Lancashire manufacturer is on the frontline

Its bespoke engineering solutions have covered countless projects in the company’s 30 year history and its minefield breaching device is one the company is particularly proud of. A trusted favourite of both medical and military personnel, the device allows for rapid advance through booby-trapped areas, ensuring a clear path to safely reach the regions most in need.

Also capable of making a life-changing difference is Lyndhurst’s medical dressing assembly machine which is currently used both in hospitals and in the field. Challenged with designing, manufacturing and installing a system to assemble various medical dressing components was no simple task.

Using cutting edge electro-mechanical positioning activators together with a pallet transfer system to create a high-speed process that delivers accurate finished components, the machine passes rigorous testing procedures you would expect from the medical industry.

Lyndhurst serves a diverse range of sectors including automotive, nuclear, defence and renewable energy. The business has recently completed a conveyor system for a Japanese automotive facility in Thailand, and has now begun the mammoth task of building a test area to safely decommission a nuclear facility.

Everything is created using CAD system, Inventor. “We don’t have a product; we enable others to have a product,” says manager, Ruth Mariner. Lyndhurst’s 50 employees include a diverse team of designers and engineers able to adapt to the myriad of challenges required of them.

With humble beginnings, the company’s first workshop was housed in a garden shed. Substantial growth has led to a purpose-built factory in Chorley, Lancashire and now Lyndhurst is accustomed to working for small businesses, multinational corporations and governments alike. Turnover has increased by 30% in the last year and the workforce by 10%, signalling the need for investment in new equipment, including CNC machines.

After a recommendation from a local company, Lyndhurst looked at Haas: “It was immediately obvious that Haas produce a quality machine,” Ruth Mariner affirms. “The team opted for a VF-2 vertical machining centre, with an ST-15Y turning centre soon after. The VF-2 is loading with an 8,100rpm spindle and 20 station carousel tool changer. The ST-15Y has full Y-axis capacity, a 4,000 rpm A2-6 spindle, can handle 63.5mm bar and comes with a 12 station VDI turret.”

She continues: “The VF-2 is a faster, more accurate machine. We design and build everything in-house and it enables us to give a better customer to client service. We don’t want to grow big, we want to grow better and the machine has made us more efficient and has increased the quality of the final product.”

Lyndhurst has now also invested in an ST-30 turning centre and VM-3 vertical mould making machine, which have increased both flexibility and productivity. This has been proved in numerous jobs including a large installation for an international defence company and the re-designing of some failed wind turbines.

“Our capabilities have grown exponentially; practically everything is done here in the factory. The Haas machines came into their own on the turbine blades, in particular the accuracy and multi functionality, making them ideal and cutting production time by an impressive 75%,” Ms Mariner says.

Operators Craig Walker and Reece Moore have nothing but praise for the new additions: “The ST-15Y is very user-friendly. It’s fast, quiet and smooth and makes the most difficult jobs easy,” Mr Walker enthuses. Mr Moore is equally complimentary regarding the VM-3: “A particular job that used to take four hours now takes 40 minutes.”

The business works closely with local further education and secondary schools: “We still use the older skills,” explains Ruth Mariner, “but it’s good to show students the future too. When they see the Haas machines it opens their eyes to what engineering is about today.

“As far as we’re concerned, Haas have the winning formula: the machines are highly multi-functional and the support and back-up is excellent.”

Haas UK www.haas.co.uk

Lyndhurst Precision www.lyndhurst-precision.co.uk