LoneStar Fasteners Hydrobolt (LSFH), a manufacturer of fasteners, bolts and other precision-machined components, has placed a repeat order for turning centres that will further expand CNC turn-milling capacity at its Wednesbury facility. The company has invested £1.5m in six twin-spindle Y-axis lathes built by Biglia in Italy and supplied through sole UK and Ireland agent Whitehouse Machine Tools.

LSFH is buying new lathes to manufacture components more efficiently and precisely in one hit, rather than in two, three or even four operations, as previously. The decision to invest in Biglia was based on lathe rigidity and the power of the spindles and driven tools, which enables the machining of components in stainless steel, titanium and high-nickel alloys. These materials commonly find use in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and power generation sectors, all of which are supplied by LSFH. To preserve surface finish on components and prevent damage after machining, every lathe features a parts catcher and conveyor.

Robbie Beckett, operations director at LoneStar’s Wednesbury facility says: “The first two machines, installed in 2023, were B620YS single-turret turning centres with 80 mm bar capacity, which have enabled us to reduce production costs, improve surface finish on components and increase productivity. They performed exceptionally well over their first year of operation, so we decided to order four more turn-mill centres from the same supplier.”

The next pair of lathes to arrive, in May 2024, were a Biglia B750YS with a single turret and 100 mm bar capacity, and a B465T2Y2, the first with twin turrets. They were followed in August 2024 by an additional B750YS and another twin-turret lathe, a BMX45T2Y2 with superimposed machining capability, facilitating three tools in simultaneous cut.

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