Hone-All Your single source maufacturing solution -Hone-All Precision makes room for a new addition

Date of issue: 13th June 2004
Reference: HONE-MACH-WSK8
Media Release

Hone-All Precision makes room for a new addition

Relocating its manual honing activities to an adjacent site has enabled Hone-All Precision to commence the re-organisation of its main machining facilities in readiness for the installation of another deep hole boring and drilling machine.

These days the Dunstable sub-contractor is more accurately described as a single source supplier of fully machined components. However, says co-director Andrea Rodney, this successful transition has resulted in the 24-employee company needing additional capacity to cope with a growing demand for its services.

“Unfortunately, a steep rise in property prices in this area has ruled out an immediate move to larger premises, so renting additional space is the most cost-effective option. We have now reclaimed around 1500 ft² of existing floorspace, which means we can install a smaller version of our Boehringer deep hole boring machine. This will ease the pressure on our gun drilling section with regard to larger diameter drilling and, conversely, relieve the pressure on the larger deep hole borer at the lower end of its drilling capability.” The intention is to transfer short billet and small batch work from the existing deep hole borer, thereby reducing set-up times, shortening lead times and improving competitiveness.

“We will be taking on two more skilled people because of the additional work this latest investment is expected to generate,” says Andrea Rodney. “However, the re-organisation involves more than just a straightforward numerical addition to Hone-All’s precision machining capability. The emphasis is on improving overall productivity by combining multi-skilling, which allows us to make the most efficient use of all our machine tools, with a workplace that optimises the flow of work through it without compromising the safety of our employees.”