When Allan Carabine, owner and managing director of Milton Keynes subcontractor MK Precision, visited the MACH exhibition in Birmingham earlier this year, he had a clear objective: to invest in CNC machinery and automation that would further enhance manufacturing efficiency. On the final day of the show, he placed an order for a Hurco VMX42SRTi five-axis machining centre and a PC25 Kawasaki robot cell, the first machine tending cell based on a six-axis industrial robot exhibited by Hurco.

A strong advocate of advanced manufacturing technology, Carabine was also the first UK customer to install a Hurco ProCobot in 2021. His early feedback helped Hurco refine both the design and software of the automation system, contributing to the robust solution available today.

Supplying industries including motorsport, rail, defence, photography and cryogenics, MK Precision continually invests in new equipment to maintain a competitive advantage. The latest automated production cell will enable the company to undertake larger and more complex prismatic machining projects while maximising the benefits of lights-out production.

“All of our machinery has to offer flexibility,” says Carabine. “The VMX42SRTi allows us to manufacture large components in a single set up, while the PC25 robot ensures the next job can start automatically, even if the previous one finishes overnight or at a weekend.”

The VMX42SRTi is scheduled for delivery in July, with automation to be integrated later this year. Having already gained experience of Hurco’s five-axis machining and automation software, MK Precision expects a smooth transition.

Notably, the cell uses Hurco’s Job Manager software, which requires operators to simply select a work-holding location and program. With no specialist robot programming knowledge needed, training can be completed in as little as one day.

More information www.hurco.co.uk