Ayrshire Precision has transformed its small turned part processing operations by integrating automation systems with two existing multi-tasking lathes.
Two SYNERGi automation systems from Mills CNC have been paired with Doosan Puma Y-axis, sub-spindle lathes.
The creation of two, self-contained automated manufacturing cells has helped the company significantly increase its productivity and process efficiencies by embracing unmanned and lights-out production.
The investment in sophisticated automation technology from Mills CNC is delivering real, tangible and sustainable benefits. It has eliminated production bottlenecks and pinch points, reduced part cycle times and, as a consequence, customer lead times. It also allows the full machining capacity of two, previously under-utilised, lathes to be realised.
The systems, both derivations and highly customised versions of Mills’ standard SYNERGi ‘SPRINT’ solutions, were installed at Ayrshire Precision in March and September last year.
The basic elements of the automation systems include a Fanuc industrial robot with pneumatic grippers and a loading plate along with integrated safety guarding, software and a touchscreen interface.
Mills can also supply customers with a multi-socket inserts to optimise each system’s capacity. These are sheet metal fabrications that customers can also choose to manufacture for themselves.
Ayrshire Precision supplies a range of customers in the oil and gas, subsea, renewables, power generation and aerospace sectors.
The company has a well-resourced machine shop and, as part of its ongoing continuous improvement programme, regularly invests in its people, its plant and equipment, and in its processes and systems. Over the years, the company has invested regularly in new machine tools as a route to increasing its in-house machining capacity and capabilities; a high percentage of which have been Doosan machines from Mills CNC.
Since 2012 Ayrshire Precision has invested in a range of Doosan machines, from two-axis and multi-tasking lathes through to large-capacity, heavy-duty vertical machining centres and horizontal borers, to machine complex, high-precision components made from steels, stainless, duplex, Inconel and other difficult-to-machine materials.
Ayrshire Precision’s decision to invest in automation was made for a number of reasons.
The volatility of the markets served by the company and, as a consequence, fluctuating customer demand for the company’s machining services, combined with a difficulty in recruiting and retaining skilled labour, all contributed to Ayrshire Precision’s decision.
Chris Hepburn, Ayrshire Precision’s Managing Director, said: “We can either be very busy or, due in large part to external macro-economic factors that impact on our customers’ business, can experience order cancellations and/or postponements that make it difficult to match our production capabilities and resources with changing customer requirements.”
He concluded: “The investment in our two SYNERGi cells is paying dividends. We have two inherently flexible automated cells that, to a large extent, have not only helped us future proof our small turned part operations, but have also increased our overall capacity too."