Father and son team Andy and Owen Phillips started a subcontract machining business in Havant in 1994. After four years, they applied their extensive knowledge to transition their firm, Andair, into a manufacturer of fuel system components for light aircraft in the sport, amateur-build and commercial aviation sectors.
The business, which is certified by QAS International and to ISO 9001:2008, is now a leading global producer of such equipment, with 90% of its fuel selectors, filters, check valves, gascolators and fuel pumps going to export markets.
Andair had been waiting eagerly for the launch of the 80 mm version of this twin-spindle machine with two Y-axis turrets. The high requirement for components of this size meant that the lathes were being used for chuck work 60% of the time.
A further benefit to Andair is that the two 64 mm bar lathes can now be devoted to the collet work for which they were originally intended.
The method of manufacture has now been altered, whereby milling and drilling as well as turning are carried out from bar on the Miyano, leaving only a small operation to clean the bore on a separate machine. Cycle time has been reduced by at least two minutes and an operation has been eliminated.
