The 2020 pandemic has brought together some of the greatest minds from some of the most prestigious manufacturers in Britain to design, build, and ship vital medical equipment at very short notice.

Companies as diverse and skilled as Siemens, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems have pooled their expertise to create large quantities of CPAP ventilators for use in hospitals and surgeries worldwide, in record time.

We are delighted to announce that we've won the 2020 UK Enterprise Award for excellence in Sub-Contracted Machining for Oil and Gas! We were extremely proud to be nominated by our customers for the Best Subcontractor Oil & Gas in the SME Energy & Power Awards at the end of last year and now we have been selected as the overall winner for Best Oil & Gas Subcontractor in the SME News Enterprise Awards 2020.

Although this is not to be formally announced until the end of August, we wanted to announce it as soon as possible to keep the positivity and good news flowing throughout our fabulous industry!

Are you concerned about the practicalities of re-opening or continuing to trade safely after lockdown? If you’re feeling bewildered about the dates, the regulations, and the potential impact that everything will have on your business, you’re not alone.

Like most people in the UK, we breathed a sigh of relief last week. Although most restrictions are still in place, the atmosphere has changed. Businesses are becoming more optimistic and forward-looking, and are springing into action again across the country. It’s great to see. 

However skilled, a single engineering business can't be a master of all trades. If you need specialist services for single projects, such as boring or drilling, it can be better value to outsource. Outsourcing precision engineering can cut costs, reduce your workload, increase productivity, save you money on equipment purchase and hire, and enhance your profit margins. You don't need to move production abroad, either - Hone-All handles all of our outsourced services on British soil. Here's our guide to how outsourcing your engineering could benefit your business.

To create the perfect component, you need an effective and efficient relationship with your machining company. Your precision machining process can be derailed by miscommunications over even the tiniest part, so communication is integral. The machining sector has become increasingly flexible, with bespoke solutions making clear expectations even more important. Relationships are only as healthy as both sides of the customer / supplier connection, and there’s much you can do to improve your results.