A long-bed lathe is helping a manufacturer of blow moulds to increase its productivity and maintain its competitive advantage by reducing set-up time for turning complex cavities.

Solent mould tool (SMT) - the UK's largest independent blow mould manufacturer has recently invested in a Hardinge Talent 10/78L (long-bed) lathe. The machine, installed at SMT's Waterlooville facility in August 2006, is helping the company increase its productivity and maintain its competitive advantage by reducing time (and resources) spent on job set ups as well as reducing machine cycle times (both by as much as 50%) - when machining complex cavities in mould tools. The net results for SMT through its investment in the Hardinge lathe are shorter lead times and improved part accuracy - which, in the world of complex mould tool manufacture, are very welcome.

* Comprehensive production capability - Solent mould tools was established in 1986 and today employs over 40 people.

The company designs and manufactures blow moulds (up to 2 tonnes) for a range of sectors and industries.

The company provides a total systems solution service to its mould tool customers.

This does not just include the manufacture of complex moulds but also involves working in close consultation with customers to develop and design mould tool concepts and prototypes prior to production sets being manufactured.

SMT also provides comprehensive mould tool repair and modification services to customers.

In addition to investing in the new Hardinge CNC lathe - SMT has also made significant investments (over recent months) in a number of 5-axis and high-speed machining centres used to mill slots, recesses and pockets, etc, in a single set-up.

The company has impressive CAD/CAM capability and, via DNC links, ensures fast data transfer between its design and production operations.

SMT's moulds are used by customers in the UK and throughout Europe and increasingly within the USA - which demonstrates the truly global nature of this market.

The company's moulds are made mainly from aluminium although in some instances steels and alloys - Alumex - are used.

SMT moulds are used in the volume manufacture of plastic bottles (PET, HDPE, PP, PVC etc.) for mineral water, soft drinks and fruit juices, carbonated beverages, cosmetics, toiletries etc - and in total the company manufactures in the region of two thousand mould tools every year.

The mould tool industry is highly competitive with price, quality and lead time reduction being of critical importance.

The decision by SMT to invest in the Hardinge Talent 10/78 lathe was in response to these market demands.

* Cycle times reduced by 50% - the Talent lathe is being used to machine the internal cavities in the mould and has been installed adjacent to an older Hardinge Cobra lathe that is used to machine external features on the mould tool.

Using high-density and diamond tip tooling - the Talent is able to perform heavy-duty cutting operations to high accuracy and repeatability.

Said Andy Thorpe, shop floor chargehand at SMT: 'The Talent lathe has provided us with additional capacity and capability - and has helped us become more productive.

Typically machine cycle times have been reduced by some 50% and the fine surface finishes we are able to obtain, which includes the elimination of blend lines, also means less time spent on secondary polishing operations.' * Check-out the Talent CNC lathe - the new Hardinge Talent 10/78L is a long bed lathe (1050mm between centres) designed for heavy duty turning applications.