Dunbeath Engineering takes delivery of huge new machine
An engineering company in Caithness has taken delivery of a huge new machine that will add to its production capacity.
The Mazak PFH 5500 multi-pallet CNC milling machine arrived at Dunbeath Engineering on three large transporter trucks.
Ninety per cent of machines at the 21-year-old factory are computer-controlled. This allows great flexibility and high-tolerance manufacturing to be achieved, plant manager Angus McGuire explained.
"The addition of this machine with its multi-pallet automatic loading system expands Dunbeath Engineering’s 'lights out' manufacturing capability," he said. "The machines are manually loaded during day shifts, allowing the machines to run on through the night unattended."
Dunbeath Engineering exports its engineering workholding products throughout the world and says it is seeing greatly increased demand.
It employs around 20 people, almost entirely Caithness-based, and is planning further expansion of the workforce.
Mr McGuire pointed out that the factory is also now almost 100 per cent “green”, with its photovoltaic panels and wind turbine producing most of its electrical requirements. The company believes this could be a first in Scotland.
Dunbeath Engineering said it was grateful to two Wick firms – Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd, for its heavy lifting service, and G & A Barnie, for the electrical installation work.