Non-Standard Socket Screw (Nsss) Builds Upon Fastner Production Consistency, Productivity And Competitiveness With 2017 Citizen Cincom Installations

The specialist fastener operation of Midlands-based Non Standard Socket Screw (NSSS), a  major UK producer and stockist of high quality fasteners, is continuing its policy of upgrading competitiveness by not only increasing levels of productivity with further ‘lights-out’ operations, but also achieving improvements to quality and most important, consistency of production, especially in more difficult to machine materials.

To help achieve this target, so far in 2017 NSSS has ordered four CNC sliding head turn-mill centres worth some £400,000 from Citizen Machinery UK. These machines are in addition to two existing Citizen Cincom installations in its recently extended 8,000 ft² production area to the 30,000 ft² Hockley facility.

The two Citizen Cincom installations of an L32-VIII and L20-VIII made earlier in the year are now in full production.  Following the operational success, this has led the business to order a further Cincom L20-VIII plus a smaller capacity L12-VII.

Said Marketing Director Melvin White: “We are in a very competitive market and it is important to maintain our production capability for both UK and overseas customers.  We are a modern business that is driving the use of automation and the latest manufacturing technologies to continually improve quality and output.”                                                           

He followed on to describe as an example, the recent installation of a close temperature endothermic atmosphere computer controlled heat treatment facility and how ‘lights-out’ techniques contribute to the firm’s improved levels of productivity.  He said: “Our market demands consistency of production over longer periods which is being achieved with latest installations.”

Since its foundation in 1971, NSSS has developed a fully self-contained fastener manufacturing operation that employs 90 people.  In addition to its stockist business, the company produces a wide range of special fasteners including prototypes for customers which range in size from M1.4. 

These are produced from a wide range of materials including alloy, stainless steels and higher strength duplex.  Parts are produced from up to 32 mm diameter bar on the Citizen Cincom machines with additional turning capacity available up to 64 mm diameter as well as operating five two-blow hot forge presses.