When A L Dalton Ltd bought the Wadkin name, the IPR and the manufacturing rights some afew years ago, the decision was taken to manufacture a number of the Wadkin Classical designs at its Nottingham HQ. Whilst its extensive engineering facilities and experience in rebuilding and servicing all types of woodworking machines was well known, manufacturing was a new concept.
The firm can now chalk up a small but significant anniversary however in producing its 100th machine which has turned out to be a model BRA350 radial arm crosscut saw together with an AGS300 tilt arbor sawbench for delivery to Jersey Airport.
Francis Dalton comments: “It is nice to get to our first 100. Of course these quantities are very small compared with the larger manufacturers in Europe and the Far East but there seems to be a continuing demand for high quality UK-manufactured machines with a still strong Wadkin pedigree. We are manufacturing the original designs with some modifications where necessary in connection with current Health and Safety requirements. Models include radial arm crosscuts, tilt arbor sawbenches, vibratory head chisel mortisers, bandsaws, band resaws, spindle moulders and lathes.
"We also manufacture the well established range of Phillipson disc, belt and contour sanding machines, which again are built to the original heavy-duty designs using largely cast iron components and supplied to a diverse range of industries.”
Amongst a varied list of customers for new Wadkin machines manufactured at the Daltons Wadkin workshops are technical colleges, ministry departments, power suppliers, prisons, formula one racing teams, aerospace industries and motor manufacturers, as well as of course furniture, joinery and timber companies. The machines are finished in a smart, new green and white livery – and importantly carry a two year warranty.
