R and D Marine designs and produces flexible shaft couplings, anti-vibration mountings and damper drive plates used in marine and industrial applications.
It recently invested in a turn-mill centre from C Dugard of Hove.
The centre combines turning and milling operations in just one set-up and has reduced component lead times.
This has allowed R and D Marine to instigate new and more effective single set-up machining practices.
Roger Firth, who co-founded the business with his brother David, said: 'We needed a lathe with powered tooling to try and reduce the time-absorbing second operation set-ups on machining centres, which extended the waiting times for our throughput of work.
'We short-listed three suppliers for demonstrations and time studies.
'It was the C Dugard solution that came to the fore, both in effort and execution.
'The trials demonstrated how well the machine performed overall, not only in terms of 'significant' cycle-time savings but also because in operation it exhibited far lower levels of vibration than other machines we had seen, which was reflected in the samples we tested.
'The components had first-class results with regard to surface finish and accuracy.
'It was also very noticeable that the machine was much quieter during cutting, compared with other machines we had seen, especially when producing the predominantly steel workpieces we require.
'The machine was able to complete a lot of work using solid-carbide end mills, making full use of work offsets, which meant we could avoid the added cost of multi insert tools.' Able to handle bar of 65mm diameter, the 12-tool turret has a maximum turning diameter and length of 350 and 530mm, with travels in X- and Z-axis of 220 and 550mm, rapid traverses of 36m/min in both axes and a 15kW machine spindle with a maximum speed of 4,000rev/min.
C Dugard made a few additions to the basic specification, including an extra stop on the tailstock to help avoid tool collisions, a larger parts-catcher and machine-guard modifications to accept a special magazine bar feed.
Flexible couplings are produced in batches of 300 to 1,000, of which some go into stock in readiness for a quick response to any customer's requests.
R and D Marine supplies flexible coupling components and spares for power-transmission applications from 5 to 1,500HP.
The component count, including more than 150 different types of back plates and spline plates, as well as torsional dampers, extends into the hundreds.
The variety of marine products also includes shaft couplings and bespoke couplings produced from solid for installations in units such as water pumps.
R and D Marine also developed a range of competitively priced damper drive plates that can be utilised in most types of engine/gearbox combinations and effectively reduce gear noise.
Other advantages of the R and D Marine designs include the ability to allow engines in both pleasure and work boats to run at lower speeds.
The damper drive plates are machined complete and are ready to install on engines up to 800HP.
A further example of R and D's specialist service capability is the design and manufacture of a special coupling for the Godiva fire pump, which carries the permanent magnets of a rotating field alternator to power emergency lighting.
Due to the ultra-responsive attitude of the two directors and their works-manager Terry Course, the customer base now extends from blue-chip companies through to one-man fishing operations.
For example, fishermen regularly drive down from the east coast to pick up new replacement parts.
Roger Firth added: 'Alternatively, we'll ship components out immediately, if required, because we have to help customers overcome breakdowns as soon as possible.
'For fishermen, a breakdown can really threaten their livelihood.'.
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