Continuous improvement never stops

Mills CNC is a case in point. The exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has supplied Cheltenham-based Ferrositi – a leading precision subcontract specialist, with a new, state-of-the-art mill-turn machine.

The 13” (quick-change) chuck Doosan SMX 2600S, a roller linear guideway multi-axis machine equipped with left and right opposing spindles (26kW 4,000rpm), a 240° B-axis milling spindle (26kW/12,000rpm), Y-axis capability (±150mm), a servo-driven ATC (40 position) and the latest Fanuc 31i control, was installed at Ferrositi’s 18,000ft² facility in May 2020: a time when many companies were – quite understandably – battening down the hatches.

The investment made during the height of the pandemic outbreak is typical of Ferrositi – a company built on innovation and continuous improvement, and one committed to delivering engineering excellence and best-in-class customer service.

Nick Furno, Ferrositi’s managing director says: “Ever since the company was created in 2012, we have invested in multi-axis machine tools as a route to improving our productivity, operational efficiencies and competitiveness.”

A quick tour of the company’s sizeable machine shop provides ample evidence of its investment policy with a number of advanced, large-capacity 5-axis machining centres and lathes, with sub-spindles and full mill-drill capabilities, in close proximity to one another.

“We serve and operate in a number of global and highly-competitive sectors and industries - i.e. aerospace, oil and gas, automated and special purpose machinery, high-profile architectural projects,” Mr Furno reveals.

“Central to our success in these, and other sectors, has been our ability to machine high-quality components and deliver them to customers, on time, every time, and within budget. The multi-axis machines we have at our disposal make us more efficient and enable us to make complex high-precision parts quicker, in fewer machining operations and often in one set-up.

Despite the lockdown such an opportunity arose in April 2020 and resulted in Ferrositi making its first investment in Doosan machine tool technology, and coincidentally its first mill-turn machine acquisition.

“The Doosan SMX 2600S complements our existing machine tool portfolio,” Mr Furno affirms. “Both Doosan and Mills CNC have good reputations in the market and, when I was informed that a mill-turn machine was viable immediately from stock at a good, competitive price, I was interested.”

Having seen the SMX 2600S at Mills CNC’s Technology Campus facility in Leamington the decision to purchase the machine was made.

“We have had the machine for about four weeks and, during this quieter-than-normal period, are spending time familiarising ourselves with its operations, functionality and its latest Fanuc control. Already we can see and appreciate that the machine is powerful, fast, flexible and accurate. We are particularly impressed with its rigidity, ergonomic design and thermal stability.

“Using a single set-up, the SMX is capable of performing multi machining processes. As a consequence this means we can reduce production bottlenecks and limit stop-start operations.

“The SMX will help us consolidate and grow our position in existing supply chains and sectors, as well as helping us to spearhead our move into new sectors and industries - i.e. machining components for the food processing and medical sectors,” Mr Furno concludes.

Ferrositi www.ferrositi.com

Mills CNC www.millscnc.co.uk