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Latest News
| UNICUT EXPANDS ITS WELWYN GARDEN CITY FACILITY BY 40% |
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Unicut Precision has expanded its multi-axis CNC small parts machining premises by almost 40 per cent to bring the machine shop area to over 18,000 ft². Within the new area two of the latest Citizen K-16 CNC sliding head autos, ordered during the EMO exhibition in Hannover in September, have been installed alongside a pair of K-16 machines that were commissioned earlier in 2007.
Unicut Precision has expanded its multi-axis CNC small parts machining premises by almost 40 per cent to bring the machine shop area to over 18,000 ft². Within the new area two of the latest Citizen K-16 CNC sliding head autos, ordered during the EMO exhibition in Hannover in September, have been installed alongside a pair of K-16 machines that were commissioned earlier in 2007.
Says Jason Nicholson, joint managing director: “Sales grew by 12 per cent last year with increased profitability as the effects of our continuous investment strategy in machine tools, support equipment and upgraded management systems filters through. We have also invested heavily in training that is adding to our success and we plan to continue this right across the company during 2008.”
Unicut invested well over £350,000 during 2007 in new equipment and increased the workforce at Welwyn Garden City from 24 to 30 people. In addition to the four new Citizen machines, an automated tool crib system was installed and integrated into the management system, an OGP non-contact video-based measuring centre installed in the inspection room and a new ‘green’ compressor fitted. Computer systems have also been upgraded.
Further improvements to enhance productivity and quality have resulted in a Dürr Minio 85C programmable component washing centre installed in 2004, being replaced with the latest improved system and a Miyano ABX-64 TH2 multi-axis turning centre installed in 2006 being exchanged for the latest version. This upgrade in technology with improved control system and programming, also adds tool probing, tool load monitoring on every tool giving faster setting and higher security when running under unmanned conditions.
Over the past six years, sales to the US have more than doubled to account for almost 30 per cent of turnover. This means confidence is running high as the company has had all its long term contracts renewed plus an 18 per cent uplift in the supply of one particular aerospace component.
Joint managing director Charles Kenny adds: “We have continued to invest to try and offset the effect of currency shift with improved productivity. While we have been able to agree slight price increases, our strategy still keeps us very competitive when factors such as consistency of quality, a 100 per cent record is still being maintained, and delivery are included in our assessment by the customers.”
The company is now improving its reaction capability to short term orders, an area that has been particularly successful with its fast changeover routines and high levels of machine efficiency. |
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