Castleford-based Specialist Tooling Technologies (STT), which develops cost-effective solutions to mechanical and measurement problems for a wide range of customers, has experienced substantial growth over the past few years and invested heavily in machine tools.
“Using reliable, accurate and robust Haas machine tools has allowed us to produce top quality components for integration into our finished products,” states director Craig Wigglesworth.

STT currently employs 17 people and its CNC workshop is home to four Haas lathes and five Haas mills, the latest additions being a VF-2SSYT vertical machining centre and a dual-spindle DS-30SSY with Y axis.
“The VF-2SSYT has been a real asset to the company, says Wigglesworth. “It’s the Super Speed YT version with a 12,000 rpm spindle and an extra 100 mm in the Y axis compared to the standard VF-2. When coupled with a side-mount tool changer, the work envelope is large enough to have a combination of vices and base plate fixtures.
“This means we can run multiple parts – or different parts – on the table in a single set-up,” he continues. “The high-speed spindle and rapid feeds allow us to remove material at faster rates; that saves us production time and therefore delivery time, and it also improves surface finish.
“With regard to the DS-30SSY, we’re experiencing tremendous productivity gains with our turning operations and increasing our use of the Y-axis. Furthermore, the double spindle on the DS-30SSY is trouble-free, versatile and very precise. It allows us to engineer the component so that we can finish the whole front side, part it off, and finish the back side in one process.”
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