Move into machining

For over 40 years AS 9100 accredited HGL’s core business has been in sheetmetal fabrication but recent developments have seen the company expand into machined parts manufacturing for the first time. As a result, the business has invested in two YCM milling machines. Driven by Heidenhain controllers the NXV1020A models are highly accurate, featuring direct drive motors.

HGL managing director Bill Timpson says: “We supply a large mix of high precision components and in many cases machined parts go hand-in-hand with sheetmetal parts. Our customers are demanding more from suppliers so it was a natural development to add machining to our portfolio of services. The low noise, low friction, high-speed traversing YCM machines are excellent introductory models, providing versatility and reliability in manufacturing complex parts.

“Given the challenging nature of the industry sector, the machines have the capability of producing highly accurate complex components in both small and large batch quantities,” he adds. “We’ve invested heavily in our staff and the machines will also be incorporated into our apprenticeship training program.

“The cell entered service within days of installation and our employees have just completed their training on SolidCam programing. The strategy behind our latest investment is to control manufacturing costs more closely and improve production control. The intention is to run the cell on a rotating shift basis to maximise output.”

Harlow Group www.harlowgroup.co.uk