SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

Multi-million investment at Doncasters

Doncasters, a manufacturer of precision alloy components, has invested £7.2m to extend Doncasters Precision Castings – Deritend in Droitwich Spa, UK. The extension will deliver great benefits to the business, including improved parts flow and safety, reduced environmental impact and lead times, and an increased overall capacity that allows the business to invest in advanced technology and local talent.

Until now, Doncasters operated two sites in Droitwich, two miles apart, with different processes taking place at each. Now, the two teams will reunite, improving operations, energy efficiencies and working lives for staff. Over 340 employees will work in the new state-of-the-art facility, with future employment opportunities available for people in the Worcestershire region and beyond.
For further information www.doncasters.com

Perfect finish for deep-drawn precision parts

For tiny precision components with dimensions of <1 mm and deep-drawn from 100 µm thick sheet metal, surface finishing operations can be quite a challenge. Hubert Stüken GmbH & Co KG, a worldwide specialist in manufacturing such products, is meeting this challenge with custom-engineered equipment and specially developed media and compounds from Rösler. The solutions guarantee a safe, risk-free deburring and edge radiusing process, fully meeting the customer’s surface finishing specifications. Stüken majors in deep-drawn metal precision components. Stamped and bent parts, plastic-coated components and complex assemblies also complement the product range of this family-owned company, which operates five manufacturing plants in Europe, the US and China. Andreas Hellmann, sales manager at Stüken, says: “For many of our customers we are a development partner. To adapt new products to their intended use, we are not only working with our customers, but are also co-operating with partners from various technological sectors.” When it comes to issues around surface finishing that can be resolved by mass finishing, for 30 years the company has been relying on the experience and know-how of the Rösler. “Our partnership is based on Rösler’s quality, reliability, high equipment uptime and good technical service,” states Hellmann. “We also appreciate the company’s comprehensive knowledge and their flexibility for developing solutions as a team.” At its manufacturing locations around the world this deep-drawing specialist is today using around 15 vibratory drums, 10 centrifugal disk finishing machines, and 18 centrifuges for cleaning and recycling the process water. For further information www.rosler.com

Busbar coating project success

HV Wooding has secured new business and is investing in additional production capabilities as a result of a research collaboration with the Nuclear AMRC. Over the past year, the company has been working with materials and engineering researchers from the Nuclear AMRC and other parts of the University of Sheffield to improve the quality of busbars manufactured at its site in Hythe, Kent. The project, supported by Innovate UK through the Faraday Battery Challenge, aimed to develop a new powder coating process to improve the quality and performance of electric vehicle busbars.
For further information www.hvwooding.co.uk

NTG expands capabilities ahead of move

NTG Precision Engineering is preparing for the company’s move to larger premises with a significant investment in technology to boost its capabilities and capacity. Ahead of the move to a 45,000 sq ft facility in Gateshead later this year, NTG Precision has acquired a £500,000 Mazak five-axis machining centre, which will manufacture metal components for industries including electric vehicles, food production and power generation. It forms part of an ongoing £3.5m capital investment programme, which also includes the recent addition of two Haas CNC milling machines.
For further information www.ntg-ltd.co.uk

ACE completes £0.5m investment

A major £500,000 investment drive has reached its final stage at a Telford-based precision manufacturer with the arrival of two new state-of-the-art etching machines. Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which has recently boosted its workforce by 12%, has taken delivery of two Chemcut Etch machines at its facility in a bid to meet increasing global demand from the aerospace, electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell markets. The acquisitions will increase the firm’s etching capacity by 30% and help customers bring their designs and prototypes to market quicker.
For further information www.ace-uk.net