If you haven’t heard of Swages Engineering then your ear is not close enough to the engineering landscape. The company’s 48th CNC machining is something to be proud of, the latest CNC Machine caps off a complete Swages offering.
“It rounds off a complete offering and highlights our capabilities,” says managing director of Swages, Mike Graham. Mike’s father John started the business in 1978, and today Swages’ 48 machines seem a far cry from those start-out days when John’s business had just a second-hand Herbert 2D Capstan lathe, a drill press and a bench grinder.
“I believe we have the largest number of CNC machines in the country,” explains Mike. “And our latest acquisition means the company can now cover the complete range of engineering jobs that do not require a gantry or crane. We’ve purchased the Kitamura Mytrunnion 4G from Total CNC Products of Auckland because it’s a true 5-axis machine, not a 4+1, and we are now the largest contract production shop in New Zealand.”
The Kitamura has been refined over several years and has been designed specifically for manufacturers and subcontractors that demand the utmost in machining flexibility and the capability of processing precision complex parts.
The 4G is a full simultaneous 5-axis machining centre with a maximum work piece size of 550mm diameter and 400mm high and is able to handle a vast range of materials. The spindle is a high speed 15,000 rpm and rapid speeds in X and Y is a blazing 50m/min.
Operators at Swages are sure to enjoy its Arumatik-Mi controller developed by Kitamura and Mitsubishi and the machine’s massive 19-inch screen ensures it GibbsCAM® is a cutting-edge CAM system for programming CNC machine tools. GibbsCAM has the power and flexibility to let you make parts the way you want. With its shop-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, you’ll maximize productivity.
Whether CNC programmer, machinist or manufacturing engineer, the user will find familiar terminology. Icons will make sense. Processes will be logical. With GibbsCAM, CNC programming is flexible, fast, reliable, and efficient.
The Kitamura is the culmination of an impressive 20 years of growth for Swages, with huge emphasis having been placed on investment on plant capital, its staff and customer relations.
“Swages compete on the world stage, having secured contracts with clients who have global distribution in the medical, lighting and military arenas, while ensuring the local market isn’t neglected.
Today, the team of more than 50 staff operate the East Tamaki business that features a factory footprint in excess of 27,000 square feet, With forty years of experience the company’s primary business includes CNC precision machined components to specifications, product design and development assistance, CMM inspection with hard copy verification and prompt delivery thanks to a 20 hour twice daily production schedule.
Mike says, our market share is growing, resulting from our promotion, our ability to handle extremely complex work and personal calling on clients. Once we prove ourselves the customer’s confidence follows “we are more cost effective and product a better quality product because we don’t need to improvise as we have the right machine for each task,” says Mike. With dedicated quality analysis, programmers who prepare the job and a staff of over 50 ensure the factory is running at full capacity and the Swages competes with great economy of scale.
Mike and the team are intent on continuing to grow the business and to continue the legacy that his father began.
Jet planes don’t have wing mirrors and Swages is a business with a strong focus on the future. But if jet planes did, Swages would probably have machined them.
TOP |