Intime Engineering builds for the future with major machining investment

Intime Engineering has invested in advanced machining technology as part of a major programme to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and support future growth following a challenging period for the business.

The business faced a significant setback in 2025 when a lithium-ion battery fire destroyed its facility and equipment in Ledbury. Despite the disruption, Managing Director Colin Selwyn remained committed to rebuilding the company and protecting its workforce.

 “I remember saying to my wife on the second day after the fire that if we got the business going again, I would use a phoenix as our symbol. That’s why we now have the phoenix branding – rising from the ashes.”

Central to the rebuilding process has been Intime’s relationship with machine tool manufacturer Yamazaki Mazak, which goes back decades. “I started in inspection and one day we visited Mazak’s European Manufacturing Plant in Worcester. Around that time, the company started doing subcontract work for Mazak under the previous owners, Mike and Christine Davis. That’s how the relationship started and it’s continued ever since.”

Colin worked his way up through the ranks at Intime to a point where he was able to take control of the business. “I was in charge when the general manager was away and in 2010, my wife and I conducted a buyout. We bought an initial shareholding and eventually bought the full company over a period of time. We then built the company from two units to four units between 2010 and 2025.”

He continues: “We’ve always bought Mazak machines, including older models, building up a fleet of their machines across our sites as we expanded.”

The company is now strong in the oil industry, manufactures components for X-ray equipment, the washing industry, and the brewing sector. It also has a growing business exporting to Germany.

“Mazak continue to partner with us because of the quality and service we provide,” says Colin. “We engage with them closely, raise queries on drawings where needed and ensure everything is right.

“Our rejection is exceptionally low, so Mazak and all our customers know that when they order from us, the products will meet all of their requirements.”

After the fire, Colin had no hesitation in wanting to rebuild the business. “Many people in my position said they wouldn’t have restarted after something like that. But that was never an option for me.

Intime’s new facility in Malvern has 4,000 square feet of space with sixteen employees on site. In terms of machining capability, Colin didn’t just want to replicate his old machine footprint, to coin a phrase he wanted to ‘build back better.’

“We obviously needed like-for-like replacements for some machines, but I also saw an opportunity to modernise and improve. We couldn’t ignore the fact that machining technology has advanced at pace in recent years and we need to lead the field if we are to remain competitive.”

Alongside new models from Mazak’s QUICK TURN 250 series to replace lost machines, Intime has upgraded its turning capability with several new QUICK TURN 250 MY machines with a Y-axis, 1.5 metre barfeed capability on two of its machines, and a one metre bed on another.

However, Intime’s flagship investment is a new INTEGREX j-series Multi-Tasking machine that takes the company’s machining capabilities in a new direction.

“The INTEGREX will allow us to consolidate multiple different operations onto one machine which saves us a lot of space. It’s also effectively two machines in one, possibly more, due to its second spindle and milling spindle that gives us the capability for multi-face work.”

The INTEGREX j-series, which is manufactured in Worcester, is the first Multi-Tasking machine to be built outside of Japan. Mazak positions the INTEGREX j-series as an accessible entry point to 5-axis machining while combating a number of the challenges associated with turreted lathes, specifically the number of tools available and interference with large workpieces.

The machine is designed to eliminate interference for both milling spindle and second spindle and is equipped with a front position tool magazine with 20 tools as standard.

He concludes: “I’ve got 43 years with Intime Engineering behind me, but sometimes it feels as if I’m starting again. However, we’ve got great people, loyal customers and the right partner in Mazak who can equip us with the right technology to make Intime rise from the ashes. We’re very positive about the future.”