Product category:
General Machining Subcontracting Services
News Release from: Acro Precision Technology | Subject: Unmanned CNC machining
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 August 2007
Unmanned CNC machining wins back orders
Although a precision machining firm had lost work to the Far East and Eastern Europe, investment highly automated 24h unmanned CNC machining is winning UK business back.
Recent years have seen UK manufacturing jobs being lost to the cheaper economies of the Far East and Eastern Europe However, today, this work is coming 'home' once again, thanks to investment in automation and unmanned CNC machining, said a Norfolk company
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 20 May 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Manager of Acro Engineering, based at Catfield, Norfolk, Fred Pain, reported: "We have just quoted on a job for 150,000 parts that have previously been made in China.
Manufacturers are starting to realise how difficult it can be to guarantee consistent quality and delivery from suppliers that are so far away.
Also, there are long lead times, letters of credit to arrange, customs issues and regular long haul flights.
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The 'on-shoring' of parts is a trend we are seeing and it is definitely picking up pace".
Acro manufactures high volume turned and machine parts and have been in business for over 30 years.
Today the company operates highly automated 24h unmanned CNC machines.
Acro are now able to compete on the world market and provide parts for the technology sector, architectural supplies, medical and a broad range of other industry sectors.
"We have a policy of investing in the very best equipment available and the best engineers," said Pain.
"This gives us the best quality machining and the best productivity, this is how we are competing for the work that is returning to the UK.
We are also picking up new projects from the growing UK technology sector and this is equally exciting".
Acro won its first export contract last year, with the shipment of precision parts for the Norwegian oil industry.
More recent orders include high quality stainless steel components for the architectural sector and CNC machined parts for airport security swipe card equipment.
Another Norfolk engineering company that is enjoying similar growth is Ladbrook Engineering of North Walsham.
Ladbrook specialise in pressing metal parts for a range of industries and is currently enjoying considerable success.
They have recently announced a major new contract with Parker Hannifin, a global manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems.
"It definitely feels that Norfolk engineering is making a comeback," said Pain.
"This past year or two has been so encouraging, we now have ambitious plans to grow the company and make substantial investments in new equipment".
"I think the business sector lost sight of how good a service UK engineering can provide and now they have tried the competition, they are once again happy to place the work here in the UK".
With recently improved local infrastructure, Norfolk engineering companies look set to gain a bigger share of the growing UK engineering business, bringing more jobs, training and wealth to the region.
It is also possible that with access to Europe becoming ever more easy, it may be that Norfolk could find itself leading a return to the days of the exporting of British engineering.
* About Acro Precision Technology - established over 30 years ago for the machining of precision engineering components, Acro represents one of Europe's leading suppliers of turned parts to the engineering and technology sector.
Acro offers specialist low volume prototype development as well as high volume manufacturing and is equipped with a broad range of modern machines.
Customer projects have included components for sports cars suspensions, bomb disposal robots, hospital beds, forecourt petrol pumps, the London Underground, equipment for off-shore oil exploration and production and components for the construction industry.
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