The Dukinfield, Manchester-based company is to install a Soraluce TA-A35 travelling-table mill-bore centre and a Hankook VTC 200 E vertical turning lathe (VTL). Capacities are 3,500 by 1,250 by 1,200 mm in the X-, Y- and Z-axis travels on the Soraluce for components weighing up to 7,800 kg and, on the Hankook, a 2,500 mm diameter table capable of holding parts 2,000 mm high and weighing up to 12,000 kg.
The Soraluce TA-A35 travelling-table mill-bore centre
With this investment, TPG is able to machine much larger and complex workpieces. According to the company’s commercial enterprise director, Phil Curtis, the move has been made to secure new customers in nuclear engineering and to achieve additional, larger and more complex work from existing clients. This ambition will also be supported by improvements to existing manufacturing processes and systems at the company’s site. He says: “The strategy should enable us to boost jobs at our Dukinfield base beyond our current 70 employees, as well as generate increased exports and boost our supply chain partnerships.”
TPG worked with the Nuclear AMRC on machine selection, so as to acquire the most appropriate models for, primarily, titanium parts, in terms of capacity, spindle speeds, torque ratings and longevity.
Says Curtis: “We presented the Nuclear AMRC with specifications for a series of parts that, by their nature, require consistently reliable and high accuracy machining routines centred on vertical turning, and milling and boring. For maximum flexibility and agility, and to avoid potential production bottlenecks, two separate machines were suggested – a VTL and a mill-bore centre.
“We did our homework and soon found that Ward CNC could not only offer suitable machines but that its back-up service, support and applications engineering input was highly desirable, too. These attributes complement the high specification machines that have features covering a wide range of workpiece opportunities.”
These features include, on the Soraluce mill-bore centre, a 40-station automatic toolchanger, automatic indexing head (2.5° by 2.5°), 22 kW/4,000 rpm spindle and 60 bar coolant system. The Hankook VTL has a 24-position automatic tool magazine (12 tools each for turning and milling) plus a right-angle ISO 50 mill/drill head, a torque of 40 Nm, 70 bar coolant system and hydraulic three-jaw/manual four-jaw 2 m diameter combination chuck.
Adds Tony Clowrey, site director at TPG Engineering: “The machines will enable the Dukinfield plant to work in partnership with clients by offering proactive, agile and, where appropriate, very responsive manufacturing solutions.
“The enhanced machining capabilities that our new Hankook and Soraluce machines provide are at the heart of the [TP] Group’s strategy to future-proof our overall manufacturing service and complement our established specialist engineering capabilities and technical and managed services.
“These enable clients to benefit from our wealth of best-in-class engineering expertise that is technically excellent and financially efficient – and the Hankook and Soraluce machines will undoubtedly reinforce this.”
