturer and supplier of high-quality products for the mechanical power transmission and fluid power sectors.Originally located in Carshalton, some 15 miles from its current location, the company first started life as a stocking distributor for a range of other manufacturers’ mechanical and hydraulic power products.

Over the years, following the move in 1984 to its current site, the company has significantly developed and augmented the products and services it provides to a growing number of customers located primarily in the UK.In addition to holding a huge selection of products in stock, JBJ provides customers with a high level of in-house expertise i.e., integrating and combining in-depth product knowledge and specification ability with technical consultancy and parts’ manufacture (through its well-equipped machine shop, which was first established in 1984 when the company moved to Redhill.

Now in its 50th year and celebrating its anniversary in September 2024, everything that JBJ Techniques provides is underpinned by a range of responsive and customer-focused support services delivered centrally at its Redhill facility through a UK-wide team of technical sales engineers.

JBJ Techniques can assist manufacturers in a number of different ways: assistance in the design of new and/or replacement (application-specific) power transmission systems (from simple to complex, and from standard to customised); next-day delivery on hundreds of products from the company’s warehouse; high-quality machined components for bespoke products and systems; and condition monitoring of existing transmission systems via the AIQ DETECT (for elastomeric couplings) and AIQ CORE (gearboxes) sensor systems.

Says JBJ Techniques’ managing directorMike Davis:“Everything we do is geared towards helping customers optimise their production processes.From working in partnership with them to design and develop new mechanical power and/or fluid power solutions, through to supplying replacement stocked or machined parts for existing systems – our focus is on helping manufacturers avoid/reduce downtime, improve safety and sustainability, and maintain productivity levels.”

The company’s customer baseis large and diverse. Its products and solutions are used extensively in the power generation, oil and gas, renewables, motorsport, food and beverage, transport, environmental, materials handling, and marine sectors to name but a few.Indeed wherever mechanical power and fluid power transmission systems are in use, there is a good chance that JBJ Techniques’ products are operational in some capacity.

Seven CNC machine tools adorn the machine shop alongside a range of manual machines and equipment.The latest DN Solutions V8300M vertical turning lathe significantly increases the company’s machine shop capabilities and, by doing so, also improves its ability to respond quickly to customers.

The V8300M arrived at JBJ Techniques’ machine shop in January 2024 and a number of company employees have already undergone an intensive three-day machine and CNC/iHMI control familiarisation training programme delivered on-site by Mills CNC’s Training Academy staff. A further three-day training course took place at the Training Academy’s facility in Leamington last month.

For further information www.millscnc.co.uk