Toolmaker and component specialist Westcut has completed the transformation of its press division into a fully hydraulic operation.
The company has taken delivery of its second 63HP press - a 630kN multi-function hydraulic press - from PJ Hare to help with the increasing variety of its expanding workload. Richard Scott of Westcut, explained: 'The versatility of the hydraulic press was central to our decision to move from mechanical presses.

As a small engineering business specialising in short to medium production runs we needed machinery that could cope with a multitude of tasks.

Numerous tasks means numerous tool changes, hence we needed a press solution that, amongst other things, minimised downtime wherever possible.' Westcut's move to hydraulic presses was partly the result of good fortune as the availability of a reconditioned Hare press meant that they could trial the merits of hydraulics without the financial outlay on a brand new machine.

18 months down the line having proved its value, Westcut decided to switch their entire press operation from mechanical to hydraulic.

Richard Scott continued: 'The first press did everything that Hare said it would.

Tool setting was quicker, less maintenance was required, the combination of the close proximity of the optical guards to the work and the ease of access has helped speed up productivity, and we hope to see improved tool life due to the more controlled nature of the hydraulic stroke.' But it was an unanticipated advantage that sealed the decision for Westcut.

As a specialist toolmaker Westcut runs two highly sensitive wire erosion machines on the same shop floor as the presses.

Previously the company had to stagger its mechanical press usage around the wire erosion processes due to excessive vibrations transmitted through the floor upsetting the wire erosion machines.

The hydraulic presses, however, have eliminated this problem for all but the heaviest loads thus helping productivity throughout Westcut's 3,000ft2 plant.

William Hare, Managing Director of P J Hare, was enthusiastic that a relatively small engineering company had invested in the company's presses: 'Whilst hydraulic presses have many advantages over their mechanical counterparts, mechanical presses still have a stronghold on the UK manufacturing market.

One reason may be that the initial cost is higher.

We' re delighted that Westcut has had the opportunity to explore the flexibility and resultant productivity improvements that a hydraulic press can deliver.

Within 18 months the company has illustrated how productivity gains can make the superior machine pay for itself very quickly.' The new presses have allowed Westcut to manufacture components ranging from 25mm2 to 500mm x 300mm and simultaneously test its tooling applications in house for its clients.

Examples of their uses include blanking, coining, crimping, forming, marking and moulding.

This flexibility means that Westcut now intends to further enhance its set-up with an 800kN hydraulic press and automatic coil feeder systems for longer production runs.

Richard Scott concluded: 'When you're running a flexible press operation on premises of 3,000f2 you need to make sure that every piece of machinery optimises use of space.

The hydraulic presses have equipped us with the ability to service a large variety of clients and processes using the same machinery.

We now have a fully flexible press shop that will meet virtually every press application imaginable.'