At the Kent facility of AD Engineering, a five-figure funding injection from NatWest has seen the company invest in a Muratec MT100i/T2 twin-spindle turning centre to manufacture essential metalwork components that form part of wider engineering structures.

Investment in the CNC machine will enable AD Engineering to meet existing client demands, and help the business operate more effectively and efficiently.
AD Engineering specialises in precision, multi-axis CNC machining for the subsea, aerospace, space and transport sectors. Founded in 1993, the company has consistently adapted its business model to ensure growth and sustainability, including investment in sophisticated CNC technologies. Under the stewardship of owner and managing director Carlos Forlese, the business has plans to grow its workforce to meet increasing demand for international orders.
“Agility has been key to the success of our business, and regular investment in the latest CNC technologies helps ensure we stay ahead of the game,” he says. “NatWest has been invaluable both in its support and the funding it has provided. They had a unique understanding of our business needs and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. Over the next 12 months we plan to grow our business even further, increasing capacities and investing in our workforce.”
Lucas Douch, relationship manager at NatWest, adds: “AD Engineering is a perfect example of a firm which is willing to invest and diversify in order to ensure business longevity. The funding we have provided will not only enable the business to meet current demand, but develop new opportunities and support job creation in the local area.”
For further information www.business.natwest.com

Having worked for several years at two of Scotland’s leading bagpipe manufacturers, Geordie Hunter decided in 2014 that the time was right for him to become his own boss.

Hunter duly started his business, Maverick Ltd, in a small industrial unit with a manual lathe producing practice chanters, an essential accessory for any budding or experienced bagpipe player.
As the only manufacturer of coloured chanters, Maverick’s reputation grew and sales both in the home market and overseas – to countries such as the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Germany and Denmark – quickly developed. With the increase in business it became obvious that further investment would have to be made to keep up with demand, a notion which saw the arrival in May 2018 of an XYZ SLX 1630 ProTURN lathe.
The immediate impact of the SLX lathe was that much of the subcontracted work could be brought back in-house, with lead times now virtually non-existent for machining parts. With the arrival of this XYZ lathe, Hunter was able to expand further by taking on his first employee to help with some of the initial manufacturing processes, such as blocking out the laminate for turning.
“One major advantage of the XYZ SLX lathe is the time it gives back to me; it is the equivalent of having another full-time member of staff, but at half the cost,” he says. “Without the SLX lathe I couldn’t have developed the business in the way I have. The subcontract turning we are now taking on is growing to such an extent that it almost matches the turnover from the chanter work, which is great from a business sense as we are no longer reliant on a single market.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com