Hone-All buys Sunnen SV-20 vertical honing machine

The firm already has Sunnen honing machines, but the new addition means that a single operator can control rough honing on one machine and finish honing on bores up to 200 mm diameter with the new one. The SV-20 is ideal for the type of work the firm carries out for the oil and gas sector as it has the capability to hone parts weighing up to 680 kg. Hone-All Precision's director, Andrea Rodney, says the new machine is in response to increased demand from one of its largest customers operating in the oil and gas sector. She says: "While we are constantly looking at improving our manufacturing capabilities and capacity, the need for this additional vertical honing capacity required a bit of quick thinking as the customer is ramping up demand very quickly. So we had to make a quick, but considered decision as to which way to proceed." The SV-20 is scheduled for installation by the end of June and will be in full production early July. Hone-All has also just been accepted onto the Manufacturing Advisory Service's Growth Accelerator programme for which only companies that have a proven track record of growth and continuing success are accepted. Ms Rodney says: "This funding is enabling us to develop our short- and long-term business strategies and improve our business performance management."