Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Limited (AML) manufactures high-quality precision parts including complex gas turbine components such as blades, shafts, discs, blisks and bearings. Given the nature of the industries it serves, AML’s customers require work that complies with the most stringent quality standards. For this reason, the company recently purchased a second Crysta-Apex V122010 CMM from Mitutoyo UK.

Mark Hands, AML operations director, says: “The Mitutoyo CMM ticks important boxes such as speed of use, accuracy and aftersales support.”

Mitutoyo’s recently launched Crysta-Apex V1200, 1600 and 2000 series CMMs were developed for supporting the quality evaluation of volumetric parts, offering users up to 12.8 m³ of measuring volume. The robust and flexible range is able to accept touch-trigger probes, scanning probes, and both laser and scanning probes.

Crysta-Apex CMMs make use of a proven, lightweight bridge-type construction with high rigidity air-bearings on every axis, helping to deliver accuracy alongside both high speed and high acceleration rates. ABS linear scales provide high environmental resistance and save time at start-up as, unlike some other CMMs, homing is not necessary.

The Crysta-Apex V122010 variant, as purchased by AML, provides XYZ capacity of 1200 x 2000 x 1000 mm. Therefore, in addition to handling large individual components, users are able to load large batches of smaller parts on to the machine’s bed and perform fully automated mass inspection routines.

“As previously, the staff of Mitutoyo UK carried out a very efficient CMM installation,” says Hands. “In fact, the team not only installed the new CMM, but also relocated other inspection machines at the same time. The limited the amount of downtime and disruption within our facility ensured that we maintained our operational performance to our customer base.”

More information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

A fast-growing contract manufacturing specialist for the healthcare sector has completed a
three-year, £3.5m investment drive as it targets new opportunities. Europlaz, which is
currently witnessing 20% year-on-year growth, has recently spent £750,000 on the
installation of three additional all-electric injection moulding machines to cope with an
increase in orders. Notably, this equipment complements a new CMM.

Boosted by an increase in capacity at its Southminster, Essex facility, the company is focused
on both UK and international medical device manufacturers and engineering design houses
seeking a strategic partner that can take projects from proof of concept to large-scale
commercial manufacturing.
“There’s been a massive surge in demand for our services, which support the development
and commercialisation of devices used in diagnostics, drug delivery, biotech and pharma,”
explains Katy O’Keeffe, marketing and strategy director. “We know there’s a massive
opportunity and have responded by continuing to invest. It takes our total spend to £3.5m
over the past three years and we’ve got more technology on order. This is the perfect time
to press the ‘growth’ button.”
Europlaz, which is ISO13485-certified, operates from a state-of-the-art production facility.
From here, the family-run business offers injection moulding, assembly, product validation
and access to modern cleanrooms, all certified to ISO Class 7 for the manufacture of Class I,
Class II and Class III medical devices.
“Sales have increased by 20% to £12.5m for this financial year and we’ve got contracts in
place to achieve over £14m in 2025,” says Rory O’Keeffe, commercial director at Europlaz.
“Investment has flowed into the latest equipment, which we’ve matched with a major
recruitment drive – taking on 25 new workers. A good proportion of these now form part of
our industry-leading technical team.”
More information www.europlaz.co.uk