In the five years from 2019 to the present, turnover at Oswaldtwistle-based ROSS Pneumatrol (www.pneumatrol.com) doubled due to growth across most industry sectors into which it supplies its pneumatic and electro-pneumatic valves, actuators and other products. The process industry is proving especially buoyant currently and sales growth in Asia has exceeded expectations, raising the proportion of exports to more than 60% of turnover.
“Encouraged by the success of the first automated Brother cell for producing aluminium valve parts, we had no hesitation in purchasing a second cell for machining components for stainless steel valves”
Tommy Cooney, Operations Manager, ROSS Pneumatrol
This level of success was putting pressure on the prismatic machining department, which was using six 40-taper, 3-axis vertical machining centres (VMCs) of various makes and three Brother 30-taper high efficiency machining centres with twin pallet change supplied by Whitehouse Machine Tools, Kenilworth (www.wmtcnc.com). To meet the increased demand for prismatically machined components, notably valve bodies and pilot end caps, ROSS Pneumatrol returned to WMT CNC for two more Brother 30-taper machines, this time with automated component handling.
The first cell, installed in the aluminium machining section in September 2022, comprised a Brother Speedio S700X2 VMC equipped with a Feedio robotic system, including vision equipment, for handling components. Designed specifically to automate Speedio high efficiency machining centres, the plug-and-play unit communicates with the S700X2 via a Profibus interface and incorporates a 6-axis robot. A camera vision system and built-in PC allow the robot to detect where on an upper conveyor a workpiece has been placed. After machining, components are returned to an output conveyor positioned below the first.
“We considered several different machine tending alternatives but decided to reorder from Whitehouse Machine Tools. We have dealt with them for more than 20 years and value their after-sales service and engineering input”
Tommy Cooney, ROSS Pneumatrol’s Operations Manager
Tel: 01926 852725 – Email: sales@wmtcnc.com
Manufacturing & Engineering Magazine | The Home of Manufacturing Industry News
