Lincolnshire-based Destec Engineering Ltd, a manufacturer of high-pressure containment equipment, has invested in a large-capacity Doosan vertical ram-type turning centre from Mills CNC (
www.millscnc.co.uk).
The Puma VTS 1620M has been installed at Destec’s facility in Washingborough, where it is machining a range of large, heavy and performance-critical precision components made from hard and difficult-to-machine materials that include Inconel, stainless steels and duplex.
After rigorous inspection and testing, these components are assembled into high-pressure containment units that are used extensively — but not exclusively — by customers in the offshore sector.
John Mullenger, Destec’s operations manager (
www.destec.co.uk), said: “We needed additional large vertical turning capacity to meet demand and to integrate into our customised made-to-order manufacturing operation.
"The VTS 1620M is a versatile machine and its driven-tooling capability enables us to machine parts to completion in a single set-up, which has helped us to reduce production bottlenecks caused by having to transfer parts between machines.”
Commenting on the machine’s ergonomic design, Mr Mullenger said: “There is good unrestricted access to the VTS 1620M’s working area, which facilitates trouble-free workpiece loading and unloading.
"In addition, the machine’s large door and the position of the control console provide good visibility to machine operators.”
He concluded: “We needed a machine that could deliver high volumetric removal rates and super-fine finishes, and would be able to maintain cutting performance and process reliability over long machining runs.
“Since installation, the machine has performed well and we are delighted with it.”