Serving the Teesside Business Community | 35
Now available for sub-contract machining
QUASER SIMULTANEOUS
5-AXIS MACHINING
DREAM
MACHINE
Mark Smith with the aluminium model
of the Transporter produced by SMC’s
new machining technology, with the real
bridge in the background.
GET IN TOUCH
TO SEE
MACHINE IN
ACTION!
·
Production of more complex parts
·
Improved surface finish
·
Greater dimensional and positional accuracy
·
Shorter lead times on even the simplest of components
·
Sapphire ball probing for greater accuracy and repeatability
·
Latest Heidenhain control for faster on-the-job programming
T: 01642 564545
E: [email protected]
stocktonmachine.co.uk
A
rare piece of machining
technology accurate to less than
half the width of a human hair is
revolutionising Stockton Machine
Company after a six-figure
investment.
Describing it as a “game changer” for his
business, managing director Mark Smith says
SMC are already seeing the benefits of their
new Quaser simultaneous 5-axis machining
centre after investing £125,000 in the hi-tech
appliance.
With a further £6,000 spent on computer
aided machining (CAM) software, the
Billingham firm believe the state-of-theart technology puts them ahead of rival
firms as they seek to win new customers
within their traditional customer base
of the food processing, oil and gas, and
offshore renewables sectors – and make
a breakthrough into the automotive and
aerospace industries.
Accurate to four microns – that’s less than
half the width of a human hair - the Quaser
machine is believed to be the only one of
its kind within Teesside’s competitive subcontract market.
Specialising in bespoke rapid turnaround
engineering solutions, SMC’s 15-strong team
has an established reputation in tackling the
jobs their rivals won’t or can’t handle.
But Mark decided it was time to invest in
the future after the 45-year-old firm was hit
by the ongoing downturn within the oil and
gas industry.
He said: “The market remains challenging
but I’m very confident this extraordinary
machine will prove a very wise investment.
It has, in many ways, revolutionised our
business. It’s a game-changer.
“We’re now able to take on jobs with
highly complex machining requirements that
we wouldn’t have previously considered. We
are a one-stop shop, whether you need us to
make a basic washer or a five-axis machined
impeller.”
Mark says the Quaser machine has created
a buzz among clients and staff alike.
“One of the biggest driving factors for
me was that I wanted SMC to stand out
from the crowd within a highly competitive
market. We believe it to be the only
simultaneous 5-axis machine in the subcontract environment across Teesside, so it’s
most definitely meeting that objective.
“Some of our staff – experienced
engineers who’ve been doing this work
for 35 years – are in awe of the machine.
It’s very, very clever. At the same time, it’s
incredibly accurate, as good as anything on
the market.
“One customer said ‘You know, I could
watch it all day!’ While customers get excited
about the technology, it’s the commercial
side that excites me because we’re now
doing four or six parts an hour instead of one.
“Inside our modest building we’ve now got
some impressive kit and a lot of experience.
We want potential customers to come and
take a look at this technology and see the
engineering DNA that we’ve got coursing
through our veins.”
A
stunning aluminium model of
the Transporter Bridge has been
produced by SMC as testament
to the technical ability of the firm’s new
5-axis machining technology and its
highly skilled operators.
And the Billingham business has
also produced a spell-binding video
that shows the lump of aluminium
transformed into a stunning 12inch long model of Teesside’s iconic
landmark.
The famous bridge was the obvious
choice when MD Mark Smith decided
to show potential customers just what
their new investment was capable of
producing.
Using the skills of SMC’s in-house
draughtsman, a computer-designed
model was produced from photographs
of the bridge, from which the scale
model was faithfully produced over a
two-week period.
Mark said: “We naturally wanted
something that would challenge the
machine and, as a proud Teessider, I
wanted it to be something iconic for
the area. What better landmark than the
Transporter Bridge?
“I think the finished model is great,
I love it. I’m pretty sure people will
also say ‘Wow’ when they watch the
video of it being made too. To see
the machine in full 5-axis action is
something to behold.”