Qualiturn Products installs first machining centre, a Doosan DNM 650, wins work immediately

Explains managing director, Nick Groom: "We are a leading subcontractor supplying high precision turned and milled parts to a diverse range of customers operating in the gas and oil refinement, medical, aeronautics and aerospace, leisure, construction and hydraulics, electronics, lighting, automotive and agricultural sectors, to name but a few. "We machine parts from prototypes and one-offs through to large volume batch series from an equally diverse range of materials (aluminium, steel, stainless steels, brass, copper, plastics etc). "Up until August, our machining capabilities were delivered by our fixed-head and sliding-head lathes [25 in total]. These machines are sophisticated and advanced, and allow us to mill complex features on what are essentially turned parts. "However, from talking to customers about their future machining requirements, it was clear that there was potential for us to grow the milling side of our business, if we increased our capability. "And that's what drove us to invest in a dedicated, stand-alone machining centre." The large capacity machine has: a 15 kW BT40 12,000 rpm spindle; through-spindle coolamnt delivery; 1,270 by 670 by 625 mm travels (X, Y, Z); a 30-position ATC; a 1,300 by 670 mm worktable; and a Nikken 5th-axis unit (5AX-201). Continues Mr Groom: "Doosan verticals have a good reputation in the market for their performance and reliability. They are functional machines that represent excellent value. "That being said our decision was also conditioned by the after-sales service and support provided by the machine tool supplier, and by the machine tool company's ethos and business approach. "In all respects Mills CNC achieved top marks." Even without even promoting its newly acquired milling capabilities overtly to customers, Qualiturn secured 60 days' worth of machining for the DNM 650 by word of mouth alone. Concludes Mr Groom: "The decision to invest in the DNM 650 has been vindicated."