Machine Tool Orders Include Re-engineered Types

Companies providing components to the oil and gas sector have for some years benefited from Ward CNC's established pedigree in the supply of a wide range of cost-effective machines, both new and used/remanufactured to a high standard and often available ex-stock. The ability of the Sheffield-based machine tool specialist to supply a wide range of value-for-money packages - often mixing remanufactured machines with models from its new machine ranges of Hankook, Hartford, Soraluce, Takisawa Taiwan, Toshulin and Union to meet varying machining demands - has been perfectly illustrated in recent months with a flurry of installations, including the following. * A repeat order for a Hankook Protec 9NC two-axis horizontal lathe from KMC Oiltools. * The supply of a remanufactured Mori Seiki SL-35 CNC lathe to J Hickinson and Son. Such has been the success of KMC Oiltools' Hankook Protec 9NC two-axis lathe in machining a variety of components including oilfield accessories such as pup joints, casing hangers, tubing hangers, and various size shoes and collars for offshore cementation operations at the Aberdeen site, that increased demand for similar components prompted machine shop manager Alan Ledingham to return to Ward CNC for another, similar machine. Part of the Scomi/Oiltools International group, which operates from 53 locations in 28 countries, KMC Oiltools is a leading provider of oil country tubular goods repair, manufacture and re-certification. 'When, in 2004, we needed extra large-capacity turning resource to meet a rise in demand, I selected our initial Hankook Protec 9NC for three principal reasons,' said Ledingham. 'I liked the look of the machine and was impressed with its build quality; I liked its level of user-friendliness; and I liked its price.' The machine was put to work on a range of premium connections, with diameters ranging from 100mm upwards. Most of the time the machine is deployed on complex threading tasks, he says, and the threads produced demand very high tolerances (the company has been awarded premium thread licenses from API, Vallourec, and the Tenaris and NSPT product families). 'One of the advantages of the Hankook is that it features a steady rest, and this helps us achieve high levels of accuracy,' he said. 'One of the principles of good management embedded in our QA/QC programme [KMC Oiltools was the first company in its area to be approved to ISO 9002-1994] is criteria for good workmanship,' said Ledingham, 'So whatever machine we bought had high expectations to fulfil. He added: 'The Hankook has more than satisfied these demands; not only has it performed exceedingly well, but it was also competitively priced. So, when we needed to expand capacity again in this area, due to a rising order book, it was an obvious choice that we install another Hankook Protec.' When specialist sub-contract machinist, J Hickinson and Son, needed extra turning capacity for the production of a range of connectors, for example, for oil and gas customers, Ward CNC provided the answer with a remanufactured Mori Seiki SL-35 CNC lathe. Charlie Morrow, works director, said the Larkhall-based company looked at comparable machines but nothing matched the Ward offering for price and, most importantly, availability. 'Producing a wide range of components - for customers in the electronics, mining and compressor fields, for instance, as well as the oil and gas sector - Ward CNC was at relatively short notice able to supply a machine that met both our specification and budget,' he said. 'This was the first time we had dealt with Ward, but we will be in touch again as we have found them very helpful.'