Demand upturn prompts UK manufacturing reorganisation for 600 Group lathes

Demand from European and US markets has seen build schedules increase by almost 25 per cent in the first six months of 2007. “In addition to the home market, demand for CNC machines from Western and Eastern Europe, and especially the USA, has increased following the revised line up of overseas distributors and the continued improvement in machine specifications," said managing director Jonathan Shaw. "The Colchester-Harrison brand carries considerable association in overseas markets as being a good value for money purchase that has been emphasised with the additional axes and sub-spindle variants.” As a result of the restructuring, work flow is improved, final assembly time reduced, and through an improved assembly environment with additional space around each machine, access is far easier. In line with design enhancements, further improvements in build quality have also been achieved. At Heckmondwike all manufacturing operations for the two to nine axis versions of Tornado and the Alpha combination CNC machines have been strategically laid out with the two Toyoda Mitsui Seiki flexible manufacturing systems and key machines for bed and casting machining set in one area. 600 Controls has been relocated from a separate facility in Halifax and is now adjacent to the lathe assembly lines where panel build and wiring is carried out. Over the last few months, the sheetmetal and paint shop for guard production, painting and finishing has seen the doubling of the number of welding bays. Meanwhile, the spindle production, build and test areas have also been improved as they are critical in the performance of the CNC range. Within the assembly areas, Tornado production has been completely rearranged giving more space for the cell type build and sub assemblies and a separate area for final assembly of the Colchester-Harrison Alpha range of combination lathes has been re-organised. The conventional lathe range now has a separate final fitting zone prior to final test and despatch where customer requested options and accessories such as chucks, toolposts and steadies are fitted and digital readouts interfaced.