Comments from the coal face

Precision manufactures in the UK and Ireland making large, complex parts are increasingly turning to Doosan machine tool technology solutions, supplied by Mills CNC, the company claims.

The Doosan range of large machines has been extended with the launch of the new DCM range of five face, double column machining centres. There are eight different sized machines in the DCM range with up to 10,250mm x 4,200mm x 700mm (XYZ) travels and 1,100mm W axis travel/vertical movement of elevated crossrail. Parts up to 68,000kg can be accommodated.

Depending on the application, DCM machines can be specified with various ram spindle configurations for heavy duty cutting through to high speed/high torque options. A number of different head attachments and table types are also available..

“In terms of breadth, depth, technical specification, all round performance and price, the Doosan range of large machining centres are hard to beat,” claims Nick Frampton, Mills' managing director. “We're seeing increased interest from companies across the board but particularly in the offshore and power generation sectors.”

The search by customers to ensure they get the right machine, at the right time, at the right price, with the right support is understandable considering the size and importance of the potential investment, and the fact that so much rests on making the best and most informed decision.

With this in mind, Mills has a number of customers using Doosan machines to good effect:

Itasco: Fife

When Itasco was looking for a large capacity lathe to manufacture end fittings used to connect thermoplastic hoses and steel tube umbilicals for the oil and gas sector, the company selected a Doosan Puma 700LM lathe.
One of the main reasons why the Puma was selected, according to Itasco director Jim Mullen, was that the Doosan machine was able to reduce the number of machining operations to complete parts – from four operations down to just two.

“The Puma takes heavy duty machining operations in its stride, and delivers high accuracy and high volumetric removal rates via its high-torque 45kW/1,500rpm spindle,” he says. “Furthermore because the machine is equipped with driven tooling (12 tools/11kW 3,000rpm), we can mill, drill and tap complex features such as bores and threads in one set-up.

"The productivity improvements gained since installing the Puma have been significant. We've been able to reduce our leadtimes, we require less operator involvement and intervention and we've improved part accuracies due to less work handling. This enables us to be far more competitive in the marketplace.” KSW Engineering: Glenrothes

As Steward Wilson, managing director at KSW reveals, it's a similar situation with the Glenrothes-based precision subcontractor, having recently invested in a Doosan DB 130CX horizontal boring machine.

“Our decision to invest in the Doosan machine was based on a number of interrelated factors – namely performance of the machine, its price and availability, and the help and support we could get from Mills.

“A critical issue for us was the machine's availability,” he adds. “With other competitor machines delivery was being quoted as being 12 months or over. With the Doosan, delivery was achieved in just three months and that included installation and operator training.

"Equally important was the machine's performance and functionality and in particular its high accuracy volumetric removal rates achieved via its powerful, high torque 26kW 5,000rpm, three range gearbox driven spindle. Other features including a 130mm boring spindle and 700mm W axis for optimum reach across the table, plus its versatile B axis rotary table and fixed address 60 position ATC matched our requirements perfectly.”

Express Engineering: Gateshead

The investment made by Gateshead-based precision manufacturer Express Engineering in a Doosan HM 1250 horizontal machining centre was backed by a sound aftersales service from Mills. Express Engineering's managing director Nigel Davison takes up the story:

“Our HM 1250 machine was delivered and installed by Mills' engineers within a very short leadtime and the whole operation went smoothly from start to finish. This was a critical issue for us because contracts that we'd won were based on our ability to meet fairly stringent delivery dates so any unnecessary delays and downtime had to be avoided at all costs. Since the installation, Mills' aftersales, support and service commitment has been excellent.”

Nick Frampton adds: “Customers understandably want their Doosan machines to make a contribution to productivity and profitability from day one. We've resourced and geared up our aftersales services to ensure that this is always the case.

“Through the combination and integration of our highly trained service and applications staff located at our Operations Centre in Leamington, and our UK regionally-based service engineers, we've got the balance just about right.

“Our commitment to delivering a first class aftersales services is evident from the number of new staff appointments made this year which include two new service engineers, an applications engineer, a new project manager, and the most recent appointment of Jeff Hart as the company's in house training manager.”

Mills CNC
www.millscnc.co.uk