Tees Business Tees Business Issue 21 | Page 86

DOUBLING UP Stuart Lawson, head of strategic accounts and projects at Ward CNC, and Sharon Lane, pictured with Tees Components’ current horizontal boring mill Tees Components invests £500,000 on second precision boring mill A s part of a continued investment in its specialist capabilities, Tees Components has invested half a million pounds on a second horizontal boring mill to double its capacity of this type. The family-run heavy engineering firm has acquired the heavy- duty Hyundai Wia KBN135CL for installation at its facility in Skelton near Redcar. The firm already has an identical machine, which was installed at the firm’s CNC machining facility in 2016. Used for CNC boring and milling, it is capable of machining extremely large parts due to the extent of its axes (4m x 2m x 2m) and rotary table loading capability. The mill has been supplied by machine tool specialist TW Ward CNC Machinery of Sheffield. Sharon Lane, managing director of Tees Components, said: “Our 86 | Tees Business existing large KBN borer has already proved itself a highly reliable and accurate machine tool, ideal for precision machining components weighing up to 20 tonnes. “It has been put through its paces on a variety of castings, forgings and fabrications for the energy sector. “Adding an additional machine enables us to increase capacity and meet the growing demand for our services. “This new equipment, coupled with Ward CNC’s reliable technical service support and engineering competence, means we can satisfy the exacting delivery schedules our clients demand. “This significant investment represents a vote of confidence in the future of this business. It allows Tees Components to expand its capabilities by ensuring it has the very best technology.” The KBN has a one-piece heavy- duty cast iron bed and ground box guideways that provide high accuracy through greater rigidity. It also features a three-speed high torque main spindle. Its table load accommodates 20 tonnes while the x-axis is 4000mm and the w-axis is 700mm. Stuart Lawson, head of strategic accounts and projects at Ward CNC, said: “We supplied Tees Components’ current horizontal boring mill two years ago and it’s a testament to its quality and precision that the company is now investing in a second identical machine. “Ward CNC has an established reputation for supplying and supporting a high-quality range of machine tools from our principal manufacturers, such as Hyundai Wia, and we look forward to continuing to support Tees Components with technical service and applications support as it continues to grow.”