Taking the direct route to success with Dugard

When Direct Engineering & Site Services Ltd launched in Sheepbridge, it was a small fabrication shop. Fast-forward 28 years, and the Chesterfield-based company now operates from a 40,000 sq ft facility with five divisions serving customers across the UK and Europe.

Specialising in material handling equipment installation, vacuum conveying and chiller pipework systems, Direct Engineering has grown beyond fabrication to include machining. Dugard has supported this expansion with its range of machine tools, most recently the Dugard SMEC SL 3000LM turning centre.

Ray Woolley, Managing Director of Direct Engineering, explains: “We started in 1997 as a fabrication company, but as customer demand for machining services grew, we expanded our operations and invested in CNC machines.”

The company serves industries including marine, automotive, pharmaceutical, power and the water utilities, working with materials ranging from plastic, brass and aluminium to stainless steel, duplex and composites. To handle this variety, the versatility of the Dugard SMEC SL3000LM is proving invaluable.

“Each material presents challenges, but Dugard provided excellent support,” says Ray Woolley. “When we had a breakdown, they got us up and running quickly. Their advice has been instrumental in managing our diverse material requirements.”

The SL 3000LM is the latest in a growing list of Dugard machines at Direct Engineering, which also includes the SMEC PL2500, PL35 and PL45 turning centres.

“The capability of these machines allows us to be more versatile in our work. Live tooling, for instance, means jobs that previously required both turning and milling can now be completed on a single machine. This significantly reduces turnaround time for our customers.”

Direct Engineering is committed to quality and customer service, holding ISO:9001 and ISO:1090 certifications. The company has expanded its Dugard fleet to four machines, carefully selecting models to optimise its limited floor space.

“Our machining cell is compact, so we worked with Colin and Eric at Dugard to determine the best machines to maximise output,” reveals Ray Woolley. “Their advice has been invaluable in streamlining our operations.”

Reflecting on the company’s machine investments, he adds: “We started with the largest machine first, the SMEC PL45LY for big billet work. As we phased out older machines, we added the SMEC PL2500 and PL35. Our most recent addition, the SMEC SL3000, includes a bar feed and steady rest, allowing us to cover a wide range of applications efficiently. The live axial and radial tooling in these machines has been a game-changer, enabling us to keep jobs on one machine rather than moving parts to a milling machine.

“We produce everything from small, high-volume bar-fed components to large billet parts machined on the Dugard SMEC PL45LY. Many of our projects require tight tolerances, particularly in shaft work, where concentricity is critical before additional finishing like chroming.”

Ray Woolley concludes: “Dugard has provided invaluable advice on machine selection and aftersales service. When one of our older machines failed, they helped us find a solution quickly. They also assist with training, sending experts like Rod to ensure our operators understand and maximise the machines’ capabilities. This level of support has been crucial to our success.”