Aerospace Manufacturing: RSS News Feed

Astra manufacturing at Ellesmere Port

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:09:28 GMT

Commenting on the news today that Vauxhall will manufacture Astra cars at Ellesmere Port, Philippa Oldham, head of transport and manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said: “This is welcome news for Merseyside and for UK manufacturing as a whole. The UK car manufacturing industry is seeing a much needed renaissance – resulting in the UK’s first trade surplus since the 1970s.”

She continued: “The UK has some of the most cutting edge and innovative manufacturing companies in the world and it is heartening that organisations like General Motors recognise this fact. Manufacturing has the ability to help lift the economy out of its current rut so it’s vital that the Government focuses its support on industries in which the UK excels and which provide economic resilience.”

IMechE
www.imeche.org

Niche processes for blue chip clients

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:28 GMT

Located in Colne, Lancashire with a wholly owned subsidiary in Trencin, Slovakia, ELE Advanced Technologies is a specialist engineering company combining a number of niche processes for the production of components for the power generation, aerospace and automotive markets. Its client base includes companies such as Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Alstom and Honeywell.

ELE’s factories in Lancashire and in Slovakia are flexible and agile. The company claims it is one of a few worldwide manufacturers offering capability in non-conventional machining such as STEM (Shaped Tube Electrolytic Machining) EDM, capillary drilling, laser drilling, VIPER (Very Impressive Performance Extreme Removal) grinding and creep feed grinding, alongside conventional machining such as high speed CNC milling and turning. Reflecting its policy of continuous improvement the company is committed to the development of Lean manufacturing techniques.

ELE works in partnership with its customers to provide rapid response and cost-effective solutions for complex applications. It often collaborates with customers at the initial design stage of a project to ensure the most cost competitive manufacturing solutions are utilised.

ELE
www.eleat.co.uk

Expansion follows record year

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:28 GMT

Exhibiting at Subcon on Stand C42, Midtherm Laser is investing £1.9m in a project that will include an environmentally friendly building to house the company’s fifth laser cutting machine. It will also house a new press brake and provide extensive sheet storage capacity.

Sales manager David Wheatley says: “2012 is going be a very exciting year for the company. The whole team has worked hard to ensure that we exceed the expectations of our customers and it’s encouraging to see our customer base growing year on year. We have listened to feedback from our customers and adapted the way we work to suit their specific needs. This includes a new estimation software package called IP Laser which has already significantly reduced the amount of time it takes for us to submit a quotation."

In preparation for the new facility, the company has already taken a proactive move to employ and train new personnel so that it can hit the ground running when the project is finished.

Dean Cockayne, operations director explains: “Over the last two years we have been investing in new equipment to ensure that we stay at the forefront of our industry – including over £600,000 on a fourth laser machine and a nitrogen generator. We refuse to stand still and are in the process of interviewing people for the new roles that the new build project has created. We are currently running 24 hours a day with a Saturday and a Sunday morning shift. In June when the project is completed we need to continue running 24 hours and I need to make sure that we have enough trained staff in place to have an efficient transition"

Midtherm Laser
www.midthermlaser.co.uk

Off the shelf

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:28 GMT

High quality pressings and welded fabrication specialist J&J Engineering (Walsall) has delivered over a quarter of a million shelves into leading supermarkets. The company can supply batches from 1 to 50,000 powder coated or plated to the customer’s requirements.

Success in other sectors includes a major contract to develop and fabricate healthcare equipment and it has manufactured pressed parts for the 2012 Olympics.

The West Midlands-based company has a range of presses up to 250 tonnes and has recently invested in a new tube bending machines that can form tube up to 60mm in diameter. It is also investing in the future of the business by taking on new apprentices from Walsall College to join its sales and marketing department.
J&J Engineering

www.j-jengwalsall-ltd.co.uk
Stand F3

Fastener specialist expands range

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:28 GMT

Following recent investment in two new induction heaters, fastener specialist RCF Bolt & Nut can now forge stainless steel bolts up to M36 diameter.

The Tipton-based company is also in the process of purchasing two CNC turning centres that will allow it to produce a wider range of special products and machine more high grade bolt products.

These latest investments follow the complete refurbishment of the company’s forging machines and the installation of automatic saws, as well as the installation of a new machine that allows RCF to thread products up to M64 diameter.

RCF is seeing the benefits in is business, with 28% growth in 2011 and a good start to 2012 which promises to deliver an even more successful year. The growth has led to the company taking on seven new members of staff, including three apprentices. It has recently won two electricity board contracts and is heavily involved in the water supply industry, including a large project for the Middle East.

RCF Bolt & Nut
www.rcfboltnut.co.uk