Major growth in the oil and gas sector has seen Tayside Precision Tools Dundee (TPTD) invest in a new vertical machining centre supplied by the Engineering Technology Group (ETG — www.engtech group.com).

The decision has already paid off for the company — a specialist in manufacturing complex parts in small volumes — as it has unlocked additional capacity.

After discussing its requirements in depth with Wellesbourne-based ETG, TPTD opted for a turn-key system that
included the latest Heidenhain control, which has enabled the company to set up jobs 30% faster than before.

With installation and training now complete, it is looking to take maximum advantage of the precision, accuracy and improved cycle times that the new machine provides.

John Welsh, joint owner of TPTD (www.tptdundee.com), said: “The components we are milling require a very precise finish, and the Quaser MV184 gives us the ability to produce repeatable accuracy faster than ever before. We have already secured a contract in the oil and gas sector to go straight on the machine.”

This is the largest investment TPTD has ever made, and Mr Welsh added: “ETG was great, from understanding our milling requirements and identifying the machine to helping us spec it out in the agreed time-scale. I was also very impressed with the training, which meant that we could quickly get the most out of the machine.”

Ross Milne, ETG regional sales manager (Scotland), said: “The MV184 is a great addition for specialist sub-contractors like TPTD, with the large-table working area providing superior flexibility for work in progress. The space allows for varied work-holding, so operators can set up different parts on the table at the same time, which helps to reduce set-up times.”