When Darren Chisnall created Warrington-based Roant Precision Engineering back in 2001, it was as a small precision subcontractor relying on a selection of manual machines.

Now, 19 years on, the company has just completed the takeover of its biggest customer, Eiger Torrance, a manufacturer of mixing, milling and de-aeration systems for the production of paints and printing inks. This investment will secure machining work for Roant Precision Engineering, as well as providing further growth opportunities for both businesses.
“We’ve had a 15-year relationship with Eiger Torrance, working on fabrication and machining of their range of products, and have invested in machinery over the years to support that work, such as the recent arrival of an XYZ XL 1100 large capacity lathe,” says Chisnall. “Therefore, when the opportunity arose to buy the company, it made perfect sense as it protected the future of our business and opened up even greater potential.”
The arrival of the XL 1100 is the latest in a long line of XYZ machines at Roant Precision, the first of which, an XYZ SM3000 bed mill, was a prize won at MACH 2002.
“That first XYZ machine changed how we approached work and was the start of our success,” says Chisnall. “The ProtoTRAK control has served us well as we expanded our machining capacity with more XYZ ProtoTRAK mills and ProTURN lathes. We did need larger capacity though, hence the decision to go for the XL 1100, which was bought specifically for Eiger Torrance work. However, once word got around that we had the capability to swing 1100 mm components weighing up to 4000 kg, we soon found work coming in from other customers.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

JCB has initiated a partial re-starting of production at four of its UK factories.

The news comes as a comprehensive package of safety measures is rolled out to protect employees in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. JCB’s British production lines fell silent on 18 March and the vast majority of the company’s 6500 UK employees have been furloughed since April. The business has now resumed low levels of production, with a far-reaching package of safety measures introduced to fully protect employees. The Loadall division at the company’s global headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, as well as JCB Earthmovers and JCB Landpower in Cheadle, Staffordshire have resumed production. Two further sites have also recommenced: JCB Transmissions in Wrexham and JCB Cab Systems at Uttoxeter. The move means a return to work for more than 400 employees.
For further information www.jcb.com

When approached by one of the UK’s leading thermoforming toolmakers with a request to increase the Z axis on one of its vertical machining centres by 1000 mm, XYZ Machine Tools was not in the least bit daunted.

By reconfiguring the machine using a specially designed riser block, XYZ managed to increase the standard minimum spindle nose to table dimension of 100 mm, taking it to 1050 mm, while maintaining the standard Z-axis travel to give a range of 1050 to 1550 mm from spindle to table. These changes were achieved in a short period of time, with the modification being accommodated within new guarding and sheet-metal work designed by XYZ.
With the build complete, the machine was put through the standard testing procedure undergone by every XYZ Machine before despatch, which includes the Renishaw Ballbar test. Once testing was complete, the customer was happy to take delivery straightaway. The machine was shipped on 24 April.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

With the coronavirus causing so much uncertainty in the marketplace, many companies are understandably hesitant to invest in new machinery right now, even if they have a legitimate need. With this thought in mind, CNC machine-tool distributor Ward Hi-Tech has re-launched its ‘Confidence Package’, a simple rental scheme that enables users to lease a new CNC lathe or machining centre on a short or long-term basis. The machine can be purchased outright at the end of the rental period (with the rentals taken as a deposit) or simply returned, thus taking away the worry of long-term commitment.

Ward Hi-Tech business manager, Paul Eaton, says: “We’re extremely sympathetic to the dilemma that many customers find themselves in at the moment. They may be busy themselves, or with the manufacture of parts to help fight the virus, but with all the gloomy news they may lack the confidence to invest in a new machine tool right now, even if it appears sensible to do so.”
By taking advantage of the Ward Hi-Tech Confidence Package, any manufacturer with a current machine-tool requirement can select a new CNC lathe or machining centre from the company’s large showroom stock and decide which rental period best suits their needs. A varied stock of CNC lathes and machining centres is available, including lathes with chuck sizes from 8” to 32”, and vertical machining centres offering X-axis travel dimensions from 720 to 2600 mm.
Ward Hi-Tech is also able to provide outright purchase funding packages, utilising the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The scheme includes 12 months’ interest contribution and no personal guarantees up to an investment of £250,000.
For further information
0114 2560333
pauleaton@wardhitech.co.uk
mikeburke@wardhitech.co.uk

The switch from sign making to producing face masks at Swansea-based Valley Group arrived when Richard Dawson, a director of the company received a telephone call from a lifelong friend and well-respected doctor and clinical lead at the Hywel Dda University Health Board, who said its existing supplier of face masks had exhausted its capacity, leaving 10,000+ staff in desperate need of protection.

One critical factor for Valley Group was the cutting of 0.5 mm thick PETG face visors, which had to be free from burrs and sharp edges. However, the company has been a customer of ITC for more than a decade, so when it came to cutting thin plastic sheets on its Biesse Klever routing machine, ITC recommended the Clearcut 180 series of solid-carbide, single-flute, down-cut routing tools. Valley Group’s router runs at 24,000 rpm with a feed rate of 10 m/min. With demand rising, the company is aiming to start a second shift so it can increase production from 700 to 1400 masks per day.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk