HISTORY - MACHINE TOOL AUTOMATION

Machine Tool Automation was founded in 1974 by parent company Hardwick & Tatam Pty. Ltd, as the original machine tool rebuilding companies in Australia. Harry Tatam (pictured) and Reg Hardwick were trained in the UK by the powerful machine tool manufacturing firm Alfred Herbert Ltd, with Harry completing 20 years service.

Forming Hardwick & Tatam Pty Ltd in 1962, both men forged careers in m/c tool emergency repair and service. In the mid sixties they took delivery from the UK of the first of 3 slideway grinding machines, which now transformed their company into a comprehensive machine tool rebuilding force in its own right.

Following the direction manufacturing was taking towards motion control and programmable NC, in the mid seventies they formed Machine Tool Automation, specifically set up for the automation of machine tools from manual control to programmable automatic mode. This move coincided with the boom years in manufacturing and production machining in Australia.

While MTA pursued the in-house and on site service requirements for a now large customer base, Hardwick & Tatam utilized the large facility base in Annandale ( Sydney) to supply quality used machine tools both here in Australia, and overseas. With the support of a large network of respected dealers , especially in the USA, Hardwick & Tatam became a major player in used machine tool sales, offering warantees with the backing of the MTA service teams.

The 70’s & 80’s saw Hardwick & Tatam , carry out major projects for the Dept of Defence, which included major refits of Naval supply ship’s workshops. H&T also serviced all the military base workshops throughout NSW and ACT.

As H&T became more involved in the sales & supply of used m/c tools, Machine Tool Automation forged ahead with rebuilding projects and on-site work such as :

• Qantas – reconditioning of the QJB Turbine Blade Grinder, and the large capacity Churchill Cylindrical Grinder. Servicing of all m/c tools at Qantas Jetbase, Mascot.
• RailCorp – Project manage and carry out installation of 2 new SMTC Underfloor Wheel Profiling m/c’s Melbourne and Sydney )
• RailCorp – Project manage and carry out full workshop plant & equipment relocation of all items at 3 State Rail facilities ( Chullora) into one main service facility, incl all electrical , concrete foundations and turnkey handover.
• Comsteel ( OneSteel) – Annual reconditioning of the Hegenscheidt CNC vertical borer slides ( Rail wheel machining section )
• Comsteel ( OneSteel) – Reconditioning of the 2 x Morando Axle lathes ( Rail Axle machining section )

Today, Harry Tatam oversees the parent company H&T , which acts as a machine tool consultancy provider, carrying out inspections and submitting reports for clients purchasing machine tools.

Hardwick & Tatam can take credit for developing the culture that exists today within the Machine Tool Automation group.