Pailton’s investment includes three full CNC machines from Haas, and three semi-CNC machines from XYZ Machine Tools. The machines form the upgraded low-volume cell to provide the business with a dedicated area for small batch processing, away from the main factory floor.
When new steering parts are requested, samples are produced, proven and validated by Pailton Engineering before they are sent to the client. By upgrading the machines in the low-volume cell and redirecting this part of the business away from main production, overall manufacturing efficiency has been boosted.
A large part of the efficiency improvement is that the new machines remove the need for changeovers on the main production line. The machines also bring benefits of increased metalworking capabilities and complex machining techniques.
“By upgrading the low-volume cell we have taken a more streamlined approach to small batch production,” explains Richard Poole, low-volume cell tooling manager at Pailton Engineering. “The newly introduced machines have reduced our need to grind certain parts later in the process, as the initial quality has improved. This has cut down on the time that it takes to make a variety of products, reducing lead times considerably.”
