subcon scene
Crownfield selects tools for
high end machining
SUPPLYING a host of household names with
components and assemblies for over 40 years,
Buckinghamshire-based Crownfield
Engineering has founded its machining success
on the use of cutting tools supplied by ITC,
which today fulfil the bulk of the company’s
requirements for milling cutters. Located near
High Wycombe, the company was established in
1966 as a precision subcontract machinist. Today,
it specialises in what it describes as high end
machining; industries served include aerospace,
defence, instrumentation and medical.
For a number of years, the 24-employee,
family-owned business has relied on a large range
of milling cutters supplied by ITC. These include:
2001 and 2041 Series two-flute carbide cutters for
high metal removal rates; 2052 Series two-flute
ballnose end mills specifically for machining
aluminium; and 3011/3021 Series three-flute HSS
high performance end mills. ‘ITC ensures that our
essential needs are covered and that stock is
replenished on a Kanban-type system’ explains
managing director David Bird. ‘The ITC
representative calls by on a regular basis and
liaises directly with the machine operators to
make sure everything is in hand. Placing the
responsibility on ITC means there is one thing less
for us to worry about in what is a very busy
machine shop. Our customers are increasingly
demanding a total service from us, so we don’t see why things should
be any different for our suppliers.’
Materials processed at Crownfield range from aluminium and
steel through to titanium and more exotic alloys such as aluminiumbronze
for certain defence jobs. Many of the parts feature complex
Kenard’s new sales manager embraces value-added culture
THE Kenard Engineering Group is expanding its
customer sales and support operations with the
appointment of Dave Varney as sales manager. He
brings over 30 years experience in the
manufacturing sector, including all aspects of
precision machining in the defence and rail
sectors. He explains: ‘Within the new job role I
have a wide and varied remit, which includes
planning, estimating and customer focus, for
which my knowledge of manufacturing
engineering and processes will provide an
invaluable understanding of customer
requirements and expectations.’
The Kenard Group specialises in manufacturing
precision components using modern
manufacturing methods. Operating from two UK
sites, the Group offers a complete manufacturing
service, including design for manufacture, project
management, precision machining and
fabrication, sheet metal/welding, mechanical
assembly and electro mechanical assembly.
Varney says that Kenard has always enjoyed a
reputation for its customer focus, which he
explains is due to the value adding capabilities of
the company: ‘Customer service is a of high
importance to Kenard; we aim to work with all our
customers from a concept-design stage to full
manufacture, including all processes and
treatments and project managers frequently
holding activity meetings with customers in order
to ensure that the best results are achieved,
notably concession free products at the right cost
and on time delivery.’
www.kenard.com
74 MWP july 2008
geometry that require the services of one of the
various multi-axis CNC Matsuura machining
centres on site at the 10,000 sq/ft facility.
However, Crownfield realises that there is more
to successful machining than the machine tool
alone. ‘Having a machine tool with the capability
to offer high speeds and feeds that are
compromised by inappropriate or inadequate
tooling is not far short of a crime,’ says Bird. ‘Or,
put another way, if you spend £300,000 on a
machining centre and it’s labouring because of
incorrect tool selection then it’s a pretty sorry
state of affairs. It’s imperative we achieve
maximum productivity from our investments
and that is one of the reasons why we continue to
use ITC. The cutters they supply never fail to
respond to our demands.’
Despite the complex machining and
demanding materials, Mr Bird says that the tool
life offered by ITC is good, and that surface finish
is impressive - many of the parts machined by the
company have faces to accept seals, gaskets or Orings
where it is vital to attain a superior finish.
‘We never compromise on quality’ says Bird,
‘which is why we invest in high quality machine
tools and high quality cutting tools.’
With the broad experience, capacity and
resources offered by Crownfield, the ISO9002accredited
company handles all types of work
from prototype and pre-production engineering through to
complete production schedules (from urgent response to long term
collaborative planning), which also involves moving beyond
machined components into the supply of complete assemblies.
www.itc-ltd.co.uk
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