Basket washing machines for hardened components

A Huddersfield manufacturer of hydraulic motor drive components is flushing out inefficiencies thanks to three new superior washing systems from Wheelabrator Group

A Huddersfield manufacturer is flushing out inefficiencies thanks to three new superior washing systems from Wheelabrator Group.

Meltham Mills Engineering is strengthening its operation with a trio of new Clean-Tek B60 basket type washing machines from the world market leaders in surface preparation and finishing equipment.

Located in Holmfirth, Meltham Mills Engineering specialises in manufacturing and heat treating hydraulic motor drive components for customers in the automotive industry, including Bosch, Case New Holland and Massey Ferguson.

Specialising in oil press quenching and induction hardening techniques, it hardens steel components through heating and controlled quench techniques.

Removing hardened surface oils, collected from the quenching process, is an essential part of the company's operations to ensure a high level of tolerance on the end component.

The new, compact equipment will replace a washing tanker, which was 10 times the size of the B60 machine.

Peter Fletcher, marketing and operations director at Meltham Mills Engineering, said: "The real benefit of the Wheelabrator Group machines are their efficiency, which will allow us to provide a consistent hard wearing, quality finish at a higher throughput.

This is especially important as it will help us to accommodate our growing order book.

Their compact nature will enable us to easily integrate it into our heat treating process so that cleaning takes place in cycle rather than as an additional operation.

This will also significantly reduce the time required to fill the washers, freeing up valuable man hours, which can now be put to better use.

At the end of the day our customers benefit as we are able to take out cost from the process helping them and ourselves remain competitive.

We considered other suppliers but found the competitive price, efficient service and quick delivery offered by Wheelabrator Group were far superior to its competitors".

Established in 1993, Meltham Mills Engineering originated as David Brown Tractors and was formed to continue the production and heat treatment of gears and shafts.

It now employs 80 staff and performs sub contract heat treatment, induction hardening, shot peening, and surface finishing in addition to its original business.

The new Wheelabrator machines are key to the success of this division of the company.

Nigel Buffham, area sales manager at Wheelabrator Group, said: "Meltham Mills Engineering pride themselves on providing a quality service for their customers and we're delighted to be able to provide them with the latest, most efficient, technology to help them do this".

Wheelabrator Group designs, manufactures and provides wheelblast, airblast and mass finishing equipment for surface preparation and cleaning, and services a variety of sectors, including the aerospace and automotive industries.

For product enquiries or to arrange a visit to the Wheelabrator Group Surface Technology Centre, please contact Brian Rodgers, sales manager at the Wheelabrator Group.

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