North Yorkshire-based Tees Components, a heavy engineering sub-contractor with one of the largest machining capacities in the UK, has unveiled its latest CNC horizontal boring mill in a ‘virtual’ commissioning ceremony marked by Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen via a video message.

The project was successfully delivered during the height of the coronavirus pandemic despite being put on hold for three weeks while the site paused production due to the Government lockdown.

Since then, strict health and safety measures have been put in place limiting the number of visitors on site to ensure safe installation alongside Tees Components existing activities.

The £500,000 investment, a Hyundai Wia KBN 135CL, which was supplied by Sheffield-based Ward CNC, will enable Tees Components to double capacity of this type of component at its CNC machining facility in Skelton.

Used for CNC boring and milling, the machine is capable of machining extremely large parts to very small tolerances, due to the extent of its axes (4m x 2m x 2m) and rotary table loading capability. Its table load accommodates 20 tonnes, while the X axis is 4,000mm and the W axis is 700mm.

The machining capacity is ideal for precision components for defence, power, and oil and gas sectors. Even at this size, it is not the largest capacity on Tees’s site by any means, and joins a suite of CNC horizontal borers following decades of heavy investment.

Sharon Lane, Tees Components managing director, said: “We are really pleased that we were able to celebrate such an important milestone, albeit in a very unique way.

“We appreciate the cooperation of the Mayor in welcoming this significant investment, and also the team at TW Ward who were very flexible and attentive to our updated health and safety working practices to ensure that the installation could be completed efficiently.

“This significant investment is an essential element in supporting the delivery of our growing pipeline of projects, and we are ready to push ahead with our growth plans.”

The Ward CNC team joined in the day’s celebrations with managing director Simon Whitworth and head of strategic accounts and projects Stuart Lawson in attendance.



Mr Whitworth said: “We have a proud and long-standing relationship with Tees Components which began with the supply of a Webster & Bennett vertical boring machine four decades ago, up until the two recent installations of the new Hyundai Wia KBN 135CL horizontal boring machines.

“Throughout this time, it has continuously showcased its capability and commitment to its customers and it is a privilege to support such an esteemed organisation, both throughout the installations and during this unique celebratory event.

“Now that the machine has been commissioned, we look forward to continuing this relationship by supporting Sharon and the Tees Components team with any technical or applications support required on their new projects.”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen said: “Tees Components is a business that is going from strength to strength. This is the exact type of business that we want to see in the Tees Valley, it shows what the our communities and people have to offer.

“Despite the current pandemic, we have businesses that are continuing to win business, invest new equipment and machinery like this new horizontal borer, and invest in its people.

“Tees Components is a shining example of what we should be striving to achieve for all businesses across the Tees Valley, good quality advanced manufacturing businesses that look after local people.”