When a subcontract machine shop succobs to fire damage, close support and help from a machine tool supplier with re-establishing the business is very welcome.

In a little under two months PG Components has literally risen from the ashes and, with a move to new premises now completed - combined with the commitment, desire and skill of its management and workforce - plus shrewd capital investment in new and advanced Hardinge technology - the company is (once again) up and running - and is ready to face the future with confidence. Precision engineering subcontractor - PG Components (PGC) was first established in the UK in 1991 and today employs 15 staff. The company manufactures precision components for a diverse range of customers operating in the scientific instrumentation; medical and pharmaceutical; and steam valve and control industries and sectors.

Since its creation - the company has devoted considerable time and effort in developing strong and mutually-profitable relationships with its customers.

And, whilst these relationships were undoubtedly 'tested' after the fire - they were not broken - a testament to the skill, commitment and dedication of PGC's management and staff.

Said Mark Hall, managing director at PGC: 'Clearly the fire created headaches for us - but the loyalty shown to us by our customers was fantastic - it spurred us on to get ourselves back in business as soon as possible.' With a whole host of issues to sort out, such as managing customer's work-in-progress, securing new business, making the insurance claims, searching for new premises, keeping staff up to speed with developments, etc (to name but a few), the company also had to make plans to quickly acquire new machine tool technology.

Continued Hall: 'We had a number of tasks that we had to deal with concurrently.

Because we had no premises and no machines either - it was critical that we resolved these two issues urgently.

We ultimately made our decision regarding the machine tool supplier - not only on the price and the performance of the machines themselves - but also on the business approach adopted and understanding and sensitivity to our position shown by the machine tool supplier too.

And that's why we selected Hardinge.' Hall said: 'Right from the outset Hardinge appreciated what we were trying to achieve.

They took time to find out about the materials we machined (Inconel, stainless steel, aluminium, etc.) and the tolerances (down to 10 micron or better) and surface finishes (4 micron Ra required; they appreciated the type of manufacturing we were involved in (low to medium batch production) - and that we needed manufacturing speed and production flexibility to succeed as a business.' Hall added; 'Their approach was consultative and supportive throughout - whereas other suppliers just saw it as an opportunity to make a 'quick' sale.' * The purchase decision - PGC has recently installed (August 2006) - three new Hardinge machine tools at its new Cheltenham facility.

These machines - two Talent CNC 8/52 lathes and one vertical machining centre (VMC - Bridgeport) 650 BP3 milling machine have been further augmented with Hardinge tooling/workholding equipment worth over GBP 30,000.

The Hardinge Talent lathes have a 52mm bar working capacity and the machines are driven by 11kW 6,000 rev/min spindle producing 136.9Nm torque.

The Talent lathes' powerful cutting capability is complemented by their automation - 12 station turret ATC with 1 sec tool change; bar feed capability and sophisticated swarf (conveyor) systems that all enable trouble-free unattended and overnight production to occur.

The Bridgeport 650 BP3 is a heavy-duty and highly-rigid 3-axis VMC that provides PGC with unrivalled cutting performance.

The machine is equipped with a 10kW 8,000 rev/min BT 40 spindle; a 20 position ATC and delivers 30m/min rapid feeds on all axes.

Owing to the nature of PGC's work (not too many tools required for most jobs) - the BP3's tool changer contains sister tooling and probes - to ensure round-the-clock, high-accuracy machining.

The investment in Hardinge tooling and workholding (toolholders, collets, chucks etc) also includes rotary indexing (5C and 16C) systems that enable PGC to perform quick and high precision (360 deg/s) second operations work - drilling, tapping, contouring, etc.

PGC's investment in Hardinge technology has helped the company streamline its design-to-manufacture operations.

From the company's CAD department - CAD/CAM data can be sent directly to the new Hardinge machines (control systems) - speeding up and making more accurate (due to less operator involvement) the whole data transfer operation.

Concluded Hall: 'It's certainly been a year to remember for PGC.

Despite the problems we encountered with the fire during the summer - we're back in business and, thanks to Hardinge - we're better and stronger than we were in the past.'