Hone-All Rolls Out a New Service for Roller Users..

6 July 2015

The quality, precision and innovation packed into the production of rollers for the packaging, converting and printing sectors has now taken a leap forward with engineering specialists Hone-All Precision entering the marketplace. The Leighton Buzzard subcontract manufacturing specialists recently acquired two divisions of A.T Roberts Ltd; a company that has been producing rollers, cylinders, shafts and precision roller tubes for the print, packaging and converting sectors for decades.

As the yardstick that the UK's subcontract manufacturing industry measures itself by, Hone-All has been supplying A.T Roberts for over 20 years with bespoke steel and aluminium rollers manufactured to the exact demands of the end user. As part of the acquisition, Hone-All has taken ownership of A.T Robert plant and staff expertise to underpin the subcontractors growth ambitions.

For OEM print and packaging machinery manufacturers that are unfamiliar with Hone-All, it is a specialist provider of Deep Hole Boring, Deep Hole Drilling, Gun drilling, CNC Turning and CNC Honing services up to a maximum of 4 metres in length. The company also specialises in precision and thin wall tube manufacture, which is a key area for the print sector. This extensive expertise ensures that existing A.T Roberts customers will benefit from enhanced customer service levels and manufacturing excellence that Hone-All is renowned for throughout high-tech industries such as the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, F1 and medical sectors.

For tier 1 & 2 and the subcontract print, packaging and converting markets, Hone-All has set up a subcontract service for balancing and straightening existing rollers that may be worn or out of balance. By taking delivery of two specialised machines, a dynamic balancing machine and a straightening press from A.T Roberts, Hone-All has positioned itself as an industry leading subcontract supplier of shaft straightening and balancing for the print and packaging industry. So, for print, packaging and converting companies looking for a high quality service that will get your machines back to efficient production with minimal downtime, Hone-All offers a fast turnaround roller 'servicing' package that will precisely straighten, balance and even coat your rollers to an 'as-new' condition.

By diversifying into the provision of a subcontract dynamic balancing and straightening service, Hone-All Precision has noted a significant uptake for the service from industry sectors such as the automotive and rotor industries. This is because Hone-All is renowned for its quality, service and customer support and this reputation has immediately resulted in the company winning business from a range of industries. However, the key focus for Hone-All with these machines is the print & packaging sectors and the subcontractor would be delighted to demonstrate its services to interested companies.

Innovative Manufacturing Technology...
Historically, A.T Roberts has been a benchmark in the roller, cylinder and tube market with product lines including bespoke steel and aluminium rollers manufactured to the exact demands of the end user. For specific applications these products can be coated with hard chrome plating, PTFE, rubber and even hard anodised to suit the application. With the rapid evolution of material technology, Hone-All will be producing carbon fibre rollers to deliver exceptional strength in load-bearing applications where the print/packaging machine demands lightweight and efficient rollers. Since taking the reins of the business, Hone-All has developed this area of the business and it is already generating considerable growth with more of industry becoming aware of its specialisation.

The material technology involved in roller production is a key element for print & packaging OEMs. With different rollers serving multiple purposes and rotating at speeds up to 1000 metres per minute, material selection and surface finish is a key consideration. To efficiently run at such high-speeds, the Hone-All Dynamic balancing machine and straightening press can guarantee the run-out and precision of rollers is maintained.
From a capacity perspective, Hone-All has the capability to produce rollers, cylinders and tube products up to 300mm diameter with lengths from 50mm to over 4m. This is available in quantities from one-offs to specified production batches.
"From a manufacturing perspective, each roller is either deep hole bored, honed and turned or in the case of tubing, it is precision machined and despatched. Hone-All has spent the last 20 years producing the highest quality tubular type components for all industries in all materials, working to tenths of microns on challenging parts that often include thin walled parts. So, customers can come to us in complete confidence," concludes Andrea Rodney