Four new Walter tool grinders see ITC set fair for growth

The Tamworth-based manufacturer made this investment on the back of "overwhelmingly increasing demand" for its innovative new cutting tools. ITC has committed extensive resources to new product development through 2010 and 2011. During 2011, ITC has installed a Walter Mini Power, two Helitronic Micro machines and a Helitronic Power - ITC was, in fact, the recipient of the UK's first Helitronic Micro machine in January 2011. The two Helitronic Micro machines followed the January installation of the Walter Helitronic Mini Power CNC grinding centre. The Helitronic Micro machines are providing additional capacity for the manufacturing and re-grinding of high precision carbide and HSS cutting tools, as well as high specification drills and reamers in the 0.5 to 12.7 mm diameter range. Running batches of 500 to 800 cutters on the Micro machines, ITC utilises a Fanuc 6-axis robot system for loading the tools to the work envelope. This introduction has cut loading times by almost 50%, compared to ITC's alternate grinding centres. The Mini Power machine, installed in January, was a replacement for the UK's first Mini Power machine that was installed at ITC in 1998. "The fact that we have replaced 'like with like' is an indication that we were very happy with the performance of the original machine for grinding a range of tools, especially one to three-off bespoke specials – a service at which we excel," says ITC's production manager Kevin Ford. For larger cutting tools, the installation of the Walter Helitronic Power will provide ITC with additional capacity. Capable of processing tools up to 320 mm diameter by 350 mm long, ITC has specified another 6-axis Fanuc robot loading system for the new grinding centre. Commenting on the machine tool investments, ITC's managing director, Peter Graves, comments: "We have been delighted with the service and quality of the Walter machine tools we have acquired over the years. With increasing demand for our cutting tools, our business has evolved to embrace automation that has served our capacity demands very well. This has enhanced the quality, accuracy and performance of our cutting tools whilst ensuring we can provide standard and special products with remarkable turn-around times. "As a UK manufacturer that can produce high quality standard and special cutters with rapid delivery times to customers exact specifications, we are in a unique and enviable position, compared to our competitors. These elements are underpinning our growth and we are intent on building upon this through 2012."