Mazak Machines Power Rapid Progress for Scottish Subcontractor  

A new name in Scottish subcontracting has continued its upwards trajectory and expanded its machining capacity through further investment in high-quality machinery from machine tool supplier Yamazaki Mazak.

Aberdeen-based 247 Machining Services (247) was founded by husband-and-wife director team, John and Aileen Forrest, in 2018 after 30 years working in the steel fabrication and engineering sector. The company specialises in providing performance-critical parts for the oil and gas industry, and traditionally produce low-volume, high-quality batches of components.

Having previously purchased multiple Mazak QUICK TURN turning centres machines over the company’s three-year history, including a QT-COMPACT 200M and two QT-350MY machines, the Forrests have now invested in a INTEGREX i-400 full 5-axis Multi-Tasking machining centre, to increase the complexity of their production capabilities.

“When we first formed 247 Machining Services, we knew it was key to employ a highly skilled team of machine operators if we were to enjoy the strongest start possible,” explains John. “So, while we had found a premises to begin operations, we were reliant upon the recommendations of our employees when it came to specifying the right machine tools for the business.

The quality machining offered by our existing QT turning centres meant that when we were looking to expand our portfolio further, Mazak was our first choice. We wanted to make the move into high-volume, high-quality batch machining for the oil and gas sector, and look at branching into additional industries in the future, and the INTEGREX fitted the bill.

The latest generation of Mazak’s highly popular Multi-Tasking series of machine tools, the INTEGREX i-series offers higher performance machining and greater workpiece capacity than alternatives in its class. With a maximum machining diameter of 658 mm and capable of processing on the X-, Z-, Y-, W-axes, the unit is ideally suited to 247’s ambitions to produce a wider range of more complex parts.

With Mazak machinery now making up three quarters of 247’s factory floor, the Forrests are optimistic about the future and are considering further expansion, as Aileen explains. “The lockdowns over 2020 and into 2021 obviously posed challenges, but as social restrictions have fallen away, the oil trade has really picked up and demand for parts has grown with that.

She continued: “Our combination of highly trained operators and cutting-edge machine tools, of which Mazak makes up the majority, have been key parts of our continued growth. These, alongside a rigorous quality control process, has meant we have been able to go from an empty floor to a situation where our current premises may not be large enough to service growing demand levels. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Alan Mucklow, Managing Director UK, Eire and National Distributors at Yamazaki Mazak, adds: “247 Machining Services’ exceptional progress since its founding in 2018 is a textbook example of the impact Mazak machining tools can have on a business’s production capability.

Whether they are newly formed or well-established, all subcontractors, regardless of industry, have one thing in common – the need for high-quality, precise machine tools. We are proud to have provided 247 Machining Services with the capabilities it needed to hit the ground running and establish itself in such a competitive market.