PTG Precision Engineers Ltd, a precision engineering specialist with over 40 years of experience serving the nuclear, aerospace, and energy sectors, has taken a significant step towards production automation with the installation of an SMEC NS2000 bar-fed turning centre supplied by Dugard.
PTG’s story is one of continual evolution. While many subcontract machinists focus on manufacturing other companies’ products, PTG stands apart by also producing its own line of workholding products. In particular, its expanding mandrills – manufactured in a wide range of sizes from 12mm up to 400mm in diameter – are recognised for their precision and robustness. This dual focus on both contract work and proprietary product lines has necessitated a manufacturing operation that is both highly flexible and capable of scaling up fast to meet surges in demand.
In recent times, that demand has soared. For the past year, PTG has seen its order book swell as new and existing clients ramp up their requirements. “Over the past 12 months, the order book at PTG has just been going up, and we haven't been able to fulfil as many orders as we'd like,” said Jim Adkins, Production Manager. Despite its best efforts, PTG’s traditional approach was no longer enough; the sheer volume of work was outpacing available capacity. Further compounding the challenge was a shortage of skilled machinists, an issue that has become endemic throughout the UK manufacturing sector. Recruiting and retaining experienced staff proved difficult, leaving PTG searching for a fresh approach.
It was then that the company decided to embrace automation. “One of the ways we looked to get around that was to get a semi-automated machine, and that's when we called Paul from Dugard to see what they had to offer,” Adkins explains. Paul Roberts, a longstanding contact from Dugard, had worked with PTG for years and understood the unique demands of its business. When approached, he swiftly recommended the SMEC NS2000 bar-fed turning centre – an advanced solution that promised increased efficiency, greater throughput, and the flexibility to handle a variety of jobs with minimal operator intervention.
He added that PTG chose the SMEC because it was looking for quality and repeatability, especially when using automation. “They need to know that the first part is the same as the 100, 200 or 300-off. The products they sell have to be the same every time. So the tolerance has to be right, every single time."
The installation of the SMEC NS2000 marks a new chapter for PTG Precision Engineers. It is the company’s first significant investment in automated machining and signals a strategic move towards modernising production. With the support of partners like Dugard and a commitment to innovation, PTG is poised to not only meet growing customer demand but also to secure its place in the UK precision engineering sector for years to come.