At Polgain, our manufacturing capability is built on a combination of specialist machinery, experienced engineers, and decades of engineering knowledge. From CNC machining and grinding to dedicated cam and camshaft production equipment, our workshop is equipped to manufacture, restore, and inspect components for customers across a wide range of industries.
This article provides an overview of the machinery used throughout our facility, and the role it plays in delivering precision-engineered components.
CNC machining
CNC machining, or Computer Numerical Control machining, uses computer-controlled equipment to manufacture components with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability.
Once a machining programme has been created, the machine can repeatedly produce components to the same specification, making CNC machining ideal for batch production. The process reduces variation, improves efficiency, and allows complex geometries to be produced consistently.
How Polgain uses CNC machining
CNC machining forms a core part of our manufacturing process. It is used for turning, milling, drilling, and producing complex components across a variety of industries and applications.
Our CNC equipment includes:
- HAAS SL-30 TSE Turning Machine
- Haas ST-40 Turning Centre
- Haas SL-40T Turning Centre
- Haas VF-6/50 Vertical Machining Centre with 450 mm Servo Rotary Table
- Haas VF-6/50 Vertical Machining Centre with 210 mm Servo Rotary Table
- Heidenhain CNC Newall Jig Borer
- CNC Bridgeport Interact 412 Miller
- CNC Bridgeport Interact 1 Mark 2 Miller
- Beaver V5 CNC Fourth Axis Miler
Grinding equipment
Grinding plays an important role in both the manufacture of new components and the refurbishment of existing parts.
The process allows extremely tight tolerances and high-quality surface finishes to be achieved, which are often critical for components subjected to continuous loading and wear. Grinding is also widely used in cam and camshaft production, where profile accuracy directly affects performance and reliability.
In many cases, worn components can be restored through precision grinding rather than replaced, providing a cost-effective method of extending service life.
Our grinding equipment includes:
- Cylindrical Grinder (ERFURT) up to 12″ x 60″
- Heald Model 273A Universal Bore Grinding Machine (12ӯ capacity)
- Heald Universal Bore Grinding Machine (24ӯ capacity)
- Ribon Outside Diameter & Taper Grinder
- Ribon Outside Diameter & Taper and Bore Grinder
Manual Machining
Whilst CNC technology forms a significant part of our workshop, conventional machine tools continue to play an important role.
Manual machines are often used for one-off components, repair work, development projects, and operations that benefit from direct engineer involvement. They provide flexibility when producing bespoke parts and can often be the most practical solution for specialist engineering tasks.
Our manual machining equipment includes:
- Schearer Lathe (65″ long capacity)
- Webster & Bennett, Vertical Borer 36″Ø
- Colchester Triumph 2000 with DRO
- Colchester Triumph 2500 with DRO
- Herbert 8 Preoptive
- Elliott Omni Speed Lathe
- Bridgeport milling machines with DRO x 3
- Parkson milling machine
- Kearney & Trekker milling machine with powered rotary table
- Richmond Envoy Radial Arm Drill
- Jenny Straightening Press (59″ long shafts capacity)
- Marbaix Spark Disintegrator
- BMSY 280G Cutting off Saw
Cams and camshafts
Cam and camshaft production is a specialist area of engineering and remains at the heart of Polgain’s business.
Dedicated cam milling, grinding, and profile-generating machinery enables us to manufacture and refurbish a wide range of industrial cams, plate cams, barrel cams, swing arm cams, and camshafts.
These machines are designed specifically for generating accurate cam profiles and maintaining profile repeatability across production runs.
Our cam and camshaft machinery includes:
- Kopp SK22 CNC Contour Grinding Machine
- Kopp SK21 CNC Contour Grinding Machine
- Kopp Universal Copy Grinding Machine
- Anilam CNC Rowbottom Cam Milling Machine
- Rowbottom Swing Arm Cam Milling Machine
- SIG HRF500 Cam Milling Machine X 2
- Eonic Plate Cam Grinding Machine X 2
- Eonic Large Plate Cam Grinding Machine (1300mmØ capacity)
- Eonic Swing Arm Barrel Cam Grinder
- CNC Landis Lund 800 Camshaft Grinder capacity 60″L & 5.750″ Minimum inverse radius
- Zephyr Mech-Gen Camshaft Grinding Machine (65mm min inverse rad)
- Zephyr Mech-Gen Camshaft Grinding Machine (1600mm length capacity)
Quality Control and Inspection
Inspection and quality control are integrated throughout the manufacturing process.
Using specialist measuring equipment, we verify dimensions, profiles, hardness, and material condition to ensure components meet specification before leaving our workshop.
These systems allow us to validate our work and provide confidence that components will perform as intended in service.
Our inspection equipment includes:
- Labview CNC ADCOLE 910 Contour Measuring M/C
- Digital CNC ADCOLE 010 Contour Measuring M/C
- Wenzel LH85CMM
- Magnaflux Magnetic Particle Inspection
- Avery Hardness Tester
- EquiTip Hardness Tester
- Fibre Optic Hole Viewer
The Adcole contour measuring machines are particularly valuable for cam and camshaft work, enabling profile measurement, comparison, and verification against design requirements.
Additional workshop equipment
Alongside our core manufacturing equipment, we also utilise a range of specialist machinery to support production and finishing operations, including:
- Newall Thread grinder
- Tool & Cutter Grinding Machine x 3
- Lumsden Plough Grinding Machine
- Technika Centre Grinding Machine
Supporting precision engineering projects
The strength of Polgain’s workshop is not any single machine. It is the combination of specialist equipment, robust quality control processes, and engineering expertise that allows us to manufacture, regrind, inspect, and reverse engineer complex components for customers across a wide range of industries.
Whether the requirement is a one-off component, a production batch, a camshaft regrind, or a reverse-engineered replacement part, we have the capability to support projects from initial enquiry through to final inspection.
Need support with a precision engineering project?
Whether you require CNC machining, cam manufacture, camshaft regrinding, or reverse engineering services, our team can help.
Call us on 01502 532880 or email sales@polgain.com to discuss your requirements with one of our engineers.
