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MATERIAL REMOVAL
Smooth commissioning of Eilbeck’s new vertical lathe with Applied’s support As it ramps up capability in its new heavy machining division, Eilbeck has completed a major acquisition with its investment in a new heavy-duty Hwacheon CNC vertical lathe, supplied by Applied Machinery. If one was to nominate an Australian company that epitomises success in manufacturing, Eilbeck would have to be a lead contender. With close to 115 years of experience in the manufacturing sector, the family-owned company is currently managed by its owner/director Tom Eilbeck. Today the company’s staff numbers have increased to around 300. Initially starting as a foundry on the Swan River in West Australia, the company evolved into a machine shop and eventually into designing and building overhead cranes. Today Eilbeck Cranes has around 65% of the local overhead crane market, supplying to a diverse range of industries including civil and industrial developers. In the bespoke crane market, the company’s market share has increased to around 75%. The company is now into its fourth generation of the Eilbeck family and has grown through sheer hard work, an ability to capitalise on market opportunities, and an overarching commitment to producing the highest quality equipment. This high level of quality has been reflected in the repeat orders it receives from many clients – both from the public and private sector. Eilbeck Cranes has now come full circle, building a state-of-the-art CNC machining workshop in 2015 to complement its existing engineering, fabrication and welding skills – gained from manufacturing components for the standard crane range. This bespoke new machining shop operates as a separate division under the banner of Eilbeck Heavy Machining, and is managed by Tom Eilbeck’s son Charlie. Up until 2015 all the components for the company’s bespoke cranes had been contracted out to local machine shops. The new machine shop will enable this work to be brought back in-house; importantly it will also provide the opportunity to tender for large-scale machining work. “One of the key attractions for customers is that we can offer a full turnkey solution given our capabilities extend to design and engineering, fabrication, painting, welding and the mechanical side of any job,” says Charlie. “This capacity makes us an attractive proposition to the contract engineering and manufacturing sector. “We have purposely targeted large-scale work where there is less competition in the market; essentially big projects that
AMT OCT/NOV 2021
Charlie Eilbeck with the new Hwacheon VT-2000 heavy-duty lathe in Eilbeck Heavy Machining’s factory.
were previously tendered out to overseas suppliers. We can handle work up to 200 tonnes and have some of the largest, most advanced CNC machines in Australia. And we only ever purchase the very best brands.” The mining industry, shiploader and railmounted machines, rail equipment and other major projects are just some of the sectors in which Eilbeck Heavy Machining’s expertise is utilised. Such has been the success of the CNC machine shop that the company has recently completed a second CNC heavy machining facility. This 6,000sqm block incorporates a 3,000sqm factory, which houses some of the newest, largest and most precise CNC machine tools in Australia. This is complemented by dual 160-tonne overhead travelling cranes. Along with the existing facility, this has made Eilbeck Heavy Machining one of the largest machining shops in Australia.
A big investment for a big opportunity “We saw a big opportunity in the large vertical turning market and that’s where our hunt for a heavy-duty CNC vertical lathe started,” says Charlie. “Like many of our machine purchases we didn’t have work lined up – we bought it anticipating we would secure work. That’s the way we do things, and it always works out well for us. “Applied Machinery had tendered for some other machines, and we found they always presented well so we gave them the opportunity to quote on this large new lathe with the Hwacheon brand they represented. We already have a couple of conventional manual Hwacheon machines, so we knew the brand. They’re quite renowned for their vertical lathes and have a good reputation in the market which is why we ultimately ended up opting for the Hwacheon brand.”
