Major product developments by companies within the Hardinge Grinding Group (HGG) and a re-focussing of grinding machines manufactured under the Jones & Shipman brand name has resulted in a new distribution agreement for the UK and France in which J&S will exclusively represent grinding machines manufactured by the Okamoto Machine Tool Works.
Comprehensive range
Okamoto offers a comprehensive range of surface, form, internal and external cylindrical and rotary surface grinders that complement HGG technologies and which will in future be available in the UK and France from the J&S sales and product support team.
As well as representing Okamoto, J&S has re-defined its manufacturing focus and in future will focus its activities on the manufacture and sales of the highly successful Suprema cylindrical grinder range along with selling high end technology products from sister HGG companies Kellenberger, Voumard, Hauser, Tschudin and Usach.
Collectively, these leading names cover an extensive range of grinding techniques such as universal, cylindrical, jig, surface, profile and vertical.
Strength, diversity and knowledge
It is the strength, diversity and accumulated knowledge of member companies in the Hardinge Grinding Group that has resulted in Group member Kellenberger creating a highly innovative new machine concept – Kellenberger 100 – that will be debuted this coming autumn.
The Kellenberger 100 series platform sees the high-performance, economical grinder segment in the Group’s portfolio being completely overhauled to make it fit for future manufacturing demands.
Based on a modular design, it incorporates key elements of Kellenberger's Vista and Vita model ranges, the Jones & Shipman Ultramat CNC and Ultragrind 1000 and the Tschudin T25, aspects of which have been integrated into the new concept.
Wealth of expertise
On the new focus in the UK, Jones & Shipman managing director Mike Duignan comments;
“There is a wealth of grinding expertise within the Hardinge Grinding Group and in order that we make the best use of manufacturing, sales and support resources we have developed a new strategy for the UK.
Increasingly we are providing customers with more integrated grinding solutions and many of the machines that Okamoto produce fit comfortably alongside our technologies, and indeed broaden the range.
Okamoto is a considerable force in the global grinding scene producing over 1600 grinders a year via its three factories but has not, until now, had such specialist grinding representation and support in the UK."
“With our manufacturing focus on the Suprema range, alongside the wealth and diversity of products manufactured by our sister companies in the Group we have a very comprehensive coverage.
Now, with the added capability that Okamoto’s extensive product range brings, we will actually be offering an even wider range of grinding solutions to the UK grinding market than before. All of which is supported by our specialist grinding engineers in sales, after sales and applications,” he explains.
The Hardinge Grinding Group is exhibiting at EMO 2017: Hall 11, Stand C78 while Okamoto are also in Hall 11 on stand C69.
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