AEROSPACE SUPPLEMENT
PRODUCTION CASE STUDIES
Seven-fi gure investment in Mazak machines at Middlesex Aerospace;
Haas Automation’s help rewarded with CLP Engineering’s loyalty;
Excel returns to Sodick EDM tech; ITC slashes cycle times with
Widia tooling; Schunk Intec/Walter aerospace machining demo
impresses; Lang clamping/workholding partnered with Matsuura
machines at Merc Aerospace
Mazak machinery supports Middlesex
Aerospace past, present and future
Hampshire-based aerospace manufacturer
Middlesex Aerospace invested Mazak (https://
is.gd/otocah) full 5-axis machining and
automation technologies, signing a seven-
gure sum order to purchase three machining
centres to be supplied by its long-term
machine tool making partner.
14
Says Laurence Foulds, managing director:
“We have worked with Mazak as our principal
machinery partner for over 20 years. We
initially started with some mill-turn lathes, but
quickly progressed to the Integrex multi-tasking
range. Given the application-critical nature of
the parts we manufacture, we need absolute
trust and con dence in our production
equipment to work to the ultra-precise
tolerances mandated by our customers. Having
worked with Mazak for over two decades and
purchased over 16 models, our con dence in
their machines is unwavering.”
The company’s most recent investment
comprises two Variaxis i-series simultaneous,
full 5-axis machining centres, including one
with an expandable large-capacity tool
magazine to support high-mix, low-volume
production, as well as a horizontal machining
centre from Mazak’s HCN-4000 series, also
complete with extended tool storage system.
The new machines will allow Middlesex
Aerospace to boost its production capacity,
particularly in the manufacture of smaller
workpieces, and keep pace with demand from
its customers around the globe. In addition,
the new machines will help the company
further improve component quality whilst also
increasing its production volumes.
Foulds adds: “One of our major focuses
going forward is increasing our unmanned
production capacity. We’ve worked very closely
with Mazak with our most recent investments
to achieve high-value-added machining on an
unmanned basis, on very complicated parts.
Historically, unmanned production has largely
been about fairly simple components. Now
we’re able to make some very, very
sophisticated components from dif cult-tomachine
materials; not just from aluminium,
but different steels, iron and other harder
materials. Ultimately, we aspire to achieve a
90%-plus running uptime for lights-out
unmanned manufacturing, 168 hours a week.
That is our objective and we believe it is
achievable.”
And he concludes: “We are very con dent
we will be able to double our current eight-
gure turnover over the next 10 years. We will
do that, not by producing twice as much as we
do now, but by branching out into new
products. As such, investing in two 5-axis
multi-tasking machines and a customised
horizontal machining centre was absolutely
necessary.”
October 2019 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
FIT
V E R S AT I LIT Y
+ LO N G E V IT Y
+ I N T E G RIT Y
= P R O D U C T I V IT Y
the RIGHT MACHINE
for the RIGHT JOB
Wherever you and your parts fit, you can count
on Mitsui Seiki to provide you with just what
you need. We’re not for everyone, but we are for
those who understand that reliable precision
with responsive support is the most sensible,
economical decision you can make when
choosing a machine tool technology partner.
Kyal Machine Tools Limited | The Settling Rooms | Springfield Street
MARKET HARBOROUGH | Leicestershire | LE16 8BD
Tel No. 01858 467182 | simon@kyalmachinetools.co.uk
MITSUI SEIKI
563 Commerce Street | Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Tel: (201) 337-1300 |Fax: (201) 337-3680 | www. mitsuiseiki.com
Keeping the
swarf ying
Automation and 5-axis Mazak technology are
powering Middlesex Aerospace’s ambition
/www.machinery.co.uk
/mitsuiseiki.com
link