K&B Invests in Starrag Technology to Power Advanced Manufacturing Expansion

Established in 1974 by Kenneth Wood Sr., K&B Industries was built on a straightforward principle: “Help customers succeed, and success will follow.” Nearly five decades later, that philosophy has propelled the company to four locations and roughly 650 employees, positioning it as a leading force in the Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) arena. Committed to continuous investment in technology, people, and customer relationships, the Schriever, LA–based firm’s next leap forward involves new machine-tool technology from Starrag.

Beyond its headquarters, K&B operates three additional sites in Houma, LA, and Houston, TX. Leveraging its OCTG expertise, the second-generation family enterprise has broadened its reach into aerospace, space exploration, and semiconductor manufacturing. A milestone in this diversification came in 2015, when K&B launched its Advanced Manufacturing Group and acquired a 10-acre property at 139 Equity Blvd. in Houma, featuring a 118,000 sq ft facility. Plans for this location include dedicated machine tools for advanced machining, a precision chemical cleaning and coating line, and an 8,000 sq ft ISO Class 6 cleanroom for assembling and testing ultra-high-vacuum (UHV) semiconductor components—now nearing completion.

As the Advanced Manufacturing Division has grown, the need for automated machining solutions has intensified. To maximize productivity, efficiency, and part quality, K&B has purchased two Heckert HEC 800 X5 five-axis machining centers from Starrag.

The Heckert HEC 800 X5 is a high-speed, five-axis production platform equipped with a robust HSK-T100 spindle that accepts tools up to 340 mm in diameter. Its generous work envelope—1,450 mm (X) × 1,100 mm (Y) × 1,300 mm (Z)—moves at rapid traverses of 65 m/min. Each 800 × 800 mm pallet can support components up to 1,200 kg, while the table’s 500 rpm rotary function, swiveling from +91° to –45° and rotating a full 360°, delivers outstanding mill/turn versatility. K&B chose these machines in large part for this flexibility and Starrag’s strong service and support.

Benny Boudreaux, Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing, explains: “A few years back we toured a facility partnered with Starrag and were impressed by the depth of engagement from their applications team. We felt that pairing premium equipment with Starrag’s expertise would shorten cycle times and elevate part quality—significantly boosting capacity.”

The two Heckert HEC 800 X5 mill/turn centers will focus on machining aluminum UHV components for semiconductor wafer-fabrication equipment. Initially, four part numbers—produced in weekly batches of seven to 16 pieces—will run through the machines, with plans to expand part variety after the initial rollout.

During its market review, K&B relied on Starrag’s comprehensive cycle-time studies, uptime data, and reliability projections. Boudreaux notes, “Rather than specifying an exhaustive list of machine features, we prioritize equipment built with high-quality components, exceptional accuracy, and repeatability that can meet our uptime targets year after year. Production reliability is essential for honoring our delivery commitments.”

With these new five-axis machines in place, K&B Industries is poised to strengthen its advanced-manufacturing capabilities, ensuring that customers across OCTG, aerospace, space, and semiconductor markets benefit from faster cycles, higher quality, and greater capacity.

K&B Industries

139 Equity BlvdHouma, LA 70360

985-868-6730

www.kb-industries.com