Specialist subcontractor and tooling supplier JFL Broaches & Broaching Limited is celebrating its tenth anniversary by exhibiting at Subcon 2019 (Stand A4).
Charles Manning, who has over 40 years’ experience in broaching, started the family business in June 2009 when the company he had been working for closed and he was able to acquire its machinery, tooling and customer base.
JFL now offers a complete subcontract broaching service, supplies standard and bespoke broaches and also regrinds and refurbishes customers’ broaches. Customers come from industries as diverse as aerospace, defence, gear making, disability aids and motor racing. Parts made using JFL broaches are used in applications including ejector seats, stair lifts and even the aircraft lifts on the UK’s latest carriers.
Charles says that broaching is a very versatile and cost-effective solution for the right type of component – particularly where large volumes of consistent parts are required. On the subcontract side of the business, JFL holds a vast inventory of broaching tools and so it can also offer batches as low as one or two off on a fast turnaround – a capability that is much appreciated by its Formula One customers.
“We regularly do smaller runs on the subcontract side of the business – maybe two or three keyways or squares, especially when it is for prototyping. We have a very wide range of broaches available. If you need unusual shaped holes in small numbers come to us. If we can’t do it by broaching, we can get it made for you using wire or spark erosion,” says Charles.
The broaching process involves pushing or pulling a tool with multiple cutting edges through a hole to progressively cut a shape, and says Charles, its beauty is that is consistent – every part is going to be the same.
“You can cut almost any shape with a broach, the more complex the better, but generally the vast majority of bespoke broaches we supply are for involute splines and serrations for gear making.”
Recent tools JFL has supplied range from a 75mm diameter pull broach to cut six keyways that was 1.5m long to a 4mm AF hexagon push broach that was just 50mm long.
The company, which is ISO 9001- 2015 accredited, now employs seven people; Charles, his wife Elizabeth, sons Chris and Matthew, together with Gavin and two new apprentices, Cameron & Nathan.
Charles explains: “We wanted to push the boat out and mark our tenth anniversary by doing an exhibition and we thought that Subcon was the most appropriate”.
He added: “We are on track for our best turnover ever in 2019 and are also looking to expand the business. We are in the process of purchasing another machine and all the tooling that goes with it which will increase our capacity by 25%.”