Precision Products based in Rustington, West Sussex, went to MACH 2008 last month with the sole purpose of purchasing a further CNC sliding-headstock lathe and placed an order for a top of the range Citizen M32-V.
The need was as a result of the company winning several important contracts for highly complex stainless steel components.
Brian Owen, managing director, explained: “Although we already have eight Citizens, three M32, two L20, a C16, B12 and K-Series machines installed amongst our 60 or so lathes and turn-mill centres producing parts between 0.5 mm and 51 mm diameter, it was not a foregone conclusion that we would add another Citizen to the tally. We seriously contemplated other machine suppliers but in direct comparison of all the different factors, the top-of-the-range Citizen M32-V won through.”
Once the decision was made in Citizen Machinery UK’s favour, Mr Owen was still deliberating whether to order the new Citizen A32 shown for the first time outside of Japan. And although its rapid traverse rate of 45 m/min was the fastest on any 32 mm capacity machine and the casting was heavier duty, it was the specification of the top-of-the-range 14-axis M32-V that won the day.
Over the last four years, more than £1.5 million has been invested by Precision Products in new equipment. It now employs 43 people at its sites in Rustington and Hollingbury near Brighton. The company operates 100 hours a week with weekends unmanned when needed and most CNC machines are Wi-Fi linked for program download.
Mr Brian Owen, left, Precision Products clinches the deal with Citizen Machinery’s Darren Watkins
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