Far from being the outdated industry we’re often labelled as, engineering underpins every aspect of modern life, shaping the world around us in ways we often take for granted.

If there is one thing that we all want to be sure about when heading into a hospital environment, it is that we are stepping into a world of precision equipment. A review of medical literature shows that even routine procedures are fraught with difficulty. For instance, a typical lumbar puncture has five primary areas of risk, and that is before the quality of the tube begins to even enter the equation. As doctors explain: “what we need to achieve is difficult enough without equipment also being a factor”.

Production demands can often be met in-house; however, in some circumstances, it makes sense to outsource manufacturing to an outside expert. Outsourcing is a viable option when specialist skills or processes are required but a business doesn’t possess the necessary tools, equipment, or expertise to deliver outstanding results, or it can be part of a long-term business strategy to cut costs and increase profits.

If you’re planning an engineering project in which you’ll need to drill holes into metals, it’s essential to choose the most suitable method of drilling to achieve the optimum results. Drilling and trepanning are two options, but it’s vital to understand the difference, and the advantages, to make an informed decision.

Many manufacturing companies have embraced the turmoil of recent years to adapt their operations and futureproof their organisations against unforeseen events. But the changing face of business isn’t simply defined by isolated incidents, despite the global supply chain instability caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Eastern Europe. Evolutions in the way customers do business has transformed the manufacturing landscape, with a soaring reliance on digital channels and constantly shifting consumer demands also forcing many manufacturers to reconsider how to stay competitive.

Bespoke CNC machine parts have wide applicability in manufacturing and bring a range of important benefits, which we’ll discuss in this article. Modern precision engineering uses computer-aided design (CAD) software and computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining equipment to create high quality components to demanding specifications, with accurate repeatability over any volume.

Have you ever paid over the odds for drilling, boring or honing? If so, you’re certainly not alone. 

Drilling, honing and boring costs are notorious for being something of an arcane secret for people who aren’t ‘in the know’ about the process involved. We have attempted to shed some light on the world of pricing in our latest downloadable e-book: The Guide To Deep Hole Drilling, Boring & Honing Costs. You can download a copy by clicking here.

What difference does it really make to choose cheaper, lower quality industrial rollers over higher-priced, higher quality alternatives? Manufacturers are under two pressures: Firstly, you need to complete your project to your customer’s satisfaction, meaning that every component must meet the required standard of function and composition. Secondly, you need to complete the project as quickly and as cheaply as possible, in order to deliver within timescale and budget.

When you receive a precision engineering quotation for your project, it’s easy to focus solely on the price. After all, it is in every business’s interest to manage costs to reduce overheads and maximise profits – particularly when we are facing the rising costs and scarcity of materials and consumables right now. And, if you’ve sought quotes from multiple suppliers, the temptation to simply compare the given prices and select the most attractive one – which invariably will be the lowest – is strong.

Tubular components are found in many sectors of manufacturing and industry, but their design and specification varies enormously according to their intended application. In some sectors, such as aerospace and medical instrumentation, for example, tubes must be machined to incredibly tight tolerances to achieve exceptional performance and lightness. Inaccurate machining can result in high reject rates, material losses and sometimes, components functioning poorly which, in some circumstances, could endanger end users.