Founded in 1833, Glasgow-based Auld Valves is a manufacturer of reducing, control and safety valves, and is the company that patented the first full-bore regulator valve.
Supplying a diverse customer base around the world, including oil and gas, nuclear and shipbuilding, recent investment in machining technology from XYZ Machine Tools is further enhancing the firm’s service levels.
Machining at Auld Valves has traditionally either been subcontracted or carried out on a range of manual lathes and radial-arm drills. However, with business growing on the back of recent orders for valves for two new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, along with planned work on the new BAE Systems Type 26 Frigate for the Royal Navy and others around the world, investment had to be made.
Initially the intention was to purchase a single XYZ SLX 425 ProTurn lathe through grant funding, but in discussion with the grant provider, it was decided the better option was to double up.
“Having the two machines has enabled us to bring more work back in-house, enhancing our service to customers,” says Tom McLarnon, technical engineer. “Another big plus is that we can manufacture what we want, when we want it, rather than being dictated by minimum order quantities imposed by subcontractors.”
The arrival of the machines brought an opportunity for two young operators to step over from manual to CNC and, as part of the investment, Auld Valves purchased the offline programming system from XYZ Machine Tools in anticipation of machining some of its more complex components. The ease of use of the ProtoTrak control, however, has seen the two operators programming the majority of jobs at the machine.
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