1st July 2008
HNC trade-in Miss Moneypenny for younger model!

Everyone at HNC are pleased to introduce Sharon Normanton as Office Manager who has taken over from the recently retired Denise Johnson.

Sharon is rapidly settling in at HNC and has introduced several changes to the office system to ensure everything from sales orders to invoicing is completed on time.

We wish Denise great happiness and success in her retirement and welcome Sharon to the team.

19th May 2008
HNC hits million pound six!

After many months of negotiation Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) directors Mike Diskin and Tim Price are proud to announce their biggest ever order – for six machines to the value of £982,000.00! ($1,912,000.00)

Against fierce international competition from companies in the USA, Sweden and Holland, HNC have been awarded a contract to rebuild and retrofit new CNC controllers to six large machine tools from American aero engine maker Pratt and Whitney. Says HNC Managing Director Mike Diskin, “it has been something of a tense time for us over the past couple of months, we knew it was going to be tough, but we won through in the end.” He added “we believe we won the order because of our reputation for service and the quality we build into all re-manufactured machines, combined with our vast in-house CNC knowledge and competitive pricing.”

Pratt and Whitney, who were looking for machines for a new venture in China, initially looked at new but considered good quality rebuilt ones better value. They bought the assets of the now defunct Volvo aero engine maintenance factory in Stockholm, Sweden which included a number of quality machine tools, consisting of two Dorries and one Schiess vertical turning lathe, a VAES vertical grinder, a Union five axis horizontal borer and Deckel FP6 machining centre – although all had seen better days.

Having secured the machines they next went looking for a company capable of refurbishing them and scoured Europe and the US for specialist re-manufacturing companies, with HNC coming out on top!

All machines will have, new electrics fitted throughout and be retrofitted with the latest GE-Fanuc Oi controllers, servos and drives. Delivery of the machines to HNC’s spacious Halifax facility took place within days of the order being placed with work already begun. It is a tight schedule with delivery required by November 2008.

Friday 25th April 2008
Whitgift School count on Heidenhain

Although Halifax Numerical Controls Ltd (HNC) is considered one of the UK’s leading machine tool re-furbishers and CNC control retrofitters, MD Mike Diskin, is keen to point out they are also one of Britain’s largest distributors of digital readout (DRO) systems and have enjoyed a long association with Heidenhain promoting their advanced range of products, enjoying sole distribution rights for the whole of Yorkshire and Humberside.

So when Assistant Head Teacher and Head of Technology, Paul Mortimer of Whitgift School in Grimsby approached HNC to rebuild four of the schools 30 year old lathes - two Colchester Students and two Harrison 140’s, he had clearly done his homework by specifying the powerful Heidenhain model 780 DRO units.  

The 780 is the latest in DRO technology featuring a 6” screen for easy viewing, is menu driven and extremely operator friendly. It contains many advanced features, including comprehensive tool tables, bolt hole circles, powerful maths function and even has its own inbuilt diagnostics and full error compensation.

Combined with the full machine refurbish, interlocked sliding chuck guards and lead screw covers were fitted, bringing the machines into line with current safety regulations. The machines were also treated to a new coat of paint awaiting the rigours of next 30 years of student usage!

03 March 2008
HNC complete Office Move

HNC have now completed the re-organisation of the office space at the Holmfield works. Reorganisation will allow greater space for the design and management functions at HNC. The installation of high speed cabled networks will soon be complemented by state-of-the-art server systems and upgraded remote management gateways. When complete, the networks will allow improved hi-speed, secure diagnostic, management and control of client machines in remote locations around the world.

Over the past few years more companies have recognised the importance of health & safety at work, none more than Halifax Numerical Controls Ltd! Right at the outset, when Mike Diskin & Tim Price formed the Halifax based specialist machine tool builders and refurbishers, heath and safety was a major consideration!

Nine years on, with an annual turnover of in excess of a million pounds and customers in both the public and private sectors, safety is perhaps a bigger issue, particularly with many of their own staff working at customers premises.

This is why they sought CHAS accreditation, short for Contractors Health & Safety and developed by the Health & Safety Executive, the scheme covers many aspects in the assessment including working practices, risk assessment, safe use of equipment and so forth. Most local authorities, government departments and in the private sector, major employers like BAe and Rolls Royce
now stipulate this accreditation before allowing contractors to operate on their sites.

Mike Diskin, adds “safety is something that has always been close to my heart and an engineering machine shop can be a dangerous place and needs to be treated with respect, we have always encouraged safe working practices in our Halifax facility but have been pleasantly surprised to have been assessed and awarded compliance accreditation at our first attempt.”

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