Coolants & Lubricants Ensuring Cost Savings Stay Fluid
The trial and error process led Konrad to cast a hopeful query on LinkedIn for advice and support – it was here that Ian Fenney, the Metalworking Segment Specialist from ITW ROCOL answered the call for help. “Ian came to visit us and investigate our cutting fluid requirements. Following an initial consultation, we trialled three different ROCOL fluids. Trialling more than one product was due to the diversity of the materials we were cutting, the varying operations and machining parameters and some of the products were new to market for ROCOL. ROCOL emptied and cleaned the sump of a machine, and we tried our first fluid, and the results were impressive. The quality of the fluid was excellent, and the support has been second to none.”
Bristol-based Nerc Precision Engineering (NPE) Ltd has been on a rapid growth trajectory since its inception in May 2018, marking the fourth anniversary of its founding with the recent installation of a DMG MORI CMX600V machining centre. Investing in prestige technology is a philosophy of the small business, and this has been highlighted with its newly formed partnership with cutting fluid specialists ITW ROCOL. Commenting upon the growth of the business, Managing Director, Mr Konrad Nerc says: “When my wife and I started the business, we aimed to invest in the best technology to ensure that we can deliver the highest quality components and service with lead times and pricing that would be the industry benchmark. As a small and agile manufacturer with innovative technology investments that include 5-axis machining, our philosophy and customer service is enabling us to evolve rapidly.” In the last two years, the subcontract manufacturer has invested in a DMG MORI DMU50 5-axis and a CMX600V 3-axis machining centre that is supported by zero- point clamping from Lang, cutting tools from Ceratizit, Hoffmann and Tungaloy and of course cutting fluid from ITW ROCOL. Producing
everything from one-offs and prototypes to batch production, the ISO: 9001:2015 subcontract manufacturer typically services customers in the defence, offshore, automotive and general subcontract sectors with the aerospace industry rapidly emerging as its most prominent market sector. Like any fledgling business, finding the best quality products and services is a learning curve; and this has certainly been the case for the company located near Bristol airport when considering its cutting fluids. As Konrad says: “Our initial cutting fluid supplier was a well-known name in the industry, but the quality of the fluid was quite poor. The fluid consumption was high, the coolant left a lot of residue on our components, we suffered from tramp oil and foaming, and the staff also suffered with skin irritation. We soon moved to a very high-end brand of cutting oil. This premium brand eliminated tramp oil, foaming and skin irritation for staff – the consumption was also reduced and it improved tool life and surface finishes. However, we found the poor service unacceptable, especially considering the increased cost for a barrel of oil. We eventually moved to a third vendor with a brand equally well recognised as a premium product. Whilst the quality of fluid, performance and cost were relatively similar to the second supplier – once again, it was the service and support that was lacking.”
“Like any fledgling business, finding the best quality products
Since the trial commenced last year, Nerc has won a series of new customers and sizeable orders in the aerospace industry, with work in this sector now accounting for 95% of turnover. This has seen the materials machined narrow from stainless, steel, copper, brass and a multitude of ferrous and non-ferrous materials to primarily aluminium and aerospace- grade alloys. With this evolution, ITW ROCOL identified its TRI-Logic cutting fluid as the most suitable solution. The TRI-Logic range are a maximum life extreme pressure cutting fluids that demonstrate excellent inherent stability and cutting performance that improves surface finish and tool life whilst reducing foaming and odours. Furthermore, as a fluid formulated from a unique blend of specially selected additives
and services is a learning curve”
that maximise sump life, TRI-Logic also offers excellent corrosion protection. To undertake the trial, ITW ROCOL supplied a 55 litre barrel of its industry-leading TRI-Logic to Nerc. This barrel was utilised in the initial trial that required the emptying and cleaning of one machine sump to demonstrate the difference between ROCOL and its fellow ‘premium brand’ rivals. With the results rapidly becoming evident the remainder of the barrel
Machinery & Manufacturing 57
Machinery & Manufacturing 56
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