Lancashire-based Fylde CNC Specialists is set to move to a brand new facility in Kirkham. This new facility is only a short distance from its old buildings (just off the end of the runway at Warton Aerdrome), but the move will lead to a step-change in how the company can develop its precision sub-contracting business.

Managing director David Norcoss started the company 17 years ago, machining parts in his father’s garage after coming home from his ‘day job’. “Initially I had an old Bridgeport mill, a Colchester lathe and a pegboard automatic that I used to make small quantities of parts, mainly for friends who raced bicycles.

"Through word-of-mouth, I picked up a major contract that allowed me to give up the day job as a design engineer, and switch to machining full time.”

This started the first phase of development for Fylde, which saw it develop into a significant provider of machined parts for a wide range of industries.

However, growing the business on the site that followed the ‘garage’ was fairly impractical, as departments were spread out over a number of buildings; and with demand for high-quality turned and milled components from the aerospace, automotive, hydraulics/pneumatics and medical sectors, the need to bring the all of the manufacturing under one roof was essential.

Mr Norcross says: “Every now and then you have to take a step back and look at what you have and what you want to achieve. We have a strong presence in the automotive sector, with customers ranging from high-volume producers through to low-volume prestige manufacturers; we even export to China. Therefore, we need a facility that reflects our desire to progress and grow in sub-contracting machining.”

The latest relocation will also help Fylde to develop its links with the aerospace sector, and the £1.2 million the company has invested will allow it to meet the stringent quality requirements of aerospace customers.

The entire business is now under one roof and has an impressive plant list that includes 15 Citizen sliding-head lathes, three Nakamura Tome turning centres, and three Hurco multi-axis machining centres.

To support its expanding 24/7 machining capability, Fylde has partnered with Sheffield-based WNT (UK) Ltd (www.wnt.de/en-en), which is providing cutting tools, on-site tool vending, technical support, a range of non-standard tools (including specialist parting blades for the Nakamura Tome turning centres), and precision stepped drills for high-volume automotive components.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Norcross said: “We have worked closely with WNT and in particular technical sales engineer Matt Darbyshire. The vending machine has been integrated into our company system, which means orders are generated as soon as minimum stock levels are reached.

"This is very reassuring as it gives us continuity of production, which is important for a company that operates in areas of industry where on-time delivery is vital. Furthermore, we do not pay for any cutting tools in the vending machine until they are taken from it; this helps with cash-flow and negates any obsolete cutting tool stocks.”