Transforming production with tooling expertise

Assembled Atkinson Equipment pumps

Wiltshire-based Atkinson Equipment has been at the forefront of precision engineering since the late 1960s. What began as a family business developing oil heating, refuelling and liquid transfer equipment in Westbury has evolved into a sophisticated manufacturing operation serving multiple demanding sectors. Today, the company operates as both an OEM of pump systems and a JOSCAR-registered sub-contract machining specialist serving the defence, aerospace, automotive, rail, fitness, marine and medical sectors.

With 20 years at the company, Ben Hale, engineering production manager at Atkinson Equipment has witnessed much of this evolution first-hand. Along with his team, he understand the daily technical challenges that influence strategic decisions about tooling partnerships that can genuinely impact the bottom line.

The machine shop at Atkinson Equipment houses a range of Doosan, CMZ and Citizen turning centres, while the milling section features two machining centres, a Brother U500 five-axis with automation and a Brother five-axis with twin-pallet system for increased efficiency. This diversity enables Atkinson to tackle everything from bespoke pump components to high-volume production runs of peripheral equipment.

Special-purpose end mills
Several years ago, the company faced a technical challenge that threatened to derail a critical aluminium project. The company needed special-purpose end mills capable of reaching beyond 130mm, and its existing tooling supplier didn’t have a solution.

Pictured left: A long reach Ceratizit end mill in action at Atkinson Equipment

As a result, Ceratizit UK & Ireland was approached and responded with a solid carbide high-performance end mill featuring dedicated aluminium geometry and, crucially, a necked design that delivered both the reach and the rigidity for stable machining. The tool completed the project swiftly while maintaining the demanding surface finish and dimensional accuracy the customer required.

Ben Hale recalled: “That single tool made an enormous difference to us. It wasn't just about solving the immediate problem. What really impressed us was how Ceratizit's technical team understood exactly what we needed and delivered a special tool almost immediately.”

Despite this successful collaboration, Atkinson continued to rely primarily on its long-term supplier for the bulk of its cutting tool requirements. However, the memory of Ceratizit UK & Ireland’s excellent service, delivery speed, and technical capability lingered.

In February 2025, Atkinson Equipment took delivery of a Citizen L32-VIII LFV sliding head turning centre, a significant investment driven by a contract to manufacture gym equipment. The machine acquisition was primarily for a four-component project, each part was required in quantities of 30,000, totalling 120,000 parts. This demanded a reliable tooling partner.

Single-source tooling solution
To streamline the supply chain, Atkinson Equipment wanted a single-source tooling solution for the new Citizen machine. The RFQ went beyond cutting tools. The ISO 9001:2015 certified company needed collets, bushes, sleeves, tool holders, drills, and peripheral equipment to create a seamless transition into production. Once again, the OFTEC-approved company approached Ceratizit.

Iain Tattersall, Ceratizit UK & Ireland’s technical sales engineer, who had previously supplied Atkinson Equipment, relished the opportunity. Working closely with Ben and Ceratizit’s applications specialist Vinny, the team developed a complete tooling package tailored to the components while maintaining the flexibility to support any future tooling requirements.

Pictured right: A Brother Speedio being loaded for automated production at Atkinson Equipment

Mr Hale said: “What Ceratizit delivered went far beyond just cutting tools. While the breadth of products was impressive, what really set the company apart was the technical knowledge and support behind each cutting tool. The Ceratizit team were actively involved in maximising productivity and delivering prolonged tool life to optimise machine performance. That level of support is invaluable when you are trying to hit aggressive production targets.”

The tooling package included everything from workholding components to the latest generation cutting tools from Ceratizit's performance range. Standard products were specified where appropriate, but the real value lay in the technical support. “The Ceratizit team optimised speeds, feeds, and cutting strategies and continually refined the process, spending time at the machine with our team to ensure optimum productivity levels.”

The Citizen L32-VIII arrival established a foundation for a much deeper relationship with Ceratizit invited to conduct a comprehensive tooling review across the entire workshop. Ceratizit systematically evaluated existing inventory, identified opportunities to swap out standard products for equivalent or superior alternatives from its own catalogue. This like-for-like exchange delivered immediate benefits, reducing cutting tool costs significantly whilst improving tool life by up to 20% on most product lines while simultaneously improving productivity by anything from 10 to 50% in certain cases. However, the real gains subsequently came from Ceratizit's technical advice.

“The difference between working with a distributor and working with Ceratizit became crystal clear during this process," notes Ben Hale. Ceratizit engineers know their products intimately. They can tell you what will work best for your specific application, material, and production volume. That expertise has enabled us to push cutting parameters further than we thought possible."

Unplanned tool changes
One notable example involved replacing an older generation 17mm diameter U-drill with Ceratizit's Pentron drill from their latest technology range. The upgrade delivered 40% cycle time reductions and extended tool life by more than 30%, which eliminated unplanned tool changes during production runs. Similarly, a turning insert upgrade on the Citizen resulted in improved cycle times and more critically surface finishes. This enabled Atkinson Equipment to meet tight customer tolerances without additional secondary operations.

Pictured left: assembled Atkinson Equipment components — machined with Ceratizit cutting tools

Iain Tattersall now visits Atkinson Equipment every two to three weeks, reflecting the active partnership. Rather than just taking orders, he works with machinists to identify tooling challenges. This hands-on approach characterises their relationship, with Ceratizit engineers actively involved in process optimisation instead of just supplying products.

Mr Hale continued: Having Iain and Vinny regularly on the shopfloor makes a real difference. They are genuinely invested in helping us improve productivity and reduce costs. That collaborative approach has transformed how we think about cutting tool management.”

Atkinson Equipment’s tooling review success prompted discussions with Ceratizit on installing a TOM 80 tool vending system, aiming to transform storage, tracking, and replenishment. The vending machine offers 60 tool positions with the flexibility to add extensions as requirements grow. More importantly, it provides 24hr access for machinists while automatically managing inventory levels and triggering replenishment orders. Every tool withdrawal is tracked by user, machine, and job, creating visibility into consumption patterns and highlighting potential issues before they impact production.

Inventory visibility
Mr Hale added: “The vending machine concept represents a major evolution in how we manage cutting tools. Our previous supplier visited periodically with a printed spreadsheet, counting what's been used, and placing replacement orders. There is no real engagement with how we are using the tools or whether we could be doing things better. The TOM 80 approach is completely different. It gives us real-time inventory visibility, eliminates stock outs, and most importantly, keeps Ceratizit engaged with what is actually happening on our shopfloor.”

Pictured right: automated production at Atkinson Equipment demands high-performance cutting tools from Ceratizit that guarantee longevity for unmanned running

The discussions around which products to include in the vending machine are ongoing. Rather than simply replicating existing inventory, Ceratizit is taking a strategic approach. They are focusing first on high-usage items where extending tool-life delivers immediate cost savings, then expanding to cover the broader range of standard tools used across the workshop. Each product is being evaluated not just on a like-for-like cost basis, but on total cost of ownership, considering tool life, performance, and the reduction in downtime from improved reliability.

The consolidation process has already identified opportunities to reduce the overall number of tool types in inventory through strategic product selection. Rather than stocking multiple variations of similar tools, Ceratizit is recommending versatile products from their performance range that can handle multiple applications effectively. For high-volume production runs, however, the focus remains on application-specific tools that deliver the longest tool life and fastest cycle times.

Beyond the technical attributes of the cutting tools themselves, Atkinson Equipment has been impressed by Ceratizit’s service levels. Lead times, particularly on products delivered from Germany, have exceeded expectations. When urgent requirements arise, Ceratizit's next-day delivery capability ensures production is not compromised.

Atkinson Equipment”s diverse workload, spanning everything from bespoke pump components in stainless steel to high-volume aluminium parts for the fitness industry, demands adaptability from their tooling supplier. Ceratizit's comprehensive product range, from standard geometries through to high-performance solutions, provides the flexibility to match tools precisely to each application.

Mr Hale concluded: “The combination of product quality, competitive pricing, excellent service, and genuinely responsive technical support is what makes Ceratizit special.”