PAB (Coventry) has taken delivery of a Yeh Chiun 300 tonne H-frame hydraulic press that is capable of delivering the accuracy crucial in producing pressings and metal grills for supercars and a host of Aston Martin models. Praised for its flexibility and power, the machine’s relatively small footprint is a major benefit, while the latest control software means programs can be stored and called upon quickly.
Mark Brazier, CEO of PAB (Coventry), says: “The YCT-300 Worcester hydraulic press is a great addition to our capability and is directly involved in the added-value work we complete for a number of car manufacturers and some sub-frame components for aerospace.”
This installation marks Worcester Presses’ best-ever year of hydraulic press sales, with this type of machine now accounting for 20% of the firm’s £2.2 million turnover.
“There is a distinct lack of domestic specialists in this area of press expertise and we are really benefitting from the decision to invest in our growing range,” explains Russell Hartill, director of Worcester Presses. “Although many of our competitors have stopped trading, we have thrived by offering customers access to a range of C-frame and H-frame models, varying from 20 to 2,000 tonnes. This is backed up by our ability to customise machines to suit specific applications, a comprehensive service package and the biggest stockholding of spares for this equipment in the country.”
Hartill adds: “Hydraulic presses offer great versatility and are suitable for low, medium and high-volume production, especially components that are used in assembly and those which are deep drawn. The technology has come on a lot since we first sold them in the UK, with many of our presses featuring touchscreen controls, improved program memory and remote access, where our service department can directly interrogate the control system.”
Unlike its mechanical counterpart, a hydraulic press can generate full pressing force anywhere in the stroke. In addition, the user can control job parameters that include travel distance, pressure and return position.
Hydraulic force can also encourage creative and dynamic engineering, which is directly suited to prototyping and low volume, complex production.
Says Brazier: “We’ve been very impressed with the machine’s versatility and the fact we can quickly set it up to take on new and diverse jobs. Tool life is also very good.
“We have been working with Worcester Presses since an engineering show five years ago and have always received a great service, from understanding our desired application and then matching it to the right machine,” he adds. “The service and maintenance packages are also first class.”
Worcester Presses, which will be on Stand 60-639 at MACH 2020 (Birmingham NEC, 20-24 April), supplies a host of mechanical and hydraulic presses from Chin Fong and Yeh Chiun, as well as growing its range with Tomac coil-handling equipment and Lee Yih press transfer lines.
As part of expansion plans, the company has recently invested in a CNC lathe to help it with machine modifications, and to produce spares for stock.
