Wilson Manufacturing, which supplies precision parts into the aerospace, marine, medial and oil and gas sectors, has installed a Quaser MF400UH 5-Axis CNC machine to complement the recent addition of a new mill turning centre.
The latest purchase from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) will help the growing firm increase capacity and reduce operations on its milling sections, boosting quality and removing significant set-up times in the process.
It marks a successful year for the Ringwood-based company, which has seen it create two news jobs and increase sales by 25%, putting it on course for a £1.35m turnover.
“Our customer base is spread across a number of demanding sectors and there is an increasing need for more complex components, a trend that we knew we had to meet head on with the purchase of a 5-Axis CNC machine,” explained Andy Wilson, Director of Wilson Manufacturing.
“We discussed our requirements with ETG and the machine tool supplier spent a lot of time getting to understand our processes and the parts we make. This was crucial in providing a complete picture of where we wanted to go and led to it suggesting the precision control and speed of the Quaser MF400UH.”
He continued: “It has only been up and running for a few months and we have already been really impressed with the performance. The control, speed of the spindle and the ability to machine multiple faces of a complex part has been a game changer – in some instances, we have improved cycle time by 30%.
“This makes us a lot more competitive and, at a time when speed to market is crucial, gives us another USP when exploring new business opportunities.”
Wilson Manufacturing, which has been AS9100 aerospace and defence approved since 2013, works with its clients in a range of materials and offers first stage design support through to full production.
As part of the machine install, ETG identified the need for a full simultaneous 5-axis seat from Mastercam, which gives the company the best possible foundation for fast and efficient milling.
The 5-axis toolpath means every component it makes can be produced on the Quaser MF400UH, as well as opening up new opportunities for entry into new sectors.
Andy Wilson continued: “It’s a massive investment for our business, so we knew it had to be right, which is why we were so impressed with ETG and its team, ranging from sales and technical support to the installation and service engineers. I have no doubt it will be money well spent and we could well make a return on our investment within the first two years.”