MACHINING
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support in the business. service engineers rather than their particular issue or problem
Part of the service
“Our commitment to delivering relying on subcontract will be looked at or be resolved.
world class aftersales service is arrangements, means that That’s why at Mills we employ
what differentiates Mills CNC customers receive a reliable, skilled staff to address
from the competition, and goes consistent service and, because customer issues quickly and why
a long way to explaining our of our competitive hourly rates, our systems and processes
success,” explains Mills’ capped travel expenses and allow us to be proactive and to
operations manager, Nigel rapid repair times, our give customers definite and
McLean. “The range of pricing remains very precise answers to their
aftersales services we provide to competitive,” says Mr McLean. queries,” adds Mr McLean.
customers is extensive and Mills’ Operations Centre at its The ongoing commitment to
includes not only machine tool Leamington Spa factory providing a first class aftersales
servicing and maintenance and functions as the central hub for service saw Mills launch its ‘360’
spare and replacement parts, customer service operations Training Academy in September
but also ancillary equipment, and is home to a technical last year. The initiative provides
training, applications and helpdesk staffed by engineers CNC programmer training
technical support, and logistics. as well as the focal point for courses for both Fanuc and
“These services are constantly training, spare or replacement Heidenhain controls for Mills and
reviewed using customer parts and maintenance. Mills non-Mills customers as well as
research and feedback and holds over £1 million of parts on operator and maintenance
improved to ensure that what we the shelf at its Leamington training.
provide and deliver matches the facility and all are available for Other new service initiatives
It’s perhaps not that machine investment. factor in the machine tool quality and value of the machine same day/next day delivery. include the company’s ‘on-line’
surprising that every machine Indeed, when precision decision making process. tools we sell. That’s why over The Operations Centre is Mills’ spares and replacement parts
tool user puts aftersales manufacturers are narrowing But delivering great customer 60% of the people we employ at ‘mission control’ and it’s an ordering service, and its soon to
service high on the agenda down their choice of potential service isn’t something that can Mills are involved in developing accurate analogy. A large be launched ‘360’ All Inclusive
when considering a new suppliers it becomes a critical be achieved overnight. It and delivering our service electronic whiteboard dominates machine tool service contract –
requires a companywide ethic, a offering.” the Centre and provides staff covering scheduled machine
definitive mindset and clear and Mills has an installed base of with a real time, visual service and maintenance;
unequivocal leadership from Doosan machine tool customers representation of workload and breakdown and accidental
the top. numbering 5,000 and to provide priorities, and prevents operator damage, fixed call out
Mills CNC, the exclusive fast and effective machine tool customers from becoming lost in charges and discounts on
distributor of Doosan machine maintenance and service the system. Another screen spares and replacement parts.
tools in the UK and Ireland has whilst minimising machine monitors the response time to
built a team from director downtime, Mills employs 19 customers’ telephone enquiries.
level to field-based engineers skilled, regionally-based service “No customer wants to be left
that it claims is driven by a engineers. hanging on the line or be given > MILLS CNC
desire to provide the best “Directly employing our vague assurances about when www.millscnc.co.uk
further, the Optima is set-up to
permit three simultaneously
overlapped processes. The 3-
axis upper slide and the front
tool in the gang slide can
machine the next component
whilst using the superimposed
feed with the sub-spindle and
rear gang slide tool, the
previous part is machined at the
Honing, Tape Finishing and Super
same time.
The option of motorised tool
Finishing Machines.
stations enables the end user to
Subcontract Honing, Honing Tools
increase the scope of the
Optima to conduct additional
and Refurbishment, Services,
milling operations and in most
instances eliminate secondary
Maintenance and Training.
machining processes. With
simultaneous overlapped
Spanish acquisition
milling on the primary spindle
using a motorised tool unit, the
gang slide can mill the front of
the part whilst using the 3-
position motorised tool unit in
To complement and extend available with three variants – significantly improved. the 3-axis upper slide to
its product offering, Leader the Optima 36, 42 and 50. With The rigid and powerful conduct pocket milling. This
CNC of Nuneaton has six axes and 22 tool positions machines are said to provide concept reduces the need for
become the sole UK agent that include eight positions on excellent surface finishes with secondary operations on
for the renowned range of the 3-axis upper slide and a 2- high levels of accuracy and machining centres.
Spanish built Unamuno axis gang slide with up to 14 repeatability. The construction of The motorised option also
turning centres. tools, the Optima permits seven the Optima range enables it to allows three motorised
The machine tool range has tools to be used on the main conduct heavy machining operations to overlap on the
been selected by Leader CNC spindle with another seven on operations as well as the most main and sub-spindle. The
due to its excellent build quality, the sub-spindle. As an option, intricate and difficult-to-machine Optima can conduct tapping
competitive pricing and technical customers can acquire the components. from the 3-axis upper slide in
advantages over more Optima machine with indexing The range permits the previous part whilst the
conventional multi-axis CNC and power tooling on the gang simultaneous overlapped front rotary tool in the gang
lathes. Since becoming the UK and upper slides for complex machining on the main spindle slide drills holes in the face of
representative at the end of 2009, component manufacture and with a 2-axis gang slide that the next component. At the
Leader CNC has already sold its improved productivity. turns the component front profile same time the rear rotary tool
first machine – a Unamuno The Optima 36, 42 and 50 while simultaneously using the drills the previous part using
Optima 36 simultaneous multi- machines have a respective 3-axis upper slide to machine the superimposed feed on the
tool turning centre. 36mm, 42mm and 50mm the rear profile to significantly sub-spindle.
The Optima 36 centre has diameter capacity that is reduce cycle times. The ability to produce
been purchased by Wakefield- matched by the sub-spindle As well as offering complex components and
based Aqua Mist Fire Protection capacities. This is supported by simultaneous overlapped main cycles is simplified by the
– one of the UK’s leading power and rigidity that allows spindle machining, the Optima Mitsubishi 730 multi-axis ISO
companies in low pressure water end users to divide operations also enables overlapped control or the interactive
mist technology. The new between the main and sub- machining on the sub spindle. touchscreen PC control. Optima
acquisition has been employed spindles, enabling the overlap of The 3-axis upper slide machines come complete with
to produce components for up to three operations machines the front of the next part unloader, coolant tank and
water mist V sprinklers, low simultaneously using axis super part in the main spindle whilst swarf conveyor.
pressure systems and general imposition. With customers now cutting the previous part with
water mist applications. utilising simultaneous milling and the gang slide.
> LEADER CNC
The new Optima range is drilling processes, productivity is Taking this capability one step
www.leadercnc.co.uk
14 March 2010 • Production Engineering Solutions
www.pesmag.co.uk
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