Focus. Drive. And ambition.

Precision subcontract specialist’s latest CNC machine tool investment significantly increases the company’s machining capacity and capabilities, and underlines its ambitious growth plans for the future.

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions’ and Zayer machine tools, has recently supplied, Macro Manufacturing Ltd., a progressive precision subcontract specialist start-up, based in Aberdeen, with a new high-performance, multi-tasking lathe.

The Fanuc-controlled DN Solutions’ sub-spindle, Y-axis Lynx 2600SY lathe was installed at the company’s 950sq. ft. facility in April 2024, and is being used to machine a range of components for a growing number of customers in the oil and gas, renewables and agricultural industries and sectors, to name but a few.

These parts, typically machined in medium batch sizes, are made from a range of different materials, with Stainless Steel grades (316, 316L and 17-4 grades), Duplex and Super-Duplex, aluminium alloys, 4140 low alloy steel, exotics (that include Inconel. Hastelloy etc), and some engineering plastics (i.e. Acetyl), being particularly prevalent.

Parts machined by Macro Manufacturing are also characterised by their complexity with tight tied-up geometric tolerances and exacting surface finish requirements being the norm rather than the exception.

Although (relatively) small in size, these parts frequently exhibit intricate and delicate features that can only be machined, or can only be machined efficiently and economically, on a multi-tasking lathe.

Says Macro Manufacturing’s owner and director, Matthew Forbes:

“The Lynx 2600SY is a high-accuracy multi-tasking lathe that has significantly increased our in-house machining capacity and capabilities and enables us to machine complex parts quickly, in one set-up.

“Since its arrival, we have been able to secure new machining contracts from both new and existing customers, and have strengthened our position within a number of customers’ manufacturing supply chains.”

Macro Manufacturing – the early days

The Lynx 2600SY is the first machine tool Macro Manufacturing has acquired from DN Solutions since the company’s incorporation back in 2022. It is also the first new machine acquired by the company in its two-year history.

Like many new precision subcontract start-ups, Macro Manufacturing had relatively humble beginnings, starting life in a shed on a local farm with initial machining contracts being undertaken on a couple of used CNC machine tools.

“The early days were a challenge”, remembers Matthew Forbes. “I was still employed full-time at my previous employer, and was having to manage and run the new company in my spare time…during the night and through the weekends.”

This situation was always intended to be a temporary, stop-gap measure until the company was more established and, after just a few months, Mr Forbes decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and put all his time and effort into making Macro Manufacturing a success.

Matthew Forbes

Matthew Forbes is an apprentice-trained, time-served engineer with significant machining (programming and operator) experience.

He is passionate about engineering and always had the desire and ambition to run his own company.

His vision, which is now being realised, was (and is) to supply high-quality, competitively-priced precision machined components to customers, and to grow the business through developing long-term partner relationships with many of them.

Part and parcel of these plans was to relocate the business to new premises, and to increase the company’s in-house machining resources.

Lynx 2600SY: investment rationale and decision

Macro Manufacturing’s decision to invest in the new Lynx 2600SY was made for a number of reasons.

Explains Matthew Forbes

“Having access to a multi-tasking turning centre would enable us to expand our customer base and to take on more complex, and hopefully, more profitable work.

“A lathe with integrated Y-axis, sub-spindle and driven tooling capabilities would allow us to machine precision parts to completion in one set-up and avoid the problem of production bottlenecks caused by having to transfer parts between machines.

“Furthermore, the machine’s ability to run unattended, we believed, would make us more efficient and productive too.”

Having already experienced the power, speed, precision and reliability of a Lynx 2100SY lathe in his previous employment, Mr Forbes approached Mills CNC to enquire about the availability of a, larger capacity, Lynx 2600SY.

“I liked Mills’ proactive approach,” says Matthew Forbes. “They were interested in our plans and made the investment process simple and straightforward.”

Lynx 2600SY – a closer look

The 10” chuck/81mm bar capacity Lynx 2600SY is a popular and proven compact turning centre equipped with a powerful, high-torque main spindle (18.5kW/3500rpm/403N-m), a 6” chuck 4500rpm sub-spindle and 6000rpm driven tooling capabilities.

The lathe also features a +/- 52.5mm Y-axis, a 12-station/24-position servo-driven turret, roller LM guideways and the Fanuc 0iTP control.

The machine supplied to Macro Manufacturing also featured an auto-tool setter, a FilterMist extraction unit and 20bar fixed coolant capability.

Says Matthew Forbes:

“The Lynx 2600SY is a highly productive machine and is ideal for fast and accurate small parts processing.

“Since being installed, the lathe has been put through its paces machining a range of complex parts, and hasn’t missed a beat.

“The Lynx 2600SY has made us more competitive, and has been more than instrumental in us acquiring new customers and securing repeat business with many existing ones.”

Future

Macro Manufacturing is not a company that rests on its laurels or leaves anything to chance.

In the not-too-distant future, the company will relocate again to larger premises, take on additional staff and, as part of its commitment to continuous improvement, invest in more advanced machine tools and ancillary technologies.

The company has ambitious growth plans for the future, and with Matthew Forbes at the helm, it’s a safe bet that these plans will be realised.