Coventry-based Adams Lubetech is a manufacturer of single-point and centralised lubrication equipment for OEMs in the food, compressor and conveyor sectors, and across industry in general. Consistently rising sales worldwide meant the company needed extra production capacity. So in early 2020 Adams Lubetech purchased its first lathe from Citizen Machinery, a fixed-head Miyano BNJ-51 turn-mill centre, to produce not only rotational parts, but components produced previously on a manual mill or a power press.

Eric Chambers, factory manager, says: “With these parts in mind, we wanted a powerful, rigid turning centre that was equally capable of milling. We selected the Miyano bar automatic primarily due to its competitive price. The first purely prismatic component we produced on it was an anchor block for our sister company in Belgium. We were milling and drilling the steel blocks manually in several operations, which was time-consuming, so we decided to use the Miyano as a chucking lathe to produce them automatically.”

The lathe effectively doubles as a CNC machining centre in this application. Each part, which has large threaded holes and smaller diameter holes machined into multiple faces, comes off the machine complete in a cycle time of 139 seconds.

The Miyano is also taking work from a power press at the Coventry factory, resulting in even greater advantages. A deep-drawn part previously required seven sequential operations, removal for skimming on a capstan lathe and return to the press for slotting. Lead-time was more than one month to produce a typical batch of 8000 and there was a lot of manual intervention for inter-machine handling. The same part is now produced in one hit from bar on the twin-spindle Miyano in 2.5 minutes, so the entire batch can be finished and shipped in a fortnight if the job is left to run around the clock, seven days a week.

For further information
www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Following the launch of the new Vulcan brand of quality yet cost-effective machine tools, the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) has released the new TC200 turning centre. As part of the TC Series, the TC200 is the smallest and most compact machine in the range with a 200 mm diameter chuck size.

The TC200 is a single-spindle, single-turret lathe with a 45° slant-bed construction to ensure maximum stability while ensuring effective swarf removal from the work envelope. This ergonomic design allows users to maximise the heavy-duty cutting potential of the machine during uninterrupted batch or series production without continually opening the door to remove chips.

ETG’s Vulcan TC200 is available in four variants. The base model has a swing over bed of 460 mm, a maximum turning diameter of 280 mm, a spindle speed range of 25 to 4200 rpm and a spindle bore of 61 mm diameter.

For manufacturers looking to reduce secondary operations, ETG can supply the TC200M. This machine provides the opportunity for live tooling stations on the turret for engineers seeking an increase in their capabilities. A servo turret provides high-torque live tooling speeds from 25 to 4000 rpm. ETG’s Vulcan TC200ML is also available, providing the live tooling version in a longer bed model.

The fourth model, the TC200L is the long-bed variant that extends Z-axis travel from the standard 490 mm, to 740 mm.

As standard, the TC200 series is supplied with a 3-bar coolant pump, 130-litre capacity coolant tank, eight-position hydraulic tooling turret, automatic lubrication system, tool kit, work light, three-colour beacon light, heat exchanger for electrical cabinet, chip conveyor, programmable tailstock, automatic part catcher and automatic tool probing.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Based in Steinhagen, Germany, wastewater pump manufacturer Pentair Jung Pumpen, has invested in three CNC lathes from CMZ in the just five years, mainly for turning steel and cast-iron components.

“We have found the ideal partner in CMZ,” states managing director Stefan Sirges. “Just like at Jung Pumpen, for them, quality is a crucial element in the manufacturing of their lathes. Our third CNC lathe in just five years; I think that says it all. The whole package – the product, service and consultation – is excellent.”

The trio of CMZ CNC lathes at Pentair Jung Pumpen comprises TD-35-Y-1350, TC-30-Y-800 and TC-30-Y-800-L-servo+GL20II models.

Pentair Jung Pumpen started operations in 1924 when the business was founded by plumber Heinrich Jung in Steinhagen.” That humble plumbing business is now a premium manufacturer of wastewater pumps that employs over 350 people, with a yearly turnover of €78m. Since 2007 it has belonged to Pentair Plc, a global supplier of water technology solutions.

Quality is not just a cornerstone of business strategy, it is written into the company’s DNA and forms its main motto. When the moment came to renew its existing machine tools, quality was a non-negotiable condition for choosing a suitable partner.

Sirges admits that when he came across CMZ and learnt about the painstaking manufacturing process of the lathes in depth, his mind was made up. For customers such as Pentair Jung Pumpen, for which quality at every stage of the process is fundamental, this aspect is a deciding factor.

For further information
www.cmz.com

Star Micronics GB is reporting a high level of demand for its SX-38 Type A model, with the first UK machine ordered prior to its arrival from the factory.

The latest offering from Star – the SX series – represents years of machine-tool research and development to produce the next generation of sliding-head lathe technology.

For machining on the main spindle, the 12-axis SX-38 features a 10-station turret and an opposing four-station gang-type tool platen. In addition, the fully programmable swivelling B axis offers four driven tools for machining on the main and four counter spindles for the sub-spindle model. Mounted on an independent Z3 axis, the turret utilises Star’s quick-mount tool units, which maintains compatibility with existing models.

The very first of the new SX machines has been pre-ordered by Vixen CNC, a specialist supplier of mill-turn components located in Gwynedd. With 20 existing Star models on-site offering up to 42 mm diameter capacity, the acquisition of a new SX-38 further enhances its machine-tool portfolio and marks another significant milestone in the growth of the business.

Vixen CNC’s managing director Jake Wood says: “Remaining at the forefront of the turned-parts industry is of great importance, and our continued investment in the latest Star technology allows us to offer unparalleled response times, superior quality and full manufacturing flexibility.

“The SX-38 offers significant benefits and further increases our sliding-head capabilities,” he adds. “We work with a vast range of materials and supply finished parts to a wide array of sectors, including automotive, medical, marine and fasteners. Our new SX machine will give us the ability to explore additional business opportunities.”

For further information www.stargb.com

Established in 1982, Daventry-based Hi-Force is a UK specialist in hydraulic torque wrenches, bolt tensioners, jacks, crimpers and cutters, as well as nut splitters and flange spreaders.

Having previously subcontracted its component production, the company decided in 2008 to open its own machine shop and bring the majority of its metal cutting in-house.

The first machine-tool purchases were a five-axis machining centre and NL3000 lathes from DMG Mori, closely followed in 2010 by an NT 4250 turn-mill centre. Earlier this year the latter machine was replaced by a NTX 3000 seven-axis multi-tasking version. More than 80% of the 20 CNC machine tools on-site are from this supplier.

Chris Dickinson, group operations director, says: “The previous NT 4250 gave us remarkable service, but we thought it prudent to upgrade to the latest model from DMG Mori, which incorporates newer technology, provides greater flexibility and is more economical to run.”

The primary reason for buying the former turn-mill centre was for the production of aluminium housings used by higher torque tools in the Hi-Force product programme. However, the replacement machine is cutting a variety of materials, mainly aluminium but also alloy steels including EN24T and EN30B in an annealed condition. Some 100 tools in the magazine provide flexibility when setting up a new job, as the required cutters are normally already present.
The manufacturer’s relationship with this machine-tool supplier has grown over the years. Equipment from other suppliers has been considered along the way and, indeed, some has been purchased. However, for top-end production plant, Hi-Force has decided to standardise on DMG Mori due to the reliability of its machines and the quality of service.

For further information www.dmgmori.com