Metaltech rode the recession with positive investment

The company believe this investment has been key to a 30 per cent leap in forward orders, in the first two months of 2010, enabling a step up in its double day shift to meet the demand. Metaltech Precision will source machines when needed to meet new business demands with each installation won on merit from specification, cycle time and quotation. A prime example is the recent Citizen A20-VII sliding head lathe purchased from Citizen Machinery UK to improve productivity on an existing contract for oil filter spindles destined for truck engines. The machine, now installed in a one operator cell with a centreless grinding machine, has reduced cycle times by some 20 per cent from previous machining methods. The Citizen A20 sliding head lathe is also recording an improvement in tool life of some 30 per cent even when using identical cutting oil, the same proven speeds and feeds as on the previous sliding head machines. The Citizen A20 sliding head lathe has shaved seconds of cycle time with its rapid traverse rates of 32 m/min, achieved by very high rates of acceleration and claimed to be the fastest in its class. It can also cut with two tools simultaneously and through the faster processing capability of the "Streamline Control" has the ability to overlap different sequences. Metaltech Precision was formed in 1973 in Chard and moved to its current premises on the four acre site in 1999. Growth has been steady, year on year, averaging at least 10 per cent and its current customer base spans at least 60 companies. Sales in 2008 for the 70 employee company set a record at £8.4 million with one customer's account valued at over £1 million.