Geared up with sixteen grinders

Since the company’s inception in 1978, the business has pursued a policy of investing in the best available manufacturing technology. This strategy has helped FT Gearing earn an excellent international reputation and enabled it to broaden its customer base beyond its principle, global aerospace and defence platforms.

When involved in the production of premium quality gear technology two of the most important technical prerequisites are the ability to achieve demanding dimensional tolerances and the required surface finish to workpieces. To ensure that FT Gearing Systems consistently delivers on these fronts, the company has developed close relationships with Swiss grinding machine manufacturer Studer and the company’s UK agent, Advanced Grinding Supplies.

Over several years, FT’s continuous expansion has led to regular additional investments in the Swiss machines, resulting in the company now operating 16 Studer CNC grinders.

To improve production efficiency, the business has five satellite production units that are co-located to its HQ. Its most recently opened production unit is an advanced, temperature controlled facility that houses the company’s 16 Studer machines.

FT Gearing Systems’ managing director Graham Fitzgerald comments: “In addition to other challenging customers, we manufacture and supply both domestic and overseas defence and aerospace companies with a wide range of safety critical components, such as gears, miniature gearboxes, fuel pumps, engine controls and wing surface actuators.

“Given the sectors we deal with, quality permeates every aspect of our work so we need the best equipment. Studer grinding machines are technically advanced and able to consistently deliver levels of accuracy and repeatability that conventional grinding machines are unable to achieve. For instance, through the use of Studer technology we are able to accomplish sub-micron total cylindricity results on 35mm diameter gear journals; we can also achieve 0.08µm levels of surface finish and gear flatness to three light bands.

“As well as the machines themselves, we also purchase consumables and accessories from Advanced Grinding Supplies – such as diamond dressing tools, precision centres, abrasives and grinding wheels.”

Studer manufactures premium quality grinding machines for the internal and external cylindrical grinding of small and medium sized workpieces. Its core strength lies in the production of machines for the efficient grinding of single, small and medium sized production runs.

Peter Harding of Advanced Grinding Supplies concludes: “As exclusive sales agents for Studer in the South of England and in South Wales, we have established a strong working relationship with FT Gearing.

“In cooperation with its managing director Graham Fitzgerald, I have been pleased to assist in specifying each new Studer machine so that it exactly meets their demanding needs. We also provide additional equipment and consumables that help the company maximise machine performance.”

Advanced Grinding Supplies www.adgrind.co.uk

Studer www.studer.com