Varel International Expands Manufacturing Centre in Matamoros
01 July 2009
Varel International has expanded the company's roller cone manufacturing facility in Matamoros, Mexico, through the addition of a new state-of-the-art tungsten carbide insert production facility.
The new facility produces high-quality sintered hot isostatic press parts using ready-to-press tungsten carbide powders blended to Varel's specifications. The new facility is also able to process parts using the company's patented High Energy Tumbling™ (HET) procedure, which has been proven to increase both the wear resistance and toughness of tungsten carbide inserts.
Varel Roller Cone vice president Chris Byrd said the expansion was a perfect fit for the thriving Matamoros facility. He said: "Varel has been operating in Matamoros for more than 30 years. As one of the leading employers in the area we benefit from the highly skilled and experienced employees who already produce reliable products.
"We have made great strides in creating efficiencies and maintaining quality in our Matamoros facility. The integration of the tungsten carbide production facility into the roller cone manufacturing plant is the next logical step in the implementation of world-class lean manufacturing, which we began at Varel in 2005."
The new production capability inside the existing facility has led to reduced lead times in roller cone production by approximately 100%. The Matamoros location boasts a 50% increase in maximum production capacity compared with the previous carbide insert production facility. The installation also includes a full tooling production shop, allowing the company to fabricate and produce components for new designs more quickly than previous methods.
Inserts produced by this facility are for use in tungsten carbide insert roller cone bits, which are designed and manufactured by Varel for the oil and gas and the mining and industrial markets.
