Product category:
Abrasive machining - manual and CNC machines
News Release from: Holroyd | Subject: Edgetek super abrasive machines
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 October 2003
Full turnkey systems are based on super
abrasives
The growing acceptance of super abrasive machining technology has resulted in Holroyd setting up a project team to provide full turnkey manufacturing systems.
The high levels of success which Holroyd is enjoying with its Edgetek super abrasive machines, coupled with a growing acceptance of the technology generally, have resulted in the company setting up a project team to provide full turnkey manufacturing systems to customers for Edgetek machines, the first of these being supplied to companies in the aerospace and automotive industries "Providing turnkey solutions is what we are good at," said Holroyd Director for Edgetek Machine Sales, Paul Hannah
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 Aug 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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"It is something we have routinely undertaken for customers for our range of thread grinding machines, some of the projects running into millions of pounds.
The outstanding results we are obtaining with Edgetek on some of the most difficult to machine materials around - in one case reducing the throughput time for a complex finished part from 8 hours to just 12 minutes - meant that it was only a matter of time before customers for the technology started asking us for a complete solutions approach.
With an Engineering Director that has tutored in Project Management at Lancaster University and with the experience of our own integrated Gemini production cell, not to mention numerous successful global projects, we are uniquely qualified to satisfy this demand." "The key factor driving the demand for turnkey Edgetek solutions is opportunities for cost reduction.
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The largest of such opportunities are where multiple process steps can be replaced with a single machine.
The point in such cases is not just that Edgetek HEDG grinding is faster, but that the entire manufacturing is simplified and more controllable, particularly if the alternative is a multiple-step process such as milling, heat-treating and then grinding.
To underline this point, in one recent UK aerospace application we replaced seven conventional milling and grinding machines with a single 5 axis Edgetek superabrasive machine." "With our new service we undertake to engineer our customer's complete process on an Edgetek machine, typically integrating automatic loading facilities, measuring machines for SPC, washing machines for parts cleaning, coolers and filters, design fixtures, work benches - in fact anything that the customer requires." "Following an initial contact with the customer we determine the scope of his requirement, and then allocate one of our project engineers, whose job it is to study what the customer is doing today, and the constraints within his process that can and can't be changed.
All of these engineers have been specifically trained in project management on Holroyd's unique in-house training programme under the supervision of Engineering Director, and Project Management lecturer, Dr Tony Bannan.
Next we provide draft proposals for discussion.
These are refined, enabling us to present our final proposal, which includes project planning and work instructions - things that are often missed out when people talk about "turnkeys" - and in some cases ancillary machines and equipment from other suppliers.
Once this had been agreed a Holroyd Project Manager takes over and plays the role of key contact with our customer's engineers.
The manager monitors all aspects of the project documenting and expediting changes to the project specification, and addresses questions such as the requirement for additional equipment and additional training for the Edgetek operators.
The training can be machine specific or be wider in scope, even extending to the techniques of "Lean Manufacturing," a procedure that Holroyd has standardised on for its own production.
Finally we install the manufacturing cell, produce components to specification and prove process times, in all cases staying with the manufacturing cell until we have done everything we said we would do.
When the system cell is ultimately "passed-off" we continue to provide support via our worldwide service network, and the customer can also benefit from our manufacturer developed preventative maintenance plans.".
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