ANT Industries, a globally recognised leader in the manufacture of aerospace engine parts, has announced a significant investment in its manufacturing facility with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art Mitsubishi MV4800S wire erosion machine. This strategic move underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality precision engineered aerospace parts to its world class customers.
Operating from the firm’s 28,000 ft2 manufacturing facility in Atherstone, Warwickshire, ANT Industries has a long-standing history of serving the aerospace and associated industries, now spanning over 45 years. The company’s expertise encompasses the production of an extensive range of components and assemblies for more than 20 aerospace and gas turbine engines, including engine rings and casings, prismatic complex machined parts, and machining of castings. This investment in the Mitsubishi MV4800S will further enhance their already impressive capabilities in turning, milling, grinding, and assembly operations.
The Mitsubishi MV4800S investment is a high-productivity wire-cut EDM renowned for its advanced features. The machine boasts a next-generation drive system and optimum machine structure equipped with a linear shaft motor (LSM) and an optical drive system (ODS) that realises circular accuracy within 1μ. This will allow ANT Industries to achieve even greater levels of precision and stability in their machining processes, crucial for the exacting standards of the aerospace sector.
Furthermore, the MV4800S features an advanced automatic wire threading system with a new annealing system that greatly improves wire threading with a curl ratio of less than 10%. This technology will lead to greatly improved productivity, particularly when working with thick workpieces. The machine also offers surface roughness improvements through enhanced power supply performance for high-speed machining, with the potential to reduce surface finish by 50% by machining with only 2 cuts.
ANT Industries’ Managing Director, Shaun Rowley, commented on the strategic importance of this investment. “This latest addition to our machinery portfolio demonstrates our unwavering commitment to remaining at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing. The Mitsubishi MV4800S’s advanced capabilities will allow us to further enhance the machining accuracy and stability that our world-class customers demand. As a first tier supplier for medium and complex components, it is imperative that we continuously invest in cutting-edge technology to support development, production, service and legacy schedules.”
Rowley further stated the significance of the investment in the context of the company’s growth and global reach. “Since transitioning our focus to precision components for the aerospace and power generation industries in 1990, and becoming a first-tier supplier in 1997, ANT Industries has gone from strength to strength, exporting world-wide to a growing portfolio of international clients. This investment is crucial for us to maintain our position as one of the leading global manufacturers of aerospace engine parts. The increased productivity and improved surface finish offered by the MV4800S will directly benefit our customers by ensuring we continue to deliver components directly to build line with the highest quality.
The investment in the Mitsubishi MV4800S, is the latest investment made from the ETG Group in Wellesbourne and aligns with ANT Industries’ dedication to stringent quality management processes applied across all services and product development. This commitment, combined with a highly-skilled workforce with strong technical capabilities, first-class industry knowledge and extensive manufacturing experience, ensures that ANT Industries remains a trusted partner for the aerospace industry worldwide.