Author: Brian Taylor : 05/25/07

ELLWOOD Crankshaft and Machine and ELLWOOD National Crankshaft Services are working diligently to reduce our internal cycle time and the total cutting time required to manufacture a work piece through machine tool investments, LEAN programs, and quality engineering.

Several key machine tools have been commissioned towards this goal; this includes GFM’s, a Safop Lathe, and a Butler Horizontal Boring Mill.ECM has rebuilt its FKU25/4000 GFM, formerly of the closed Clarke’s Crank and Forge factory in Lincoln, England. We have also upgraded and re-installed our FKP 45/2 GFM and FKP 60 GFM, both machines were previously located at ELLWOOD City Forge.

ECM has also rebuilt its 11M Butler Horizontal Mill and Safop Crankshaft Lathe formerly of the closed Mitchell Shackleton factory located in Manchester, England.

ECM’s LEAN program has improved the overall flow and organization at each workstation, and has significantly added additional capacity by leveraging each asset to its full potential. This initiative has created considerable speed and efficiency on various crankshaft production lines. Our Quality Engineering program has reduced defective products to all time lows even while our shipments are at record levels.

Internal defects are at a world-class standard and our goal is to have zero deviations and zero escaping defects at both of our facilities. ELLWOOD Crankshaft and Machine has dramatically increased output with these key initiatives, and has enabled us to capture new market share all over the world.

Future changes will allow ECM to continue to add capacity, as well as secure new product lines.