SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

3D printing entrepreneur secures two King’s Awards

A Warwickshire entrepreneur who once replaced his mother’s dishwasher with a homemade 3D printer has become one of the youngest recipients of two King’s Awards for Enterprise. Mitchell Barnes (pictured), founder of Shipston-on-Stour-based RYSE 3D, launched the business in 2017 after recognising the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) to move beyond prototyping and into production.

Today, the company supplies high-performance components to 23 hypercar projects worldwide, while also supporting customers in the aerospace, defence and energy sectors. Its growth has helped drive annual turnover close to £5m, with international sales accounting for almost half of revenue.

That success has now been recognised with a King’s Award for International Trade, following the company’s King’s Award for Innovation in 2024.

“To win one King’s Award is special, but to receive a second for growing our business overseas is incredible,” says Mitchell, who runs the company alongside his brother Cameron. “When we started, we wanted to prove that AM could be used for series production. Today, we’re supplying complex components in volumes ranging from thousands to tens of thousands, while exporting UK-developed technology to customers around the world.”

Over the past three years, RYSE 3D has invested more than £1m in new equipment, R&D, advanced materials, and the launch of its UK-engineered LANDR 3D printer. The workforce has also grown to 18 employees.

The company’s scalable production process requires no tooling investment and uses widely available engineering polymers, helping manufacturers reduce costs, increase flexibility and strengthen supply chains.

While automotive and motorsport remain important markets, RYSE 3D is increasingly applying its expertise across aerospace, construction, energy, medical and defence applications as demand for production-ready additive manufacturing continues to grow.

More information www.ryse3d.com

Surface finishing specialist secures NADCAP accreditation

Surface Coating Ltd has been awarded NADCAP accreditation, the globally recognised quality benchmark for special processes used across the aerospace and defence industries.

The Weymouth-based company is now one of the only providers in the south of England with this accreditation for coating and finishing processes, strengthening the region’s capability to support high-specification aerospace and defence manufacturing.

NADCAP (National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Program) is an industry-managed accreditation system that verifies whether specialist processes such as coating, painting and finishing meet the stringent standards required by major aerospace manufacturers and defence contractors worldwide.

Achieving the accreditation confirms that Surface Coating Ltd’s processes meet internationally recognised requirements for quality, traceability and repeatability – key requirements for companies operating within complex global supply chains. For manufacturers, it means they can access NADCAP-accredited coating and finishing services within the south of England, rather than relying on suppliers elsewhere in the UK.

The accreditation follows significant investment by Surface Coating Ltd in its technical capabilities, quality systems and staff training. The company provides specialist finishing services including: wet spray painting, integrated finishing, powder coating and blasting.

NADCAP accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard for special processes within the aerospace sector and requires companies to pass rigorous audits and maintain strict ongoing compliance.

Tom Williamson, director of Surface Coating Ltd, says: “Achieving NADCAP accreditation is a major milestone for our business and reflects the dedication of our team to operating at the highest standards required by the aerospace and defence sectors. The process is extremely rigorous, so gaining accreditation demonstrates that our systems, processes and quality controls meet the expectations of some of the world’s most demanding industries.”

More information www.surfacecoating.co.uk

Adi Group appointment

Engineering solutions specialist, Adi Group, has appointed Steve Appleton as group growth director. Appleton brings more than 25 years of experience in sales and business restructuring. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening collaboration across Adi Group’s specialist divisions to deliver more integrated engineering solutions for clients. Beginning his career at Ford Motor Company, Appleton’s experience includes roles across highly regulated sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, petrochemical, government, education, transport and retail.

More information https://adiltd.co.uk/

Subcon: The manufacturing solutions show

Subcon, the UK’s leading event for subcontract manufacturing and supply chain solutions, is taking place this week (3-4 June) at the NEC in Birmingham. Whether exploring new manufacturing partners, looking for ways to streamline supply chains, or aiming to reduce costs, this is the place to connect and discover ideas that can make a real difference.

The show offers the opportunity to connect with 200+ leading UK and international suppliers, all in one place. Visitors can also: take part in ‘Skills Sprint’ workshops packed with practical tools ready for immediate application; gain fresh insights through CPD-accredited talks delivered by industry leaders from Airbus, Bentley Motors, Rolls-Royce, Make UK and more; and follow tailored visitor trails designed around key sectors.

More information www.subconshow.co.uk

Orders roll in for Star’s CNC sliding-head lathes

Star took several orders for sliding-head lathes on its stand at the recent MACH 2026 exhibition in Birmingham. Three orders, in particular, stood out.

Metal Assemblies Ltd, a tier-two manufacturer delivering precision-engineered metal pressings and assemblies, reinforced its machinery upgrade strategy with an order for two new SR-32JIII Type B sliding-head lathes. The investment replaces a pair of older SR models, each having delivered nearly 15 years of reliable service. The order was finalised between Iain Collis and Nigel Mason of Metal Assemblies and Star’s new Midlands area sales manager, Sam Ayres (pictured).

Featuring the latest Star technology – including Step Cycle Pro chip-breaking software – alongside enhancements in rigidity, swarf management and operator ergonomics, the new machines will support increased productivity, expanded capacity and greater operational efficiency.

Also placing an order at MACH was All British Precision, a subcontract supplier of precision machined components based in Derbyshire, which strengthened its long-term machinery investment strategy with the purchase of a new ST-38 sliding-head lathe. The order marks a significant milestone as it replaces the company’s very first ST-38 machine after 15 years of reliable service. Notably, the investment demonstrates All British Precision’s continued commitment to upgrading its production capabilities.

Hervé Engineering, a Southend-based manufacturer of precision CNC machined components for a wide range of industries and applications, was among further companies to place an order on the Star stand. The company is expanding its sliding-head production capacity with the order of a new SR-38 Type B. Complementing the company’s upcoming relocation to a larger facility, the latest investment will be the company’s highest capacity sliding-head lathe to date, increasing productivity and opening up new business opportunities.

More information https://stargb.com/