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News Release from: Citizen Machinery UK
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 February 2007
UK subcontractors buy sliding head autos
UK subcontract machine shops are buying the first six Citizen A20 CNC 20mm sliding head automatic lathes - machines already enjoying sales successes around the world.
The first shipment involving six of the recently launched Citizen A20 CNC sliding head autos are due to be delivered to UK customers during March The machine that forms the initial UK allocation of these competitively priced turn/mill centres has been heralded by Citizen as the most successful global launch of any new model by the Japanese company
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The high level of take-up by worldwide customers, that Citizen admit has been far greater than initial market projections, has been largely fuelled by new customers switching from fixed head lathes to CNC sliding head technology.
Indeed, all six initial machines for the UK are going to first time Citizen buyers having found that the new 20mm capacity machine will deliver much higher levels of productivity while costing very little more than a second-hand machine.
Said Geoff Bryant, managing director of NC Engineering of Watford: "Our 'Pay as you Turn' rental based scheme that provides a very attractive installation package has also helped these customers make the decision to acquire new machines.
Further reading
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Dawson Precision Components of Oldham has acquired its first Citizen CNC sliding headstock lathe and has been able to allocate multiple-operation work into single set-ups.
With the financial structure of the package customers can quickly generate a payback status with little risk as the initial machine loading builds up." The prime brief when the Citizen A20 was developed was that it should require a lower capital outlay while being constructed on heavier duty castings, would provide greater levels of rigidity and incorporate many of the popular features of higher specification machines.
As a result, the A20 is almost double the weight of a typical 20mm machine, has improved vibration absorption when heavier cuts are being taken and with very good thermal displacement characteristics, provides consistent production of components.
The machine, available for the first time in left and right hand variants is able to carry 17 tools, three of which are driven and has a 3.7kW, 8,000 rev/min main and 1.5kW, 8,000 rev/min back spindle.
Controlled by a Fanuc based Series 32i-Model A, the software incorporates the very popular 'Streamline Control' technology that provides a new level of flexibility and very successfully reduces idle times on cutting cycles.
Added Bryant: "The prototype of the machine was shown at our Open House in October and was an immediate success attracting new customers to the technology. Request free introductory details about products from Citizen Machinery UK ...
That was substantiated with orders, not only for the A20 but other machines in our range, when they were able to see the benefits of 'single-hit' production cycles coupled with the ability to change over quickly for different component types.".
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