Continuing investment programme keeps Hone-All Precision ahead of the game

Hone-All Precision Ltd is already reaping the benefits of the recent decision to extend its machining capability with the installation of two Sunnen horizontal tube honing machines. According to Colin Rodney, Managing Director, this latest instalment in an ongoing investment programme has contributed significantly to the subcontract machining company’s competitive edge, especially in tube honing applications requiring high stock removal rates on larger diameter components.For its part Sunnen claims its honing machines deliver twice the metal removal rate of other competing machines. And it highlights features such as the new ‘tight bore’ torque sensing feature, while auto stroke adjust also helps prevent tool breakage and bent drive shafts – even during unattended operation in ‘tight bore’ conditions. The end result says Colin Rodney, is that the two new honing machines “are most definitely meeting and exceeding our expectations and for the first time in a long while, we have honing capacity available and we can be exceedingly competitive due to the stock removal rates achieved on the new Sunnen machines”. Hone-All is also celebrating a successful outcome to the annual re-assessment of its aerospace supply chain SC21 Bronze status. This, together with steady progress towards the 99.5-99.9 per cent quality performance criteria of the Silver level of the ‘Supply Chain for the 21st Century’ initiative, confirms the Leighton Buzzard-based company’s role as a leading supplier of specialist deep hole boring and drilling and honing services to the aerospace industry. Co-Director Andrea Rodney describes the increasing demand from customers in the aerospace and oil & gas industries in particular as a major contributor to growth and future investment. “We have invested heavily over the years and we remain committed to delivering the best possible service to our customers. They will continue to benefit from the improvements we are making in our drive for world-class performance.” A vital part of this drive is the provision of a complete machining service at Hone-All’s fully refurbished 20,000 sq. ft. factory. This includes material procurement, deep hole boring, deep hole drilling, gundrilling, CNC honing, CNC turning and CNC milling. All these activities are carried out in-house, enabling Hone-All to continuously improve control over cost, quality and lead times. This, says Andrea Rodney, guarantees competitive rates and a faster, more efficient service. The emphasis on continuous improvement has produced an ideal environment for the entire production process, from delivery of raw materials to shipment of finish machined components. Stringent quality management procedures have also proved their worth in terms of the pistons, valves and sleeves typically machined by HoneAll for aerospace customers. Multiple staged bores and close dimensional and geometrical tolerances are a frequent requirement of this type of work, a challenge that Colin Rodney says Hone-All is more than capable of meeting.

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