Rebuilds tackle Cummins output rise When more output was required from eight FMT 2500 horizontal machining centres installed at Cummins Engines, Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) was tasked with enhancing their performance. When more output was required from eight FMT 2500 horizontal machining centres installed at Cummins Engines, Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) was tasked with enhancing their performance.

Eight FMT 2500 horizontal machining centres installed at Cummins Engines of Daventry some 20 years ago have consistently achieved the rigorous productivity schedules asked of them operating continuously 24 hours a day with exceptional reliability.When more output was required from the machines, Cummins maintenance manager Adam Dawson, was tasked with enhancing their performance.

In turn Cummins turned to Siemens Automation & Drives for assistance and Chris Dowson, product specialist, was able to offer a tailored package including the latest Siemens CNC controller, drives and software.The package would increase production and reduce lead-times and, to ensure Cummins continued to achieve the production levels required for years to come, the decision was taken to have the machines rebuilt mechanically.

The next task for Dowson was to locate a company that was familiar with Siemens equipment and capable of carrying out a high quality, cost effective mechanical rebuild.He approached Mike Diskin, managing director of Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC), a specialist machine tool refurbishment company.

HNC was formed seven years ago by Diskin and co-director Tim Price, when machine tool builder Asquith Butler ceased manufacturing.Initially HNC offered a support service for AB's products, and then grew into retrofitting controls and full rebuilds - employing the design, development and software writing and specialist shop floor skills of former AB staff.

The rebuild of the first machine was completed on time and passed the tough Cummins acceptance tests with few problems. Since then, HNC has rebuilt three of the FMT machines and managed to squeeze in a DeVlieg model 5K Jigmil rebuild for Cummins as well.

HNC has recently received another order from Cummins Diesels Ltd in Daventry for the mechanical refurbishment of a KTM 2500. The machine is to fully refurbished and extensively modified to increase the Z-axis traverse and column height by 500mm to accommodate the new rotary table.