The lockdown was no barrier to Cheltenham subcontractor Ferositi investing in a new multi-tasking mill-turning lathe.
The Doosan SMX 2600S, with 13” chuck, 240 degree B-axis milling spindle, twin opposed spindles, Y-axis capability and 40-station turret was installed in May 2020, at a time when many companies were battening down the hatches.
The machine was supplied by Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland.
Says Nick Furno, Ferrositi’s managing director: “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.
“We serve and operate in a number of global and highly-competitive sectors and industries – aerospace, oil and gas, automated and special purpose machinery, high-profile architectural projects.
“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, fewer machining operations and, often, in one set up.
“We are always on the lookout to add to, and strengthen, our front line machining resources.”
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.
Nick Furno adds: “The Doosan SMX 2600S complements our existing machine tool portfolio.
“Both Doosan and Mills CNC have good reputations in the market and, when I was informed that a mill-turn machine was available immediately from stock at a good, competitive price, I was interested.
“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.”