TPT January 2012

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94 January 2012 ›
Technology Update
DELAPENA Honing Equipment, a
long-established British machine tool
manufacturer, has seen resurgence in its
business since the company passed into
private ownership in 2006.
Established in 1927, the company has
its headquarters and factory in Cheltenham
and is run by owner and managing director
DavidArthur, who commented, “I am pleased
to say that, partly as a result of introducing
innovative NC machines equipped with the
latest Siemens control to take the ‘black art’
out of honing, our turnover grew by over 50
per cent in the year to June 2011.
“Manufacture of a larger variety of
tooling and abrasive consumables also
contributed to this success. Our goal is to
double the size of the business over the
next three years as a platform for moving
even more strongly into global markets in
the second half of the decade.”
The company’s customer base
incorporates international engineering
names that have standardised on Delapena
products for their honing requirements.
Delapena’s commitment to the global
marketplace has resulted in a joint venture
in India and a subsidiary in the USA.
Manufacturing resource planning
software has been installed to streamline
this important function. Last financial year
saw further capital investment that added
two vertical machining centres and a CNC
lathe to the shop floor and strengthened the
design department with new CAD software.
The introduction of lean manufacturing and
Six Sigma methodologies, amongst other
benefits, has seen reductions in component
manufacturing times through re-engineering
for CNC production.
Virtually all components for the honing
machines are now produced in-house rather
than subcontracted, resulting in quality
parts, lower costs and shortened lead times,
giving full control over availability. Sheet
metal fabrication for the machine build is
also carried out on-site. All of the tooling,
including ‘specials’, is made internally, not
only for Delapena machines but for other
manufacturers’ honing equipment as well.
One of the latest new products is the high
precision E2000S-XL long-series, small
bore honing machine for fully programmable
processing of gun barrels and other tubular
components. A machine is currently in build
for a rifle manufacturer, which will reduce a
5-hour manual honing cycle to a 21-minute
automatic operation.
The established E1000S and E2000S NC
models are now equipped with the latest
Siemens Simatic touch-screen control and
remote diagnostics. A larger E3500S vertical
machine has been introduced for highly
accurate and repeatable honing across a
wider spectrum of vertical applications. All of
the machines are available with automated
component loading/unloading options.
There is still demand for manual honing,
so Delapena has retained its Speedhone
and Tubehone horizontal machines, while
the vertically acting Powerhone is popular
for such applications as honing ships’ engine
cylinder liners, compressor housings and
aircraft components.
Delapena’s business encompasses design
and manufacture of accurate and repeatable
honing machines and accessories;
stocking of consumables and honing oils
for rapid delivery; design, manufacture
and refurbishment of standard and special
tooling including many legacy tools for which
drawings are still held; pre- and after- sales
support, including applications engineering,
customer training, spares and service; and
commitment to the ongoing training of its own
personnel to ensure a high level of expertise
for the future.
Delapena Honing Equipment Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1242 221246
Email:
Website:
Honing machines and solutions
The two new
vertical machining
centres in use on
the shop floor at
Cheltenham
Delapena E1000S fitted with the latest Siemens
control system