The well documented downturn in the oil and gas market hit a number of subcontract companies hard, and while many chose to make cutbacks, Craigellachie-based Standfast Precision Engineering decided to stand firm and resist the temptation to downsize. As a result, when the work started to return, the company was fully manned with all the skills it needed to meet demand.

Prior to the market cooling-off, Standfast had looked at further machine investment, but delayed until this year, replacing its existing XYZ TC 250 turning centres with the latest TC 400 models.
“Working with materials such as Super Duplex and Inconel meant we needed a substantial machine, and while the TC 250 machines coped well, the TC 400 has improved things considerably,” says Standfast Precision Engineering director Malcolm Fraser. “The machines may look similar, but the construction of the TC 400 models is more substantial and their added rigidity means they can handle bigger cuts in these materials, while holding tolerances for longer. Our tooling consumption has also reduced.”
When Standfast Precision initially looked at turning centres from XYZ, it only ordered one TC 250. However, within three months a second machine was being installed.
“We work to some tight deadlines with extremely short lead-times, and having a second machine was important so we could have capacity available at short notice,” says Fraser. “Therefore, when it came time to upgrade to the TC 400 machines it made perfect sense to bring two in at the same time, with XYZ taking the old machines away in part-exchange. All of the XYZ machines we’ve bought have played a role in moving the company forward and enhanced our ability to continue investing.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

XYZ Machine Tools’ recent clearance day at its Devon showroom and headquarters generated sales on the day of over £760,000, with 17 machines sold covering everything from a trainer lathe through to the company’s flagship UMC-5X simultaneous five-axis machining centre.

“The day was extremely busy with more companies attending than normal, which is great encouragement given the ongoing uncertainty and farce that is Brexit,” says Nigel Atherton, managing director at XYZ Machine Tools. “During the day we had visitors from 27 companies attending. More encouraging was the fact that 12 of those placed orders on the day, with potential for more sales in the coming weeks. The diversity of machines being ordered was also encouraging, with the UMC-5X being sold to a customer who had shown interest when we initially launched the machine over 12 months ago, just showing that it pays to be patient.”
The XYZ clearance days are an opportunity for customers to secure a good deal on ex-showroom stock as it is replaced every 12-18 months to keep the machines on display as up-to-date as possible.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

The annual European distributor conference held by XYZ Machine Tools saw representatives from 10 countries visit the company’s Devon headquarters to see the unveiling of the latest RLX and RMX ProtoTRAK control system.

Drawing positive comments, delegates were impressed with how ProtoTRAK RLX and RMX combine sophisticated operation with the simplicity of previous-generation units.
Managing director Nigel Atherton says: “The new ProtoTRAK controls were well received at the recent Southern Manufacturing show and now from our European partners. While the changes to ProtoTRAK will make significant differences to the productivity of XYZ machines, the familiarity of the system will ensure existing users can move seamlessly from old to new. Furthermore, new users will be producing complex parts within a short space of time thanks to ProtoTRAK’s conversational programming and on-board help.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Any companies performing mild-steel welding could fall foul of a change in enforcement expectations that has recently been announced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Multi-Fan Systems, a specialist in customised air movement, filtration and extraction systems, has made the rallying call in a bid to educate industry on the importance of providing clean working environments for staff. The company provides a single-source solution for customers looking to benefit from cleaner, safer and more productive working environments.
Emerging scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer suggests that exposure to all welding fumes, including those produced when joining mild steel, can cause lung cancer, with limited evidence also linking it to kidney cancer. The HSE will now be strengthening its enforcement expectation for all welding fumes, as it believes general ventilation does not achieve the necessary control.
For further information http://multifansystems.co.uk/

The Burlescombe, Devon headquarters of XYZ Machine Tools provides the venue for the company’s latest showroom clearance day, which will take place on 20 March.

These events offer value-for-money deals on ex-demo machines, which are renewed on a regular basis at XYZ showrooms across the country. The forthcoming clearance event will also provide an opportunity to see the latest ProtoTrak RX control system, the newly developed XYZ UMC-4+1 machining centre, and the Robo-Tend robot automation system for machining and turning centres.

Deals will be done on the day and, given the size of the company’s headquarters, the number of machines on offer will be significant, including SMX and SLX ProtoTrak-controlled mills and lathes, vertical machining centres from the LR and HD series, turning centres, large-capacity XL lathes with up to 1100 mm of swing, and machining centres with up to 3000 mm of X-axis travel. A large proportion of these machines will be under power alongside the latest RMX and RLX ProtoTrak machines, as well as the HD series of vertical machining centres, which are now available with the Heidenhain TNC620 control.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com