Systems, skills, capabilities and investment

In more recent years, through a combination of enthusiasm and a willingness to reinvest in the business, it is now a specialist in the supply of precision components to the commercial and military aerospace sectors.

Having worked in manufacturing for many years, with an emphasis on work study and multi-manning techniques, Bruce Meldrum took on the challenge of founding his own business. “At the time it was a daunting prospect, and to be honest, to some extent it still is,” he says. This reference is to the Barnoldswick, Lancashire-based company's most recent £250,000 investment in an Integrex 200-IV S multi-tasking machine tool from Yamazaki Mazak – a machine that has been purchased with the future expansion of the business in mind.

“We have always had the philosophy that we should plough back profits into the business,” Mr Meldrum adds. “In this business you have to remain competitive and investment in new technology is crucial to maintain our reputation for supplying leading edge technology companies with the precision components that they need, when they need them.”

As an approved supplier to Airbus, GKN, and BAE Systems for which it has a five year rolling contract to supply civil aircraft spare parts, Pennine Tools Aerospace is proving a point with its investment policy. With the recent announcement that the company has signed up for Tranche 3 of the Eurofighter programme it understands that, as a business, it has to become leaner in order to remain competitive. And, with the downward pressure on component costs, along with Pennine Tools Aerospace's reputation for rapid response, especially for its ‘Aircraft on Ground' support, this ongoing investment is proving to be a winner.

“Having used Mazak machines for over 20 years, we are well acquainted with the build quality and reliability of the machines,” explains Mr Meldrum. “In fact, our original Mazak lathe is still running seven days a week, producing good quality components.”

This first machine was purchased to replace a number of manual machines that were being used to produce batches of spindles for yarn tufting machines. At the time each spindle took 50 minutes to produce, but the Mazak machine reduced this cycle time to 20 minutes. From this simple 2-axis lathe, Pennine Tools Aerospace moved on to Mazak machines that had driven tooling and the benefits seen on these machines led to the Integrex being the natural progression.

“The investment in the Integrex supports our belief that we need to make things quicker and more efficiently,” Mr Meldrum affirms. “By doing so, we will be more competitive in component cost terms, and will be able to deliver greater manufacturing flexibility to our customers. In the current economic climate we have to ensure that we provide continuity of service, quality and on-time delivery and to make our business as lean as possible. Looking at the investment we have made in the Integrex machine, we have the opportunity to retain our margins while at the same time being able to offer cost reductions and greater efficiencies to our customers.”

In addition to investment in machine tool technology Pennine Tool Aerospace is also developing its working practices in association with The North West Aerospace Alliance's Aerospace Supply Chain of Excellence programme. This programme, participation in which is by invitation only, is helping to raise standards throughout the supply chain and safeguarding the future of the aerospace industry in the UK.

“This is all part and parcel of strengthening the business to ensure its future success,” concludes Mr Meldrum. “Through our affiliation to the North West Aerospace Alliance and our established contracts we are well placed to move forward with confidence, but we are also aware that we have to continue to take decisions to invest in technology to make sure that we remain competitive.”

Yamazaki Mazak
www.mazak.eu