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Editor’s View
I’ve just had solar panels fitted, so sustainability is uppermost in my mind. I’m obsessed with the app that comes with them, checking on an hourly basis how much power they are producing, how full my battery is and how much I’m exporting to the grid. I’ve started to resent turning on the kettle if it means I need to import power. I will get over it I suppose, or get used to cold drinks.
Anyway, the point is that sustainability cuts across everything we do, especially in manufacturing. We’ve got a feature on sustainability in this issue, but it leaks out into all the other features too.
At one level we have sustainable processes: circular manufacturing, recycling and low energy consumption machines – such as electric moulding presses. At another level we have new manufacturing approaches for lightweight components – such as press hardening steel, novel additive manufacturing methods, and optimised designs. Finally we have the new markets that have opened up in sustainable products and clean energy.
There are a lot of opportunities for UK manufacturers if the right strategies are in place – for example, according to UK Steel, in the last five years less than 2% of the steel used in UK wind farms was fabricated in the UK, and almost none using UK made steel.
We don’t need tariffs – that just puts up input costs – but we do need policies that encourage UK manufacturing.
Andy Sandford, Editor
Member of the Engineering Industries Association
The Jury for the 2025 Swedish Steel prize has nominated four applications for the award that exemplify cutting edge technology and demonstrate the possibilities that the SSAB premium product range can offer.
The winner will be announced on May 8 at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
"We are delighted to have four impressive finalists for the Swedish Steel Prize. Each of them showcases innovative ways to leverage the unique properties of steel,” said Eva Petursson, Chair of the Swedish Steel Prize Jury and Head of Research and Innovation at SSAB.
The finalists are the Greenbrier companies for a new generation gondola rail car, a tailored steel spring from InfiniSpring, a low ground pressure tracked vehicle from Loglogic and a Volkswagen for its component property optimisation.
US manufacturer Greenbrier has been recognised for rethinking traditional design and contributing to cost efficiency and sustainability. It has developed a new generation gondola rail car that demonstrates enhanced performance throughout the logistics chain, reducing down time and improving cargo handling. Designed and built to meet the high demands of its segment, it achieves reduced weight and increased durability. The jury said that this is testament to how customer understanding and dedication can meet industry demands and shape the future.
Finnish company InfiniSpring has
Steel innovation prize
been recognised for an innovative mechanical steel spring design with integrated flexibility, shock absorption, and vibration isolation into steel plates. This solution eliminates the need for separate, externally sourced spring mounts, resulting in a more streamlined and sustainable solution. By tailoring geometry and material characteristics, this innovation presents a promising avenue for advancing durability and efficiency in industrial applications.
UK company Loglogic has developed a small, flexible, and versatile vehicle, with exceptionally low ground pressure, that is customised for efficient and gentle operations where traditional vehicles fall short. The lightweight yet robust tracked vehicle is easy to handle and transport, with low fuel consumption, minimised maintenance, and a long service life. This innovation makes a real difference for a more sustainable world. The vehicle has an ultralight-weight design, making wetlands and other sensitive terrains accessible.
Volkswagen is using an innovative hot forming process
introducing multi-phase design in press-hardened components. It has developed a manufacturing method that provides unique advantages in the design of car body structures for crash energy absorption and lightweight. By processing one steel grade to a range of high strength and high ductility properties new levels of optimisation of components can be achieved. This demonstrates a high level of material knowledge, importance of partnership and innovation as well as dedication to sustainability targets.
The Swedish Steel Prize celebrates engineering, cooperation, and steel innovations that lead to a better and more sustainable world. It inspires engineers, designers, and inventors to further explore the unlimited potential of steel. 8 ssab.com
Southern Manufacturing & Electronics concluded its most successful show to date in early February. Celebrating its 27th anniversary this year, the international event saw a significant surge in visitor attendance and exhibitor participation.
Alongside the exhibition, which featured everything from cuttingedge technology to essential products, the event featured 53 open-format seminars including a keynote address from Ben Fletcher, COO at Make UK.
The event attracted 10,204 visitors, a 14% increase compared to 2024. This year's visitor profile reflected the diverse nature of the show. The biggest cohort was from the aerospace manufacturing sector. More than 72% of visitors had purchasing influence, underlining the event's importance as a platform for business growth. The number of exhibitors also grew, by an impressive 12%, with 535 companies showcasing their latest products and innovations, breaking the 500 barrier for the first time.
Show records broken
Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2025 marked a significant step forward in enhancing the visitor experience. People were provided with new smart badges that enabled seamless information collection via an EasyGo reader on each stand. The innovative system eliminated the need to carry brochures around, while simultaneously providing exhibitors with valuable data on who had expressed interest. On average, each stand collected 60 EasyGo leads, demonstrating very positive engagement. The show also launched Southern Connect, a dedicated app designed to expedite networking and matchmaking between attendees.
It saw excellent uptake, with 41% of visitors utilising its features alongside the printed guide. The app facilitated 31,191 actions, 1,974 connections between 3,948 participants, and 85 meetings arranged directly through the platform.
Simon Farnfield, a director at Easyfairs, the new proprietor of the event enthused, "We are thrilled with the resounding success of the exhibition in this our first year of ownership. The record-breaking number of visitors, increased exhibitor participation and enthusiastic adoption of our new networking technology demonstrate the show's continued importance to a broad spectrum of manufacturing. The positive feedback we have received, particularly regarding EasyGo and Southern Connect, underscores our commitment to providing a valuable and engaging experience for everyone involved."
The event has been shortlisted for the 2025 Exhibition News 'Best Trade Show 5,000 to 10,000 sqm' award.
8 easyfairs.com
East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd
supported the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths and a team of artist blacksmiths ahead of the Lord Mayor’s Show – a procession that dates back almost 800 years.
Doug Campbell FWCB, a Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths’ Liveryman, Bronze Medal holder and Owner of Caimbeuls Forge, said: “The Lord Mayor’s Show is a highly respected event and one that’s been core to our British history for hundreds of years.
“Alongside my co-lead blacksmith, Liveryman Ian Parmenter FWCB of Parmenter Forge - and a team of 50 other brilliant artist blacksmiths and liverymen and budding students from across the UK - we spent several months designing and creating bespoke and beautiful pieces in preparation to welcome the 696th Lord Mayor of London,
Backing British blacksmiths
Alderman Alastair King DL.
“Alastair is the first Lord Mayor of the City of London whose Mother Company is the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. He was apprenticed to the Blacksmiths’ Company aged just 14 and served as Prime Warden in 2020-21. The origins of the Company can be traced back
quality cost effective CNC subcontracting. Produced on state of the art machines EN 9100:2018 ISO 9001: 2015 Approved
to the 11th Century. So it was an absolute privilege to be involved.
“To form part of our dedicated float, we forged six side panels, one double-leaf gate, a gazebo, and a hanging sign bracket, all of which we wanted to be galvanized due to the aesthetic finish and protection it provides.
“Having worked with East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd for over 13 years, who’ve always gone above and beyond, and treated my artwork with total care and respect, I reached out to see if they’d be interested in getting involved. Much to my delight, they agreed to sponsor the pieces and provide complimentary galvanizing, which would allow these items to be rust and corrosion-free for over 70 years.”
Selwyn Parrish, Commercial Manager at East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd, added: “When Doug approached us about this fantastic opportunity, we were really excited to get involved.”
8 wedge-galv.co.uk
Future skills at Grenville Engineering
With seven apprentices currently working with it through the North Staffs Engineering Group (NSEG), Grenville Engineering is committed to providing a well-rounded apprenticeship scheme that develops multi-skilled operators.
The approach ensures that apprentices gain hands-on experience across various departments, allowing them to explore different aspects of engineering and steel fabrication while building a strong foundation for their careers.
Many of Grenville Engineering’s apprentices have progressed into leadership roles, with several moving up to team leader and management positions. In fact, Sales Director, Stuart Rawlinson started as an apprentice with Grenville 30 years ago, demonstrating the long-term career opportunities available through our apprenticeship programme.
He said: “An apprenticeship is a fantastic way to learn practical skills while gaining qualifications. Learning from experienced professionals gives apprentices the confidence to progress further in their careers. I found it incredibly rewarding as I advanced through my own apprenticeship, building a strong foundation
and a much deeper understanding of the industry. This hands-on experience is invaluable in shaping the engineers and leaders of the future.”
Grenville’s apprentices are given real responsibilities from the outset, identifying their strengths and areas for development. By rotating through different departments, they gain exposure to a range of processes, enhancing their versatility and employability.
Recently, Grenville Engineering was honoured with the Training Company of the Year Award at the NSEG Awards. Two apprentices, Joshua Harrison and Ryan Sullivan, received Distinction Awards.
Another example is of this success is Ryan Povey, who has excelled in his apprenticeship and recently won The Chairman’s Prize for Apprentice of the Year at the NSEG Awards. Ryan was also a finalist for Apprentice of the Year in the Metalforming Machinery Makers Awards in November 2024.
Ryan said: “I’d heard about
NSEG through my dad, who did an apprenticeship when he was my age. He inspired me to follow in his footsteps.”
When asked about how he found Grenville Engineering, Ryan explained, “NSEG suggested Grenville to me. Seeing my future ambitions align with the company, I couldn’t say no. “Most days bring new challenges that push my skills to improve while also helping me develop new personal assets. My TIG welding and fabrication skills have improved massively, and I’ve also gained valuable knowledge in press operation.”
Winning The Chairman’s Prize for Apprentice of the Year at the NSEG Awards was a proud moment for Ryan. “I feel proud of myself for all my hard work, but I also appreciate the opportunities Grenville has given me to progress so quickly. I hope it inspires new apprentices to aim high and win the award.”
Looking ahead, Ryan sees himself staying with Grenville and progressing in his career. 8 grenville-engineering.co.uk
Advanced Engineering UK, which is set to return to the NEC, Birmingham, on October 29 and 30, 2025, will showcase the latest innovations from the manufacturing and engineering sectors.
With eight months remaining, the exhibition halls are filling up as companies across the supply chain secure their spots. Currently, 70 per cent of the space is already booked, so interested exhibitors should act promptly to reserve their place.
Following a record-breaking 2024 event that welcomed over 9,800 professionals, Advanced Engineering 2025 is gearing up for another big year. Providing a platform for engineering and manufacturing professionals to connect, the show organisers are planning for two action-packed days where attendees will gain access to cutting-edge technologies, expert-led conference sessions and networking opportunities.
For exhibitors, the event offers an opportunity to showcase the latest solutions in composites, automation, additive manufacturing, testing, green technologies and more. With access to over 9,000 industry leaders from Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs, businesses can position themselves at the forefront of industry transformation, helping manufacturers overcome critical challenges such as supply chain resilience and the journey to Net Zero.
Alongside the exhibition, attendees can expect over
Show dates announced
200 expert speakers delivering insight across multiple forums, tackling key industry topics such as digitalisation, supply chain resilience and sustainability. Plus, in response to the ongoing skills shortage in the UK engineering and manufacturing sectors, Advanced Engineering is continuing its #MINDTHEskillsGAP initiative.
Simon Farnfield, event director
at Easyfairs, the organiser of Advanced Engineering said: “Every year, we see the latest innovations on the show floor and the energy from exhibitors and attendees proves just how important this event is. We can’t wait to be back in 2025 with even more opportunities for businesses to connect and make an impact.”
8 advancedengineeringuk.com
New investments in turn/mill CNC machines at Maldon subcontractor C & M Precision have underlined its ‘One-hit CNC’ philosophy and are supporting major new contracts.
Managing Director John Cable says: “Our whole manufacturing philosophy is based around onehit machining – bar in at one end of the machine and a finished component out of the other end.
“The whole factory – every single machine – does that. We have 13 turn/mill machines in all – ten sliding head Citizen lathes and three Miyano fixed head machines – all supplied by Citizen UK. All the machines are IMECA magazine bar fed with a soft landing conveyor at the back end to collect the finished goods.”
In the past year C & M has built on its existing fleet of machines by adding two new machines. The most recent arrival is a new Miyano ANX 42 SYY fixed head turn-mill centre with a 42mm bar capacity, two turrets and two spindles.
The sub-spindle has an X-axis that allows it to follow the back of one of the turrets so that three tools can be cut at the same time – thus reducing cycle times.
The other new machine is a Citizen L12X sliding head machine with a half inch maximum bar capacity and a Yaxis on the back tool station opposing the sub-spindle which increases its milling capabilities.
John explains the thinking behind these investments: “We bought the L12 sliding head machine because we were
One-hit CNC investments support growth
getting more orders for smaller electrical components – contacts for example – so we wanted more capacity at that size.
“The Miyano ANX replaced an older M32 sliding head machine that we’d had since 2007. We needed to upgrade, and wanted a machine with LFV (Low Frequency Vibration) chip control. It would have been a lot more expensive to get a new M32 with LFV, so I made the decision to go with the larger diameter fixed head Miyano with LFV. It won’t do the work we put on the sliding head machines,
but we have enough shorter parts that required LFV to make it a good swap out.”
He says that LFV chip control is a key feature on any new machine. “We insist on LFV because we want to ensure top quality parts coming off the machine. The swarf controlling ability it gives us enables it to run much more efficiently because you are not untangling bird’s nests of swarf. It chips into smaller pieces – so it makes a non-free-machining material into a free-machining material. That means you don’t get the scratches and dents associated with swarf wrapping round the component and you aren’t scrapping parts. All the machines coming in now have LFV. We had our first machine with it six or seven years ago and I won’t buy anything without it.”
Complementing its machining investments, C & M has also invested in a new purpose-built, temperature controlled inspection room to house a new OGP E7 SmartScope optical measuring system.
John says: “It makes our inspection more efficient, takes out potential operator errors, and it can measure parts a lot more quickly than an operator can.
“It is easy to program, it is very similar to programming a CNC machine, and once you have got it programmed and set you can just put the component down, it finds it on the table and it runs the program. It is incredibly fast and the measurements are guaranteed to plus or minus a micron.
“It gives our customers confidence in our accuracy. One of our major customers has the same system so they know our measurements are directly comparable to theirs.”
New orders
This emphasis on quality parts is winning big new contracts for
C & M Precision. It has just picked up a three-year contract with a large multi-national organisation whose products go into a wide range of markets. John says: “They came to C & M because they recognised our capabilities, we’ve got the right equipment and we have a re-investment strategy. Customers don’t want to go to a company working on old machines – and everyone wants their parts made on Citizens and Miyanos because they know they are going to get quality parts.”
Another customer, which manufactures mailing equipment has just committed to 6,000 machine hours for 2025. John says: “We have worked for them for some years, but always on an ad hoc basis. Their French parent company moved the production of one of its machines to the UK factory and its machine shop couldn’t cope with all the work. They decided not to invest in their own machine shop, but to
outsource all the work to us. They see the new machines going and they have confidence that they can rely on us.”
A third customer was having parts machined in high volumes at a company in the north of England. John explains: “Whenever there was a problem it was a logistical nightmare for them . We have been working for this company since day one and were doing some smaller volume work. I asked them if they had any high volume work we could do. They gave us the price we had to get to and we beat that price. They have literally moved all the work to us and are ordering a million parts at a time, guaranteed to be called off within 12 months.”
Summing up, John says: “We are holding our own, we’ve got a good machine base – all relatively new with an ongoing investment programme – and we are actively looking to take on more staff and more challenges.”
8 onehitcnc.com
Ayrshire Precision has transformed its small turned part processing operations by integrating automation systems with two existing multi-tasking lathes.
Two SYNERGi automation systems from Mills CNC have been paired with Doosan Puma Y-axis, sub-spindle lathes.
The creation of two selfcontained automated manufacturing cells has helped the company significantly increase its productivity and process efficiencies by embracing unmanned and lights-out production.
The investment in sophisticated automation technology from Mills CNC is delivering real, tangible and sustainable benefits. It has eliminated production bottlenecks and pinch points, reduced part cycle times and, as a consequence, customer lead times. It also allows the full machining capacity of two previously under-utilised, lathes to be realised.
The systems, both derivations and highly customised versions of Mills’ standard SYNERGi ‘SPRINT’ solutions, were installed at Ayrshire Precision in March and September last year.
The basic elements of the automation systems include a Fanuc industrial robot with pneumatic grippers and a loading plate along with integrated safety guarding, software and a touchscreen interface.
Mills can also supply customers with multi-socket inserts to optimise each system’s capacity.
Automation transformation
These are sheet metal fabrications that customers can also choose to manufacture for themselves.
Ayrshire Precision supplies a range of customers in the oil and gas, subsea, renewables, power generation and aerospace sectors.
The company has a wellresourced machine shop and, as part of its ongoing continuous improvement programme, regularly invests in its people, its plant and equipment, and in its processes and systems. Over the years, the company has invested regularly in new machine tools as a route to increasing its in-house machining capacity and capabilities; a high percentage of which have been Doosan machines from Mills CNC.
Since 2012 Ayrshire Precision has invested in a range of Doosan
machines, from two-axis and multi-tasking lathes through to large-capacity, heavy-duty vertical machining centres and horizontal borers, to machine complex, high-precision components made from steels, stainless, duplex, Inconel and other difficult-tomachine materials.
Ayrshire Precision’s decision to invest in automation was made for a number of reasons.
The volatility of the markets served by the company and, as a consequence, fluctuating customer demand for the company’s machining services, combined with a difficulty in recruiting and retaining skilled labour, all contributed to Ayrshire Precision’s decision.
Chris Hepburn, Ayrshire Precision’s Managing Director, said: “We can either be very busy or, due in large part to external macro-economic factors that impact on our customers’ business, can experience order cancellations and/or postponements that make it difficult to match our production capabilities and resources with changing customer requirements.”
He concluded: “The investment in our two SYNERGi cells is paying dividends. We have two inherently flexible automated cells that, to a large extent, have not only helped us future proof our small turned part operations, but have also increased our overall capacity too.”
8 ayrshire-precision.co.uk
A new multitasking machine at Advanced Precision CNC is speeding up throughput and increasing capacity for new work.
The new INTEGREX machine adds to the company’s fleet of Yamazaki Mazak machine tools.
The Bromsgrove manufacturer, set up in 2013 by Managing Director Paul Grace, has developed a strong customer base across a wide variety of industries since opening its doors, including coatings, wire form tooling, medical, aerospace, fabrication and bespoke machine component build.
The company’s success is built on investing in best-in-class machines that can manufacture the highest-quality components.
“We don’t compromise on the quality of the machines we buy and that is why we’ve invested in the new INTEGREX,” said Paul. “The business was set up with Mazak machines and we have never deviated from that first commitment to investing in the best machines.”
The new machine is Advanced Precision CNC’s 10th Mazak machine to be brought into its 6,000 sq ft Stoke Prior premises that employs 15 staff and one apprentice. The machine shop now includes two UK-made VTC-760C vertical travelling column machining centres as well as a VTC-300C II; two VCN-530C high-productivity vertical machining centres and four QUICK TURN lathes, all of which were also manufactured in the UK at Mazak’s European
Multi-tasking boosts capacity
Manufacturing facility in Worcester.
As part of its latest machining investment, Advanced Precision has specified an INTEGREX i-250H S Multi-Tasking machine –the high-speed, high-torque option from Mazak’s flagship range that is capable of machining a wide range of components at exceptional speeds to deliver outstanding productivity.
Paul said: “The INTEGREX adds a different dimension to our
machining capability; it allows us to perform multiple machining tasks in one setup with one program. Specifically, I wanted to reduce the number of tool changes and do things quicker. Now, we’re completing jobs to the same, if not an even higher standard, and much faster. Also, because we’re getting more work done, we can go after additional opportunities. In just six months its already helping us to grow the business.”
8 apcnc.co.uk
Chip-breaking low frequency vibration (LFV) technology has transformed turning efficiency and productivity at Welsh subcontractor Harlech Engineering.
The company bought a Miyano fixed head machine and a Cincom sliding head machine from Citizen Machinery in 2023 and 2024 which both feature this technology.
The twin-spindle, double Y-axis-turret Miyano ANX42SYYLFV turning centre fitted with a three-metre bar magazine replaced a slower, single-turret lathe of a different make. It resulted in significantly higher productivity, both through faster cycle times and fewer operations, usually producing components in one hit. It was, however, the LFV software that set the machine apart from a couple of similarly specified lathes on the market that Director Mr Josh Watkins was also considering.
Before taking the decision to purchase, he asked Citizen Machinery's applications department in Bushey to carry out time trials on a couple of brass components he machines for the automotive industry. One was a dial assembly bracket that sits behind a car fascia.
It was taking 8 minutes to produce on a sliding-head lathe on which the spindle power and driven tool capability were limited, so further time on a vertical machining centre was needed to produce two tapped holes - and the part had to be handled and reset for the second
Chip-breaking productivity
operation. The same component comes off the Miyano complete in 4.5 minutes. There are four other brackets in the same family that similarly benefit from faster production.
A second type of shorter bracket that used to be produced in one hit on a sliding-head lathe was also programmed and proved out on an ANX in Bushey. It likewise is being produced faster on the fixed-head machine in Swansea, with the added benefit that Mr Watkins has been able to free up the slider for other, more appropriate work.
Free-cutting brass does not require any special attention in regard to chip-breaking, but other materials do, such as 316 stainless steel, which accounts for more than three quarters of the work going through Harlech's shop floor.
Mr Watkins commented, "Historically we have used two other types of chip-breaking
software on sliding-head lathes, but Citizen's LFV is more effective than either.
"The function is easy to incorporate into a cycle, as it simply requires a single line of G-code to switch it on or off.
Harlech also uses LFV when producing copper studs for an outdoor furniture manufacturer. This malleable material is notorious for generating stringy swarf that wraps around the tool and workpiece, risking damage to both. With the Citizen chipbreaking software switched on, the ribbons are reduced to shorter chips that can be evacuated as easily as those produced when cutting brass.
The studs are turned longitudinally and undergo a lot of face turning to produce a dome shape and face grooves. It is a long-running contract that in the past has been fulfilled on both fixed- and sliding-head lathes having ineffective or no chip
breaking software. Cycle time is approximately two minutes and after every 10 parts it was previously necessary to stop the machine to clear the working area of copper ribbons. Now the job runs unattended into or even through the night on the ANX.
Mr Watkins advised, "This is a big help, as the studs are required in batches of 1,500. The microsecond intervals of air cutting that breaks the swarf into fine chips lengthen this exclusively LFV cycle slightly, but on the plus side we are able to take deeper cuts, so there is little
difference overall. Best of all it just works, without any fuss or tweaking of parameters."
Mr Watkins concluded, "We have been a family-run business since 1990. Toolmaking and press
Cold drawn bright bar made in the UK using the latest technology that is ideally suited to CNC machining.
Metric and Imperial Bar
• Round bar from 6mm – 76.2mm
• Hexagon bar from 8mm – 70mm
Fast turnaround from stock or made to order.
working used to account for a majority of our turnover, but subcontract turning and milling is more than two-thirds of our business now. We mainly serve the medical, automotive, domestic appliance, electronics and rail industries.
"We have been investing heavily over the past eight years in modern, multi-axis CNC plant to become ever more efficient. I must say, however, that the latest two Citizen lathes with LFV have taken our productivity to a whole new level."
8 harlechengineering.com
United Bright Bar
Phone +44(0)1902 791010
Email sales@unitedbrightbar.co.uk
Web www.unitedbrightbar.co.uk
BS EN ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
Bespoke lengths, end chamfering, crack detection and tolerances to meet your requirements.
All sourced from UK or European mills with full traceability for quality and consistency.
A new additive process that integrates soluble supports will speed the manufacture of polymer aircraft cabin parts.
Airframe Designs has completed a collaborative R&D project co-funded by Innovate UK on the new process. The 18-month NATEP project was led by Airframe Designs alongside the flammability test house MIX14 and structural test house AMS.
The project focused on the use of soluble supports in combination with a new ultrapolymer material called AM200. The material is produced locally in the North-West by Victrex, in Thornton-Cleveleys, and is unique with the ability to be 3D printed with soluble support.
The material was benchmarked against the popular aerospace polymer ULTEM 9085 and the project enabled Airframe Designs to develop robust processes for both material systems as the company heads towards being a UK CAA Part21G production organisation, approved to print commercial aviation flying parts.
The National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) is a £20million programme, funded by the Department for Business and Trade through the Aerospace Technology Institute and managed by Innovate UK that has developed more than 80 different aerospace technologies across the UK supply chain.
For Blackpool-based Airframe Designs, the project helps to underpin future high-growth and enhanced capability as part of its
Faster aircraft cabin parts
strategic ambition to be the number one polymer additive SME in the local aerospace and defence supply chain.
Jerrod Hartley, CEO of Airframe Designs, said “We’re proud to be at the cutting edge of a project such as this, using our engineering and advance manufacturing excellence to be a leader in this kind of air worthy part production.
“We are using water-soluble support in the 3D printing process with faster manufacture and less potential for damage than current manual methods and building a database of materials which can be used in the parts being developed for the future.”
Steven Stanley, representing NATEP, said: “This is just the kind of project we want to encourage and support, helping to demonstrate the capability of the aerospace sector in the UK when it comes to innovation for the future. The 3D printing sector is helping to create new solutions
not previously possible.”
The aim of the project is to open up opportunities for flight worthy parts within the aircraft cabin environment and aircraft interiors market. The technology can also be adapted for other industries including military aerospace, space, defence, nuclear, rail and automotive.
The services offered by Airframe Designs are designed to meet the requirements applicable for the aerospace and defence sectors for lightweight ultrapolymer materials that can meet both the structural and flammability airworthiness requirements mandated by international regulators.
Airframe Designs has also recently been re-certified to AS9100D/BS EN ISO 9001:2015 for aerospace quality standards and achieved re-certification to ISO 14001 for effective environmental management systems.
8 airframedesigns.com
Wall Colmonoy (UK) has received funding from the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) which will help to develop next-generation aerospace engine components for the Ministry of Defence.
The company’s Project EVaCC (Experimental Vacuum Investment Casting Capability) aims develop a cutting-edge Vacuum Precision Investment Casting (VPIC) capability, strengthening the UK’s sovereign capabilities and ensuring a robust supply chain for the Ministry of Defence.
The DTEP grant helps fund the nearly £2M EVaCC project. DTEP is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence’s Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE) and delivered through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Innovate UK.
The addition of VPIC casting technology will greatly enhance Wall Colmonoy’s capabilities, enabling the production of nextgeneration aerospace components.
Wall Colmonoy Limited and Rolls-Royce Bristol will partner on retrofitting this technology, leveraging over 100 years of combined metallurgical expertise.
“This investment represents a significant milestone for Wall Colmonoy Limited,” said Dr. Chris Weirman, Technical Director. “It will enable us to meet the Ministry of Defence’s critical needs while advancing the UK’s defence and aerospace capabilities.”
“Wall Colmonoy are committed to the future of UK manufacturing and developing supply chain
Advanced defence castings
resilience to protect sovereign capabilities for a wide range of industrial applications on the global stage. Building upon our core competencies of producing specialist alloys, we have a unique value proposition to offer our customers,” explains Michael Shreeve, Business Unit Manager –Precision Components.
Preparations for the VPIC are underway. Once operational, Wall
Tel:
Colmonoy Limited will produce complex vacuum castings using nickel-based superalloys, critical for most engine programmes.
A key innovation will be the use of microstructural refinement technology, improving mechanical performance, allowing for more design flexibility with the goal of achieving thinner aerofoil sections and improved fuel efficiency.
8 wallcolmonoy.co.uk
New punching and laser cutting systems at sheet metal manufacturer Allsops will speed delivery times for customers.
The two machines are a TruPunch CNC 3000 punch press with descending die and Industry 4.0 automation for loading and unloading and a TruLaser 1030 6kW laser cutter. The latter machine is equipped with an automated load/unload system and a material buffer tower for unattended shift working.
Allsops also invested in TruTops Boost software for both machines which takes parts from geometry to an NC program with a single push of a button. It also improves material utilisation with a shared order pool and a ‘Lean Nest’ nesting processor.
While the TruLaser 1030 provides the company with fast and efficient 2D laser cutting, the TruPunch 3000 allows Allsops to support its punching requirements with on-machine forming, tapping, countersinking and bending.
Based at Honley near Huddersfield, Allsops employs around 150 people to help generate an annual turnover in excess of £10m. Designing and creating products for some of the best-known manufacturers in the world means the company relies on the latest production technologies to underpin its added-value offer.
“We’re a sheet metal company with a difference,” said Managing Director Robert Machon. “Throughout the design and manufacturing process we work
Faster sheet metal parts
closely with clients from industries as diverse as defence, travel, retail, energy, telecommunications and general manufacturing - bringing their sheet metal ideas to life.”
He continued: “Our customers choose us based on several factors: our capacity to deliver every stage of the sheet metal production process, rapid turnaround times, highly competitive pricing, dedication to quality and investment in stateof-the-art manufacturing technologies at our 84,000 ft² plant,” says Mr Machon.
“With our new Trumpf machines we’re seeing a number of positive differences compared with our previous technology,” said Mr Machon. “We immediately noticed that the machines are faster, giving us more output. In parallel with far better service provision, we feel vindicated in our decision to engage with Trumpf, which we recognise as a trusted industry name.”
As a USP, Allsops always
puts forward its ability to create a valued-engineered version of the client’s product to help save money.
“Our design and new-product creativity skills are proven and established – and now we have the manufacturing technology to match. Faster times are the main advantage passed to customers. In addition, with both Trumpf machines featuring automation, we can run a lightsout facility in support of tight customer deadlines.”
Aided by automatic load and unload facilities, Allsops’ new Trumpf TruPunch 3000 has a maximum working range of 3070 x 1525 mm and can easily accommodate the standard sheet size of 3000 x 1500 mm.
“We’re capable of punching sheet up to 3 mm thick with a press force of 180 kN and can use between 24 and 200 tools,” said Mr Machon. “The result? We can produce precision components for customers, fast.”
8 allsops.co.uk
ExMesh Engineering is investing £500k to widen its product offering from high quality expanded metal perimeter fencing into a comprehensive metal fabrication service.
Ryan Pinder, ExMesh Operations Manager and Head of Continuous Improvement, said: "To support our bold new direction, we have made substantial investments in stateof-the-art machinery, which will enable us to deliver unparalleled precision, flexibility, and capacity in all metal fabrication.”
The company is also to embark on a recruitment drive later this year as it introduces an extensive range of new services to meet the
Expanding its horizons
growing demands of its customers.
Ryan added: "New services include a top-of-the-line laser cutter which can cut carbon steel, mild steel, stainless steel, and
aluminium with extreme accuracy and efficiency, perfect for complex and large-scale projects. The advanced press brake allows us to handle intricate metal bending and folding tasks, ensuring we can meet even the most demanding specifications alongside our award-winning cobot welding system, which offers consistent, high-quality welding, enabling us to handle projects requiring precision and repeatability at scale. We are very proud to be investing and building on the skill and heritage that is grounded in Teesside.”
8 exmeshengineering.com
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The founders of fabrication specialist Laser Expertise have sold the business to Parklands Capital.
The company has been established for over 40 years and the new owners aim to build on its ‘fantastic legacy’.
Based in Nottingham and operating nationally, Laser Expertise has continued to expand since moving to its current facility in 2002. With over 30,000 sq ft of workshop space and employing over 80 people, the company has become one of the UK’s leading laser cutters.
Anton Schwarz and Dr John Powell founded Laser Expertise in 1984. In a deal led by Matthew Sibley, KBS Corporate Associate Director, the company was sold to Parklands Capital, a private fund which invests in established UK SMEs with ambitious management teams and strong growth prospects.
“Laser Expertise’s commitment to providing all our clients with the highest quality products, focusing on the design and manufacturing processes to ensure repeatable quality, is identical to Parklands Capital’s commitment to making acquisitions seamless,” said Anton Schwarz.
In a message of reassurance to clients, Anton added: “We would like to reinforce that the team responsible for the exceptional quality and service you have become accustomed to will continue to be directed by Amanda, Lee, Matt and Richard, supported by John and myself.
“The contacts you currently
New owners for fabricators
deal with for all facets of the business will remain the same, along with the company name and contact details.
“Together, they look forward to strengthening our range of quality products and services and continuing to listen to you, our customers. We thank you for your business over all these years.”
Tony Rudden, co-founder and CEO of Parklands Capital, commented: “This is a very exciting opportunity for the entire team at Laser Expertise. With the support and infrastructure of the Parklands Capital group, Laser Expertise will be able to continue to innovate and invest in the latest technologies, delivering even greater levels of quality, service and metalwork to all our clients.”
In a social media post, Tony added: “Absolutely massive achievement for the whole Parklands team to get this across
the line. Thanks to everyone within Parklands, Laser Expertise and our partners for making this happen.
“We are truly delighted to have the team at Laser Expertise join us. Very excited for the months and years ahead as we build upon the fantastic legacy created by Anton and John. Two of the nicest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet.”
Matthew Sibley of KBS Corporate said: “Anton and John of Laser Expertise have created a growing company that, in facilitating their retirement, is being transitioned into a group of similar companies to continue to prosper.
“Parklands were good to work with too, being amiable, explaining their intentions and goals to the vendors and I throughout, and generally open to commercially focused compromise.”
8 laserexp.co.uk kbscorporate.com
New software is providing fast and accurate quote preparation, easy program generation and responsive sales support at DMS Laser Profiles.
The company decided to replace the existing system with Lantek software in May 2024.
DMS specialises in stainless fabrication primarily in the petrochemical, process engineering, pharmaceutical, food and water sectors, along with many other industries.
Sales Manager Josh Hall said: “We generate around 230 quotations every month and we have checked the costs and prices generated by Lantek against the actual costs and it is really quite accurate. Additionally, during installation and commissioning, where the costs did not line up, Lantek engineers quickly fixed these discrepancies.”
As well as costs for laser cutting, Lantek’s Integra Quotes software also generates prices for other operations such as folding and welding and outsourced operations such as powder coating. It also generates invoices for completed work and integrates with the company’s accounting software.
Typically, CAD data for a new job is either fed into Lantek Expert for flattening, or where there is an assembly of parts, processed in Solid Works to get the individual flattened components.
Around 11 dedicated estimators and programmers use the Lantek software, overlapping responsibilities, pre-nesting parts into 2.5m x 1.25m or 3m x 1.5m
Software boosts laser service
sheets as part of the quotation process, prior to the final nesting and programming when the job is released for production.
Josh Hall added: “With Lantek we can track parts back to the individual sheet it was made from, which is very important for our
ISO traceability requirements. We can also use up remnant material and trace parts made in these remnant sheets, improving material utilisation while maintaining quality standards.”
DMS Laser Profiles has just upgraded its Lantek software to include Lantek MES. This will enable the company to trace parts as they move through the workshop. The laser machines are directly wired in to the software so that real-time data is collected, further increasing cost accuracy and making it much easier to plan and execute the production process.
Material costs will be updated as they change and the company will be able to anticipate workloads for all its manufacturing stages, enabling it to generate accurate costings.
8 lantek.com
SRD Engineering has embraced waste management as a smart business decision that can lead to cost savings and enhanced operational performance.
In high-quality precision engineering, waste can be an overlooked yet pressing issue. With the sector producing over 15 million tonnes of waste annually in the UK alone –according to the Engineering Employers Federation –a staggering amount of valuable raw materials such as plastics and composites are discarded during manufacturing. This leads to environmental degradation and increases operational costs, with many companies failing to realise the financial opportunities in reducing waste.
SRD Engineering is a precision engineering company that supplies high-demand industries such as aerospace, automotive (including Formula One), and medical devices.
The company initially partnered with Waste Mission in 2017 when the team sought a recycling option for their redundant carbide end mills and tips. The initial problems were solved by the provision of bespoke carbide containment sited throughout SRD's works to ensure all staff had access to a clear recycling option; recycling rates and financial returns for the materials were maximised. SRD then asked Waste Mission to provide a recycling solution for its day-to-day swarf and offcuts as well.
Waste Mission’s answer was to supply sealed lockable stackable
Making waste pay its way
stillages that saved space and allowed collections to be more detailed, helping with traceability and increasing the financial returns as more material could be collected per collection.
After a reliable and profitable metals system was in place, the SRD team asked if Waste Mission could help with the safe, secure collection and disposal of redundant coolant. At that time SRD was producing about 1000L of redundant coolant fortnightly. The customer also had an issue with recycling plastic swarf, and needed to streamline its systems and ensure these materials did not go to landfill.
For the redundant coolant, a solution was created where the coolants would be stored in 1000 litre IBCs (Intermediate Bulk Containers), helping reduce the environmental impact and space and resulting in a cost-saving on collections.
Plastic swarf was provided with its own containment which aligned with the metals containment and was then incorporated into the metals collection schedule offering SRD a concise, one stop shop for multiple waste streams.
Over the next several months the Waste Mission team operated a regular monthly collection schedule of coolant, enabling SRD to reduce haulage costs and hence its carbon footprint.
An innovative approach to the segregation of the metals, especially the swarf and the bins, was developed further to increase the financial benefits of recycling for SRD. The Waste Mission team worked closely with SRD to investigate the most efficient approach to bins and segregation for its workshop. Working through all their materials, the best solution was to supply tipping bins that could easily be moved
around the factory and then used to feed the larger containers each time a job run had finished.
Steve Head, Manufacturing Manager at SRD said “The biggest benefit I have seen from Waste Mission is their ability to scale up the service offered to suit what we have needed. From changing the swarf containers to make sure they are suitable for new machines, to increasing the collection frequency so we aren't wasting floor space on swarf. We have had advice, and a solution offered to any issues our growth has seen. With the volume of
swarf we are now generating, the assistance given has allowed us to maximise the financial returns whilst minimising the time, effort and floor space needed.”
Robert Pepperell, Commercial Manager at Waste Mission, who
has managed the SRD account from day one, said: “Working with companies such as SRD is an absolute pleasure. They are a long serving customer whose values align clearly with Waste Mission. Improving their waste outcomes and ensuring a 100% diversion from landfill on the materials we handle is a joint priority. SRD are always open to new processes and technology that can benefit their operations, and we look forward to many more years of working with them.”
8 wastemission.com srdengineering.co.uk
The Clean Energy Systems Partner Alliance (CESPA) bring together six organisations to create a single UK source solution for innovators and developers of green technology.
PP Control & Automation has been joined by Danfoss, Emerson, Glacier Energy, Phoenix Contact and Voltserve, who will combine cutting-edge technologies and engineering prowess with sustainable solutions and proven production techniques.
The members bring every discipline needed to optimise and build systems - electrical, civil and structural design, renewable energy software and automation, connection technology and electronics solutions and climate, drives and power solution products.
They also have access to world class machine build and control systems and energy assets and infrastructure solutions.
“The UK renewable energy market is worth £23billion and is expected to double in value to £46bn by 2034, so you can see the opportunity is huge if we can get the approach right,” explained Richard Spears, Marketing Manager at PP Control & Automation and one of the driving forces behind the initiative.
“Demand is being driven by high living standards, strict environmental regulations and a shift towards low carbon fuels and, with CESPA, we want to ensure as much of this work is captured and delivered by UK companies.”
He continued: “We’re looking
Partnership for clean energy
at technology involved in clean energy, hydrogen capture, Power-to-X, geothermal application and batteries, but that’s just the start. There’s lots of capability domestically, but nowhere you can go to access all of it under one roof – until now.
“All the members have complementary skills and a clear desire to collaborate to create this single source solution, with a view to creating a cluster of clean systems excellence for the UK.”
Farrukh Quraishi, International Business Development Manager at Phoenix Contact, said: “We have a passion for delivering solutions to help make a better world for everyone… today, tomorrow and for years to come.
“CESPA allows us and likeminded companies to work together and share ideas on how we can offer a UK-based single source solution for rolling out
clean energy projects faster, fault-free and within budget.”
Colin Fletcher, Head of Design at Voltserve, added his support:
“This is an exciting venture to be part of and we hope that CESPA will grow to be seen both nationally and internationally as a viable delivery route for clean energy projects within the UK.
“There are lots of large critical projects that should be awarded to domestic companies first, creating wealth in the economy as we aim to help the country achieve its Net Zero goals.”
CESPA is continuing to explore new collaborations and is urging other technology specialists and manufacturers with complementary capabilities to get involved in the alliance. There is also a strong desire to recruit sector champions and collaborate with training providers for clean energy skills development.
8 cespa.org.uk
A £350,000 investment drive has been completed at a Telford precision manufacturer giving it a major boost in capacity as it meets growing demands for electrification products.
Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) has installed two additional single chamber Chemcut etching machines and a state-of-the-art UCE developer for creating quicker and cleaner imaging.
It means 325,000 sheets can be produced every year at its Hortonwood facility, a 30% boost in throughput and, importantly, gives it greater flexibility over product lines and increased accuracy.
Bosses at the company are already looking to boost its market share in electrification, aerospace, medical and filters, targeting expansion opportunities both at home and across the 30 countries it currently serves.
Chris Ball, Executive Director at Advanced Chemical Etching, commented: “There’s been so much global uncertainty outside of manufacturing’s control, but we’ve decided to press on with investment in new technology that makes us quicker and gives us scope to take on additional work.
“The two single chamber Chemcut etching machines mean we now have eight on our shopfloor and the developer is a massive upgrade on our previous equipment. These additions will be used on existing orders and new contracts we have in the pipeline, ranging from busbars for electrification to critical components for airplanes and
Electrification capacity increase
titanium parts that are used to save lives.”
He continued: “At our peak last year we could probably process 1000 sheets every day. Now that figure is comfortably 1300, which gives us plenty of space to grow and increase revenues.”
Advanced Chemical Engineering, which holds ISO:9001, AS:9100 (aerospace) and ISO:14001 (environmental) quality accreditations, currently employs 70 people in Telford.
The scope of its activities is far and wide, seeing it produce anything from simple washers to highly complex precision components for a wide variety of applications, including battery interconnects, fuel cell bi-polar plates, battery grids, cooling plates and heating components.
All parts are developed and manufactured at its main site in Hortonwood and at the company’s dedicated sister
business, ACE Forming Limited, in Kingswinford.
Ian Whateley, Managing Director, went on to add: “We are definitely seeing a lot more sectors looking to employ just-intime supply, which means that we have to make sure the products we supply are right first time. In fact, we’re currently recording 99.97% RFT – way above the industry average.
“This is even more impressive when you consider we send parts to customers in 30 countries across the world, including Denmark, Luxembourg, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand and the US.
“Etching is still not understood by a lot of manufacturing and a big drive for us is educating clients on how they can embrace this engineering discipline. In a lot of applications, we can deliver the same level of performance at a fraction of the cost.”
8 ace-uk.net
A Shropshire manufacturer is looking to target emerging markets in 2025 as it brings a £2m technology investment online.
Bridgnorth Aluminium, which operates from a 66-acre site, is the only fully integrated aluminium rolling plant in the UK and employs 330 people in the county.
Deputy General Manager Adam Hunter is confident that aluminium is essential for the UK's clean energy transition, especially in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and defence systems.
He commented: “We are a key link in the supply chain for battery foil for the EV market, more of which will be required by the new gigafactories, established or being built in Britain and Europe.
“Bridgnorth Aluminium is a major exporter of aluminium rolled products and we invest in green initiatives including reducing our carbon footprint, through recycling and re-using waste heat.
"Our new £2m investment in leading-edge technology will give us cleaner metal in the casting process. This is really important for the battery foil market as well as high-end packaging.”
The investment marks a significant milestone in the company's evolution from its traditional business in lithographic printing to also becoming a key player in the UK's clean energy transition and electrification ambitions.
"Our core business remains in material for printing for
Key link in energy transition
companies across the globe, with 90 per cent of our products exported outside of the UK,” added Adam.
"We have a dedicated research and development department, and our production capabilities span casting, hot/cold rolling, heat treatment, slitting, levelling and degreasing.
“Our resilience and adaptability have already been shown, having successfully restructured and diversified our markets in response to challenges faced in 2023, including rising UK energy prices. This strategy has paid dividends, with a 33 per cent increase in sales during 2024 and we are ahead of our recovery plan and creating new jobs.”
The manufacturer's role in supporting regional economic growth continues to strengthen. It provides vital employment opportunities across Shropshire and the West Midlands and is committed to developing local
talent through educational partnerships and apprenticeships. Engagement with key research institutions including the Warwick Manufacturing Group, the Advanced Propulsion Centre, and the universities of Birmingham and Brunel keeps the business at the cutting edge of materials science and lowcarbon manufacturing technologies – crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in global markets.
Adam concluded: “There are headwinds from external economic factors such as uncertainty over tariffs in the US market under a new administration and new legislation around carbon reporting and taxation. We’re talking to the Department of Business and Trade about these challenges and have responded to the consultation on the new industrial strategy due to be published this year.”
8 bridgnorthaluminium.co.uk
Birmingham-based plastic injection moulding and toolmaking specialist Barkley Plastics is celebrating 60 years in business with a collection of new projects.
The new work includes controller parts and ambient lighting for a luxury high-end shower manufacturer, as well as car charger components for Fast Amps and environmentally friendly plumbing fittings for Ecoclip.
These latest wins – combined with its own ‘PlasFloor’ flooring tile range and ongoing interior trim and specialist lighting products orders from Nissan, Toyota, JLR and several supercar manufacturers - have helped the company bounce back from a difficult two years, with the firm now on course to turnover more than £4m and exciting plans in place to further increase revenues by 2026.
Expansion plans have been boosted by the £100,000 modernisation and streamlining of its Highgate facility to include several cobots for increased automation and a new temperature-controlled quality control room that houses two coordinate measurement machines and a vision scope system.
“Since Covid-19 there has been a lot of supply chain disruption and the automotive sector has been extremely volatile in terms of volumes,” explained Matt Harwood, who took over as Managing Director from his father Mark in 2022.
60 years in plastics
“Like before in our 60-year history, we’ve chosen to face these challenges head-on and are now in a position to target a significant amount of reshoring work that directly suits our technical plastic moulding expertise and the fact we have our own onsite toolroom.”
“Now that we have refined our factory and increased efficiency, we are in a perfect position to offer competitive prices and are determined to help bring more production back to the UK.”
With a fully equipped toolmaking facility within its moulding plant, Barkley Plastics can support its client base with initial design and product development, right through to manufacture and assembly, with over 30 modern moulding presses - ranging from 5 to 650 tonne - able to produce the most
intricate of components weighing less than a gram right up to parts that are a metre squared and 2.5kg in weight.
Steve Smith, Operations Director at Barkley Plastics, commented: “The new contract with the luxury shower manufacturer is a perfect example of where we come into our own. We breathed new life into some of its near obsolete tooling, which gave them the confidence to give us the challenge of developing technical components and ambient lighting for their new product ranges.
“We quickly proved we could manufacture it to the quality and aesthetic finish required and, importantly, at a cost point that worked for them. I’m sure this would have gone overseas before we stepped in.”
8 barkley.co.uk
Broanmain Plastics is installing its first fully automated injection moulding machine cell which includes a 320-ton Haitian injection moulding machine and a Hilectro cartesian robot.
For mass-produced plastic components in particular, Broanmain is resolutely focused on addressing the scale of the sustainability challenge by reducing waste and being more resource efficient overall. This includes ensuring productivity from each unit of raw material and component manufactured at the Dorking facility is maximised.
The Generation 5 Mars machine is a servo hydraulic machine equipped with an electric screw motor as standard. This has a massive impact on energy efficiency as the use of a traditional hydraulic screw drive is the most energy hungry phase of the injection moulding process. It is also incredibly quiet and delivers exceptional precision and reliability that mass manufacturers depend upon, said head of the Haitian UK sales team Veronica Edmunds.
“Compared to fixed pump hydraulic machines, these energy-efficient servo-hydraulic moulding machines can save processors like Broanmain over 70% in energy consumption.”
Broanmain’s Operations Manager Thomas Catinat added: “We intentionally selected this particular 320-ton machine to provide extra manufacturing capacity and to mould larger components for a number of new projects we have won. Having the
Automation for sustainability
automation option was essential for the handling of 1kg parts.”
He added: “The energy savings were clearly impressive. Additionally, this new machine can accommodate tools that fit into both 250 ton and 500-ton machines, which allows us to bridge the production gap in the most efficient way.”
Weight and aesthetics considerations mean that each part must be carefully removed from the tool and placed on a conveyor to prevent structural and cosmetic damage. The Hilectro cartesian robot can perform this demoulding task at a consistent pace and rate. Having a choice of end of arm tooling means that the whole cell will be very adaptable to Broanmain’s future production needs, including lights out manufacturing.
As well as creating cost advantages per unit, the transition to efficient, cleaner production is another way to spur economies of scale. For
example, deployment of more energy efficient injection moulding machines can also lead to fewer product defects and consequently less material waste. Thomas concluded: “This can induce additional cost reductions, which incentivises more deployment of cleaner technology. Creating another cyclical innovation ecosystem.
“The focus for us is unlikely to be full lights out production, but more lights out processes. This then enables us to increase productivity and our manufacturing capacity so we can better flex to customers’ needs. Having a cartesian robot that can take components from the mould, rather than having a full-time operative stationed at the machine that would slide open the door and stop production each time a component is taken from the tool, delivers a much faster cycle time, with no interruptions. It is also far safer for the workforce too.”
8 broanmainplastics.co.uk
The British Turned Parts and Machined Component Manufacturers Association Find out how our members can benefit your business Enquire directly with our Members, via btma.org or mail to info@btma.org
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