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Duo of MACH machines boost South Shields manufacturer

The immediate success of a new advanced MACH MDV 1160 advanced, production-led VMC quickly leads to the purchase of a MACH MDS 845-8T toolroom mill

Posted on 16 Jan 2025. Edited by: John Hunter. Read 1447 times.
Duo of MACH machines boost South Shields manufacturerHQ Fabrications Ltd, a metal fabrication specialist in South Shields, has recently invested in two new CNC machining tools from MACH Machine Tools Ltd, a leading supplier of new CNC and manual machine tools and machine shop equipment to UK, Irish and European manufacturers, and part of the Bristol-based Vigilance group.

A MACH MDV 1160 vertical machining centre arrived in August last year at the manufacturer’s 8,500ft2 facility in Jarrow and this was quickly followed in November by a MACH MDS 845-8T tool room mill. Since being installed both machines — equipped with the advanced DynaPath control system — have been working flat out machining customised jigs and fixtures, as well as prototypes, one-offs and small batches of pre-production and production parts (up to 300-off), for a wide range of UK customers in a variety of industrial sectors, including renewables, marine, medical and defence.

HQ Fabrications, established in 2017 and employing 12 members of staff, is a specialist engineering consultancy with significant in-house machining and fabrication capabilities combined with impressive design for manufacture (DfM) and reverse engineering skills and expertise. The company works closely with its customers finding solutions to a range of product- and process-related issues and challenges. These projects, depending on their complexity, can vary in length from just one or two weeks through to 12 months, with HQ Fabrications often taking a project management role.

HQ Fabrications’ customers are varied - from OEMs and Tier One companies through to Tier Three and precision sub-contractors. The company also designs and manufactures its own products, addressing perceived ‘gaps’ that it has seen in the market; recent examples have included benches/beds for chiropractors, a range of stillage and trolley products, and solutions for the industrial materials-handling sector.

Sustainable solutions

Chris Hall, HQ Fabrications’ owner and managing director, said: “First and foremost we are a problem-solving company focused on delivering high-quality, value-added and sustainable solutions for our customers.”

MACHCustomers approach HQ Fabrications for a variety of reasons that can include: assistance in improving the reliability and efficiency of their existing production processes; and designing and developing new products or product upgrades and iterations, as well as the processes required to manufacture them accurately, quickly and cost-efficiently. At the heart of many of the solutions HQ Fabrications designs and develops are custom jigs and fixtures.

Mr Hall continued: “We don’t necessarily focus on any one sector or industry. Our ability is in helping our customers improve their productivity and process efficiencies and reduce their operational costs and waste. By doing so, we help them maintain their competitive edge.”

HQ Fabrications is a company committed to continuous improvement and as such regularly invests in its people, its plant and equipment, as well as its processes and systems, and while the company has a number of machine tools at its disposal, it is always looking to increase and improve its in-house machining capacity and capabilities to provide better, faster and more economic solutions for its customers. This improvement strategy also allows the manufacturer to reduce the amount of machining work it sub-contracts out to local suppliers, helping it to control its own manufacturing processes more efficiently, and reduce its operational costs.

HQ Fabrications regularly monitors and evaluates the performance of its machine tools, and to enable it to machine larger workpieces, made the decision in early 2024 to invest in a brand new MACH MDV 1160 three-axis vertical machining centre.

Mr Hall added: “Up to that point we had always invested in used machines. However, one of our existing machines that we had identified for machining the larger workpieces, didn’t turn out to be as reliable as we had originally hoped.”

First new machine tool

Rather than attempt to struggle on with an under-performing machine, HQ Fabrications took the plunge and invested in its first new CNC machine from MACH Machine Tools. Having already established good working relationships with Machine Tool Sales Online (MTSO), a used machine tool and machine shop equipment supplier, and MACH Machine Tools’ sister company, HQ Fabrications discussed its requirements with the new machine tool supplier.

Mr Hall explained: “We were a little apprehensive investing in a new machine, but representatives from MACH Machine Tools, who we knew already from our dealings with MTSO, simplified the whole process from machine identification through to delivery, installation and commissioning. We were even offered a great part-exchange trade-in deal on the previously mentioned used machine tool.”

The MACH MDV 1160 is a production-led vertical machining centre that features an advanced DynaPath CNC control and is equipped with a powerful BT40, 15kW 12,000rev/min direct-drive spindle, a generous-sized 1,200 x 600mm worktable with an 800kg maximum table load and a 24-tool automatic tool changer (ATC).

Mr Hall said: “The machine is fast, powerful, accurate and flexible. It is a great addition to our machine shop and has significantly improved our in-house milling capabilities, enabling us to machine large, and smaller, high-precision and complex parts quickly and efficiently, irrespective of the materials being machined, whether that be aluminium, stainless steel, tool steel, or engineering plastics.”

Advanced Dynapath control

As well as being HQ Fabrications’ first investment in a new CNC machine tool, the MDV 1160 is also the first machine the company has bought with a DynaPath control. Mr Hall continued: “The DynaPath control has many things going for it. Firstly it is easy to use and understand, and the its intuitive menus and on-screen graphics help eliminate programming omissions and errors. Furthermore, off-line programming and tool path and machining simulation ensure that potential collisions are avoided and that machining processes developed are efficient and safe.”

In addition to its processing capabilities, the DynaPath control also features its industry-leading 24/7 Wi-Fi enabled remote monitoring and technical support facility that helps improve customers’ productivity and machine uptime.

Mr Hall explained: “DynaPath’s integrated remote assistance facility has been a real game-changer. Furthermore, when we have any issues with for instance machine operation or applications help, we can interface directly with MACH Machine Tools’ technical support team for immediate assistance.”

HQ Fabrications’ positive experience with the MDV 1160 resulted in the company further strengthening its in-house milling capabilities by investing in a second machine - a MACH MDS 845-8T toolroom mill. This compact machine, again supplied with the DynaPath control, features an eight-position ATC arranged around the machine’s direct-drive 5.5kW 8,000rev/min spindle, and is equipped with an 850 x 420mm table and a 220kg table load.

Mr Hall concluded: “Our two new MACH machines are proving to be a great investment. Although we had some natural anxieties acquiring new machine tools for the first time, MACH Machine Tools’ open and transparent approach combined with its proactivity, technical know-how and readily-available support, made the whole process from machine identification through to purchasing and installation, quick and seamless.”