B Hepworth & Co, a specialist designer and manufacturer of bespoke marine, rail and defence windscreen wiping systems, as well as washing equipment and integrated control systems, has strengthened its machining capabilities with the installation of two new DN Solutions multi-tasking lathes supplied by Mills CNC: a box guideway Puma lathe and a long-bed Puma sub-spindle, Y-axis lathe.

Installed at the company’s Redditch facility in December, the machines form the core of two highly customised automated manufacturing cells developed collaboratively by Mills CNC’s applications engineers and B Hepworth’s technical team. Integrated with HydraFeed X-Files bar feeders, the cells automate the loading of bar stock and extraction of finished components, helping the company improve productivity, increase throughput and optimise small-part machining operations.

One of the cells also incorporates HydraFeed’s Return Speed extraction system, enabling the automatic transfer of finished parts through the sub-spindle into a high-capacity storage magazine for unattended production.

The cells are now producing a range of small, high-precision components used in B Hepworth’s pantograph and pendulum marine and rail wiper systems. Manufactured from materials including mild steel, stainless steel and brass, the parts feature tight tolerances, intricate geometries and fine surface finishes.

Edward Eddy, commercial director at B Hepworth & Co, says: “Our two new automated turning cells are pivotal in helping us achieve our small turned part production requirements. The investment has significantly increased throughput, reduced outsourcing costs and improved our ability to meet customer lead times and quality expectations.”

The latest machines replace a number of ageing stand-alone lathes and bring previously subcontracted work back in-house. B Hepworth is now working closely with Mills CNC to further optimise unattended machining performance and maximise the cells’ lights-out manufacturing potential.

More information www.millscnc.co.uk

Last month’s MACH 2026 exhibition in Birmingham proved a resounding success for Starrag with high-quality enquiries and stand visitor numbers far exceeding previous MACH exhibitions. On the stand, the Swiss machine manufacturer presented a complex turbine head that can be fully machined to high quality standards in a rapid cycle time on the company’s Bumotec 191neo turn-mill machine.

With a reputation in sectors from aerospace and power generation to the offshore sector, the Bumotec 191neo turn-mill centre was one of the few machines from the Starrag portfolio small enough to fit on a stand at MACH. Regardless, the machine, which is known as the ‘Swiss Army Knife‘ of small part machining, demonstrated its seven axes and flexibility, enticing visitors with the opportunities it presents for complex one-hit machining in sectors such as luxury goods, medical technology, micromechanics and avionics.

The Bumotec 191neo is characterised by productivity and precision. In addition to its stability, this is also due to the high torque of the Starrag milling spindle, the fast tool changer and the thermal properties.

Commenting on the MACH exhibition, Starrag UK’s sales director Lee Scott said: “MACH was another huge success for Starrag UK, where the quality and quantity of enquiries was exceptional. As a marquee brand, we’re recognised by manufacturers in all sectors. However, the beauty of having a compact Bumotec 191neo on the stand was the awareness it presented to our larger part manufacturing customers of the sheer diversity of our portfolio. With the Bumotec 191neo enjoying major success in the Irish medical industry, as well as the luxury goods markets worldwide, we took a lot of enquiries that revolved around the one-hit machining of complex small parts.”

More information www.starrag.com

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