Blog

A leading OEM specialising in the design and production of equipment for oil heating and diesel tank applications, as well as being a subcontract engineering firm, Atkinson Equipment has dramatically reduced lead-times following investment in a Brother Speedio U500Xd1 5-axis machining centre equipped with Tezmaksan CubeBox automation from Whitehouse Machine Tools. Adam Walford, Engineering GroupRead more

Wisbech-based subcontractor Avant Manufacturing was using four 40-taper, 3-axis VMCs (vertical machining centres) when, towards the end of 2024, a sharp upturn in existing and new business meant that an extra machine was needed quickly. Dominic Roach, who founded the company in April 2021, wanted to install a 5-axis production centre to reap the benefitsRead more

Larger components produced a third faster in half the space Michael Phillips, joint owner with partner Wayne Robins of contract machining firm Atomic Precision, describes their recently-purchased, Japanese-built Brother Speedio U500Xd1 as “a Swiss army knife of 5-axis machining centres”. His comment is due to the 30-taper machine’s high quality, versatile functionality, compactness, and abilityRead more

Aylesbury-based R&A Engineering won a contract in early 2023 to produce several hundred aluminium parts per month across six variants for assembly into sensors that optimise the orientation of wind turbines to maximise the power they generate. The job was tying up a pair of BT 40-taper VMCs (vertical machining centres) on the shop floorRead more

Components produced eight times faster in one hit Architectural ironmongery manufacturer Instinct Hardware (www.instincthardware.co.uk) has spent more than half a million pounds in the last two years on a manufacturing execution system, a powder coating plant, a water jet cutting machine and an Italian-built Biglia bar-fed, twin-spindle lathe with a turret having a ± 45Read more

LoneStar Fasteners Hydrobolt Ltd (www.lsfe.com – LSFH), a leading global manufacturer and distributor of high-specification fasteners, bolts and other precision machined components, has placed a repeat order for turning centres to further expand CNC turn-milling capacity at its Wednesbury facility. The company is investing £1.5 million in a total of six twin-spindle Y-axis lathes builtRead more

Established in 2003 as a subcontractor, Drury Precision Engineering started two years later to manufacture its own range of mainly aluminium motorcycle accessories for road and racing bikes and now no longer takes on external machining work. The company sells its after-market bike components globally under the Evotech Performance brand (www.evotech-performance.com). The last eight yearsRead more

In the five years from 2019 to the present, turnover at Oswaldtwistle-based ROSS Pneumatrol (www.pneumatrol.com) doubled due to growth across most industry sectors into which it supplies its pneumatic and electro-pneumatic valves, actuators and other products. The process industry is proving especially buoyant currently and sales growth in Asia has exceeded expectations, raising the proportionRead more

A shortage of skilled engineers and a desire continue with single day shift operation over an existing pattern of a four-day working week have all played a part over the past five years in prompting JWA CNC to research the best way to automate its production. It led in early March 2023 to the purchaseRead more

Vision Engineering (www.visioneng.com), a world leader in ergonomic microscopy, digital 3D visualisation and metrology solutions, has bought a third fixed-head lathe, an Italian-built Biglia B620YS, for its production facility in Send, near Woking, Surrey. Supplied by UK and Ireland sales agent Whitehouse Machine Tools (www.wmtcnc.com), the machine was installed to turn a range of aluminiumRead more

30-taper machining centres these days are much more robust than formerly and are not only fast but can also cut tough materials. One company that has discovered the merits of this type of prismatic machining equipment is Staffordshire Precision Engineering (SPE), Newcastle-under-Lyme. The subcontractor recently purchased a Brother R650X2 30-taper 4-axis machining centre with aRead more

Subcontracting firm Mintdale Engineering, Chesterfield, is run by four members of the Toyne family, managing director Chris, his wife and company secretary Christine and two other directors – their son Jason and his wife Julie. The company specialises in CNC turning of bar, tube and billet as well as CNC milling on five vertical machiningRead more

Robotic component loading and unloading is helping prismatic components subcontractor Hemlock Engineering, Stapleford, to unleash the true productivity potential of its latest Brother 5-axis, 30-taper Speedio M200X3 vertical-spindle machining centre (VMC). The result has been a 500 percent increase in production output compared with manually-loaded machines on-site. The remarkable aspect of this automation success storyRead more

Set up as recently as 2016 by ex-professional cyclist Andrew Cooper, Unite (www.uniteco.bike) has already established itself as an up-and-coming manufacturer of aftermarket cycle products. Having started out with two second-hand, 3-axis machining centres in a factory unit in Newtown, Powys, the company recently doubled the number of machines on the shop floor with theRead more

Launched in October 2021 by Brother at the EMO exhibition in Milan, the new Speedio W1000Xd1 30-taper, vertical machining centre has a one-metre X-axis, like the S1000X1 model that it supersedes. However there are profound differences between the two Japanese-built machines, according to sole sales and service agent in the UK and Ireland, Whitehouse MachineRead more

For the ongoing production of a particular component for a defence industry customer, subcontractor PRV Engineering (www.prv-engineering.co.uk), Pontypool, has invested in a Spinner U5-630 trunnion-type, 5-axis, vertical-spindle machining centre (VMC). It was delivered in mid-2021 by Whitehouse Machine Tools (www.wmtcnc.com), Kenilworth, sole sales and service agent for the German-built machines in the British and IrishRead more

Having installed a Japanese-built Brother production cell at the end of 2019, comprising two 5-axis Speedio M140X2 mill-turn centres served by a Feedio vision-based robotic unit for component handling, Worthing subcontractor Roscomac has ordered a second identical cell. Due to be delivered in April 2021 by Brother’s sole UK agent Whitehouse Machine Tools, the latestRead more

Established in 1989, Mildenhall subcontractor CTPE (www.ctpe.co.uk) focuses on medium to large volume production of high precision components for the scientific, medical, electronics and defence sectors using 3- to 5-axis vertical machining centres (VMCs) as well as fixed- and sliding-head CNC lathes. To expand its prismatic machining capacity, in July 2020 the company invested inRead more

Established more than 30 years ago, Mildenhall subcontractor CTPE uses 3- to 5-axis machining centres as well as fixed- and sliding-head CNC lathes to manufacture complex, high precision components mainly for the scientific, medical, electronics and defence sectors. The latest addition to the plant list is a Biglia B 620 YS fixed-head turn-mill centre withRead more

A fundamental change to the way stainless steel pump bodies are machined by subcontractor Metaltech Precision Engineers is resulting in far-reaching benefits. They include a drastic reduction in set-up time that lowers economical batch size by a factor of four, shorter lead-times, faster cycle times, savings in the cost of tooling and less wear onRead more

Andover-based MRT Castings, which has long used robotic systems in its aluminium diecasting foundry, has started to introduce automation in the machine shop following the arrival of a Japanese-built Brother Speedio M140X2 5-axis mill-turn cell. It is fed automatically with raw material from an interlinked Feedio robotic handling system from the same manufacturer, the firstRead more

At the beginning of November 2019, Whitehouse Machine Tools delivered to the Andover facility of MRT Castings, an aluminium diecasting and machining specialist, the first Brother Speedio R650X2 machining centre to be installed in Europe. The 30-taper machine is equipped with twin pallets carrying 4th-axis trunnions as well as Blum workpiece and tool probing toRead more

Headline Filters in Aylesford, Kent (www.headlinefilters.com) has taken a big step towards streamlining the manufacture of its components by adopting twin-spindle turning and 5-axis machining to reduce set-ups and take advantage of lights-out machining. The Biglia B750-YS installed at Aylesford. The longest component produced by the filter manufacturer is 380 mm. New process routes forRead more

Matching machine tool investment to the intended applications is something Crediton subcontractor Adaero Precision Components (www.adaero.co.uk) has done well over the years. The latest addition to its capacity, a WELE AQ1265 3-axis vertical machining centre with Nikken rotary table 4th axis, is no exception. The provider of the Taiwanese-built machine, sole agent Whitehouse Machine Tools,Read more

Traditionally a 3-axis vertical machining centre (VMC) user, Singer Instruments (www.singerinstruments.com) in Watchet, on the north coast of Somerset, installed its first 5-axis CNC machine – a Spinner U5630 – at the start of 2019 to streamline the manufacture of aluminium components. Cycle time savings have been dramatic and there has been a considerable reductionRead more

A direct-drive spindle motor and linear guideways on a milling centre enable high speed metalcutting, but that configuration does not lend itself to efficient machining of highly alloyed nickels like Inconel or Duplex and Super Duplex stainless steels. A gearbox drive and box ways are more appropriate, but they are difficult to find on smaller,Read more

One machine does the work of two in medical R&D facility A Japanese-built Brother Speedio M140X2 5-axis mill-turn centre with 22-position magazine for 30-taper tools has been supplied by UK agent Whitehouse Machine Tools to Jointmedica, a Worcestershire company that carries out world-leading research and development (R&D) into optimal design and manufacture of artificial kneesRead more

Established 20 years ago, Exeter-based motorcycle aftermarket specialist HEL Performance (www.helperformance.com) has for half of that time manufactured its brake line fittings in-house from stainless steel bar using an array of sliding-head CNC lathes, of which 14 are currently in use. The idea was to have full control not only over the design but alsoRead more

Tony Bess, director of subcontract machinists Plalite Ltd in Sittingbourne, Kent, has in the last three years invested £3 million in capital equipment. Included in the purchases were two Japanese-built Speedio M140X2 30-taper mill-turn centres from Brother, supplied by sole UK agent, Whitehouse Machine Tools. The first of the 5-axis machines was installed in mid-2017Read more

At the Barnoldswick factory of bicycle aftermarket component manufacturer Hope Technology, nearly all parts are machined from aluminium. Due to the relatively light metalcutting involved, it is not surprising that nimble, 30-taper machining centres are found on the shop floor alongside more powerful but relatively ponderous machines having a 40-taper tool interface. Indeed, works andRead more

Hailsham, East Sussex-based subcontractor, Dicker Precision, has decided to move its prismatic machining capability forward with the purchase of its first 5-axis, vertical-spindle machining centre (VMC). It is a German-built Spinner U620 Compact, supplied as a turnkey package with tooling, the initial part program and training by UK and Ireland agent, Whitehouse Machine Tools, Kenilworth.Read more

One-hit turn-milling on Biglia B565YS halves cycle time and eliminates inter-machine handling. Looking at the cuboid aluminium components produced for medical diagnostic equipment by subcontractor AES Precision Engineering (www.aes-engineering. co.uk), one would think they were milled, drilled and tapped on a machining centre rather than a lathe; indeed they used to be, from sawn billetRead more

At the Hailsham, East Sussex factory of subcontract machinists, Dicker Precision Components, an Italian built Biglia twin-turret, twin spindle CNC turning centre supplied by Whitehouse Machine Tools has streamlined the production of a family of aluminium switch cover assemblies. The savings are so great that the cycle time for producing one part of the assemblyRead more

Subcontractor expands into civil aerospace sector Single-hit production solutions are known to produce significant reductions in cycle times compared with multiple set-ups on several machine tools. However, few applications result in a time saving as great as that being achieved by Plymouth subcontractor, Morris Engineering, during the production of a military aircraft gyroscope part fromRead more

Ilfracombe subcontract machinists, Richmond CNC, has installed its first 30-taper vertical machining centre (VMC) to cope with a steep increase in medical and aerospace work. It is a twin-pallet Speedio R650X1, built by Brother in Japan, and has transformed the speed and efficiency with which parts are manufactured, according to the subcontractor’s managing director, GaryRead more

A horizontal machining centre (HMC) designed specifically so that it can be expanded easily and inexpensively in the field has eased the growing pains of Adaero, a subcontractor in Crediton whose success in recent years means that its factory is bursting at the seams. The company invested £600,000 in capital plant during 2015 alone. InstalledRead more

Established in Blackpool 21 years ago, Entech Engineering has within the past five years invested in a new, purpose-built factory as well as modern inspection equipment and new machine tools to keep in the forefront of technology. The company specialises in the manufacture of original and replacement manipulation tools for tube in a wide varietyRead more

An Italian-built Biglia CNC lathe with twin-opposed spindles and three Y-axis turrets supplied by Whitehouse Machine Tools has taken over the manufacture of terminal lugs from 38 mm diameter copper bar at the Plymouth factory of subcontractor Morris Engineering. The improvement has been dramatic. One-hit cycle time to machine the component at both ends hasRead more

Subcontractor’s highly productive VMCs will give any competitor a run for their money, from Budapest to Beijing. A seminal moment has arrived in British manufacturing, it appears. Using the latest ultra-highspeed machine tools, UK subcontractors can rival their competitors in low-wage countries and still make a profit. Paul Cobb, managing director of Nottingham contract machinists, Hemlock Engineering, describes howRead more

Turnover doubles in six years despite headcount increasing by only 14% Automated machining cells are the route to high production output in a small footprint with minimum operator attendance and in hot pursuit of this goal is Alford, Lincolnshire-based Drury Precision Engineering. The firm carries out a small amount of subcontract machining, its main businessRead more

Lincolnshire motorcycle accessory manufacturer, Drury Precision Engineering, is world-famous for its high quality Evotech Performance (www.evotech-performance.com) range of motorcycle accessories such as replacement tail tidies, crash protection products, engine guards and guards for radiators and oil coolers. Intended mainly for road bikes but, in some instances also fitted to their racing counterparts, the products areRead more

Leicester subcontract machinists, Nisan Engineering, was recently awarded a new contract to machine stainless steel splitter valves used in the food industry. Complex internal profiles dictated the need for full simultaneous 5-axis machining, so managing director Mukesh Prajapati set about acquiring suitable capacity for the work. After researching the market, he decided that a SpinnerRead more

By employing a novel method for protecting the table’s X and Y axis guideways from swarf and coolant ingress, using a single wiper system and without recourse to telescopic covers, the German machine tool manufacturer, Spinner, has managed to endow its new VC1150 vertical machining centre with a working volume of 1,150 x 620 xRead more

With a specification that includes 1g or higher linear acceleration to 60 m/min rapid traverse and 20 m/min cutting feed, 1.2 seconds toolto-tool change and seven seconds pallet change, the new Akari HS-450j 4-axis horizontal machining centre from Whitehouse Machine Tools is one of the most productive on the market for producing components within aRead more

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is enjoying an unprecedented upturn in sales since Tata Motors took over the group in 2008, making the automotive manufacturer a major driver for growth in manufacturing across the West Midlands and beyond. Managing that success brings challenges along the supply chain due to difficulty in anticipating global demand for theRead more

5-axis machining cell is ideal for high mix, low-to medium batch production. A new, 5-axis machining cell has dramatically increased the efficiency and flexibility with which prismatic components are manufactured around the clock at the Crediton works of subcontractor, Adaero Precision Components. The turnkey cell, costing one-third less than similar equipment shortlisted, was supplied inRead more

Significant cost savings and single-digit micron tolerances achieved. Since June 2013, sleeves and spools for servo control valves have been hard turned by Eaton Fluid Power, Havant, in a robotically loaded CNC lathe built by the German firm, Spinner, and supplied through UK agent, Whitehouse Machine Tools. The high precision production cell has slashed cycleRead more

Machine tool supplier to Ford and Bosch, transforms machine accuracy without design changes Most CNC machine tool manufacturers invest heavily in machine developments that improve accuracy but by using the latest calibration systems at its factory in Istanbul, Turkey, leading manufacturer Spinner has improved specified machine accuracies without the need to change designs. As Mr Nurhan,Read more

Three entry-level, 5-axis machining centres were introduced by the German manufacturer, Spinner, at EMO 2013. Called the U5 Compact series, they are cost-optimised versions the established 620, 1520 and 2520 models that have been sold since the late 2000s. Available in the UK through sole agent, Whitehouse Machine Tools, the machines lower the 5-axis investmentRead more

In 2012, a new name in metalcutting equipment came to the fore in the UK when Whitehouse Machine Tools, Kenilworth, took over the sole sales and service agency for Spinner Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH, near Munich. It gave British manufacturers the option of buying top quality, European-built machines at prices that are more competitive than those offeredRead more

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is enjoying an unprecedented upturn in sales since Tata Motors took over the group in 2008, making the automotive manufacturer a major driver for growth in manufacturing across the West Midlands and beyond. The right products (luxury cars and utility vehicles) at the right time (burgeoning middle classes in developing countriesRead more

Japanese machine tool manufacturer, Brother, which specialises in building turret-type machining centres with 30-taper spindle tooling, will unveil a successor to its TCS2DN high torque, 10,000 rpm, 500 x 400 x 300 mm capacity model. Called Speedio S500X1, it offers even faster acc/dec, rapid traverse rates and tool change, which were already very quick. TheRead more

The 5-axis, vertical spindle machining centre with turning capability, employing a rotary table on an integrated, swivelling trunnion, is a proven configuration offered by many machine tool manufacturers, mainly in BT40 and BT50 variants or their HSK equivalents. Now the Japanese firm, Brother, has entered the arena with a similarly designed BT30 version that addsRead more

As a result of receiving new, ongoing business from a manufacturer of flow meters used in the oil, gas and food industries worldwide, Leicester subcontractor, Nisan Engineering, has invested in an Akari 4-axis, horizontal machining centre (HMC). Supplied by Whitehouse Machine Tools, the machine is built by Averex Automation in Taiwan and is the first ofRead more

Comments like “marvellous value” and “all jobbing shop machines should be built this way” make it clear that Andrew Russell and Stephen Boocock, owners of contract machinists Progress NC, are very keen on their first 5-axis machining centre. It is a German-built Spinner U5-620, the first in the UK, supplied in January 2013 by recentlyRead more

Manchester-based Renthal, a world leading producer of accessories for motorcycles and mountain bikes, is changing its rear chainwheel (sprocket) manufacturing process from CNC drilling followed by a sequence of manual operations to virtually one-hit production on a pair of Brother machining centres. The Japanese-built, high-speed, twin-pallet machines were installed in January 2012 by UK agent,Read more

Moreover, as the Brother machine is equipped with a twin pallet changer – Greenway Pepper’s first – parts are presented more quickly to the spindle so floor-to-floor times are reduced further. It is not surprising that Greg Pepper, joint owner and managing director, reports such dramatic improvements in productivity. The Brother TC-32BN QT has aRead more

The part required like-for-like, single-hit, 3-axis milling and drilling on both machines, underlining the raw speed of the Brother. It has a 16,000 rpm spindle, 60 per cent faster than on the other machine, and has commensurately higher cutting feed rates of 20 m/min. Very high speed tapping at 8,000 rpm is another feature. However,Read more

In an unusual move by Japanese machine tool builder, Brother, which specialises in producing high-speed, 30-taper-spindle machining centres, a high torque, 10,000 rpm spindle option has been introduced for two of the models in its range. One is the TC-S2D while the other is the recently launched TC-R2B, the first of which has just beenRead more