Within months of supplying a HMC and a turning centre to solve the urgent capacity requirements a valves manufacturer introduced extended single set-up machining capability.
Within months of supplying a Kia H63 horizontal machining centre and a Kia Super Turn 28LB turning centre to solve the urgent capacity requirements of Anson, the world leading manufacturer of valves, manifolds and flowline equipment used in the exploration and production of oil and gas, Ward CNC of Sheffield had delivered another machine to not only meet Anson's volume production demands but also to introduce extended single set-up machining capability at the company's Gateshead site. The third machine, a re-engineered Kuraki table-type horizontal boring and milling machine, was supplied by Ward CNC with a CH8 contouring head from Forth Tool and Valve's ITS Division. Utilising the machine's spindle (W) axis movement, the result is that users gain two-axis lathe-type machining via the machine's live spindle.

In Anson's case, this has reduced the reliance on sub-contractors and allowed larger components to be produced in one set-up, including profiles such as ring grooves and bonnet seal areas.

'The added capabilities of the Kuraki-ITS package are undoubtedly producing substantial lead time savings,' comments senior production engineer David Brown.

'They are also freeing up much-needed capacity on our machining centres.' Increasing global demand for the company's products spurred the introduction of the two heavy-duty Kias, to complement a number of machines previously supplied by Ward - ie, a trio of re-engineered Mori Seiki horizontal machining centres and an existing Kia H63 horizontal machining centre.

The latest Kia duo were selected over the competition 'due to their specification and ex-stock availability', says David Brown.

Capable of accommodating components weighing 1,000 kgs, the Kia H63 horizontal machining centre has a one-piece bed and rugged eight-surface slideway system for rigid, accurate machining.

It features X, Y and Z axes capacities of 950mm by 825mm by 760mm and with 22kW spindle is capable of 4,500 revs/min.

Rapid travels are 20m/min and feed rate is 1 to 5,000 mm/min.

Of rigid one-piece box design, the Kia Super Turn 28LB turning centre has a 80mm diameter bar capacity and a swing over the bed of 590mm, a swing over the crosslide of 375mm and a maximum turning diameter and length of 410mm and 1071mm, respectively.

Distance between centres is 1100mm.

Spindle speed is 25 to 3,000 revs/min.

As standard the machine is fitted with a 10-position tool turret.

Ward CNC is the exclusive UK agent for the Kia CNC machine range that embraces a wide selection of vertical and horizontal turning and machining centres, many of which are available ex-stock.

The company's Sheffield site is also home to an experienced applications engineering team, and their expertise was once again highlighted by the Kuraki-ITS solution supplied to Anson.

Complete with cam lock adaptor housing, the ITS package was fitted, tested and interfaced by Ward engineers with the machine's Fanuc 11MF CNC, providing Anson not only with an X, Y Z axes boring and milling envelope of 2000mm by 1500mm by 1450mm, but also a machine with turning capability to complement the 40-station automatic toolchanger.