Bedford and Thompson Ltd, Enfield Barn, Spalford Road, North Scarle, Lincoln, LN6 9HF

Contact: Richard Day. Tel: +44 (0) 1522 778434  Mobile: 07725 190707

New Product Manufacture:  Oil Field Down Hole Centraliser

Background:

The existing centraliser design was well established in the global oil industry but  cost to manufacture was high, with product reliability issues due to cracking of fabricated spring steel elements.

Action:

The design was re-engineered to exploit the capabilities of high speed laser profiling and part nesting. This resulted in the elimination of many welded joints through the use of a “developed” flat sheet profile which was subsequently roll formed to create a one piece product with only one seam joint to complete. A manufacturing cost model was developed followed by facility planning for a UK green field site, sourcing of laser profiling and heat treatment plant, identification of special purpose roll forming machinery and sourcing of paint finishing plant.

Outcome:

A lower cost, higher reliability product is now being manufactured in volume in a lean facility with new product acceptance gained in the global oil field industry.

New Product Manufacture and Cost Analysis: Innovative Automotive Transmission

Background:

Potential JV investors required an independent view on manufacturing methodology for 500,000 assemblies per annum of a novel patented automotive transmission system with potential high volume application in the light power sector.

Action:

The existing conceptual design was re-assessed for cost effective manufacture through employment of net shape processes and advanced ultra precision machining and finishing techniques. The proposed manufacturing route was bench marked against conventional manufacturing technologies to generate a comparative cost analysis followed by identification of manufacturing equipment providers.

Outcome:

The joint venture has now moved forward to volume manufacture in the USA