The CNC grinding machine can handle rolls up to 2,000 mm long and 1,244 mm in diameter, catering for both solid and hollow section, weighing up to 3,000 kg, between centres.

It shares the same design as the oilfield CNC grinder, featuring a fixed table and headstock, with a ballscrew driven wheelhead mounted on maintenance free, frictionless linear rails traversing in the X & Z axes. The heavy duty tailstock has a powered quill and the facility for both morse taper adapters and special hub mounts, subject to the roll being machined.

Fanuc is used throughout, with operation by the latest Oi-TC controller utilising high performance, high torque a/c motors and drives which control both wheel and work heads, along with X & Z axes. The controller comes complete with a large selection of dedicated grinding cycles ranging from parallel to complex concave, convex and taper shapes, as well as, incorporating grooving cycles, with all types diamond, herringbone and chevron patterns available as standard.

"As a market led company we don't invest in any project until in-depth market research has been conducted, this duly took place earlier last year and were somewhat taken aback by the results. There didn't seem to be any purpose built machines on the market, merely adaptations of universal grinders, so we reprioritised moving the project forward. Right from the outset we have been surprised by the interest shown by a number of high profile company's around the world," said Graham Thomas, managing director.