Deburring machine pays for itself

16 April 2007

Pioneering Shropshire-based milking machine manufacturer Fullwood is creaming off the benefits of the latest technology thanks to purchasing a new machine from market leading surface preparation experts Wheelabrator Group.

Fullwood has invested in a new Walther Trowal CD 400 machine, spelling the end for time consuming and labour intensive deburring by hand at its Ellesmere facility and helping it comply with new hand-arm legislation set out in the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

The machine will both deburr and polish components as they are processed, allowing Fullwood to make significant cost savings by bringing in house the polishing function previously subcontracted to an electro-polishing specialist.

Estimates by the company showed that so significant were the time and cost reductions from this machine, it would pay for itself with just the savings from one high volume component.

Deburring – removing sharp edges and flashes produced during the manufacturing process – was previously performed by operators using linishing belts. It is a crucial part of Fullwood’s manufacturing process, ensuring the surfaces of components are perfectly smooth and clean. This will avoid milk being trapped during use, which can lead to bacteria build up.

Graham Greasley, production director at Fullwood, said: “The health and safety of our employees is a paramount concern for us and although the new hand-arm vibration legislation allows a five year transitional period, we wanted to do something straight away to address the dangers raised.

“By moving to a machine which requires little operator control and can be left running automatically, we’re providing a safer way of working and freeing our employees’ time to concentrate on more value-added tasks created by our growing order book.

“Also, with the ability to deburr and polish at the same time, we have the freedom to perform both functions whenever we want”.

“Since its recent installation, we’re realising its full potential by increasing the variety of components we process, giving a higher quality of finish across 150 different parts.”

Offering a comprehensive service from bespoke milking parlour design to equipment manufacture and maintenance, Fullwood prides itself on its ability to created tailored solutions for customers.

The company, which has a heritage dating back to 1785 and employs 150 people at Ellesmere, manufactures 8,000 different parts for its milking equipment.

Mr Greasley said: “We chose Wheelabrator Group as the team were very friendly, taking the time to listen to our problems and presenting a range of different solutions.”

Built at Wheelabrator Group’s facilities in Birmingham, the Walther Trowal CD 400 is part of an extensive range of deburring, degreasing, descaling and polishing equipment.

Mike Bird, Area Sales Manager at Wheelabrator Group, said: “Fullwood is a proactive and dynamic company that continues to drive product innovation in its sector. We’re delighted to have been able to help the company benefit from the latest deburring technology and free up valuable man hours previously absorbed by performing this arduous task by hand.”

Wheelabrator Group owns, designs, manufactures and provides wheelblast, airblast and mass finishing equipment for surface preparation and cleaning, and serves a range of sectors, including the aerospace and automotive industries. Further information can be found at http://www.wheelabratorgroup.com

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Deburring machine pays for itself

16 April 2007

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