A new multi-tasking lathe has significantly increased capacity and capabilities at Aberdeen-based subcontractor Macro Manufacturing.
The Fanuc-controlled DN Solutions’ sub-spindle, Y-axis Lynx 2600SY lathe is being used to machine a range of components for a growing number of customers in the oil and gas, renewables and agricultural industries and sectors.
These parts, typically machined in medium batch sizes, are made from a range of different materials including 316, 316L and 17-4 stainless steel, duplex and superduplex allows, aluminium, exotics such as Inconel and Hastelloy as well as some engineering plastics.
Parts machined by Macro Manufacturing are also characterised by their complexity with tight tied-up geometric tolerances and exacting surface finish requirements being the norm rather than the exception. These parts frequently exhibit intricate and delicate features that can only be machined, or can only be machined efficiently and economically, on a multi-tasking lathe.
Macro Manufacturing’s owner and director Matthew Forbes said: “The Lynx 2600SY is a high-accuracy multi-tasking lathe that has significantly increased our in-house machining capacity and capabilities and enables us to machine complex parts quickly, in one set-up.
“Since its arrival, we have been able to secure new machining contracts from both new and existing customers, and have strengthened our position within a number of customers’ manufacturing supply chains.”
The Lynx 2600SY is the first machine tool Macro Manufacturing has acquired from DN Solutions since the company’s incorporation back in 2022. It is also the first new machine acquired by the company in its two-year history.
Like many new precision subcontract start-ups, Macro Manufacturing had relatively humble beginnings, starting life in a shed on a local farm with initial machining contracts being undertaken on a couple of used CNC machine tools.
“The early days were a challenge”, remembers Matthew Forbes. “I was still employed full-time at my previous employer, and was having to manage and run the new company in my spare time…during the night and through the weekends.”
This situation was always intended to be a temporary, stop-gap measure until the company was more established and, after just a few months, Mr Forbes decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and put all his time and effort into making Macro Manufacturing a success.
His vision was to supply high-quality, competitively-priced precision machined components to customers, and to grow the business through developing long-term partner relationships.
Part and parcel of these plans was to relocate the business to new premises, and to increase the company’s in-house machining resources.
The company plans to relocate again to larger premises, take on additional staff and, as part of its commitment to continuous improvement, invest in more advanced machine tools and ancillary technologies.
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