Hewland Engineering recently announced a multi-million pound investment in state-of-the-art spiral bevel grinding capability, due to arrive in Autumn 2015. 

The new Klingelnberg Oerlikon G60 Spiral Bevel Gear Grinding Machine and Klingelnberg P65 Gear Measuring Center will increase final-drive performance, durability and precision, while also increasing manufacturing capacity to provide clients with market-leading delivery times.

The G60 and P65 will utilize a closed-loop monitoring system to provide active feedback, ensuring every component can meet the demands of its application, be it in motorsport, aerospace, OEM or defense.

With the G60 capable of grinding forms up to 600 mm in diameter to consistent DIN 4 accuracy, the machine will enable production of spiral bevel gears to suit almost any application, while the P65 gear measuring center (with a capacity of 650 mm) ensures that all surfaces are machined to the exacting tolerances required in the precision manufacturing sectors.

With capability to machine to fine (Formula One-grade) tolerances post-heat-treatment, the new machinery will deliver improvements in efficiency, reduced gearbox temperatures and, above all, increased component life.

For bespoke and made-to-drawing applications, new software will allow faster setup, with on-machine dressable grinding wheels negating the need for bespoke tooling. This will result in shorter lead times, improved quality, and a reduction in up-front costs.

“The expansion of our grinding capabilities ensures we continue to provide components and transmissions of the utmost quality,” said Hewland Company Chairman William Hewland. “Transmission efficiency is of paramount importance in our industry, particularly with the rapid emergence of Electric Vehicle technology. Hewland is already a global market leader in this field, as well as in the general motorsport sector, and this state-of-the-art machinery will herald a new era of performance for all present and future clients.”