Technoset, which employs 25 people at its facility in Rugby, has installed four new lathes and a state-of-the-art laser scanning device to support the machining and measurement of complex components for customers involved in aerospace, medical and fibre optics markets.
Supported by the Manufacturing Growth Programme, the company has also successfully worked towards and secured AS 9100 Rev D, a quality accreditation that is fast becoming a prerequisite for winning and maintaining high profile contracts in the aerospace sector.
The award will ensure it can deliver more than £1.4 million of orders to produce engine, actuation, interior lighting and landing gear parts.
Kevan Kane, managing director of Technoset explained: “The business started life completing high volume/low value work, but this has evolved over the 40 years so that we are now recognised as a manufacturer of complex and specialist parts designed to be used in demanding environments.
“This has only been achieved due to a commitment to continually investing in our capabilities, the technology we use and in attracting the best talent. The £700,000 investment is a prime example and this gives us the platform now to take on more LTAs (longer-term agreements) and add to the current £2.2 million turnover.”
He continued: “Critical to our future growth was securing the AS 9100 Rev D quality award, which is a very demanding and stringent process with Rev D containing a stronger focus on risk management.
“As an SME, this can be a very time-consuming exercise so we turned to the Manufacturing Growth Programme, which provided us with a continuous improvement project/plan and then part-funded a specialist consultant to work with us on refining our operations and developing new strategies.
Technoset, which is part of the Techno Group, uses multi-axis turning and milling centres to manufacture turned products from 0.4mm to 200mm and milled components up to 1,000mm by 500mm.
Michelle Connor, manufacturing growth manager at MGP added her support: “This is a great example of how targeted business support can help a manufacturer unlock new opportunities and safeguard contracts.
“By introducing the management to a specialist in the AS 9100 process, we freed up valuable time for its managers to focus on core business activities and this has already led to the development of new actuator parts that control the flaps on the trailing wing of aircraft. This is now a five-year order.”
Technoset www.techno-group.co.uk
Manufacturing Growth Programme www.manufacturingrowthprogramme.co.uk
