Managing director Andy Casey’s strategy to improve production routines at Oldbury-based Apex Machining Services Ltd and expand the company’s customer base has benefitted from the installation of a Takisawa Taiwan NEX-108 two-axis lathe.

Supplied by TW Ward CNC Machinery (www.wardcnc.com), the new machine joined three others in a cell dedicated to the production of precision mild-steel components from 12 to 40mm in diameter and from 100 to 180mm long (in batches ranging from 25 to 1,000).

“We looked at other similar machines, but none compared to the NEX-108. It offered us the ideal power and speed ranges, plus it occupies a compact footprint, has a good 12-tool tool-post and was available at the right price.”

Mr Casey took over as managing director of 15-employee Apex in September 2015; he has since been making continual improvements to the company’s quality processes and infrastructure, plus gradually increasing its output to meet the growing demands of its customer base.

The NEX-108 takes to 21 the number of CNC lathes and machining centres used by Apex to supply its services to sectors that include medical devices, aerospace, automotive, brassware and machined aluminium castings.

The new machine’s parameters “are ideal for the mild-steel precision pins and spindles that are its main priority. With a specification and capacity that extends beyond these relatively small components, the new machine will no doubt be applied to a host of other precision components as the order book continues to grow.”