Tufnol Composites, one of the UK’s leading innovators of high performance laminates, composites and engineering plastics, has recently completed a significant £400k investment project to increase the capability, productivity and capacity of its West Midlands operation.
Part funded by the former Selected Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) scheme provided by Advantage West Midlands, the investment package has allowed Tufnol to create improved efficiencies on its two acre site, as well as acquiring new specialised plant and machinery. Additional capital investment has been specifically targeted to create the greatest impact in terms of overall production flexibility, efficiency and reduced lead times for customers. For example, an exceptionally accurate Haas Gantry Router, built to Tufnol’s exacting specification, has already generated significant incremental business gains. The Fanuc-controlled head is capable of high cutting speeds, whilst maintaining close tolerances on its 3m x 2m bed. Complemented by its smaller sibling, a Haas Mini Mill, these two new machines are said to have delivered massive productivity benefits. Other notable machinery investments include a Nakmura in-line opposed twin spindle CNC lathe, which enables complete machining processes on a single machine. An advanced, fully programmable Wenzel LH CMM with intelligent software is a major new asset to the company’s measuring room. “The investment package has allowed us to make a major step change both in terms of our site infrastructure and machining capabilities,” said Tufnol managing director, Roy Thomason. “As a result we have been able to safeguard jobs for the future and we are forecasting significant growth in the forthcoming years.” www.tufnol.com
