According to XYZ Machine Tools, the reaction from those companies was extremely positive, with all of them 'getting' the concept, several placing machine orders on the spot, and many more generating extremely strong enquiries that will lead to further machine sales.
When used in conjunction with existing machines, the portable XYZ 2-OP creates a highly productive cellular manufacturing capability. Says Nigel Atherton, managing director, XYZ Machine Tools: "It was great to see that virtually everyone that attended the roadshow events immediately got the concept of 2-OP, in particular the versatility that it can bring to a conventional machine shop through the advantage of increased productivity that cellular manufacturing brings. Cellular manufacturing up to now has been out of reach for those businesses producing small to medium batch sizes, the XYZ 2-OP changes all of that."
Due to the XYZ 2-OP's small footprint of just 1,220 by 760 mm, and weighing just 1,100 kg, it can be located, using the supplied pallet truck, to anywhere it is needed. By moving the XYZ 2-OP to the work, not the other way around, it creates an opportunity to reduce the labour content of every component, irrespective of batch size, and free up valuable spindle time on other machines.
During the five one-day 2-OP tour events that took place at XYZ's showrooms in Livingstone, Blackburn, Nuneaton, Waltham Abbey and Burlescombe, six XYZ 2-Ops were ordered. In addition, enquiries were taken that XYZ estimates will lead to a further 10 machines being ordered in the very near future.
"Since its introduction, the XYZ 2-OP has proved very popular, and the reassurance that we are getting from every customer we speak to about the possibilities that it opens up fully justifies the time and cost invested in developing the 2-OP concept," Nigel Atherton adds.
See Machinery feature about the 2-OP at the link below.
