SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

ACE completes £0.5m investment

A major £500,000 investment drive has reached its final stage at a Telford-based precision manufacturer with the arrival of two new state-of-the-art etching machines. Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which has recently boosted its workforce by 12%, has taken delivery of two Chemcut Etch machines at its facility in a bid to meet increasing global demand from the aerospace, electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell markets. The acquisitions will increase the firm’s etching capacity by 30% and help customers bring their designs and prototypes to market quicker.
For further information www.ace-uk.net

Alucast looks to deliver £800,000 sales boost

A West Midlands aluminium foundry is reaping the benefits of a move to ‘servitization’ and forecasts that it will add nearly 10% to its annual turnover. Alucast, which employs over 100 people at its growing factory in Wednesbury, has invested nearly £500,000 in new technology to ensure that it now provides customers with access to Magmasoft casting simulation, prototyping and heat treatment. The company has also expanded its CNC capacity to offer five-axis machining and non-destructive testing, including X-ray and dye-penetrant testing.
For further information www.alucast.co.uk

High productivity with B-axis and Robo2Go

Founded in 1984, Heppler GmbH from Spaichingen has made a name for itself as a contract manufacturer in numerous industries, including electronics, mechanical engineering, hydraulics and medical. Heppler has been using machine tools from DMG Mori for its manufacturing since 2018. The fleet of machines now includes 10 machining centres and turning machines. Most recent to arrive was a CLX 450 TC with Robo2Go, representing the first example of a new turn-mill centre from DMG Mori.

“We’ve been able to achieve growth of up to 15% in recent years through innovative manufacturing technologies and flexible automation solutions, such as the CLX 450 TC with Robo2Go,” says managing director Dieter Heppler.

With the CLX 450 TC, DMG Mori has developed a turn-mill centre that is said to offer users affordable entry into six-sided complete machining.

“This favourably-priced machine concept was a convincing reason for the acquisition,” reflects Heppler. Since then, the CLX 450 TC has been responsible in particular for complex workpieces made of aluminium and stainless steel. “We also installed a Robo2Go from DMG Mori so that we could use the machine for unmanned third shifts overnight and at the weekend.”

In particular, it is possible to process smaller batch sizes completely autonomously in this way. For larger series, work is limited to simply loading the Robo2Go.

Heppler will continue to practice its modernisation philosophy when making future investments.

“Forthcoming purchases will be made with the same considerations in mind,” he confirms. “Innovative manufacturing technology and flexible automation solutions will play a central role in this.”
For further information www.dmgmori.com

Reshoring and exports boost Wealdpark growth

In response to an upturn in business over the past few years, Merseyside subcontract machining company Wealdpark is to treble the size of its factory. The first phase of expansion, due to begin immediately, will add an extension a little larger than the 6000 sq ft unit it presently operates in St Helens. By the end of 2023, another 5000 sq ft unit is scheduled for completion on an adjacent plot that was purchased recently.

Mainly a precision turned parts subcontractor, the family owned and run firm operates two vertical machining centres and 15 sliding-head lathes on the shop floor, alongside six Miyano fixed-head turning centres from Citizen Machinery UK. The latest to arrive, in April 2022, was a Miyano ABX-64SYY, bringing to four the number of these 65 mm diameter bar capacity machines purchased since 2014. Also in use are 51 and 42 mm capacity models.

Together with father Jim and brother Steve, Phil Smith is a director and joint owner of Wealdpark. He says: “We’ve increased turnover by a quarter in the two years since the start of the pandemic and sales during each of the first five months of 2022 were at a record level compared with previous years. The production of parts for the hydraulic, pneumatic and yellow goods industries is particularly strong at the moment. We’re also active in the aerospace, automotive, electrical fastener, firefighting, military and temperature measurement sectors. This has given us the confidence to invest in new infrastructure and capacity to develop our business. Part of that strategy will be the continuing purchase of top-quality plant like Miyano lathes, which we’ve used since 2007.”
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Arturn makes a turn for Hanwha turning centres

Arturn Precision Engineering has invested in a Hanwha XD38II sliding-head turning centre from Dugard to enhance capacity and throughput at its Rugby-based facility. As a tier-one automotive supplier, as well as a manufacturer for the fastener, electrical, food and pharmaceutical industries, Arturn is no stranger to high-volume production runs, which is where the Hanwha machine from Dugard is making a difference.

Myles Rudkin, foreman at Arturn Engineering, says: “One of the main reasons we bought the Hanwha XD38II is because we can turn up to 38 mm diameter on a sliding-head machine, which in my opinion is pretty impressive, especially when the sweet spot is from 32 to 38 mm. That’s where we have a broad diameter of parts, so it means we can expand the range of components which we can machine for customers.”

Looking at the specific attributes of the machine, Rudkin adds: “It’s a great machine and, where the tools are located, particularly the power tools, makes it easily accessible to interchange cutting tools and accelerate our set-up processes.”

Considering the FANUC 32i-Model B CNC system and the programming, Rudkin says: “I like the programming on this machine. It has broadened my knowledge because a lot of the M codes are familiar, like on a fixed-head machine. This means that my knowledge of fixed-head machines and the respective G- and M-codes will transfer directly to the Hanwha.”

With flood coolant on the new Hanwha XD38II sliding-head turning centre, ISO9001-accredited Arturn has noticed a marked improvement in tool life.

“The coolant flow on this machine is excellent and there is a high number of coolant hoses on the machine that can be moved and directed at specific tools,” says Rudkin.
For further information www.dugard.com