HNC wins £1 million international order

Against international competition from companies in the USA, Sweden and Holland, HNC has been awarded a contract to rebuild and retrofit new CNC controllers to six large machine tools from American aero engine maker Pratt and Whitney. “It has been something of a tense time for us over the past couple of months; we knew it was going to be tough, but we won through in the end.” Said HNC managing director, Mike Diskin. “We believe we won the order because of our reputation for service, and for the quality we build into all remanufactured machines, combined with our vast in-house CNC knowledge and competitive pricing.” Pratt and Whitney, looking for machines for a new venture in China, initially looked at new but considered good quality rebuilt ones better value. They bought the assets of the now defunct Volvo aero engine maintenance factory in Stockholm, Sweden which included a number of machine tools, comprising two Dorries and one Schiess vertical turning lathe, a VAES vertical grinder, a Union 5-axis horizontal borer and Deckel FP6 machining centre. All machines will have, new electrics fitted throughout and retrofitted with the latest GE-Fanuc Oi controllers, servos and drives. Delivery of the machines to HNC’s Halifax facility took place within days of the order being placed, with work already begun. It is a tight schedule with delivery required by November 2008. Upon completion HNC will fully test, export pack and dispatch the machines to Pratt and Whitney’s new Chinese joint venture company - Pratt and Whitney Shanghai Aircraft Engine Maintenance Co Ltd, to be followed by HNC personnel who in will install and commission. HNC directors and co-owners Tim Price (left) and Mike Diskin