Pictured: James Bolland of Radical CNC (left) with Karl Hargreaves of Yamazaki MazakA precision engineering firm in Lancashire has made a twin investment in new Yamazaki Mazak machine tools as it sets out ambitious plans for rapid growth. Founded in August 2024 by owner and managing director James Bolland, after more than 15 years working at engineering firms in the North West of England, Radical CNC has quickly developed a reputation as a go-to supplier for general sub-contract and motorsport components.
Key to the Barnoldswick-based company’s initial success has been the investment the Yamazaki Mazak machines supplied by
Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd , consising of a UK-designed and developed CV5-500 five-axis machining centre, complete with a robot automation system, and a Quick Turn 200MSY turning centre.
Mr Bolland said: “I have worked with Mazak machines for the past decade, so when it came to starting my own engineering firm, I knew who I wanted to work with. The CV5-500 stood out as an affordable five-axis machining centre, and the ability to integrate a robot has given me a lot of flexibility. Rather than spending time loading and unloading the machine, I am able to quote jobs, order tooling and see customers, all while the machine is running.”
‘Lights-out’ machiningThe company plans to add further automation to its Quick Turn turning centre, which is proving critical in helping Mr Bolland manage both volume jobs and more challenging applications. He continued: “I have been able to run the Quick Turn ‘lights out’, machining steel bushings for one job and then change over to EN24T steel for the next — it gives me the ability to machine parts quickly if I need to but also have the capacity to handle heavier work while meeting tight tolerances. The fact I can program directly on the machine also helps to reduce downtime between jobs. We are looking at adding a robot loading system to the Quick Turn to increase our flexibility even further.”
With Mr Bolland currently the only full-time employee at Radical CNC, the support he has received from Mazak during the first six months of operation has proved invaluable. He added: “Karl Hargreaves and the Mazak service team have been very supportive throughout the entire process. We have made a strong start, and I am looking forward to taking on more five-axis work. My long-term plan is to grow the team here and add both more machines and more automation, and I am confident Mazak is the right machining partner to do that.”
Jason Butler, the sales director at Yamazaki Mazak UK and Ireland, concluded: “James is a fantastic example of what one person can achieve on their own. Starting a new engineering company can be a daunting prospect but we were determined to help him get up and running with the right machines as quickly as possible. The combination of a compact CV5-500 five-axis machining centre with robot automation is perfect for achieving high output from a small team. We look forward to working with James over the coming months and years to help Radical CNC meet its ambitious growth plans.”