Engineering reliability: How SL Plastics scaled production with AXYZ CNC technology

A 35-year manufacturing partnership driving precision, reliability & growth

For more than three decades, SL Plastics has been a quietly influential force within Britain’s machine-building supply chain. Operating from its facility in the East of England, the company has become a trusted specialist in precision-machined components, supplying parts for some of the most demanding industrial environments in the country, including food processing, packaging, conveyor and bottling machinery.

Today, the business supports machine builders through a true 'one-stop-shop' model for machined plastic parts, including guides, wear strips, change parts and guarding assemblies. Meeting the expectations of these sectors requires a rare combination of tight tolerances, repeatability, reliability and throughput. For SL Plastics, achieving this consistently has depended heavily on a long-term commitment to CNC routing technology, and in particular, a 35-year partnership with AXYZ.

A CNC journey that began in 1991

SL Plastics began machining sheet plastics in 1991, at a time when CNC routing was still emerging as a transformative technology for plastics manufacturing. Its first CNC router was supplied by Pacer Systems – a brand that would later become part of AXYZ – laying the foundation for a technical and commercial partnership that continues today.

From the outset, SL Plastics recognised that machining sheet plastics presents unique challenges. Thick polymer stock and engineered plastics are widely used in food and processing machinery due to their chemical resistance, lubrication-free performance and ease of cleaning. However, they demand exceptional machine rigidity, spindle power and vacuum hold-down performance. Over time, these requirements led the company towards increasingly specialised CNC platforms.

Why AXYZ: Machine design aligned with real manufacturing needs

Over the years, SL Plastics has owned nine AXYZ CNC routers, the majority from the INFINITE series, including its most recent investment, the INFINITE 6010. The decision to standardise on the INFINITE platform has been driven by a combination of technical capability, operational efficiency and long-term commercial value.

1. Sheet size capability – Plastics used by SL Plastics are typically supplied in large formats, often up to 3 × 2m. Bed size is therefore a critical factor when selecting CNC equipment. As the company explains:

“We've found these to be robust and reliable while also offering a bed size that suits the largest sheets we machine – materials up to 3 × 2m.”

The INFINITE 6010 accommodates these dimensions without compromise, enabling full-sheet processing with minimal trimming or waste, reducing manual handling and improving material flow within the factory.

2. Power & accuracy for thick plastics – High-density engineering plastics such as UHMW and acetal – commonly used in conveyors, bottling machinery and food-grade OEM equipment – can be 50–100mm thick and require significant torque and rigidity to machine efficiently.

“They've also proven themselves to have the power and accuracy for us to machine even the thickest sheets.”

Cut quality and dimensional accuracy are non-negotiable, as the majority of components are functional machine parts rather than cosmetic items.

3. Reliability for continuous production – Unlike prototyping or short-run environments, SL Plastics’ machines operate daily in production.

“Our portfolio of AXYZ machines ensures we remain very competitive… while also giving us the reliability needed for machines that are worked eight hours a day, every day.”

Such continuous use places high demands on spindles, vacuum systems and control stability – areas where AXYZ machines have demonstrated long-term industrial robustness.

Introducing the INFINITE 6010 – SL Plastics’ latest investment

The INFINITE 6010 represents the latest generation of AXYZ large-format CNC routing technology. Designed for industrial production, the INFINITE platform offers extensive configurability, including multi-head operation, tool-change automation, enhanced vacuum systems, 24/7 production capability and peripheral automation.

The platform supports a wide range of applications, from one-off and small-batch work to high-volume production, across plastics fabrication, engineering plastics machining and woodworking. High-speed spindles from 5HP to 15HP are available, alongside tangential and oscillating knife options for creasing, folding and soft-material processing.

For SL Plastics, the value of the INFINITE platform lies in its ability to deliver:

• Oversized sheet handling

• Integrated vacuum zoning

• High throughput efficiency

• Repeatable accuracy

• High-duty spindle performance

One feature highlighted by the company is the vacuum bed zoning system: “The ability to select the bed area that is vacuumed allows us to use any size of sheet or off-cut, ensuring we get maximum yield from all material.”

Material yield is a key cost driver in plastics manufacturing and effective hold-down allows SL Plastics to maximise value from offcuts that might otherwise be scrapped.

Improving efficiency, automation & output quality

Over 35 years, CNC routing technology has transformed SL Plastics’ production workflows, delivering three core benefits:

1. Consistency & repeatability – Interchangeable components with tight tolerances are essential for wear parts, guides and changeover assemblies. CNC routing ensures repeatability across batches, even years apart.

“AXYZ machines provide consistency not only in performance but also accuracy – this is critical to our efficiency.”

2. Material utilisation & sheet nesting – Large bed sizes and vacuum zoning enable aggressive nesting strategies, reducing waste and manual intervention.

3. Faster production & reduced manual machining – Prior to CNC adoption, many polymer components were produced using manual routing, drilling and milling – labour-intensive processes reliant on operator skill. CNC automation has reduced lead times while freeing skilled labour for higher-value tasks.

Integration & workforce development

SL Plastics reports that staff can be transitioned onto AXYZ machines with minimal training: “Using the machines requires minimal training, making it easy to transition staff from manual machining to CNC routing.”

This has reduced reliance on specialist manual machinists while creating internal progression opportunities: “These machines have enabled us to effortlessly expand our CNC routing team and give more opportunities to our staff for career progression.”

Reliability, software & support

Technology alone is not the full story; SL Plastics attributes the longevity of the partnership to AXYZ’s ongoing support: “After 35 years, the continued support and innovation from AXYZ has been a strong partnership.”

The only recurring issue cited has been occasional Windows update conflicts, which have been promptly resolved by AXYZ support: “AXYZ are always ahead of the game in resolving any software glitches.”

Maintenance is managed through a combination of in-house routines and an annual AXYZ service contract, minimising downtime and protecting spindle and vacuum performance.

Cost competitiveness & market positioning

In highly competitive markets such as food and packaging machinery, short lead times and tight tolerances are critical. SL Plastics views CNC investment as essential to remaining competitive: “Our portfolio of AXYZ machines ensures we remain very competitive within the marketplace.”

CNC automation has helped shield the business from rising labour costs, increasing material prices, tighter tolerances and OEM downtime penalties, making the machines central to long-term commercial resilience.

A partnership built for the future

After nearly four decades and nine machines, SL Plastics’ position is clear: “After nine machines, we have every confidence in AXYZ. We're unlikely to look elsewhere as we continue to expand year on year.”

In an industry where changing suppliers can be disruptive and costly, this level of loyalty reflects confidence not only in past performance but in future scalability.

Conclusion

SL Plastics’ journey illustrates how CNC routing technology enables British manufacturers to compete in demanding industrial supply chains. The INFINITE 6010 now sits at the heart of a production strategy built on:

• Large-format capability

• Industrial robustness

• Accuracy and repeatability

• High-duty utilisation

• Dependable OEM support

For a business that has grown through decades of economic change, material innovation and rising customer expectations, its long-standing partnership with AXYZ stands as both a technical and strategic success story.

For more information on the AXYZ range of routers, call 01952 291 600 or visit www.axyz.com. To find out more about SL Plastics, see www.slplastics.co.uk.