New machine shop for Exactaform

Coventry-based Exactaform, which manufactures PCD tooling for aerospace, motor-sport and general-engineering applications, has
expanded its operation with a new 4,500ft2 facility adjacent to its existing premises. Set up to reduce the lead times for Exactaform’s cutting tools, the machine shop accommodates seven Vollmer (www.vollmer-group. com) die-sinking and wire-erosion EDM machines. Exactaform director John Inglis says: “The new machine shop enables us to improve the lead time for complex-geometry multi-stepped tools from six to four weeks, which will be a major benefit to our customers. It has also allowed us to create more space in our PCD brazing workshop, which will eliminate bottlenecks and allow us to push more tools onto our Vollmer machines.”
Exactaform, has been growing 25% year on year since 2009. It has responded to the growth in demand by expanding from eight to 20 staff and installing a fourth Vollmer QWD750H wire eroder (pictured). “The Vollmer machines provide accuracy, consistency, quality and automation levels far beyond anything else available in the market-place,” says Mr Inglis.
“The automation levels enable us to run our seven Vollmer machines for up to 158hr out of a possible 168hr a week. More remarkable is the fact that we only need one operator to run all seven. At our rate of growth, we expect to fill our new facility with Vollmer machines in the next five years.”