WEC Group invests in new ‘state-of-the-art’ tech at Blackburn machining facility

Lancashire-based engineering and fabrication firm WEC Group Ltd has invested in a new lathe machine to further cement its position in the aerospace industry.

The company has acquired a state-of-the-art Citizen L32 multi-axis sliding head lathe, which is the third addition to the sliding head cell at its 33,000 sq ft machining facility in Blackburn.

WEC Group said that the Citizen L32, with seven axis and the capacity to mount up to 30 tools at any one time, can achieve “diverse shapes and sizes” as it runs for 24 hours a day.

The firm is confident the investment will help improve on lead times and costs for customers.

WEC Machining Ltd director Steve Fitzpatrick commented: “We have invested steadily over the past two years in this specific technology and are seeing huge benefits in the quality of components and improved delivery lead times.”

WEC Group was recently awarded AS9100 Rev C certification for CNC machining, which adds to its existing accreditations for waterjet and laser cutting.

Speaking further, Steve said: “The scope of our aerospace approval has now been increased to include three-, four- and five-axis machining and assembly work, and the sliding head cell is helping us cope with the increasing demand we are seeing from the aerospace sector in particular.”

Earlier this year, WEC Group expanded north of the border with a new base in Motherwell, south east of Glasgow.

The Darwen-headquartered firm is currently working on a £6m aerospace contract for an Airbus assembly factory in Germany.

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