FEATURE ON CNC LATHES AND TURNING CENTRES

A new turn in performance for Cogsdill Nuneaton

Cogsdill Nuneaton Ltd has strengthened its turning operations following investment in a
DNX 2100SB multi-tasking mill-turn machine supplied by Mills CNC. Installed in December
2025, the machine is playing a central role in the company’s drive to improve efficiency,
increase capacity and move towards lights-out production.
The DNX 2100SB, one of the first installed in the UK, supports the machining of complex,
high-precision parts in a single set up. Equipped with twin spindles, a B-axis milling head, 60-
tool ATC and FANUC control, the machine also incorporates a Hydrafeed bar feeder, rotary
parts accumulator and Renishaw probing and tool-setting systems to support automated,
unattended operation.
The investment follows an internal audit of Cogsdill Nuneaton’s turning section, which
identified bottlenecks caused by ageing CNC lathes and labour-intensive processes.
According to managing director Lee Donaldson, the decision to invest in a multi-tasking
machine from Mills CNC was influenced by previous positive experience of Doosan machines
supplied by the company, as well as its strong pre- and after-sales support. Training
provided by Mills CNC ensured a smooth transition to the new FANUC-controlled platform,
helping operators and programmers quickly become productive.
Since installation, the DNX 2100SB has been busy machining small batches of precision
components for the company’s standard tooling products in a single hit, achieving tight
tolerances, excellent roundness and high surface finishes.

Ultimately, the investment marks a significant step forward in productivity, flexibility and
overall machining capability. Looking ahead, Cogsdill Nuneaton plans to expand the
machine’s role to include more complex and custom parts, while introducing overnight
unattended running.
More information www.millscnc.co.uk

10 sliding-head lathes in five years transform efficiency

Established in 1995, TWP Manufacturing Group of Tipton provides toolmaking, metal
pressings and plastic injection moulding services. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the
company introduced proprietary products to improve resilience, while continuing to
outsource many turned parts.
That changed in 2020 with the purchase of a pre-owned Citizen Cincom sliding-head lathe.
The success of this first Citizen machine prompted a strategic shift towards insourcing, and
five years on the company operates 10 pre-owned Citizen Cincom lathes. As a result, all
previously subcontracted turn-milling work has been brought in-house, while a subcontract
turning division has been established that now accounts for 30% of annual turnover.
Over the same period, turnover has increased from £2.5m to £4.2m, while headcount has
reduced by 20% to 28 employees, more than doubling revenue per person. According to
joint owner Phil Stanley, Citizen Machinery UK has supported every stage of the journey,
from initial installation through to refurbishment and alignment of subsequent machines.
Ongoing investment in Citizen Cincom lathes of varying capacities has enabled TWP to
match jobs to machine capability, reduce lead times and adopt just-in-time manufacturing.
The addition of a Citizen Miyano fixed-head lathe has further expanded capacity, allowing
components up to 64 mm diameter to be machined in a single set up.
Although pre-owned, the Citizen lathes continue to deliver high levels of accuracy, with TWP
routinely achieving tight tolerances and long tool life. Today, the company machines around
800,000 components annually on its Citizen machines, primarily in mild and stainless steel,
underlining the productivity and reliability of the brand.
More information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

XYZ Turning Machines in the Spotlight at MACH 2026

Covering a floor space of 240 m², the XYZ Machine Tools stand (20-160) at the MACH 2026
exhibition (NEC Birmingham, 20-24 April), will have something that appeals to every

workshop. Akin to a classic rock band gig, there will be some new stuff, the trusted
favourites and something a little bit different.
Several machines in the XYZ range are controlled by the Siemens 828D controls, aimed at
giving manufacturers a distinct production advantage. The XYZ 65 LTY-S twin/sub spindle
CNC turning centre is a case in point, allowing shops to get parts off the machine complete.
Supplied with a 65 mm main spindle bar capacity and providing a maximum turned diameter
of 380 mm and mated to the 12-station BMT65 driven-tool turret, the LTY-S offers the
opportunity to turn, mill and drill complex parts using its X, Z and Y axes.
XYZ says the simple transfer cycle provided by the Siemens Shopturn software makes
second-end work a breeze once the work sits in the sub spindle with all the functionality
offered on the main spindle. Transition to the sub spindle ensures greater productivity with
enhanced accuracy and provides the opportunity for lights out running.
Continuing the turning machine theme at MACH will be the XYZ CT52LR, which provides
manufacturers of two-axis turned parts a cost-effective solution when it comes to machine
investment. Taking up only 2 x 1.5 m of floor space and built using the latest linear-rail
technology, the CT52LR still benefits from a 10-station turret, 150 mm diameter three-jaw
chuck and a tool-setting arm that allows users to get the most from this 52 mm bar capacity
turning centre.
More information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Expanded options for managing machine tool lifecycle

Fives Machining Systems Inc (FMSI), part of the High Precision Machines Division of Fives and OEM for the Cincinnati and Giddings & Lewis machine tool brands, is entering a strategic partnership with Prestige Equipment Corp, a provider of industrial asset disposition and used machinery solutions.

Building on Fives’ long-standing expertise in new machine tool solutions, OEM-backed parts and service, equipment modernisation, and full lifecycle support, the partnership expands customer options by adding access to high-quality used equipment, global resale channels and professional asset recovery solutions. 

Under the agreement, Prestige Equipment will support Fives customers with strategic surplus machinery sales and full asset disposition programmes; trade-in options to offset new machine investments; certified equipment appraisals and valuations; and access to global used-equipment markets.

Fives will continue supporting Prestige Equipment customers withOEM-backed maintenance, parts and technical service; retrofit and rebuild solutions; new machine tools and turnkey production systems; preventive maintenance and machine health assessments; and equipment relocation services.

Together, the combined offering helps manufacturers better co-ordinate equipment disposition, modernisation and capital investment planning, ultimately creating smoother transitions between surplus asset recovery and upgraded production capabilities. Prestige customers also gain access to Fives’ OEM engineering expertise, global service network and high-precision machine technologies.

“Our customers are focused on maximising uptime, extending asset life and making smart capital investment decisions,” says Wolfgang Neitzke, business development at Fives. “Fives has always supported manufacturers across the full lifecycle of their equipment. This partnership expands the options available for managing and monetising surplus assets while aligning recovery strategies with broader production and investment plans.”

The collaboration is especially beneficial for manufacturers undergoing expansions, consolidations or technology upgrades.

More information www.fivesgroup.com

New Lynx lathe investment improves turnaround times

Mills CNC has recently supplied RCF Bolt & Nut, part of the TGM Industrial Group and a manufacturer of industrial fasteners, with a new compact, high-precision CNC lathe. The machine, a FANUC-controlled 8” chuck Lynx 2100LB manufactured by DN Solutions, is now operational at the company’s 40,000 ft² production and machine shop facility in Wednesbury, West Midlands. The machine is already proving pivotal in helping improve productivity and process efficiencies by reducing production bottlenecks and, as a result, improving turnaround times.

Says managing director Adrian Garrett: “We’re on a strong growth trajectory and demand for our standard and bespoke solutions has been growing exponentially over the past few years. While this is good news, it was putting pressure on our in-house machining resources. We needed additional capacity, and we needed it fast.”

RCF Bolt & Nut’s positive experience with a previous Lynx 220LM lathe led the company to contact Mills CNC in the summer of 2025 to discuss its immediate machining requirements.

“We were introduced to the Lynx 2100LB and could see that its technical capacity and capabilities fitted the bill perfectly,” says Garrett.

Since installation, the Lynx 2100LB has been put through its paces machining ‘near net shape’ forged bolt and nut blanks made from a range of different materials. Machining operations include internal and external single-point threading, boring, reaming, rigid tapping, chamfering and parting off.

Concludes Garrett: “The new Lynx 2100LB is a fast, accurate and flexible machine. Its acquisition is evidence of our continuous improvement programme in action, and we’re aiming to continue upgrading our machine shop in the months to come.”

More information www.millscnc.co.uk