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Following an in-depth quality and machine reliability survey Rodmatic Multico of Reading has initiated a programme of on-site overhaul and refurbishment of its 37 Wickman multi-spindle automatic lathes. The contract, placed with Wickman specialist Machine Tool Spares of Coventry, has seen the first two Wickman 1¾” x 6 machines completed and with the work carried out, savings on cycle time alone on one machine is reckoned to be 330 hours/year.
Said Managing Director Brian Steatham: “We believe our autoshop is one of the biggest in the UK. The multi-auto is still the fastest and most economical way of producing volume turned parts and while many of these part types have been subcontracted offshore, our competitiveness has kept all our machines fully employed 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. We have found customers want to have local sourcing, do not want to risk supply or quality problems and if we can meet their criteria, we can win and maintain contracts.”
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The machine refurbishing contract involves fitting of new spindle bearings; overhaul of the various clutches; the replacement of pins, bushes and gibs; camshaft overhaul and barfeed mechanism refurbishment. In addition, Rodmatic has built up a wide range of specialist attachments that will be progressively reviewed and refurbished when required.
Adds Brian Steatham: “Already on the first two machines we have seen a vast improvement in cycle time and also an immediate improvement in tool life.”
Machine Tool Spares has set a programme of checking and refurbishing one machine a week, depending on its condition and by working on site at Reading with Rodmatic’s maintenance fitters, the strip down and rebuild is causing minimum disruption to production schedules. Prior to and following the overhaul of each machine, Rodmatic’s quality engineers are performing process capability studies in order to monitor improvements and log the details of each machine.
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