Waukesha Bearings invests in two new Doosan Puma 2600 lathes

The two Puma 2600 lathes form the mainstay of a purpose-built manufacturing cell (which also includes a vertical machining centre) designed to ramp-up production of the company's Inpro/Seal product line to meet (and exploit) the growing demand for these products in Europe. "Our Inpro/Seal products were originally being manufactured by our facility in the US," says John Murray, Waukesha Bearing's engineering manager, "but the decision to penetrate and increase market share in European markets and to meet the subsequent increase in demand meant that we needed to set up a similar production facility here in the UK. "By replicating the US manufacturing operation at our Glasgow facility we knew that we would be able to provide customers in Europe with a proven, easily-transferable and cost-efficient method of manufacture, as well as a fast (often same day shipment on most products) response." Instead of the Doosan Puma 280 lathes used in the US (and which have now been phased out), the UK cell features their replacement - the new-series Puma 2600 machines, which were launched by Mills CNC in the UK at last year's (2010) MACH Show. Mr Murray continued: "The new Doosan machines, with their 22 kW 3,500 rpm spindles, 12-station turrets and user-friendly Fanuc control have given us the power, flexibility and productivity we were looking for. To reduce set-up times, minimise non-cutting times and reduce overall part cycle times – the new Puma machines purchased were equipped with quick-change power chucks." Manufactured from bronze tube in one-hit on the Pumas, and machined to exacting standards and high tolerance (within 0.005 mm), the Inpro/Seal features a unitised rotor and stator configuration that provides customers with permanent bearing protection (preventing lubrication loss and contamination ingress) thereby eliminating downtime and the need for continual maintenance.