Maximizing efficiency Press tool manufacture: A family firm's leap into advanced manufacturing

Related Vendors

Guhring Ltd.

HASCO Hasenclever GmbH + Co KG

DIPROFIL Diamantprodukter AB

Ramada Acos

As a family-run business, Canterbury Tools has been involved in the design and manufacture of press tools since it was established almost 50 years ago. To optimise the production of specialist press tools, the Wallsall subcontract manufacturer utilises wire EDM machines from Sodick, machine tools from Hurco and cutting tools supplied by Birmingham-based Guhring.

The West Midlands manufacturer Canterbury Tools specialises in the production of single operation tools, progression tools, transfer tools, as well as components and assemblies for automated and robotic processes in sectors as diverse as the agricultural and construction industries through to the medical, IT, aerospace and automotive sectors. To retain an industry-leading position, the ISO: 9001 manufacturer is always looking for opportunities to accelerate performance and productivity — and it is this determination to succeed that led the company to Guhring.

At Canterbury Tools, the company utilises a selection of 3-axis machines from small capacity to three meter bed machines as well as simultaneous 5-axis machining. Discussing the daily operation of the business, Josh Bennett, the Operations Team Leader at Canterbury Tools says: “We pride ourselves on manufacturing high-quality press tooling and this includes everything from single operation to progression tools and small fine blanking work to automotive tooling. Press tools can be quite complicated projects, so we use a lot of different machine tools — and as technology has advanced, what was once done on manual machine tools is now moved to CNC machines.”