SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

NCMT and Delta Redefine Metrology Capability With Makino EDM

Delta XD has expanded its metrology capabilities with a Makino U6 H.E.A.T. wire EDM supplied by NCMT, enabling the business to section complex aerospace components with minimal material loss and greater accuracy. 

The specialist inspection company needed a way to examine internal geometries and material integrity without compromising the features undergoing measurement. Previously, multiple cuts or outsourced processes could add time and complexity to inspections. 

“We had a very specific requirement to support a customer in sectioning some finely detailed turbine components for quality control purposes,” says Lee Griffiths, head of sales & business development at Delta XD. “The need to split parts very precisely, without losing material, was a key focus for us.” 

The Makino U6 H.E.A.T. combines cutting accuracy of 4 microns with the ability to use wire down to 0.1 mm in diameter, minimising kerf width and preserving material for analysis. Its larger working envelope accommodates both intricate components and larger castings, while high-energy pulse technology improves cutting efficiency, surface quality and wire life. 

The machine also enables Delta XD to combine 3D scanning with adaptive machining, creating complex 3D cutting paths to expose internal features for inspection.  

Installation was equally straightforward. With a machine already available at NCMT’s Coventry showroom, the period from purchase order to installation, including training, was around 10-15 days. 

The investment is already delivering results. High machine utilisation and growing enquiries reflect demand for the new service, while reducing multiple cuts to a single operation cuts reconstruction work and inspection times. 

“The overall time to complete inspections is much reduced, and the amount of data we can present is greater because we’re seeing more of the part in its original state,” reports Daniel Lainchbury, COO at Delta XD. 

More information www.ncmt.co.uk 

Manufacturing Champion Delivers SME Support Boost 

A new national platform designed to streamline how manufacturing SMEs access essential support has been launched by industry ambassador Andrea Wilson. The former managing director of Hone-All Precision has officially unveiled ManufacturingUK.org, a free to access digital platform bringing together a disparate support ecosystem in one place, a place where users can tap into advice and guidance from funding providers, skills programmes, trade associations, innovation resources and best-practice events. The site makes life easier for manufacturers that often find it difficult and time-consuming to access support. 

More information www.manufacturinguk.org 

UK Manufacturing is Growing. Now is The Time to Build on It

UK manufacturing entered autumn with another month of growth, strengthening the case for renewed investment in Britain’s industrial base. The S&P Global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 51.9 in September from 51.7 in August, marking an 11th consecutive month of expansion. A reading above 50 indicates growth. 

For Midland Deburr managing director Chris Arrowsmith (pictured), the figures highlight an opportunity to build capacity across the wider manufacturing supply chain: “Eleven months of manufacturing growth tells us something important. There’s work out there, companies are investing and there’s still tremendous engineering capability in Britain.  

While manufacturing growth is often measured through factory output, every finished component depends on a network of specialist suppliers. From its West Midlands facility, Midland Deburr provides vibratory deburring, component cleaning, solvent degreasing and vapour degreasing for manufacturers producing pressings, castings and machined components. 

“When customers become busier, that work travels through the supply chain,” Arrowsmith explains. “Machining creates components that need finishing, while pressings and castings require deburring and cleaning. Increased production ultimately means increased demand across specialist processes.” 

September’s survey recorded continued growth in new orders and exports, alongside longer supplier delivery times and higher input costs. Arrowsmith believes investment throughout the supply chain will be essential if manufacturers are to respond to rising demand. 

“If Britain wants higher manufacturing output, we have to think about capacity all the way through the supply chain,” he says. “That means machinery, skills, energy, premises, logistics and the specialist processes that keep components moving.” 

He adds: “Britain knows how to manufacture. We have the people, the engineering heritage and an extraordinary base of specialist companies. This is the time to use it, invest in it and give it every opportunity to grow.” 

More information www.midlanddeburrandfinish.co.uk 

Energy Efficiency Drives Swissmatic’s Sliding-Head Purchases 

Citizen Machinery UK has supplied six of the sliding-head CNC lathes currently operating at turned parts subcontractor Swissmatic’s Wishaw factory near Glasgow. According to Ian Corbally, son of founder Jim, the Japanese-built, bar-fed turn-milling centres combine reliable unattended productivity with low power consumption. 

A key enabler of lights-out machining is Citizen’s low frequency vibration (LFV) chip-breaking technology. Integrated into the Mitsubishi control, LFV breaks stringy swarf into manageable chips, reducing the risk of workpiece and tooling damage and eliminating the need for operators to periodically clear accumulated swarf. 

Energy efficiency is equally important to Swissmatic, with Corbally confirming it is ‘100%’ at the forefront of purchasing decisions. In October 2023, the company installed 319 solar panels, reducing grid electricity consumption by approximately 25% over 12 months. 

The latest arrival is a Citizen Cincom Series 2 L32-XII B5 LFV, the first of its type installed in the UK. Featuring a swivelling B-axis tool carrier and upgraded four-axis LFV capability, the nine-axis machine enables full five-axis simultaneous machining and superimposed machining to reduce cycle times. 

It replaces an older 32 mm capacity sliding-head lathe and joins previous Cincom M32-VIII and M16-VIII LFV models, alongside two L12-VII LFV machines acquired for medical component production. 

Swissmatic processes materials including plastic, stainless steel, aluminium and copper, producing everything from prototypes to batches exceeding two million components. 

“We manufacture components ranging from one-off prototypes to production runs of more than two million and the versatility of the Cincoms suits this activity perfectly,” says Corbally. 

Operating 24/7 with minimal attendance, the machines achieve a scrap rate below 0.25% while maintaining tolerances down to four microns total. 

More information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk 

17D Grows Turning Capacity with DN Solutions Lynx 2600M

17D, a precision subcontractor specialising in machining rolling stock replacement and spare parts, has increased its in-house turning capabilities with a new DN Solutions Lynx 2600M lathe from Mills CNC. 

The investment addresses growing demand from main-line, heritage and miniature and narrow-gauge rail customers for small, high-precision, quick-turnaround machined parts. 

Installed in February 2026 at 17D’s 2500 sq ft machine shop in Matlock, the three-axis, 10” chuck Lynx 2600M features a C axis, driven tooling and FANUC i Plus control.  

“Since Covid, we’ve experienced strong growth year-on-year,” says owner and managing director Tristan Dengate. “Our sales turnover increased 35% in 2025 from what it was in 2024 and we’ve doubled our headcount in just a couple of years.”  

With main-line rail customers now accounting for 80% of annual turnover, compared with 20% in 2020, 17D’s two older CNC lathes were creating production bottlenecks and putting pressure on customer lead times. 

Having researched the market and created a detailed machine checklist, 17D initially considered a smaller Lynx 2100M. However, when Mills CNC offered a larger, more powerful Lynx 2600M from stock for immediate delivery, the company placed its order. 

The new machine features an 18.5 kW spindle, 460 mm maximum turning diameter, 658 mm maximum turning length and BMT 55P turret with driven tooling. Supplied with a swarf conveyor, auto tool setter and Filtermist extraction unit, it has already machined shafts, housings, cylinders, couplings and other components in batches from one-offs to 200-off. 

“Opting for the Lynx 2600M with driven tooling enables us to machine larger parts in a single set-up,” concludes Dengate. “The investment has helped us significantly improve productivity and process efficiencies and, more importantly, meet our production schedules and hit customer lead times.” 

More information www.millscnc.co.uk