Having trouble with your Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost?
Don’t worry, because Sydney-based Dellow Automotive is the largest manufacturer in Australia of replacement parts for classic and performance cars. It has been in operation for about 45 years, and now exports its products to some 25 countries.
Due to the number of enthusiasts now restoring or building cars, such as the revered Silver Ghost, demand around the world for Dellow products has ‘blown out’ to unexpectedly large proportions. To cope with the influx of orders, the company needed to expand its capacity to produce such major items as flywheels, bell-housings, and adaptors.
Earlier this year, the company took delivery of a Colchester Tornado T10M-bar, which was built in England by the 600 Group to Dellow’s exacting specifications, and was supplied through the Sydney branch of 600 Machine Tools.
The 4.5 tonne machine was installed and commissioned at the Dellow plant in Revesby, and is now in full production. The Tornado has the ability to produce in minutes some of the components that are in most demand, and has helped the automotive company to maintain its reputation for excellent service to enthusiasts seeking increasingly-rare spares for classic vehicles.
According to company founder and owner, Jeff Dellow, investing in this machine will enable the company to add to it’s pre existing product range.
“Our fast-increasing export orders are the ones that encouraged us to purchase this unique machine. I never thought that we would be exporting parts for Nissan back to Japan, which we now do on a regular basis,” Dellow said.
“Although CNC machines have been available since the mid 1970s, the Tornado model installed at Revesby is the first of its type to come to Australia. It has a polymer-concrete base, which does not absorb heat from the machining centre, unlike the cast-iron machine used in the past and affecting its accuracy.”
“Mike Hyde of 600 Machine Tools has the admiration of everyone here because of his professional approach, and the help he provided to install and operate the new machine.”
Century of know-how
According to Managing Director of 600 Machine Tools, Cliff Purser, it is widely-known in the engineering workshops of Australia that the Colchester-Harrison legacy combines the most advanced machine tool design and lathes system technology with more than a century of manufacturing and service success.
“It was the job of our engineers in Sydney, led by Mike Hyde, to help Jeff and his team at Dellow Automotive to evaluate and select the right machining centre for the type of work undertaken at Revesby, taking into account such crucial factors as accuracy, volume of throughput, and ease of set-ups,” Purser explained.
“After due deliberations, a strong case emerged for a machine in the Tornado family and, in particular, the largest three-axis turning centre in the range, the powerful T10M.
“As Dellow immediately recognised, this machine features Duo-Stable’ construction that is not only heavier, but is up to 300% more thermally and dynamically stable than conventional cast-iron construction,” he added.
Features of the T10M include:
• 12 driven-tool turret with VDI 40 tooling system
• Fully-programmable C-axis and disc-brake spindle clamping
• Latest Fanuc 21i TB control with Manual Guide i as standard
• 3000/4000 rpm and 26 kW main-spindle motor power
• Powerful 5.5kW driven-tool motor for excellent milling results
• ‘Duo-Stable’ construction, with a built-in foundation creates a unique ‘plug-in and run’ capability for swift installation and commissioning
“Australia’s workshop managers have known 600 Group machine tools for three decades, and we were delighted to welcome many long-standing customers from all over the country to our stand at this year’s Austech show,” Purser continued.
“Although 600 Machine Tools is based in Sydney, the company works closely with current and prospective customers through its branches and representatives in Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
Specifications of the Tornado and other machine tools are readily available for workshop managers seeking sound advice on machine selection, value for money, and exemplary service and support throughout the working life of each machine.”
For more information contact:
600 Machine Tools
P – 02 9748 1964
W – http://600machinery.com.au
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