An eight-axis, twin spindle, twin turret, CNC mill-turn centre has a control system further enhanced to improve ease of use and especially when performing on-machine programming.

The first of a new generation of a 'global' lathe range will be launched by Colchester-Harrison at the UK's MACH 2008 machine tool exhibition. This Tornado eight-axis, twin spindle, twin turret, turn-mill centre will be the first new build to be released and to benefit from the company's restructured machining and cell-based assembly strategy at Heckmondwike in Yorkshire, UK.

Colchester-Harrison told manufacturingtalk.com that the mill-turn centre has been 'Totally designed from the ground up' and described it as 'Future Proof', this new generation Tornado is the most advanced lathe yet built by the company.

It is the culmination of Phase One of 600 Group PLC's five year plan and commitment to manufacture higher specification lathes in the UK for world markets.

Said Jonathan Shaw, managing director: 'Following a year of research with customers and distributors, the design brief was completed and a significant investment committed to the development programme.

At the same time, the production area for key components and assembly was completely re-organised so that everything would come together ready for the world launch at the MACH 2008 exhibition at the NEC in April'.

The 'world launch' of Tornado is significant for the Heckmondwike machine tool builder, which is still rated as Europe's largest lathe manufacturer.

Colchester-Harrison said it will use its new and remodelled distributor network to build on its tremendous sales success in 2007.

Throughout the year the higher specification Tornado range saw export sales increase by almost a third and Alpha flat bed combination lathes by a massive 40%.

The all-important US market recorded quadruple orders for Tornado through the year, German sales doubled and penetration of Eastern Europe and the Baltic states increased by 20%.

Sales director Mike Berry, based at Heckmondwike, said: 'MACH 2008 is the culmination of our marketing, sales and support strategies that are now firmly in place and already generating excellent results.

With the total reorganisation of the machine tool building operation using a multi-skilled workforce and cell-type assembly techniques at Heckmondwike, we are now able to accommodate the new global range of machines'.

* Future proofing - the 'Future Proof' designation applies to the launch version that will be the highest specification eight-axis, turn-mill centre that has been developed to enable spin-off models to be introduced making full use of the modular construction and build techniques.

Each machine will incorporate proven, high quality turrets, hydraulics and electrics from Europe and Japan's leading suppliers with the latest drives and controls and software from Fanuc.

The user interface with the control system, that has drawn so many positive comments from users across the Colchester-Harrison lathe range, has been further enhanced to improve ease of use and especially on-machine programming.

The machine incorporates a new heavy duty, cast bed (weighing almost 3 tonne), while headstock and slideway castings are machined in-house against a JIT schedule ready for the cell-based build team to assemble, align and test.

So significant are the changes made to the machine design and manufacturing process, that build time has been reduced by a massive 20% against the current Tornado range with further reductions possible as assembly experience and on-going planned improvements are incorporated.

And, over the next 12 months, a key factor from the modular design will enable the highly competitive range to be developed further with additional models using the same high rigidity machine platform.



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