Our Skills

We keep critical skills in-house to maintain a level of control to ensure a project is efficient and delivered successfully.

Conceptual design

We develop a concept at the proposal stage to achieve optimum performance, reliability and ergonomics within the budget available. Once we receive the instruction to proceed, the concept will be evolved through the design stage. We will issue model drawings for review.

Mechanical design

We use SolidWorks 3D as our primary mechanical computer aided design tool. The mechanical design team is responsible for:

  • Creating the mechanical design pack for the equipment
  • Risk assessments
  • Design review meetings to achieve design approval
  • Liaising with build teams during the assembly and commissioning process
  • Generating supporting documentation.

Control systems design

AutoCAD® Electrical is our primary control and fluid power computer aided design package. Our control system design team is responsible for:

  • Creating electrical and pneumatic circuit design packs and the selection of suitable component parts
  • Design review meetings and achieving design approval
  • Risks identified by the risk assessment are designed out
  • Generating supporting documentation

A hard copy and electronic version of the finished design pack will be provided. Further PDF copies can be accessed via a secure customer log-in area.

Software

We support the four principle PLC types; Omron Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric, Rockwell/Allen Bradley and Siemens. We also have experience of various PC based solutions which are typically used for SCADA type applications or where it is necessary to store a large amount of data. Our software team is responsible for:

  • Generating the PLC/HMI/PC software to the agreed specification, suitably commented and documented
  • Commissioning any sophisticated hardware (specialist drives, vision equipment etc.)
  • Uploading the software to the equipment and commissioning to a sequential state
  • Generating the equipment operating instructions

Project management

When an order is placed, key milestones are set-up. These typically include:

  • Design
  • Procurement
  • Assembly/Commissioning
  • Condition and Sign off
  • Shipment and Install

Customers are given secure logins and these milestones can be monitored online. You will also have access to a more detailed Microsoft Project time plan document.

Mechanical fitting and commissioning

The mechanical build team is responsible for:

  • Assembly of the equipment modules (prime movers and tooled parts)
  • Aligning the machine tooling and ensuring any moving elements operate effectively
  • Mechanically commissioning and conditioning the equipment
  • Agreeing any changes to component parts with the design team/assembly supervisor.

Any changes are electronically documented so the design pack is updated before the final documentation is released.

Systems build and integration

The systems build team is responsible for:

  • The mechanical layout of the control panels and wiring/piping
  • The installation of the control panel onto the machine/equipment, integrating wiring and piping
  • Machine power-up, IO checks and emergency stop network is working
  • Sign-off electrical checks and get the machine ready for software install

During assembly of the project, the build documentation acts as the ‘Master Set’. Any agreed changes or revisions are entered onto the drawings. On build completion the documentation set is passed back to the design office for the updates to be formally recorded before the release of final documentation.

Training

Any training in use of the machine is generally undertaken at our factory during the equipment sign-off trials. Follow-up training will be carried out at the customer’s site once the installation is complete. A more detailed training programme can be organised upon request.

Installation and field service support

For complex machines it is essential we undertake the installation. The customer will generally locate the machine within their factory and provide the primary service connections (electrical/pneumatic/exhaust extract etc). Our engineers will then level off, check alignment, power-up and recommission the equipment before formally handing over to production. We can provide on-going support contracts if required.