Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Precision engineering company Acro are celebrating the 8 millionth component to be made on one of their multi-spindle machines.

The machine is a Wickman multi-spindle automatic lathe that they have owned for the past seven years. Acro uses this technology for their high volume orders, due to its very fast cycle time and consistent quality of production.

"These machines are really 6 machines in one,” said Fred Pain, General Manager. “Being able to undertake a number of machining processes at the same time gives them a very fast cycle time and a low cost of production. For one customer we have been machining 800,000 stainless steel components each year. Multi-spindle technology is very much key to our high volume production strategy.”   

The majority of Acro's higher volume work has been in stainless, brass and mild steel, which is loaded into the machine via a bar feeder. Once programmed these unmanned-machines are then able to start churning out components and are often run for many months undertaking a single project.

Acro can provide this kind of high volume production for parts up to 45mm. "It's fair to say that it takes us longer to program and set up a multi-spindle," said Fred.

"In fact it can take a lot of experience and expertise to get right, but for higher volume projects, this is easily the most competitive of our machines. The fact that it can run unmanned and is so reliable, means that we can compete with the likes of China for these kinds of projects, as the labour cost is such a minimal component of the price." 

For lower volume and mid-volume production Acro employs a range of advanced CNC machines that include 24 hour unmanned machining centers. Having been in business for over 30 years, Acro supplies a range of industries such as automotive, architectural, electronics and energy. 

“The multi-spindle technology is an important compliment to the CNC machines,” said Fred. “It really is the ultimate machining technology for high volume work, it enables us to take projects from prototype right through to mass production. It also means that we can offer consistent quality and reliable delivery at world market pricing.”  

About Acro Precision Technology

With over 30 years' experience in the machining of precision engineering components, Acro represents one of Europe's leading suppliers to the engineering and technology sector. Acro offers specialist low volume prototype development as well as high volume manufacturing and is equipped with a broad range of modern CNC [Computer Numerically Controlled] machinery: -

· CNC lathes with live tooling and 24 hour unmanned production
· Swiss type sliding head automatics
· CNC milling
· Conventional turning/milling/finishing

Customer projects have included components for sports cars suspensions, bomb disposal robots, hospital beds, forecourt petrol pumps, the London Underground, equipment for off-shore oil exploration and production and components for the construction industry.www.acro-eng.co.uk