Norton Motorcycles, an iconic British motorcycle manufacturer based in Solihull, West Midlands, is set to enhance its productivity with the addition of a Yamazaki Mazak vertical machining center. The new Mazak VTC 800/30SLR vertical machining center, now part of Norton’s fabrication facility, boasts a high-capacity working area that allows it to machine an entire bike frame.
This investment aims to streamline the process of adding fine details to the company’s bike frames, a task that previously required manual labor. Norton’s senior manufacturing process engineer, Adam Green, expects a significant productivity boost from the machine. He explained, “We’re planning for a new manufacturing process, so instead of welding detailed components into the frame, our intention is to machine the details into the casting, which gives us much-improved quality control.”
Green further noted, “Previously, with all the checking and adjusting, our output was limited. With the Mazak machine’s help, we think we can manufacture three or four times as many and with more accuracy. The VTC is a big machine that can work to tight tolerances, and we are confident it will have a major impact on our productivity.”
Norton Motorcycles, which was acquired by Indian motorbike manufacturing giant TVS in 2020, is known for its rich history and iconic brand. The new Mazak machine will be located in Norton’s state-of-the-art production facility in Solihull, which also houses a global design and R&D hub.
The VTC 800 series of machines were designed with European machine tool users in mind and are produced at Mazak’s European manufacturing site in Worcester. These versatile machines are capable of handling large components, such as bike frames, and can also be used for intricate detail work.
Alan Mucklow, Managing Director UK, Eire, and National Distributors at Yamazaki Mazak, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership with Norton Motorcycles, stating, “Norton Motorcycles is an iconic British manufacturing brand, and we are delighted to be partnering with the company as it looks to bring advanced manufacturing techniques into its Solihull production facility.” This collaboration is expected to drive greater efficiency and precision in Norton’s bike frame production.