Thursday 28 August 08 - 12:28
 

Automotive And Transport

  • Parts for Safety Harness Secure New Market

    01 Feb 2004

    G Squared UK Ltd, a small Andover based engineering company, is making great strides in establishing itself as a premier supplier of manufactured parts. 

  • New Boots and Bonnets Lead to Robotised Cell

    01 Feb 2004

    Willenhall Manufacturing, West Midlands, has won a contract to supply the Unipart DCM with S type Jaguar bonnets, boots and wings following the introduction of an upgrade to the vehicle. To produce these parts Willenhall is in the process of commissioning a robotised cell, which includes robotic welders and pick and place units. The company has recently undergone a major reorganisation of its plant to create additional capacity with the aim of diversifying into other new market sectors. 

  • Flexible Subbie Aims For Tier One Supplier Status

    01 Feb 2004

    Since acquiring three sliding head machines from Tornos in the past three years, WML Engineering of Swansea, is confident of its ability to take on all types of work. The firm's next goal is to achieve tier one supplier status in the automotive sector. At present the company is manufacturing handbrake and accelerator cable components along with connector adjustments and steering racks for a major Japanese automotive manufacturer based in the UK. 

  • Specialist Centre Opens to Spread Six Sigma to SMEs

    01 Feb 2004

    The Accelerate Six Sigma Specialist Centre was launched this month as a resource dedicated to the promotion of knowledge transfer of Six Sigma applications within the West Midlands automotive sector. It is looking to assist over 250 SMEs in the next eighteen months through free seminars and on-site diagnostic workshops. It will also act as a gateway to possible funding opportunities through business development grants, networks and supply chain improvement projects. 

  • Hone-Head Innovation Brings Costs Down and Eliminates Squeal

    01 Feb 2004

    Apperley Honing have now eliminated one of the most anti-social noises ever to eminate from a machine shop. 

  • The Master Body Fixer is a New Modular System

    01 Feb 2004

    Two projects - the development of a 'Master Body' for a new prestige car, and of a new range of grilles by a first tier supplier to the automotive industry - are amongst the first to benefit from an innovative new modular fixture system. VISIONfix? is an extremely flexible, re-useable system used by engineering firms involved in a wide range of development, prototyping, inspection or low, medium and high volume manufacturing and assembly activities. 

  • Kaizen Process Reduced Changeover Time by 25%

    01 Feb 2004

    Following attendance at one of the Kaizen Institute's workshops, Cambridgeshire-based Shearline Precision Engineering has adopted the Kaizen process and found that it can save at least 25% off its changeover times. Although the benefits of Kaizen have been understood for a long time, the Kaizen Institute in the UK admits that relatively small numbers of UK companies have adopted it. 

  • Cold Formed Automotive Fasteners Reduce Costs

    01 Feb 2004

    Cold heading specialists Fisco Fasteners is one of the world's first manufacturing plants to attain TS16949. Leaders in the manufacture of ball studs (predominantly used for attaching gas struts), Fisco specialises in complicated fasteners and components that until recently had to be produced by expensive, and wasteful, machining. 

Hot Working And Heat Treatment

  • New Ring Roller Complements Open Die Forging Processes

    01 Feb 2004

    One of the world's largest blacksmiths, Independent Forgings & Alloys Ltd, Sheffield, a specialist open die forging manufacturer, has recently invested in equipment for the production of rolled rings. Although open die forging activity has developed continuously on the site since 1898, IFA is a technology led company, which was founded in 2001 following a management buy in. The latest investment follows the installation of seven new heat treatment furnaces in 2002. The company offers forging, heat treatment, machining/cutting, NDT and inspection services. 

Industry News

  • It's Just Got Easier to be a Public Sector Supplier

    01 Feb 2004

    The Government spends over £50 billion every year with businesses of all kinds, including engineering companies. This enormous market is predictable and secure, yet very difficult for small manufacturing companies to break into. However, the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) can help companies who are prepared to invest the extra effort required to tender for public programmes, says Mark Eaton, Head of the MAS (South East & London), for EEF South. 

  • Aerospace Nuts and Bolts Specified in New Scheme

    01 Feb 2004

    The aerospace industry is set to benefit from a new qualification scheme launched by BSI Product Services. BS EN 9100:2003 - 'Model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing, Aerospace series' standardizes quality management system requirements for the aerospace industry. 

  • Study Investigates Effects of Global Production Networks

    01 Feb 2004

    Conventional wisdom suggests that globalisation is leading to the lengthening of supply chains. 

  • Manufacturers Need to Be Triathletes Says Alliance

    01 Feb 2004

    According to the Manufacturing Alliance think-tank, manufacturers must learn to run, swim and ride a bike with equal proficiency just to keep up. Britain's leading manufacturers have learnt how to survive and prosper in a climate of constant change, and will be sharing their hard-won experience at an industry summit entitled 'The Triathlete Manufacturer' to take place at MACH on Tuesday 20th April. 

Midlands Manufacturing

  • Gears and Gear Cutting

    01 Feb 2004

    HPC Gears Ltd (stand 184) manufacturer and stockist of gear transmission products, manufactures non-standard parts to samples or drawings, and also offers an enormous range of standard products from stock: Spur gears, Helical gears, Bevel gears, Anti-backlash gears, Internal gears, Worms & Wheels, Racks, Pulleys & Belts, Sprockets & Chains and Ratchets & Pawls; available in all types of materials. A 24-hour turnaround on stock modifications is available on request. HPC makes no minimum order charge, and supplies standard parts, specials, small quantity replacement parts as well as large production runs. 

  • Cold Headed Components

    01 Feb 2004

    Fisco Precision Components, (stand 38) cold heading specialists, return for a fifth consecutive year to Midlands Manufacturing 2003, and samples of their TS16949 certificated parts will be on show. Fisco will be explaining why companies currently producing or purchasing machined components should consider the cold heading process as an economical alternative for almost every volume part. The switch to cold forming has saved some Fisco customers as much as 75% of the cost of such parts. (Read more about Fisco on page 10 in the Automotive and Transport feature in this issue. ) 

  • Pressed Components

    01 Feb 2004

    Westley Engineering (stand 42) will be demonstrating the variety and quality of the pressings and press tools that it has produced for many customers throughout the manufacturing industry. The firm will also explain how it has created large savings on small components by redesigning the items so that they can be formed automatically from a single blank, on a multi-stage progression tool. 

  • Ceramic Components

    01 Feb 2004

    JAI Engineers & Consultants (stand 712) specialises in the manufacture of precision components from advance engineering ceramics. 

  • Machined Components

    01 Feb 2004

    Muller England Ltd, (stand 372) with its headquarters in Worcestershire, is a rapidly growing engineering company manufacturing precision machine components for both domestic and export markets. 

  • Midlands Manufacturing 2004 and TASC UK 2004: The Automotive Suppliers Convention

    01 Feb 2004

    Doors open at 9.00 am on 24 and 25 March at the NEC, Birmingham, for the Midlands' premier subcontract engineering and component sourcing exhibition. The show has built over the years an enviable reputation for delivering a top quality audience of buyers and specifiers from the region's big name manufacturers. A record number of exhibitors have booked their stands for this year's event. 

  • Rubber & Plastic Components

    01 Feb 2004

    Haffenden Moulding Company (stand 88) has a comprehensive manufacturing facility in Sandwich, Kent, for technical plastic, thermoset and rubber moulded products, by injection, transfer and compression moulding. The company specialises in coloured rubber, rubber/metal, and rubber/plastics composite mouldings, and the injection moulding of flame retardant composite products (EPDM and Silicone Rubber). Haffenden is growing its automotive export and specialist food industry client base, whilst continuing to supply its traditional niche consumer markets in hot water bottles, bath mats and swimming caps. Approvals include: ISO9000, QS9000 and BS1970. 

  • Metal Spinning

    01 Feb 2004

    The Winward Company (stand 46) specialises in the spinning, pressing and laser cutting of standard and nonstandard metals in all sizes. The company serves a variety of sectors including the aerospace, automotive, scientific instrument, food processing, and electronics, both in the UK and worldwide. Capable of spinning up to 2.25m, Winward is currently supplying 1.6m stainless steel spinnings to an international food processing machinery manufacture in Japan. This job is circled, spun, laser cut, pressed, tapped and polished all on site and shipped to Japan where only the highest standards are acceptable. 

  • Business Support Services

    01 Feb 2004

    Innovation Networks (stand 223) will be talking to visitors about relevant funding available, how collaboration between small groups can work and the opportunity to access expert consultants, academic institutions and research agencies. 

Wire, Tube, Forming And Presswork

  • Tube Bending Specialist Builds Bespoke Furniture

    01 Feb 2004

    Pipecraft Ltd, is currently completing a large contract for bespoke stainless steel furniture for the luxury, five star, Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. Established in 1980, Pipecraft has successfully diversified its specialist tube manipulation and fabrication business into the hotel fittings market within the past three years. 

  • Auto Supplier Presses on with Diversification

    01 Feb 2004

    Birmingham Stopper, a leading presswork specialist has recently acquired local rival Hockley Auto in a deal which has seen all 26 employees retain their jobs. This move has increased the company's manufacturing facilities and added a whole new skills set to its operation. 

  • Refurbished Presses Are Good Workhorses

    01 Feb 2004

    Over the last few years GW Waite Limited, a forward thinking subcontract press shop based in Ulverston, Cumbria, has improved its production capacity and product quality by investing in three refurbished mechanical presses from SMV Presses (UK). This investment has resulted in increased business from the company's automotive and other customers. 

Stevens Rowsell is a specialist precision sheet metal engineering company in East Sussex