Horsham-based Precision Edge, which manufactures high-quality industrial blades and machine knives, has installed a Lean Production Machine (LPM) from XYZ Machine Tools (www.xyzmachinetools.com) — at last.

Company director Ross Candfield says: “We first considered buying an LPM machining centre five years ago, but after deciding that our workload wasn’t quite right for the machine, we went for an XYZ SMX 5000 bed mill with ProtoTrak control instead.”

Precision Edge was machining a lot of profiles at that time, so the bed size and capability of the SMX 5000 suited its needs (working alongside an existing SMX 4000).

As time went on, and the company needed more capacity, it returned to XYZ — and came away this time with a 2-OP machining centre.

“The decision to go with the 2-OP was again the right move for us, as we were producing relatively small batches in exotic materials.”

After another 18 months, more machining-centre capacity was needed, and it was finally time for an LPM.

With the 2-OP already in place, the addition of the LPM was straightforward; the programs are compatible between the two ProtoTrak controls, and the fixture plates that we had invested in were also transferable between the two machines.

The additional spindle power means that we can also maximise cutting data; as a result, we are seeing shorter cycle times.

“Like the 2-OP before it, the LPM has made an immediate impact on the way we work and our overall efficiency. We can now machine a part from blank to finish-machined in a single set-up, instead of on three machines.

“With the LPM in place, we feel that we now have a machine for every eventuality, as far as our business is concerned.”