5 Axis Machining
The past ten years have seen radical changes in the pressures on manufacturing businesses in the UK.
> Ever larger and more complex parts
> More exotic materials
> Shorter leadtimes
> Cost pressure downwards
> Low cost overseas competition
> Globalisation of manufacture
> Inventory reduction and Lean Manufacturing
These pressures forced HPCL and the Division to define strategies to protect the business long term. HPCL’s answer was to invest heavily in 5 axis machine technology and the software and personnel training infrastructure to support this.
The rationale was that we had to reduce non-value adding set up time while remaining flexible as production batches became smaller and rapid changeovers became the norm.
5 axis machines give us this:
 
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> No more than two set up, sometimes only one = Cost and leadtime reduction and reduced cost of Quality due to less handling and movement.
> Larger machines gave us the flexibility to do a single large part or multiple smaller parts in one set up.
> Inventory reduction as we only machine to the clients demand - One offs, shipsets or batches.
> Enabled us to manufacture 3 / 4 axis parts at reduced costs with cost reductions to be shared with our customers.
> Protect the business long term from low cost overseas competition due to the risk and complexity of the parts.