Wednesday 3 December 08 - 20:05
 

Industry News

  • European Industry Urged to Stop Wasting Potential Young Leadership Talent

    01 Jul 2005

    The former CEO of ICI Polyurethanes and president of Huntsman Performance Chemicals, has told European industry it is wasting valuable talent. In a speech to the European Institute for Industrial Leadership (EIIL), Patrick Thomas, called on corporations and institutions throughout Europe to examine the potential of engineers, scientists and technologists in their organizations and develop the most talented to create the industrial leaders of tomorrow. 

  • Aerospace Metal Finishers Struggle with NADCAP Burden

    01 Jul 2005

    According to a statement issued last month by the Surface Engineering Association (SEA) Standards Committee it would appear that the Nadcap (National Aerospace Defence Contractors'Accreditation Programme) has promised much but delivered very little except increased costs. Many companies cannot absorb these costs and thus will have to pass them back up the supply base to the subscribing primes who seem relatively unconcerned about the additional pressures they are placing upon an already struggling sector of industry. 

  • Summit Required to Tackle Chinese Challenge

    01 Jul 2005

    The TUC has called on the Government to host a special manufacturing summit to examine how British industry can prepare itself to tackle the threat to companies and jobs posed by the rapidly expanding Chinese economy. 

  • How Well Do You Know Your Supply Chain?

    01 Jul 2005

    The recent removal of products from supermarket shelves due to the use of banned, carcinogenic food dyes prompted the largest recall of food products in UK history. It highlighted the importance of building strong communication lines with your supply chain. All manufacturers, regardless of whether they are in food, electrics or mechanical manufacturing, must have traceability systems in place to identify the origins of raw material and standards of suppliers, says Arthur Richardson of the South West MAS. 

Machined Components

  • Long, Large Ceramic Components Needed Competent Controls

    01 Jul 2005

    Turning long, complex profile components for the ceramics industry previously caused headaches for Scottish precision subcontract machinist, Dunblane Light Engineering. The two-operation process required separately turned parts to be screwed together. The purchase of a long-bed, Hankook Protec 7NB two-axis horizontal lathe has transformed the process into a one-hit sequence and cut cycles times by around 50%. 

  • 'matrix' Quality Standard Helps Team Development

    01 Jul 2005

    Newcastle based, ADP Precision Engineering has become one of the first engineering companies in the country to achieve the matrix Standard, which is a nationally recognised quality mark for all organisations that provide information, advice and guidance to their people. 

  • New Driven Lathe Produces Speedier Motor Sport Parts

    01 Jul 2005

    Acorn Precision Components Ltd, Middlesex, has recently invested in a Mori Seiki NL1500 lathe with driven tooling. Acorn specialises in the motorsport industry, supplying engine parts to companies in F1, World Rally Cars and Moto GP. 

  • Mill-Turning Centres Take Components' Costs Down

    01 Jul 2005

    Two Traub mill-turning centres from Geo Kingsbury have been installed at the Totnes works of subcontractor, Vire Engineering, for round-the-clock machining of components from bar in a single visit to the machine. Work is regularly carried out for the defence and security industries, but a majority of production is high quality hose and pipe fittings for brake, fuel, oil and coolant assemblies used in motorsport, from Clubman up to Formula One. 

  • Toolmaker Moves into Medical Components

    01 Jul 2005

    Leeds-based toolmaker Aire Erosion Ltd. has successfully made the move into the medical instrument sector, manufacturing instruments for hip, knee and spinal procedures as well as components for keyhole surgery. 

  • Facility Added for 4-Axis Milling Plus Engraving

    01 Jul 2005

    The addition of 4-axis milling, complete with engraving has attracted new work for Computerised Engineering Co, a supplier of turned and milled precision components based near Bishops Stortford, Herts. 

  • Logistics is the Key to Growth at Expanding Site

    01 Jul 2005

    A 10,000ft 2extension is currently being built at the Bryken factory, Merseyside. Due for completion at the end of this month, the extension is required to accommodate the increasing number of CNC machine tools, which now stands at 50, and will also provide room for future growth. Bryken's success can be attributed to the ways in which it adds value by 'going the extra mile' to manage the logistics of component supply for its customers. 

  • RP Bureau Mills Short Lead Time Components

    01 Jul 2005

    Gemini Prototyping is a rapid prototyping (RP) Bureau and shortlead-time manufacturer of components and moulds. Gemini has purchased two 40-taper VM1 vertical machining centres from Hurco, installed in 2003 and 2005. The most recent development is the installation of a direct metal laser sintering machine from EOS, the third in the UK, to make rapid tooling in 20 micron layers from CAD models. 

  • 5-Axis Machining Was Needed to Get Ahead

    01 Jul 2005

    "We had to move into five-axis machining to put clear water between us and the lower-cost competition here in the UK and offshore, " says Mark Kirby, managing director of Coventry based Jetblades Engineering. In mid-June 2003 Jetblades purchased a Mazak Variaxis 630-5X simultaneously controlled, five-axis machining centre. "Within a month of the Variaxis being installed it was flying and we were producing world class components. Now we are able to respond very rapidly to the demand for technically complex components." 

  • Changeover to Cellular Manufacturing Paid Off

    01 Jul 2005

    When Ray Bennett, managing director of Accura BD, implemented cellular manufacturing, it was a huge change for the company. 

  • Contract Services Provide Sheltered Employment

    01 Jul 2005

    Westcombe Engineering specialises in CNC machining and small assembly processes. Formed 32 years ago by Westcombe Employment Service, a leading contractor of programmes for supporting the employment of people with disabilities, the company has recently been transferred to the Contract Services portfolio of Peterborough Council, from Social Services. 

Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering

  • Five Year Agreement Won for Bronze Bearings & Bushes

    01 Jul 2005

    Specialist producer of bronze bearings and bushes, Leeds Bronze Engineering has won a five year agreement to supply Rolls Royce Bergen Engines with bronze bearings and bushes. The company is now the UK's largest manufacturer of bronze bearings and bushes, and has an extensive stockholding facility. 

  • Critical Machining Service Repairs and Reclaims Ships' Engine Parts

    01 Jul 2005

    Last month when the Queen conducted a massive international fleet review, she and Prince Philip sailed from Portsmouth on HMS Endurance to conduct the review of 167 naval, merchant and tall ships from 36 countries. Preparations for this event included bringing forward the vessel's annual engine service, by Wartsila UK, which involved the machining services of Manser Precision's jig boring facility near Southampton. 

  • TWI Releases Software Tool for Welding Projects

    01 Jul 2005

    TWI Software, part of The Welding Institute, has released a new offthe-shelf version of its Welding Coordinator software, which manages production welding data in the form of weld maps, weld histories, weld logs and weld schedules. The software integrates with TWI's Weldspec, Welderqual and NDTspec programs to give a total solution for welding related information. 

  • Lifeboat Builders Check Out of China

    01 Jul 2005

    Aberdeen UK based lifeboat manufacturers and safety equipment maintenance specialists Survival Craft Inspectorate is taking the rare step of repatriating its production facilities from low wage China to a new 10,000ft 2factory now under construction at Findon Shore. 

  • Emergency or Routine Renovation of Marine Parts Get Fast Response

    01 Jul 2005

    Currently being accommodated in Atlantic Engineering's 17.5m lathe (see image on page 4) at the Odyssey Works, Birkenhead, are two propeller shafts from the water craft maintenance division of the US Army. The work, which is part of a scheduled refit, is being approved by the American Classification Society. It involves the application, by spiral welding, of Inconel cladding to the bearing areas of the shafts and the application of GRP wrap to the non bearing areas. 

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