Horn Cutting Tools takes largest ever MACH stand to promote new tooling developments

The success and potential of Horn tooling is underlined by the fact that 2013 was the UK company's most successful UK trading year since its foundation in 1995. In fact, sales figures for 2013 were 6.5% up on 2012, itself a record year. Mike Green, general manager at the Ringwood-based company, comments: "To some degree, the Horn 'method' – focusing on analysing the cost of production rather than the price of the tooling - is getting across. We have a growing constituency of customers who have been able to rationalise capital investment in machines or repatriate subcontract work from overseas, because of the productivity gains available using tooling solutions supplied by Horn." Likewise, although Horn will always be 'The Grooving Specialists' the catalogue has become increasingly diversified though the addition of high precision DR reaming, DS exchangeable tip milling cutters, DAH high feed milling and the DD drilling program. MACH 2014 will see important additions to existing ranges, with a key development for turning being the availability of through-insert pressurised coolant for the latest evolution of the S100 grooving insert. Tooling is currently available for 3 mm groove width insert applications, using HP65 and AS45 carbide grades, with these providing accurate projection of coolant into the cutting zone, enhancing chip forming, inhibiting formation of built-up edge and allowing improved cutting parameters along with longer tool life. Other developments new developments getting their MACH airing will include: a significant expansion of the Horn DS hard milling system, particularly in the area of micro-milling cutters; three new DA Series arbor milling cutters in diameters of 40, 50 and 63 mm, equipped with up to six indexable inserts and offering high productivity when corner milling, face milling and plunge milling; and a new System 25A axial grooving system, capable of working on face diameters from 15 mm upward. MACH 2014 - Birmingham NEC, 7-11 April