Heidelberg West Engineering Company founded by husband and wife team Derek and Natasha Warrington just twelve months ago is already making an impact and growing rapidly in contract engineering.
IBROX Engineering is headed up by Derek Warrington, a man widely known for fast and reliable quality engineering output and on time delivery. With more than 36 years’ experience, Derek is respected as one of the most experienced and talented CNC programmer/setters and CAM programmers as well as being known as one of the most hard-working tool makers and fitter and turner operators in the industry
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The unusual name of the new company comes from Derek’s proud Scottish heritage and a passion for the Glasgow Rangers with the name IBROX coming from the home stadium of the Glasgow Rangers.
Owner operator, Derek Warrington’s introduction to the industry started at the tender age of just 10 years, working in his father’s engineering shop at weekends. Under a watchful eye and standing on an upturned milk crate to reach the controls, he gained his first machining experience. Commencing full time at the age of just 14 years Derek worked for more than 36 years in the business which ultimately became the largest privately owned Okuma precision engineering shop in the Southern Hemisphere. It is here that he gained the highest level and wide-ranging experience on lathes, milling machines, 4 and 5 axis multi-task machining centres and robotics. Over the years Derek became highly competent in programming and operating all the machines on the shop floor and the supporting robotics.
The forty plus year long standing family experience and relationship with leading precision machine supplier Okuma continues from day one with the new company establishing a strong line-up of Okuma machines including two Okuma CNC Lathe models LB4000EX-II-BMYC and Genos L2000-e(Mx380) and an Okuma Vertical Machining Centre Model Genos M660-V-e-S12. A fourth machine, Okuma multi-function 5-axis Machining Centre GENOS M460-5AX is about to be installed to further expand IBROX Engineering’s capability to deliver to their expanding customer base.
“The reliability and service levels achieved by the Okuma machines and the service and technical advice and training offered by the company is quite remarkable,” said Derek. “With the new machine I will be taking full advantage of the training offered for my operators and I know that expert advice is always just a phone call away. I am very familiar with the set up on each and programming is very easy on these machines,” he said.
Supporting Derek in the business is hands on and equally hard-working wife Natasha with their three children assisting when required. Whist the bulk of the work in this reliable machine shop is contract work, IBROX Engineering specialises in hydraulics, automotive, defence and general engineering with clients not only in Victoria but also Australia-wide.
With the business expanding rapidly and with the strength in the Australian manufacturing industry, Derek has experienced some difficulty in finding a qualified programmer and machinists within Australian and is currently advertising widely both within Australia and overseas for suitable people and skills levels.
“At present the manufacturing sector is strong with plenty of work coming through and I am confident that this will continue. The commissioning of the latest Okuma multi- function 5-axis Machining Centre Model Genos M460-5AX will increase our capabilities and operators love increasing their skills in the latest technologies that come with these advanced machining centres.” said Derek.
“We can see the professionalism and hard work Derek and Natasha are putting in to firmly establish this rapidly expanding engineering company which is providing customers with quality products on short timelines. Okuma is proud to be part of this and to continue the strong relationship with the Warrington family,” said Mark Richards, Branch Manager-Victoria & Tasmania, Okuma Australia.
With the business expanding rapidly and with the strength in the Australian manufacturing industry, Derek has experienced some difficulty in finding a qualified programmer and machinists within Australian and is currently advertising widely both within Australia and overseas for suitable people and skills levels.
“At present the manufacturing sector is strong with plenty of work coming through and I am confident that this will continue. The commissioning of the latest Okuma multi- function 5-axis Machining Centre Model Genos M460-5AX will increase our capabilities and operators love increasing their skills in the latest technologies that come with these advanced machining centres.” said Derek.
“We can see the professionalism and hard work Derek and Natasha are putting in to firmly establish this rapidly expanding engineering company which is providing customers with quality products on short timelines. Okuma is proud to be part of this and to continue the strong relationship with the Warrington family,” said Mark Richards, Branch Manager-Victoria & Tasmania, Okuma Australia.
