Reducing Assembly Time by 75% at 1/3 the Cost with Customized Machining

When your operation depends on uptime, machining isn’t just about cutting metal. It’s about engineering reliability. From turbine shafts to centrifuge bowls, every cut, tolerance, and setup decision affects how long equipment runs before the next shutdown. At HFW Industries, we understand that precision machining drives performance, and that’s why reliability engineers and maintenance teams trust us to deliver parts that last.

With decades of experience serving the chemical processing, power generation, and other heavy industries, HFW combines both precision CNC and manual machining expertise under one roof. Whether manufacturing new OEM parts or restoring worn components, our team applies the same engineering rigor to ensure dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and performance.

📧 Request a Quote Via Email: RFQ@hfwindustries.com
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Take a Look Inside Our Plant: Precision Machining Gallery

Inside our plant, HFW machines large, complex components with both CNC and manual processes, from turbine shafts to chemical processing rolls. By integrating machining with coatings, hardfacing, finishing, and assembly under one roof, we provide a true one-source solution that ensures precision, reliability, and efficiency.

Milling a keyway in a horizontal boring mill

Milling a keyway in a horizontal boring mill

HFW's 5-axis Haas UMC 750 mill

HFW's 5-axis Haas UMC 750 mill

Large lathe turning a midsized turbine shaft

Large lathe turning a midsized turbine shaft

 

How Does Precision Machining Fit Into Our One-Source Model?

Unlike single-service shops, HFW offers machining alongside thermal spray coatings, hardfacing, precision grinding, and  assembly — all within the same facility. This integrated process flow gives reliability and maintenance engineers confidence that every step, from base machining to final finishing, is executed with consistent quality and accountability.

What the one-source difference looks like:

A turbine shaft arrives as bar stock and is machined on one of our large lathes. Keyways or holes are milled, certain diameters receive wear coatings, and the part is then ground to final size and finish.

The same one-source approach supports dryer rolls for chemical processing, where heat, corrosion, and wear require both precision machining and coating expertise.

Customer Success Story: 75% Faster Assembly and 1/3 the Cost

A chemical processing customer faced replacing high-value alloy housings worn beyond spec. Instead of scrapping them, HFW engineered a machining and welding repair solution:

  • Cut out the damaged section of the housing
  • Fabricated and welded a custom insert
  • Re-machined the housing to exact specifications

The result: only one-third the cost of new parts. Then, by redesigning the housing with replaceable wear inserts, HFW reduced assembly time by 75% — from 8 hours to 2.

This project demonstrates how machining and engineering innovation can work together to improve both cost and reliability.

Comprehensive Precision Machining Capabilities at HFW

HFW’s machining department combines modern CNC technology with proven manual craftsmanship, allowing us to handle everything from large shafts to intricate housings. Our capabilities include: 

CNC Lathes
  • To 37" Diameter Swing x 200" Long
CNC Mills
  • Horizontal Boring Mill - Table of 55" x 63"
  • Horizontal Machining Center - Table of 36" x 64"
  • Vertical Machining Center - Table of 51" x 20"
  • 5-Axis Vertical Machining Center 19.5" Diag. Table
CNC Vertical Turning Lathe (VTL)
  • Maximum Swing - 31.5"
  • Maximum Length - 29.5"
  • Chuck - 24"
Conventional Lathes
  • From 14" Diameter Swing x 40" Long to 50" Diameter Swing x 312" Long & 54" Diameter Swing x 160" Long
Conventional Horizontal Boring Mills
  • Table of 62" x 68"
Miscellaneous Machining
  • Planers - Up to 36" x 96" Openside
  • Radial Drills
  • Drill Presses

CNC machining ensures repeatability and precision for new parts, while manual machining excels in repair and rebuild work where adaptability and hands-on expertise are critical.

Machine Spotlight: Haas UMC 750 5-Axis Mill

Our 5-axis vertical machining center has transformed how we process complex parts. By allowing for multiple operations to occur with a single setup, it significantly reduces handling time, improves accuracy, and increases throughput — all critical advantages for our customers facing tight deadlines in the power generation, chemical processing, and other heavy industries.

What this means for you:

  • Minimizes setups and improves turnaround time. This machine helps us in our commitment to turning around quality work as quickly as possible.
  • Higher accuracy and precision. Tight tolerances have long been a strong suit for HFW, and this machine enhances our capabilities.
  • Cost efficiency. Not only does our new mill help reduce lead-time, it also makes us more competitive on jobs we may not have been in the past.

Industries & Applications We Serve

We support high-reliability components in some of the world’s most demanding sectors, including:

Why Choose HFW? Quality, Reliability, and No Excuses

  • Experience: Decades serving power generation, chemical processing, and turbomachinery sectors
  • Capability: CNC and manual machining for both new parts and rebuilds
  • Integration: Machining, coating, grinding, and assembly all under one roof
  • Speed: Reduced setups and lead times through advanced 5-axis technology
  • Precision: Tolerances held to 0.0002” on critical diameters
  • Reliability: Proven record extending component life and reducing downtime

Ready to Discuss Your Project?

Whether you need a high-volume batch or a one-off critical part, our engineers are here to help you evaluate repair options and extend component life.

📞 Call us at (716) 875-3380 or use our Contact Form
📧 Email: RFQ@hfwindustries.com

Explore Our Precision Machining Knowledge Base:

Dive deeper into the processes and real-world applications that make HFW a leader in precision machining.