Product category:
Tooling services
News Release from: Walter GB | Subject: Single-supplier tooling agreement
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 April 2003
Grinding machine builder uses single
tool supplier
By entering into a single-supplier tooling agreement a machine tool manufacturer is not only forecasting cost savings of at least 10 per cent but also lead and cycle time reductions.
By entering into a single-supplier tooling agreement with tool system supplier Walter GB, machine tool manufacturer Landis Lund is not only forecasting cost savings of at least 10 per cent over the first 12 months through tool rationalisation, but it is also expecting year-on-year cost improvements as well as lead and cycle time reductions through the implementation of new tools and machining methods Walter has been supplying the West Yorkshire OEM - a world leader in the design and development of high precision cylindrical grinding machines and a division of Unova - with carbide milling and boring tools for the past 10 years or so
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 20 Jun 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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But the recent agreement now sees the Redditch-based tool system supplier also responsible for satisfying all of Landis Lund's consumable tooling demands as well as its non-urgent tool refurbishment and regrinding requirements.
In addition to focusing on Landis Lund's carbide tooling needs - which now sees Walter also supplying turning and drilling inserts and tooling - Walter also acts as the single-point contact for managing the entire supply of 'ancillary' tooling such as taps and drills from Cromwell Tools, Europe's largest independent industrial supplies company, and for co-ordinating the tool regrinding programme with Techni-grind (Preston) and tool refurbishment with Rapid Tool Reclamation and Manufacturing of Birmingham.
In all cases, these companies deliver direct to line at Landis Lund's Crosshills site.
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According to Martin Riley, Landis Lund's Industrial Engineering manager, the concept was adopted after the success of a similar programme (with a different tooling supplier) at sister company, Cincinnati Machine UK.
"As well as rationalising tool stocks, the aim is to simplify and streamline our tool purchase and regrinding processes by having a single point of contact for everything," says Martin Riley.
"This is based on monthly consignment stocks and weekly ordering, which not only reduces the time spent but also the paperwork involved with dealing with several suppliers.
"The initial tool rationalisation programme immediately generated cost savings of seven per cent, and the next step is to collaborate with Walter over cycle time improvements while retaining process security.
"We are also looking to implement an online ordering facility between our plant at Crosshills and Walter's office in Redditch, using the Internet to not only further minimise paperwork but also to use the technology to automatically raise orders on Walter as well as all the other companies involved." Gerry O'Hagan, Walter's tooling sales director, says the companies' joint machining process investigations are ongoing, but points out that extended tool life benefits have already been gained through the application of Walter's innovative Tiger.tec (registered) inserts.
Designed specifically for machining cast iron, Tiger.tec promises 100 per cent improvements in machining by combining a mixture of aluminium oxide and titanium nitride coatings on a tungsten carbide substrate to offer unrivalled cutting performance.
Commenting that the agreement with Landis Lund is one that relies on absolute co-operation between all parties, he says such partnerships "create win-win situations for everyone involved, and depend on the professionalism of every partner".
Barrie Willis, the local Walter sales engineer, states that his role as key account manager can only be effective "if the objectives are agreed and clearly stated".
Whether it be technical innovation, like Tiger.Tec, logistical improvements or process security which is targeted, he emphasises "that every initiative must be monitored and benchmarked" for further development.
The extent of the involvement of Cromwell Tools highlights the success of this company's strategy of being a 'supply and support unit' as well as a distributor, in this case providing Landis Lund with all manner of engineering consumables in addition to cobalt, HSS and carbide tooling, as well as abrasives and welding equipment.
Cromwell's area sales representative, Glen Rossington, explains that daily deliveries are made to Crosshills from Cromwell's Leeds division (one of 33 branches in the UK) and, with over 100 time-served engineers, Cromwell is always on hand to offer any appropriate back-up and advice as and when required.
Techni-grind (Preston) is the 'carbide regrind' partner, using a five-axis Walter Helitronic Power Regrinder tool and cutter grinder to maintain the required quality levels and turn-round times.
The company has built a reputation on providing its customers - which includes many aerospace firms - with a cost-effective, high-quality, 24-hour regrind service, says managing director David Highams.
Walter Helitronic regrinders are also at the heart of the tool refurbishment service provided by Rapid Tool Reclamation and Manufacturing and, says engineer Malcolm Kavanagh, the company responds with repaired tooling - all types of indexable CNC tools including Porcupine Cutters, U-drills, boring bars etc - with a same-day or within 24 hours service.
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