Coventry-based steering-system manufacturer Pailton Engineering has made its biggest investment in the last three years, with the purchase of a new ST-38 CNC sliding-head lathe from Star Micronics GB (www.stargb.com).

This machine provides a solution for mill-turn parts and is said to be ‘packed with functionality’, to ensure that Pailton can keep up with the increased demand for bespoke steering systems.

The new lathe is part of a larger investment in new machinery, which includes a high-specification Mazak machine and a SOHMAX drilling and tapping machine.

Cy Wilkinson, managing director of Pailton, said: “We’ve always invested in equipment that will give us extra capacity and increased engineering flexibility.

“The purchase of the Star ST-38 was the next natural step for us, as it gives us the capacity for bar up to 38mm in diameter.

“Capable of multi-axis milling and balanced turning, this is one of the most powerful and capable machines on our factory floor. It does the job of multiple machines, saving time and floor space.”

Together, these new machinery investments bolster Pailton Engineering’s product development, to ensure buses and coaches, plus military and commercial vehicles, are equipped with made-to-measure steering systems designed to cope with extreme applications.