Subcontractor reduces costs on large complex parts

With ability to palletise large complex components and machine five sides in a single set-up, Springer rapid Industries can now dramatically reduce machining costs.

Springer Rapid Industries' impressive investment programme has continued apace following the delivery and installation of a DMC 200U five-axis machining centre from DMG.

This one EUR 1m (GBP 700 000) machine will sit alongside an existing DMU 200P five-axis machining centre at this Rotherham-based specialist sub-contractor.

The two machines will provide capacity greater than the sum of their parts - thanks to the addition of the automatic twin-pallet changer on the DMC 200U.

Each 1400mm by 1600 mm pallet can carry components weighing up to 3500kg and combined with the five-axis/five-sided machining capability makes this new machine a match for anything currently installed in the UK.

In fact, the DMC 200U is the first machine of its type to be installed in the UK.

To give some idea of the scale of this new investment, delivery was only possible by using five low-loaders, a small truck two vans and a car! The movements of which were advised to the police with an escort was provided along their route.

Offloading owed much to the expertise of the driver of the 100 tonne capacity crane that threaded the machine into the recently built factory.

Springer Rapid Industries' Managing Director, Gordon Styles, says: "Very shortly after installing our first DMG machine in June this year, we realised that the work we were winning would soon outstrip capacity.

We therefore brought forward our investment plans, amending them from the original plan to purchase a much larger DMC 340 machine to take account of the type of work we are now winning.

The DMC 200U with its twin pallets is ideal.

"To put it in perspective, our original DMG machine meant that we could use technology to deliver profitable work at prices unheard of since the mid 1990s.

With ability to palletise large complex components and machine five sides in a single set-up, we can now dramatically reduce costs for our customers, giving us a distinct advantage over our competitors.

"By investing in the latest high technology equipment, we feel we are bucking the trend and competing head-on with low-cost, low technology manufacturing, wherever it might be located.

At the same time these machines give us the capability to produce high-precision components at rates that have not been seen for many years." (Visit the DMG UK website for more info on the machining centres - Ed).

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