Product category:
CNC turning centres, mill/turning, multi-tasking centres, horizontal and VTLs.
News Release from: DMG (UK) | Subject: Mill/turn machining
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 January 2006
Mill/turn investment brings
subcontractor growth
UK subcontractor is enjoying a period of considerable growth and is on target to double its current business levels through investment in five-axis mill/turn machine tools.
UK subcontractor is enjoying a period of considerable growth and is on target to double its current business levels through investment in five-axis mill/turn machine tools Bucking the current trend witnessed by many UK manufacturers, Middlesbrough-based Burdon is presently enjoying a period of considerable growth and is on target to double its current business levels over the coming three years
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 18 May 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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"We could see a market opportunity from OEMs for larger, more complex components in reasonable volumes," explains Burdon's managing director Barry Hindson.
"By investing in five-axis mill-turn technology from DMG we are responding to this demand, although it also offers much more besides".
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"For instance, the technology differentiates us in the marketplace, it reduces our machining costs and it moves the company into areas that are less sensitive to threats from low cost overseas competition." Installed last year, the first DMG machine to arrive at Burdon was a DMC 160 FD duoBLOCK, which can accomplish milling and turning operations on a single machine - the first of its type sold in the UK.
"DMG did not just want to supply us with a machine tool, they wanted to be a partner and develop the project together," says Hindson.
"As one of the largest machine tool suppliers in the world we also knew DMG had a strong UK presence, which is important with regard to service and support".
"It was the overall package that won the order for DMG." Once on site at Burdon's rapidly expanding Middlesbrough facility, the DMC 160 FD was immediately set to work on a contract for the oil and gas sector, although it soon provided Burdon with the opportunity to manufacture ring components required for body scanners in the medical industry.
The machine has also opened the door to several customer prospects in the aerospace sector.
We were obviously aware of the machine's relevance to the aerospace sector," continues Hindson.
"It was one of the primary reasons for the acquisition.
Tactically this strategy started to pay dividends when Rolls-Royce became aware that we had bought the UK's first DMC 160 FD.
As it is similar to a DMC 125 FD owned by Rolls-Royce, the company wanted to subcontract work to us when their machine is at capacity: an arrangement that is now in place." Today the DMC 160 FD operates round the clock across three shifts, manufacturing small repeat batches (up to 20-off) of large, complex parts featuring tight tolerances and across a range of materials including stainless steel, aluminium and exotics.
In milling functions, DMC FD machines are similar to the DMC U-series.
They master five-sided, and up to simultaneous five-axis machining, due to a universal swivel-head, which is infinitely adjustable between the horizontal and vertical positions, as well as functions such as a CNC-controlled B-axis with optional A-axis.
The turning capabilities of the DMC 160 FD duoBLOCK pay off when it comes to complete machining operations that incorporate milling and turning in a single set-up.
The CNC rotary table with direct-drive technology, torque of 4160Nm, holding torque of 10,000Nm, and speeds of up to 250 rev/min permit a wide range of milling and turning applications for workpieces weighing up to 2500kg.
Such has been the success of the machine at Burdon that the company has subsequently ordered a DMU 200P from DMG in light of a significant order won to produce large machined castings (2000mm by 2000mm) for a major automotive company.
The DMU 200P is a five-axis portal machining centre capable of accommodating workpiece billets weighing up to 5000kg.
The machine was delivered in August 2005, a month that also saw the company extend their premises with a 15,000ft2 expansion of their modern purpose-built factory.
And it does not end there: based on Burdon's new found confidence and the positive reaction from the marketplace, the company has also ordered a DMC 125 FD from DMG, which the company will be able to load with its growing quantity of aerospace work.
In turn, this will free capacity on the DMC 160 FD to take increased medical industry orders or for components destined for some of Burdon's many other customers, such as Aston Martin.
The ambition shown by Burdon is highlighted by its total investment spend of GBP 2.5 million in recent years.
"Our aim is to double our business within the next three years," concludes Hindson.
"For engineering companies that want to prosper in this industry, investment in the latest technology, such as our DMG machines, provides crucial market differentiation and provides the ability to produce components more efficiently than the competition.".
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