Sumitomo to support Alca’s expanding cutting tools portfolio

"This relationship between Sumitomo and ourselves does not restrict tooling products available through us, but adds the in-depth application knowledge of their engineering team," says Andy Hopkins, director at Alca Tools. "As a result we are able to maximise the return on any cutting cycles where Sumitomo tools are being applied, and especially when difficult materials, complex cycles or time critical processes are involved." He follows on to describe a recent example of how Sumitomo's input benefited an Alca Tools' customer. The customer was facing ever increasing pressures on margins when machining difficult aerospace materials. The first move by Alca Tools was to change both the grade and type of insert, from two to four edges, which reduced insert usage and downtime. "From the material being machined and the application, our engineer could see that more improvements could be made so he called in Sumitomo," says Hopkins. "The Sumitomo area manager went deeper into the application was able to remove a further 15% of cost from the process, bringing the total saving to almost 30%." Herne Bay-based Alca Tools, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has also increased its team of specialist engineers to six, to cover Kent and parts of Sussex.