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Aerospace and automotive capability enhanced with scale-up
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Aerospace and defence clients have welcomed the news that precision manufacturing company Shearline has extended its capability with the acquisition of the building and equipment of Last Engineering, and the hiring of some of its staff. The company will be uniquely positioned to offer rapid prototyping and manufacture for a much wider size range of components in materials from lightweight alloys through to steels. The capabilities of the two companies are highly complementary as Charles Maltby, Technical and Commercial Director of Shearline explains. "Shearline's work is typically for CNC machined components that fit in a shoe-box.
We now have the ability to accurately manufacture on a much larger scale, with 5-axis machines able to handle parts up to 700mm cubed and 3-axis to 900mm cubed. For one of our MoD clients this now means we can do the whole job in house. "We are finding that many of Last Engineering's autosports clients have a need for components of a smaller size, which we will now also be able to offer them from the existing Shearline facilities." Shearline will keep the Last Engineering premises and it will become a dedicated division of Shearline covering activities for a range of sectors. It will focus on large-scale precision engineering of infrastructure components for rotary and fixed wing aircraft, vehicle gearbox housings, and wind turbine parts in particular.
Staff joining from Last Engineering bring a wealth of experience complementing Shearline's existing strengths in handling aluminium alloys, steel, ceramics and a range of specialist materials. "Shearline and Last Engineering have a lot of synergy, and it is exciting to bring the two sets of capabilities together in this way," comments Charles. "We are working hard to retain former Last Engineering clients, and our first project is for a bus, which just shows the scale we are now working on!" Shearline offers a full manufacturing service, from technical consultancy, prototyping and design-for-manufacture through to full scale production, assembly and finishing.
The company has a host of industry accreditations including the BS EN 9100 quality management standard for aerospace, and ISO 14001:2004 certification for environmental management systems. The new division formed by the Last Engineering acquisitions will also operate to these high international standards. "There are virtually no other companies in the UK which can offer the range of skills and capabilities that Shearline now has, together with our industry accreditations. We look forward to talking to new and existing clients in fields like aerospace, defence, automotive, and oil and gas." Shearline will be at the Farnborough Airshow, 19-23 July 2010. You can find them in Hall 1 on the WEAF stand. For more information visit www.shearline.co.uk
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About Shearline Precision Engineering www.shearline.co.uk Shearline provides bespoke precision manufacturing services, to industries that include scientific and printing equipment, sensors, aerospace and defence, and high value commercial products. From design for manufacture, rapid prototyping and first batch production through to full-scale manufacture, packaging and shipping.
Total Manufacturing Solutions capability includes: CNC precision engineering (including 5th axis), sheet metal fabrication, assembly and test capability. Founded in 1973, Shearline occupies a 75,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility in Ely, Cambridgeshire. Shearline projects cover anything from scientific equipment and ink-jet printers to Aerospace assemblies and remote weapon controls. Shearline has been running an extensive apprenticeship scheme for 15 years providing keen young people with valuable on-the-job training in various departments, and a good wage. More than a quarter of Shearline's current employees have come through the company's apprenticeship scheme, testament to its effectiveness. Contact: Shearline Precision Engineering Cambridgeshire Business Park, Angel Drove, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EX Tel: 01353 668668 Fax: 01353 668203 Email: sales@shearline.co.uk Web: www.shearline.co.uk
Contact Information
Helen Goldrein
Holdsworth Associates
Century House
Market Street
Swavesey
Cambridge
CB24 4QG
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