Exceeding expectations

Carrying out a complete investment appraisal analysis guided SL Engineering in its decision to purchase an additional Mori Seiki NL2000 SY mill/turn lathe, bringing its tally of Mori Seiki machines to five.

Based in Aslackby, near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, SL Engineering provides a full in-house solution specialising in the manufacture of rigid tube assemblies and precision machined components for the aerospace, industrial gas turbine, marine, oil and gas, medical, and speciality autosport industries. SL's tube assemblies and machined components are used in a broad spectrum of demanding applications including complex fuel pipe and manifold systems, as well as hydraulic, air, water, gas, and oil pipe systems.

Committed to the 21st Century Supply Chain (SC21) principles and practices, SL Engineering has ambitious and achievable expansion plans over the next five years, supported by a staged capital investment programme.

Shaun Stevenson, director and general manager at SL Engineering says: “We installed our first Mori Seiki machine in 2004 after extensively evaluating the main alternatives in the market place. One of the key drivers in our decision to choose Mori Seiki NL machines was their excellent rigidity and build quality – ideal for machining the exotic high temperature nickel-based alloys we work with. Furthermore, we could see a clear synergy between our two companies. Our industry is highly regulated and demands very high quality products, while Mori Seiki has the infrastructure, development and support network we need to support this requirement.”

SL Engineering's Mori Seiki NL2000 SY, which was installed just after the recent MACH exhibition, includes driven tooling, Y-axis control, a sub-spindle and a special 20 station turret which significantly increases the number of live tools that can be used on each job over a standard 12 station machine. The machine has been designed to provide 100% greater torsional rigidity, and 30% wider guideways than conventional lathes. Oil jackets around the spindle and the built in turret motor keep temperature rises to 1/10 of those experienced in other machines, minimising thermal displacement, while the massive castings, and built in turret motor BMT cut vibration levels by a reported 66%.

Mr Stevenson continues: “The Mori Seiki machines have lived up to their reputation for being a high quality product. They are superbly constructed, extremely rigid, and have proved themselves to be highly accurate, consistently holding the very tight tolerances demanded in our business.”

The company's employees like the MAPPS controls on the Mori Seiki machines. The latest MAPPS III control on the new machine includes enhanced milling functions, faster editing, a calculator function, USB connectivity and improved tool management for faster set-up.
“The MAPPS control system is very user friendly, with good graphics,” Mr Stevenson affirms, “which promotes quick set-up and programming for the complex components we produce – a critical requirement for our products.”

By choosing Mori Seiki machines, SL Engineering has been able to make some significant improvements in its productivity, in line with the Lean manufacturing methods encouraged by SC21. Working in partnership with Mori Seiki the company has enhanced its knowledge through consultation with the machine manufacturer's technicians, enabling it to combine operations and achieve one hit machining. Now, as Mr Stevenson reports, wherever possible, parts are machined in a single setup. “A key objective of our continuous improvement programme is to reduce the number of multiple set-ups we have to use. The sub-spindle, Y-axis and powerful direct drive milling heads on our NL machines have helped make improvements to our throughput and reduced leadtimes. Jobs with complex prismatic features that used to take five or six setups are now completed in a single operation, straight off the bar.”

SL Engineering examined the complete package offered by Mori Seiki when it made its decision to purchase its latest NL2000 SY. As well as productivity improvements and the physical capabilities of the machine, the company considered other elements including reliability, quality of service, residual value, and life expectancy.

Mr Stevenson concludes: “Our customers demand that we achieve cost downs on our products. After weighing up all the options, it was clear that the NL2000 SY would give us the ability to deliver on these demands and provide us with the best return on our investment. We are planning to work even more closely with Mori Seiki in the future. By collaborating to introduce new technology and techniques, we will be able to continue to meet and exceed our customer's expectations.”

Mori Seiki
www.moriseiki.co.uk

SL Engineering
www.sl-engineering.co.uk
 

Company

SL Engineering

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