Perkins opts for excellence

Perkins Engines has opened a new crankshaft machining centre at its headquarters in Peterborough, UK, capable of producing over a quarter of a million crankshafts a year when at full capacity and intended to supply its needs globally.

The state of the art facility was opened by Jim Owens, chairman of Caterpillar, Perkins’ parent company, and Perkins president Gwenne Henricks.

‘This is excellent news for Perkins and Peterborough,’ said Ms Henricks. “Peterborough is Perkins’ centre of manufacturing excellence and this commitment and investment supports our ongoing desire to build a sustainable business in the city.”

Through the deployment of highly automated benchmark technology, the new facility will increase crankshaft manufacturing capacity by 100 % and represents a step change in machining operations at Peterborough.

‘This state-of-the-art facility will give our customers the best delivered quality yet and will achieve a flexible world class solution that will be the industry benchmark for crankshaft technology and automation in the world,’ Henricks added.

There are also what the company considers to be significant safety and environmental benefits to the new facility. For example the complete elimination of the heat treatment process will decrease energy consumption, while the use of leading edge technology within the centre will deliver higher speed processes and extend tooling life. Changes to the supply chain will also see a 90% reduction in the distances travelled by components.