Hone-All Precision Ltd

The UK’s manufacturing industry is deeply rooted in the nation’s history, yet recent times have witnessed the emergence of a skills crisis that is threatening the future of the industry. Between 2008 and 2018, nearly 500,000 manufacturing jobs were lost(1), while estimates suggest that 1.8 million new engineers are needed by 2025 in order to meet the country’s future needs(2).

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Inspiration vs. Ignorance: The Dilemma Facing Manufacturing

On one hand, the manufacturing industry is an inspiring place. The rapid emergence of new technologies, methods, and equipment offers huge potential and exciting prospects for anyone embarking on a manufacturing career. Opportunities for progression are abundant and average salaries high and, with a growing demand for skilled engineers, job security is strong.

However, a lack of understanding about the sector continues to hold back young people, with one survey revealing that nearly one-half of 11 to 19-year-olds express limited knowledge about what engineers actually do (3). In part, negative perceptions of manufacturing are peddled by the media, who focus excessively on the poorly portrayed image of the industry, negative news stories and the skills shortage rather than promoting the potential for young people to enjoy rewarding lifelong careers.

It is unsurprising that many young people believe manufacturing to be a failed initiative.

Attracting The Next Generation Of Engineers

It is clear that doing nothing is not going to resolve the problem of the skills shortage. So, what actions would help to build confidence in the UK’s manufacturing sector and inspire the next generation to seek training and employment within it?

Showcase The Sector’s Achievements

How do we build the tallest building in the world, construct a plane that will travel to unimaginable heights, or devise new ways to save Earth from the worst elements of climate change? These are questions that get young people thinking and urge them to consider how to make the impossible possible.

Engaging with the next generation is crucial. Young people need to understand exactly what engineering has achieved and how much more could be accomplished. As with many aspects of academic learning, bringing the subject to life adds meaning and relevance, so engineering isn’t unfathomable or unreachable, but a realistic prospect which youngsters can pursue.

Raise The Profile Of Engineering In Schools

The lack of understanding amongst young people (and many adults) of engineering has had an acute impact upon take up of GCSE Engineering courses across the UK. In 2019, entries for GCSE Engineering plummeted by 31 per cent (4), with a clear gender disparity too.

Engineering needs to be embedded across the curriculum from an early age, instead of being postponed until secondary school, if children’s imaginations and ambitions are to be captured. Teacher knowledge is, of course, a significant barrier, particularly at primary school. However, the growth of STEM education programmes has proven popular, although it may be too soon to measure the long-term benefits.

The excellent work of the National Manufacturing Skills Taskforce is a great start and the widening of promotion of Enginuity and their two Minecraft games (Aerospace and Home Energy), which are mapped to the 12–14-year-old curriculum and have avatars that talk about the engineering jobs, available would be a major step. They are freely available for schools to use, that is one example where we could collectively promote via our school links without a monetary ask of Government for example.

Draw Off The Experience Of Industry Experts

Fresh minds from manufacturing can be powerful in promoting engineering as an exciting and modern industry. Harnessing the voice of expert role models will be invaluable in redefining perceptions of the sector and dispelling negative connotations, instead promoting engineering as an industry in which everyone can become involved, irrespective of their cultural background or gender.

The Festival of British Engineering & Manufacturing run by M-CNC last year was a model platform for promoting the future of the sector. Leading employers and engineering specialists demonstrated the latest technologies to local young people and delivered hands-on experiments for them to try, giving them a sense of how innovative and exciting engineering can be.

This type of event is crucial to raise awareness and now Make UK have launched their own National Manufacturing Open Day on the 7th July where businesses across the UK are being asked to open their doors, both physically and virtually, so schools and communities can learn just what a bright, vibrant and exciting sector we have to offer!

Hone-All: Committed To Inspiring The Next Generation

To find out more about these initiatives and projects and how to get involved, or indeed, to learn more about our precision engineering services, which we deliver with the latest cutting-edge equipment and methods, please get in touch with us.

Spring is on its way at last and it’s the season of change and growth for many.

It’s also the season of change and growth here at Hone-All too with the welcome arrival of new equipment and new team members! 

We have been lucky enough to recruit some brilliant additions to our team including a new, talented engineer on the gun drilling section, a Contract Review Engineer, a new CNC turner and we’ve also expanded our maintenance and despatch team – all of which will enable us to better respond to you and offer the levels of service you need, regardless of how busy we are!

The good news doesn’t stop there! 

We are excited to welcome our new Pinacho CNC lathe with our first 4th axis enabling us to offer additional machining capability and the engineers can’t wait to be able to finish some of the parts they have previously only turned for you.

Another existing addition is the twin spindle Biglia CNC Mill / Turn machine arriving shortly after the Pinacho. This will help us reduce lead times on existing contracts and therefore increase capacity and opportunities for other larger batch-type work.

 
Finally, we can’t wait to commission our new, larger gun drilling table machine which will not only increase the gun drilling diameter we can offer but also the weight and length capacity!

The main challenge will be fitting them all in! 

Like many, we have experienced difficulties this last few months with the impacts of Omicron and the resulting absences, and we do know a small amount of our deliveries have been affected as a result of these impacts which are impossible to plan for.

We can reassure you that the worst is over, we have plans in place, and are already seeing the benefits with a quick return to 90%+ on-time delivery.

But it doesn’t stop there - we are working to get back to our usual 95%+ and won’t be satisfied until we do.

Thank you again for your patience through these recent testing times and we can’t thank you enough for your support and continued business throughout the last few years and we look forward to you seeing the benefits of our increased capacity – both in our team and technology.

The price of gas and oil has always been a bone of contention, particularly when global fluctuations are reflected in everyday business costs, such as the soaring price at the pump or rising energy bills.

Even before the current energy and emerging political crisis, which is driving up prices by extraordinary amounts, oil and gas were earning themselves a bad reputation. Concerns about the sustainability of the environment and the damage caused by fossil fuels, coupled with sometimes volatile prices, have perpetuated the view that oil and gas are mankind’s adversaries.

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With much-publicised talk of new petrol and diesel cars being banned in the UK in less than eight years’ time, increasingly people feel less of a dependence on fossil fuels.

The Impact Of A Pandemic

As people were confined to their houses during the pandemic, demand for oil slumped. Coincidentally, the first – and longest – of the UK’s lockdowns occurred during an extended period of warm weather, meaning demand for gas also fell sharply.

As the country emerges from the shadow of the pandemic, however, demand for oil and gas has risen sharply, peaking at a near-record high, with prices reflecting this upward trend. Fuel shortages on fuel forecourts in September 2021 forced many to question just how robust the oil industry is, with pumps running dry in a matter of days and long queues forming as motorists attempted to fill up.

Rigid And Responsive

In fact, the industry proved itself to be extremely rigid and responsive when a national fuel crisis looked inevitable. The shortages at the pump were primarily the result of a leaked Government briefing about the shortage of HGV drivers to transport fuel from the refineries to the forecourts, leading to widespread panic buying.

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Whether the crisis had its origins in the post-Brexit labour situation or the Covid-19 pandemic, there was no nationwide shortage of fuel, simply logistical problems delivering fuel to petrol stations before demand overwhelmed supply.

Within a month of the start of the crisis, the UK’s petrol station stocks were at their highest level in nearly six months.

The Future For Oil And Gas

According to the International Energy Agency, demand for oil and gas is likely to peak in 2025, assuming that the world’s climate pledges are met fully. Long term, oil prices will most likely decline, particularly if the Government’s 2030 target is achieved for a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. As electric vehicles and indoor heating become the norm and demand on fossil fuels falls, oil prices will likely fall as supply outstrips demand.

Hone-All: Delivering Cost-Effective And Environmentally Friendly Solutions

You may be feeling the pinch where energy prices are concerned, but at Hone-All we continue to offer competitive precision engineering services that blend exceptional quality with optimum lead times.

We also take our responsibility to the environment seriously, so we incorporate the latest energy-saving technology and practices to reduce our carbon footprint. To find out more about our services or to request a quotation for your next project, send us a message or call us on 01525 370666.

More than any other industrial sector, manufacturing depends on efficient supply chains. Previously, raw materials were transformed into finished products on a single site; however, globalisation has increased the availability of components, helping to suppress costs and increasing the selection of bespoke goods for customers.

The global nature of manufacturing supply chains did, however, play into the hands of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. From labour and materials shortages to surging consumer demand and stalled transportation, supply chain problems have wreaked havoc for manufacturers and customers alike, with the problems still persisting.

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Now, Microsoft is helping manufacturing and supply chains with Cloud for Manufacturing. Designed to give customers better visibility of supply chains and the knowledge to proactively respond when issues occur, Cloud for Manufacturing helps with the digital transformation of the factory floor, uniting all aspects of a manufacturing business for seamless operations and fluid supply chains.

The Fragility Of Outdated Supply Chain Management

Effective supply chain management is critical to overcome the problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with visibility and connectedness at the core.

When Microsoft analysed supply chains, they discovered that systems were invariably fragile. Many manufacturers relied on supply chains which had, historically, performed seamlessly - until exposed to the pressures of the pandemic. Long cycles and manual siloes of data failed to deliver the visibility needed for effective supply chain management, tempting manufacturers to rely on outmoded systems that appeared, on paper, to function well.

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When the pandemic struck and worldwide lockdowns were implemented, factories were forced to close, air and shipping routes were suspended, and consumer demand wavered. Even when operatives were allowed onto the shop floor, a shortage of raw materials prevented them from producing the usual quantity of goods.

A Pre-emptive Tool

In response, Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing improves connectivity between different teams in the manufacturing process and digitises the factory floor, enabling businesses to:

• Establish more agile factories
• Transform their workforce
• Engage with customers in new ways
• Create resilient supply chains
• Unlock innovation

By switching from traditional manual systems, manufacturing businesses can embrace ‘systems of reality’, which allow them to connect marketplace activity, particularly customer demand, with the actions on the shop floor and in the supply chain.

By producing a more visible overview of the supply chain, manufacturers can insulate the supply chain to avoid being caught out by shortages of resources or surging demand for particular products.

Futureproof Your Business’s Supply Chains With Hone-All

At Hone-All, we understand the importance of meeting your lead times and work proactively with our clients to deliver the highest standard of machined components on-time, without compromising on quality or functionality.

Although we are still only utilising a small proportion of Microsoft’s software, we are continuing to develop our own manufacturing software and are constantly embracing the opportunities new technology brings.

We also invest in the latest technology to ensure that we meet demand, with particular attention paid to securing our supply chains both upstream and downstream, for a fluid operation that means our customers receive the parts they need, when they need.

To find out more about Hone-All’s machining services, send us a message or call us on 01525 370666.

Shortly after Christmas 2021, the CBI warned that many UK businesses are facing up to two years of labour shortages, with the manufacturing sector particularly hard hit. It’s a situation that’s not restricted to the UK – similar problems exist in the United States and Germany, for instance – but for a country that is globally recognised as a leader in the field, with strong export sales, a skilled labour shortage in manufacturing has major implications for supply chains and the economy.

What are the reasons for the problem and could a surge in female engineering talent provide a long-term, durable solution?

Manufacturing: Separating Fact From Fiction

Manufacturing has long been regarded as a predominantly male field, but the perceived shortage of female engineers is not the problem – there are actually a growing number of female engineers and technical specialists at all levels, from the shop floor to the boardroom. The cause of the labour shortage – taking aside the ramifications of Brexit and the global pandemic – is the failure to attract talent in the first place of any gender, due to a combination of misperception and misrepresentation.

Manufacturing is often (mis)perceived as:

• Only for men.
• Dark and dirty – think ‘Victorian steel mill’ for a nice stereotypical image.
• Poorly paid.
• Bad for the environment.
• Back-breakingly hard work.
• An unhealthy place to work – asbestos, fumes etc.
• Only for those who don’t attend university.

These misconceptions fail to acknowledge the many realities of manufacturing: for example, the average annual salary for engineering jobs in the sector is £42,500, compared to the UK national average of £25,971.

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The industry is also working hard to increase diversity, with rising numbers of women entering the field and the mean age decreasing. There’s more legwork to complete, starting with changing the vision of girls and young women in schools so that they view engineering as a legitimate career path; but the issue is less that manufacturing is ridden with inequality, and more that the pool of talent in schools and universities views the sector unfairly, at least from a female perspective.

Mainstream Media And Manufacturing

How much is the mainstream media responsible for shaping the general public’s perception of manufacturing?

A constant trickle of negative news stories about manufacturing – declining production rates, gender inequality, and the role of the sector in emitting greenhouse gases, for example - embed in people’s minds, whereas positive case studies and news stories fail to generate much traction with viewers who are subjected to sensational or gloomy headlines day in, day out.

In contrast, social media streams, such as those from Stuart Jefferson and Matt Chilton and every week Mark Weymouth's, #FridayGOODNews postings celebrate everything that is positive about UK manufacturing, from investment and high employment rates to innovation and diversity.

More of this in the mainstream would definitely be beneficial as would a change in approach from the UK Government who themselves need to recognise the value, diversity and expertise within our own UK Supply Chain and promote it both nationally and internationally.

Hone-All: Shaping The Future

The 96 per cent increase in female engineering students suggests that change is happening, gradually; with businesses such as Hone-All committing to a culture of teamwork, approachability, and openness, manufacturing can shrug off the negative undertones to portray itself as dynamic and innovative.

To find out more about our precision engineering services, please get in touch today.

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In 1771, the village of Cromford, Shropshire was propelled into the history books after Richard Arkwright chose it to host the world’s first water-driven spinning factory - a decision that would forever associate Cromford as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

250 years later, many scientists believe the dawn of the industrial era was the trigger of potentially catastrophic climate change, with the burning of fossil fuels driving up carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and stimulating the greenhouse effect. While the quantity of carbon dioxide produced by UK manufacturing is falling – 81.1 million metric tons in 2019, a decline of over 40 per cent since 1990 – the industry remains the biggest piece of the puzzle in the Government’s pursuit of NetZero by 2050.

What Is The NetZero Target?

The UK was the first major world economy to set a NetZero target for 2050.

NetZero describes the balance between the quantity of greenhouse gases produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. When more is removed then is added, then NetZero is achieved.

For the NetZero target to be met, the Government is hoping to unlock £90bn of private investment to support businesses and consumers as they switch to cleaner, renewable forms of energy.

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The Role Of Manufacturing In The NetZero Strategy

The Government has recognised the role of manufacturing in achieving NetZero and has identified five main targets:

• Levelling Up

With over half of Research and Development (R&D) expenditure focused on manufacturing businesses, further investment in advanced, environmentally friendly technologies will be vital. Harnessing the manufacturing centres of excellence in the West Midlands, the Firth of Clyde, and North-East England will boost regional supply chains and employment, while increasing the UK’s competitiveness with other global nations.

• Achieving NetZero Together

Partnership with the manufacturing industry is central to a shared approach to achieving NetZero. If decarbonisation is a feasible goal, the energy-intensive manufacturing sector must be awarded incentives to access low-carbon alternatives, such as wind and hydrogen. With average electricity costs 80 per cent higher than in the mainland EU, overseas investment in the UK will only be secured with more affordable, low-carbon energies.

• Building A Science Superpower

The Government’s ambition for the UK to become a Science Superpower can only be achieved with a strong partnership with the manufacturing industry. Greater incentives to attract investment in Research and Development and achieve further investment in R&D are crucial to secure the investment needed for NetZero technologies.

• Designing World-Class Regulatory Standards

By creating a strong regulatory environment in the UK, the Government can minimise costs to manufacturing businesses and overcome the obstacles at regional or international levels that may affect competitiveness or trading relationships with other countries.

• Supporting International Leadership

Britain has a long and robust reputation as a leader in manufacturing and has the resilience to access global opportunities that will benefit the economy while advancing the development of NetZero technologies. To this end, the Government should forge a fiscal environment that is attractive to global investors, with competitive tax rules that encourage international partnership.

What Government Need To Do

What Manufacturers need to see now is a serious recognition from Government about the role we will play and the support we will need to help then achieve their targets for Levelling Up and Net Zero.

Their 5 main targets are well meaning, but without policy and a strategic approach, there is no direction, no plan and no collaboration with the businesses who can help them achieve them.

Another reason why we need the appointment of a Commissioner for Manufacturing who can be the voice for Manufacturers within the corridors of power and ensure opportunities are not lost.

Hone-All: Committed To Supporting Positive Action Working Towards Net Zero

At Hone-All, we have a passionate commitment to supporting our customers in the drive to develop environmentally friendly technologies through proactive R&D and responsible manufacturing to help reduce carbon emissions without compromising on quality.

To find out more, please get in touch on 01525 370666 or visit www.hone-all.co.uk

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In August 2021, John Penrose, MP  for Weston-Super-Mare, backed the Institute for Prosperity’s 10-point plan for the revival of the UK’s manufacturing industry after Covid and Brexit, citing the ‘big, structural changes to our education system, our economy, and our society’ that are needed to reverse ‘the long, low decline of British manufacturing’.

Once the bastion of the Industrial Revolution, UK manufacturing has confronted unprecedented challenges in the last two years, in particular the ‘double whammy’ of Covid-19 and Brexit.

With NetZero the ambitious environmental target for 2050, manufacturers are also faced with the challenge of adopting low-carbon energies, with the associated funding obstacles that this will bring.

Despite the turbulence the industry has faced, the UK still doesn’t have a dedicated Minister or Commissioner for Manufacturing – despite so many persuasive reasons why this should be a priority:

Independent Voice

The UK’s manufacturing industry is large and varied, with an annual output worth £192bn to the national economy. As the world’s tenth largest exporter, and with a significant role in Research and Development (R&D), the UK is the ninth largest manufacturing nation in the world.

Yet the impact of Covid-19 has proven that, in turbulent times, an independent voice is needed to ensure the industry’s best interests are considered and collaboration of the UK Supply Chain is promoted.

With any decline in output certain to inflict serious consequences on the economy as a whole, propelling manufacturing to the top of the policy agenda through proper representation is a logical step.

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Standing Up For SMEs

99% of the 140,000 active manufacturing businesses in the UK are Micro and Small to Middle-sized enterprises (SMEs), whose long-term success depends on strong representation – especially in the changing global economic landscape.

A Commissioner for Manufacturing would devote time to supporting SMEs to succeed, promoting their interests at home and abroad, particularly to navigate the post-Brexit regulations and to remain competitive in the face of cheaper, inferior imports from Asia and the Far East.

Dedicated To Manufacturing

If the solution to growing UK manufacturing lies in education, the economy, and society, as John Penrose describes, then a minister who is dedicated to the sector is crucial.

Whereas the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the newly appointed Minister for Industry have very broad portfolios, of which manufacturing is only one element, a separate Commissioner for Manufacturing would promote the needs and interests of manufacturers to the head of the agenda and be able to work with ministerial colleagues to achieve the top-level changes required.

Hone-All: Leading The Way In Specialist Precision Engineering

At Hone-All, our Director, Andrea Wilson, is at the forefront of the campaign for a dedicated Commissioner for Manufacturing, reflecting our commitment and passion to secure, support and promote the UK Supply Chain as well as ensure the UK remains a global powerhouse in the field.

To find out more about our cutting-edge precision engineering services for businesses at home and abroad, please call us on 01525 370666 and to join our campaign, connect with Andrea on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-wilson-34497813/ and follow #shoutaboutukmfg #supportukmfg #ukmanufacturing #ukfg

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At Hone-All, we’re passionate about the health and potency of the UK’s manufacturing sector, recognising it’s strong capacity for growth and success in a challenging global marketplace.

Our Director, Andrea Wilson, is a strong advocate for the appointment of a national Commissioner for Manufacturing, so that a dedicated official can assume responsibility for promoting and representing the sector’s interests, across Government departments and overseas in international trade deals.

However, appointing the right person to this post is crucial. So, what attributes should a Manufacturing Commissioner offer?

• Political Independence

A Commissioner for Manufacturing should be a wholly independent person who is free from political affiliations to best represent the interests of the sector. Ministerial appointments are often beset by change in the form of Cabinet reshuffles or elections, whereas an independent commissioner would deliver the continuity that manufacturing needs to be sustainable and competitive in the long-term.

An independent commissioner would also put the needs of the industry first, without the political bias that could otherwise affect policy and decision-making.

• A Passion For Manufacturing

It goes without saying that a Manufacturing Commissioner should have a passion for the sector. This will have been shaped by an extensive prior experience in the industry, so they have a genuine understanding for how manufacturing businesses operate and the challenges they face. Small to middle-sized enterprises (SMEs) confront considerably different demands to larger Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), which could only be understood by a commissioner with broad industry experience.

• A Commitment To The Long-Term

Nothing will change overnight, so a Commissioner for Manufacturing should be committed to remain in the post for a long time to see initial successes beyond the initial impact. They should be inspired by change and adaptation and seek to achieve successes that futureproof the sector, rather than realise headline-grabbing accomplishments that aren’t embedded in long-term prosperity.

• A Hunger For Supporting SMEs

SME’s make up the majority of manufacturing businesses in the UK. Such is their diversity of needs and challenges that a Manufacturing Commissioner must be committed to guiding SMEs through the industrial support, with the financial and logistical support to weather the uncertainty caused by events such as the global pandemic.

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While we await the appointment of a Commissioner for Manufacturing, at Hone-All we continue to campaign for change and whilst doing that, offer exemplary precision engineering services for our numerous customers from a wide range of industries.

With a strong track record of partnership and outstanding aftersales service, Hone-All is the first-choice for all your precision engineering needs. To find out more about our services, please call us on 01525 370666 or visit www.hone-all.co.uk

If you want to learn more about, or get involved in, our campaign for a Commissioner for Manufacturing, connect with our Director, Andrea Wilson, on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-wilson-34497813/

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Public concerns about the state of the environment have soared in recent years and, at Hone-All, we recognise that we have a role to play in protecting the Earth in any way we can.

Nearly one-quarter of carbon emissions are produced by manufacturing businesses worldwide and, while the CO2 emissions in the UK have fallen by 10% in the past year, there’s clearly a long way to go.

Why The Environment Matters To Us

At Hone-All, we take our responsibilities to the environment seriously for several reasons:

Firstly, like every business and member of the public, we have a responsibility to protect the environment from further harm. This means taking all necessary steps to mitigate pollution by adopting environmentally friendly techniques such as our solar panels which we had installed in 2014.

Secondly, our customers are increasingly seeking businesses who can demonstrate their green credentials. Passionate about delivering what our customers want, we’re committed to adapting our practice to ensure that we achieve the same outstanding results without compromising on the environment.

Finally, as a community-focused business, we are dedicated to protecting our local environment, for the benefit of the residents and local organisations.

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Education

Everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment from damage. At Hone-All, we ensure that all our employees understand their responsibilities which are embedded in our policies and procedures. By sharing our ambitions to be an even more effective environmentally friendly business, we create an ethos that prioritises the environment so that every action we take is thought-out and considerate.

Recycling

Manufacturing processes frequently produce waste materials such as metals, much of which is detrimental to the environment if disposed of in the wrong way.

At Hone-All, we recycle waste material in two ways. We re-use waste in new production processes where possible; alternatively, we dispose of it in a controlled way via a licensed waste carrier. We never dispose of waste in landfill, which can lead to considerable harm to ecosystems and waterways.

Minimising Energy Consumption

According to studies, energy consumption by the manufacturing sector accounts for a large amount of the total consumption of industry. Reducing consumption, therefore, is critical to lowering carbon emissions. At Hone-All, we take active steps to minimise our energy use, incorporating the latest energy-saving technology to reduce our carbon footprint.

However, as a business and as an industry, we also recognise that manufacturing is a part of the solution for achieving net zero and we are proud to work alongside our diverse range of customers, many of whom are involved in developing energy reducing technology and equipment.

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At Hone-All, we recognise and accept our responsibility with regards to protecting the environment. If you’re seeking a partner whose green responsibility accords with yours, get in touch with us on 01525 370666.

The UK has a proud history of producing some of the best quality defence equipment in the world, from fighter aircraft to missiles and machine guns. As one of the most dynamic manufacturing industries, which, together with aerospace, accounts for over £12 billion in output, the defence sector is well-positioned to support the UK economy as it rebounds from the slump caused by the global pandemic.

For manufacturers, supporting the defence sector will help to underpin the economy as it slowly recovers in the next few years. Defence manufacturers will be able to improve their profitability, secure new export opportunities, and strengthen global supply chains, while continuing to support over 207,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

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Access To Niche Technologies

Nearly three-quarters of manufacturing SMEs are investing heavily in digital and AI technology, improving every element of the design and engineering process. Access to cutting-edge tech means products and equipment for defence can be produced more economically than ever, while securing the highest standards of production. In aerospace and defence, product specifications need to be even more stringent than in other industries, so advanced technique are utilised to achieve the standards that other methods cannot.

Investing In People

For the UK’s manufacturing workforce in the defence sector, the future is particularly optimistic. Average salaries are high – and professional development is a consistent priority, so SMEs benefit from a stable workforce that is highly valued and, in return, committed. With the best talent in the industry, output will continue to be high, while overseas partners will be attracted by the high standards that British manufacturers deliver.

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The sector also demonstrates positive social responsibility to its workers, with most businesses ensuring diversity and inclusivity in their recruitment processes. Two-thirds of manufacturers invest in apprenticeships while nearly all engage in training programmes to ensure staff stay at the forefront of engineering.

Hone-All: Supporting The UK Defence Industry

At Hone-All, we have the equipment and expertise to deliver precision engineered components for the defence and aerospace industry. To find out more, or to request a free, no-obligation quotation, call us on 01525 370666.

The UK has a proud history of producing some of the best quality defence equipment in the world, from fighter aircraft to missiles and machine guns. As one of the most dynamic manufacturing industries, which, together with aerospace, accounts for over £12 billion in output, the defence sector is well-positioned to support the UK economy as it rebounds from the slump caused by the global pandemic.

For manufacturers, supporting the defence sector will help to underpin the economy as it slowly recovers in the next few years. Defence manufacturers will be able to improve their profitability, secure new export opportunities, and strengthen global supply chains, while continuing to support over 207,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

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Access To Niche Technologies

Nearly three-quarters of manufacturing SMEs are investing heavily in digital and AI technology, improving every element of the design and engineering process. Access to cutting-edge tech means products and equipment for defence can be produced more economically than ever, while securing the highest standards of production. In aerospace and defence, product specifications need to be even more stringent than in other industries, so advanced technique are utilised to achieve the standards that other methods cannot. 

Investing In People

For the UK’s manufacturing workforce in the defence sector, the future is particularly optimistic. Average salaries are high – and professional development is a consistent priority, so SMEs benefit from a stable workforce that is highly valued and, in return, committed. With the best talent in the industry, output will continue to be high, while overseas partners will be attracted by the high standards that British manufacturers deliver.

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The sector also demonstrates positive social responsibility to its workers, with most businesses ensuring diversity and inclusivity in their recruitment processes. Two-thirds of manufacturers invest in apprenticeships while nearly all engage in training programmes to ensure staff stay at the forefront of engineering.

Hone-All: Supporting The UK Defence Industry

At Hone-All, we have the equipment and expertise to deliver precision engineered components for the defence and aerospace industry. To find out more, or to request a free, no-obligation quotation, call us on 01525 370666.

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.

Deciding whether to outsource manufacturing is an important decision. On one hand, your business needs to maximise profits, so investing in specialist equipment or retraining staff may prove to be uneconomical. However, you also need confidence that your chosen partner will produce high-quality components for your products, as substandard work will affect lead times, cost, and your business’s reputation.

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Outsourcing manufacturing offers several important benefits for your business and your customers:

Minimising Capital Expenditure

Outsourcing specialist machining services removes the need for extensive investment in machinery, tooling and gauging, particularly when demand is uncertain or limited.

Streamlined Workforce

Equipping your employees with specialist skills requires expensive training and assessments to ensure they achieve the necessary standards. It can be more cost-effective to outsource specialist skilled work to an external partner. Although there will be a cost associated with outsourcing, it’s easier to achieve healthier margins and profits.

Lower Labour Costs

In any business, labour costs should not exceed approximately 30% of gross sales, so being able to exert control over them can achieve valuable cost savings. It’s more profitable to outsource specialist work than to transform your own workforce, and you’ll also reduce overheads as you won’t need to pay for sickness and holiday entitlement of any additional workers.

Plug The Skills Gap

As a successful manufacturer, you’ll have a set of core skills at which you excel, but branching out can be challenging and expensive due to training and equipment costs. If extending your in-house capabilities, you also need to be confident that you can deliver consistently outstanding quality across your skillset. Outsourcing can allow you to focus on what you do well, while giving you access to a wider range of capabilities at a lower cost.

The Disadvantages Of Outsourcing Manufacturing

It’s important to ensure you outsource your manufacturing to a reliable and trustworthy partner, as a poor choice could expose your business to these disadvantages:

Loss Of Control

Relying on another business to produce components or products on your behalf can mean that you lose control over the process, with lead times and quality assurance at stake. That’s why it’s vital to create a positive partnership with your chosen supplier, so that any problems can be quickly resolved in a simple phone call.

Communication Problems

Open and honest communication is essential if an outsourcing partnership is to work well. Tempting though it may be to opt for an overseas supplier who boasts low prices, the language barrier can cause confusion and misunderstandings which could affect product quality. Working with a UK business offers several benefits, including a common language and when dealing in critical lead times, a common time zone where answers can be obtained quickly.

Negative Business Culture

Unless outsourcing is responsibly communicated and managed, your own employees may feel less secure, leading to disengagement and lower productivity. Ensuring they understand their roles and responsibilities and the reasons for deciding to outsource such as focusing on core competencies etc. will motivate your workforce and avoid any potential anxiety.

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Contact Hone-All For Outstanding Outsourced Manufacturing

To find out more about Hone-All’s precision machining services and why they are the partner of choice for over 4000 customers, send us a message or call us on 01525 370666.

Industrial rollers are key components in many types of machinery, particularly in the printing and packaging industry. They are predominantly used to move a variety of product through complex processing equipment but also provide essential support when material is moved through a machine, preventing it from becoming out of place, dislodged, or jammed. For example, a printing press that produces large sheets of labels for food packaging, or fabrics and wallpapers, must be able to deliver consistently high quality, quickly. Even a tiny movement as material is fed through the press will result in distorted or misplaced images, rendering the print redundant and wasting time and money to correct the problem.

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There are several types of industrial rollers, including:

• Drive rollers, which isolate vibration and shock, connect driven shafts to each other, and synchronise movements between shafts.
• Guide rollers, which are used to direct or guide an object in a particular direction.
• Conveyor rollers - the most common industrial roller – move products or loose bulk goods across long distances and are essential for efficient transportation.

Industrial rollers are used in a variety of situations, including conveyor systems, printing presses, feeding machines, bending machines, and stamping presses. They also feature in an increasingly wide range of applications, from drying and annealing to embossing and metal processing.

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Most rollers are coated with elastomeric materials, such as EPDM, polyurethane, and neoprene, with an aluminium or steel core.

Why invest in high-quality industrial rollers?

It always pays to invest in high quality industrial rollers manufactured in the UK. Cheaper rollers, often manufactured outside the EU using substandard materials, rarely meet the high standards that UK businesses need for durable and reliable operations, leading to:

• Poor output, such as badly printed material.
• Premature wear and failure, leading to unplanned downtime and cost to replace rollers.
• Grinding of machine parts, resulting in damage to expensive equipment.

Purchasing cheap rollers from overseas is invariably a false economy. However, investing in high-quality industrial rollers that are manufactured in a UK facility to demanding quality standards, such as ISO 9001 or EN 9100, will offer the reassurance that you’re purchasing rollers that deliver outstanding results and long-term durability.

Contact Hone-All for your precision roller needs

At Hone-All, we manufacture high quality precision rollers for the print, packaging and converting industries. Manufactured to the highest standards, our rollers are sure to deliver the quality, reliability, and durability you need. To find out more or obtain a free, no-obligation quote, please get in touch by calling 01525 370666.

At Hone-All, we have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to tackle complex projects in a range of sectors. As a family-run business that prides itself on teamwork, collaboration, and communication, we’re not constrained by muted ambition; instead, we invest in our teams and technology to ensure the highest quality service for our customers in diverse areas of industry, from aerospace and pharmaceuticals to defence and motorsport.

Our Areas Of Specialty:

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1) Oil and Gas / Petrochemical:

Our large capacity section, which comprises Deep Hole Borers, heavy duty CNC Lathes up to 4 metres in length, and two horizontal honing machines, was crucial for us to meet the requirements of the oil and gas industry. We have the capacity to deep hole bore, hone, and turn components up to 3m in length, using a range of materials including Inconel, Hastelloy and Monel to name but a few.

2) Aerospace and Defence:

In the Aerospace industry, there is no room for error. Precision engineering must be conducted to incredibly accurate specifications and tight tolerances to ensure finished products comply with the highest of safety standards. We manufacture a variety of components for the industry, including rotors, landing gear components, and actuators, using the latest materials for optimum strength and durability. Never phased by the responsibility, we relish the challenge our Aerospace customers present.

3) Hydraulics:

In the hydraulics industry, honing is an essential process to produce surface finishes that enable pistons to work effectively without causing excessive wear. We can machine different components, including hydraulic cylinders, piston rods, rams, and tubing, at cost-effective prices while achieving close tolerances rarely available from conventional tubing suppliers cannot.

4) Printing and Packaging:

We supply precision rollers and shafts for the printing, packaging, and converting industry, from 50mm to 4m in length. We understand that the sector needs reliable components, with excellent surface finishes, perfect balance, and superior durability to eliminate vibration and wear – even when rollers are rotating at speeds of up to 1000m per minute!

5) Medical:

In the medical equipment sector, precision is non-negotiable. Tolerances must be incredibly tight with superior surface finishes to ensure medical procedures are safe. Medical devices, such as joint replacements, which are to provide patients with mobility for many years, must be robust and durable. At Hone-All, we have manufactured components in aluminium and titanium to produce reliable and trustworthy medical components

6) Injection Moulding:

Gun drilling is a key process in the production of mould tools, cavity blocks, and Bolster plates for injection moulding, creating the waterways or cooling holes that maintain a consistent temperature during processing. Utilising our CNC gun drill, we can create multiple holes in different positions, including angled holes within the block.

7) Motorsport / Automotive:

At Hone-All, we’re proud to support the F1, Motorsport & Automotive industries, manufacturing essential components including anti-roll bars, steering columns, driveshafts, clutch shafts, and transmission parts. Lead times are incredibly short, but our commitment to teamwork enables us to meet challenging deadlines – even if we have to work through the night!

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Contact Hone-All today

With our extensive knowledge of precision engineering, access to cutting-edge CNC technology, and an unwavering commitment to the highest quality standards for our customers, we can support your business in delivering its latest project. To tell us about your project or to request a free, no-obligation quotation, please call Hone-All on 01525 370666.

Good morning.

As we emerge from the most serious impacts of the pandemic and look forward to Christmas, the New Year and the opportunities 2022 will bring, we're thrilled to say that over the last year, we have continued to provide our excellent services and kept our promises to our customers throughout.

We are so grateful to our team for keeping us all safe, our fabulous suppliers and stakeholders for ensuring they could supply our requirements, irrelevant of the circumstances, and of course....

YOU - our amazing and loyal customers who have supported us throughout these last 2 years. 

Without you, we're nothing! 

Many are feeling the pain of the last two years, whether it be from the loss of loved ones, reduced business, financial pressures, political issues, or the simple exhaustion from trying to keep everything under control throughout the most difficult of times. 

We hope and pray that 2022 brings easier and happier times for everyone and it certainly seems that the positivity flowing throughout the manufacturing sector right now is going to continue. 

Here at Hone-All, we have a lot of exciting things happening.

Terry Butler has started with us to strengthen our Sales Team, we have a new Contract Review Manager and we're recruiting engineers to help us deal with your requirements. 

We have our new machine arriving in January, increasing our turning capacity and allowing us to machine simple slots and drill & tap, processes you usually ask us to do but we have to decline. 

We look forward to sharing our great news with you throughout the coming year and helping you thrive in these busier times.

Until then, may we take the opportunity to wish you the very best of the festive season and love, luck, health & wealth for the New Year and the year ahead. 

From Andrea & All the Team here at Hone-All xx 🎄

In the 2020-2021 season, the global audience watching Formula 1 reached 433 million viewers, making it one of the world’s most popular sports. Yet few people realise that each F1 car is constructed from an astounding 80,000 separate components, making each vehicle a compressed 720kg package of hydraulic systems, mechanical devices, carbon, tyres, and fuel!

To assemble an F1 car, incredible levels of technical expertise and precision engineering are required so, at Hone-All, we’re proud to be associated with some of the world’s leading Formula 1 teams. Our association with F1 is a powerful endorsement of our reliability and commitment to high standards - particularly as we’re trusted to manufacture safety critical parts, such as anti-roll bars, for F1 cars.

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Achieving The Highest Safety Standards For F1 Racing

Everyone knows that Formula 1 racing involves mind blowing speeds, so it’s not difficult to appreciate the dangers involved when race cars corner at speeds of over 200mph! An anti-roll bar is a device fitted to the car’s suspension to reduce the body roll of the vehicle when cornering at high speed. In accidents and collisions, the anti-roll bar will help to prevent the car from physically rolling over, protecting the driver, and preventing serious injury or death. By combining our expert knowledge and skills with the latest technology, we manufacture anti-roll bars for Formula 1 vehicles, playing our part in keeping drivers safe even in the worst-case scenario.

Delivering Essential Components For F1

We also machine other crucial components of F1 cars, including steering columns, clutch shafts, driveshafts, uprights, and transmission parts. With our expert knowledge of metals and commitment to matching materials to their intended purpose, we are able to select from the finest grade metals including titanium, aluminium, and steel to create components that are incredibly robust, durable, and stress resistant.

Meeting The Challenge Of Life In The Fast Lane

In Formula 1, lead times can be incredibly challenging, matching the fast-paced nature of the sport. At Hone-All, we’re committed to delivering excellent service to our customers, so the prospect of a tight turnaround time is a challenge we welcome. In fact, our teams will even work through the night to ensure we achieve our targets and deliver vital F1 components on time, every time.

Need A Precision Engineering Specialist For Your Project? Get In Touch With Hone-All!

Your business may not be a leading Formula 1 team, but at Hone-All we’re ready to support you with your next engineering project. We offer fast, detailed, and accurate quotes and guarantee to work in partnership with you to ensure we meet your exacting specifications, delivering only the highest quality finishes. To find out more, visit www.hone-all.co.uk or call us on 01525 370666.

Deep hole drilling is a machining process in which holes are created up to ten times deeper than the hole diameter. Suitable for a range of metals, including the strongest of superalloys, deep hole drilling is used in many fields, including oil and gas generation, aerospace, mould-making, and heavy industry.

Deep hole drilling / Gun drilling is a common method for drilling deep holes, utilising a gundrill tool, made from carbide, with a kidney shaped shaft, to form holes with high depth-to-diameter ratios. For smaller, shorter bores, conventional drilling on a mill is most commonly used.

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Advantages Of Gun Drilling

While the deep drilling of any material produces some challenges – the need to remove metal chips (swarf) and maintaining efficient temperature control, for example – gun drilling offers some important benefits above other techniques:

1) High Cutting Performance

Carbide cutting tools are among the most hardwearing and efficient in the machining industry, enabling tips to cut more quickly and precisely. Carbide drills offer exceptional performance, reliability, and longer tool life as torsional vibration is reduced.

2) Minimum Centre-Line Deviation

Precision is key when drilling deep holes, and gun drilling ensures minimum centre-line deviation. Bores are drilled with near perfect straightness, while deep holes are highly precise even when exacting tolerances are required. When integrated with Computer Numerical Control (CNC), gun drilling is even more precise.

3) Outstanding Drilling Quality

Whatever the depth of hole being drilled, gun drilling delivers outstanding results in a short duration with only a single pass required. Close tolerance bores can be created with superior surface finishes that are free from burrs or other inconsistencies, eliminating the need for additional machining, such as honing or reaming (unless specific finishes are required) – and therefore keeping costs down.

4) High Process Reliability

Swarf is an unavoidable by-product of any drilling process. However, in gun drilling the use of high-pressure coolant means the swarf can be continuously removed from the cutting area, reducing machining time and delivering higher quality and repeatability. Due to the effectiveness of swarf removal, deeper holes can be drilled with no impact on the accuracy of the drill.

5) Minimal Quantity Lubrication

 Gun drilling oils are designed specifically for use in the deep hole drilling of metals that are more difficult to machine. Featuring light viscosity and excellent anti-weld additives, lubricants support tighter tolerances, increased tool life, low oil loss, and superior metal dropout rates when low turnaround filtering times are required.

Contact Hone-All For More Information

At Hone-All, we use cutting-edge technology to achieve close tolerances and exceptional accuracy on all deep hole drilling and gundrilling products. With a wide range of deep hole drilling machines available, our services are cost-effective and responsive, providing you with the expert solution in the shortest possible time. Please get in touch today for more information.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology is at the forefront of the precision machining industry, yielding greater control, more accurate results, and a reduced need for manual intervention during the manufacturing process.

Both CNC turning and CNC milling harness cutting-edge automation technology. However, despite sharing some similarities, the two processes offer different benefits and are suited to different applications.

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What are the similarities and differences between CNC turning and CNC milling, and which should you choose for your engineering project?

CNC Turning And Milling: A Short Summary

• CNC turning: In this process, the workpiece is rotated against a cutting tool to remove the material in the desired way. Usually, a round bar stock is used with this method to produce cylindrical components.
• CNC milling: The workpiece is held in a stationary position, with the cutting tool spinning against it to remove unwanted material. Primarily, milling uses square or rectangular bar stock.

The Similarities Between CNC Turning And CNC Milling

Aside from the reliance on CNC technology to achieve optimum accuracy and speed, CNC turning and milling share some common traits:

1) Subtractive engineering: Both CNC turning and milling removes material from a workpiece in a carefully controlled way. Chips of waste material are generated as the workpiece is machined to the required profile or length.

2) Suitability for materials: CNC milling and turning are suitable for a variety of metals, including aluminium, brass, copper, steel, and titanium. Thermoplastics can also be machined using these methods. Materials that are too soft and pliable, such as rubber, or too hard and brittle, such as ceramic, can be extremely difficult to machine.

3) Heat generation: Turning and milling both generate heat, so cooling fluid is usually required to mitigate this and prevent warping.

Should I Choose CNC Turning Or CNC Milling For My Project?

Both CNC turning and milling offer valuable speed and cost advantages for engineering projects, including:

• Highly precise machining: Producing parts to exacting specifications, turning, and milling can achieve incredibly tight tolerances, to better than tenths of microns.
• Rapid machining: Cutting operations are performed quickly, with no time lost to changing cutting tools. CNC mills, for example, feature rotating carousels that can hold many tools which are automatically interchanged during operations.
• Less errors: Because CNC machining is guided by a computer, cutting is highly precise, with no possibility of errors being made. Incredibly complex parts can be machined in a short time without the risk of human error.
• Cost-efficiency: Due to the speed of CNC milling and CNC turning, these processes are very cost-efficient and far more affordable than comparable processes, such as 3D printing.
  
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While there are some disadvantages of CNC turning and milling – the amount of material wastage, for example – it’s more important to consider the application when deciding which method is most suitable for your engineering project.

The decision to use turning or milling depends on the design of the part and the required features. Milling is most suited to square, rectangular, or flat parts, whereas turning is a better choice for cylindrical components.

Contact Hone All For More Information

For professional, expert advice about CNC milling or turning, please get in touch with Hone-All on 01525 370666 or send us a message to arrange a free, no-obligation quotation.

When you contract your precision machining project to a specialist, you’ll want the process to run as smoothly as possible. To eliminate the risk of problems and to maximise the likelihood that your deadline will be met, you should provide the precision engineer with some important information at the earliest opportunity. This will enable both parties to share a common vision for the project, with any potential issues identified and resolved before fabrication begins.

In this guide, we’ll outline the information you should provide to your CNC machining specialist and explain what to do if you don’t have it to hand.

What Information Should I Provide To Your CNC Machinist?

It’s important to select a precision engineering company with whom you can collaborate successfully, as a partnership based on communication and trust will yield a better-quality outcome within your timescales.

When you make your initial enquiry, you will usually be asked to provide a digital drawing or design of your component or a sample of the original part if the company has design engineering capabilities and can be assured that they are not contravening any licences or infringing patents.

The engineers will use this information to work out how the component will be constructed and manufactured, considering aspects such as materials, finishing, and assembly. You should also be prepared to discuss the quantity you require and, if applicable, the deadline for the project.

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If you don’t have all the details ready, your machining specialist will discuss the missing information with you to ensure they are able to proceed with the project. As an expert in their field, the precision engineer will be able to suggest the most suitable materials and methods to use to create a durable, high-quality component that meets your business’s needs.

We know everyone is busy but – the more information you can supply, the more accurate the quotation and project detail will be, and last-minute changes or surprises will be minimised.

What If I Don’t Have The Information To Hand?

In some situations, for example, if you require a component which is old or the original manufacturer is no longer in business, you may not have the necessary design paperwork or digital images available.

This doesn’t necessarily cause a problem, as a process called reverse engineering can be used, in which historic drawings or instructions can be uploaded to Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to generate a digital document. This can be used to create the component and ensures that, in future, you’ll have a blueprint from which to work should more of the same component be required. However, your supplier will need to check with you that they are not infringing any patents etc.

Reverse engineering can also be used if you only have the component itself instead of written plans. The precision engineer will use advanced 3D scanning and digital mapping software to work out how the part was constructed and may disassemble it to improve their understanding of its structure. Digital CNC machining instructions will be created from this process, so future manufacturing will be straightforward.

Contact Hone-All For All Your Precision Engineering Needs

At Hone-All, we offer a comprehensive range of precision engineering services and take pride in building positive professional relationships with our clients to meet their exacting project requirements.

To discuss an engineering project with one of our design engineers, please send us a message here, or call us on 01525 370666.

Precision engineering methods have been at the heart of manufacturing for nearly 200 years, since the first mills were designed to offer a faster, more cost-effective way to create new products. This ‘Sustainable Revolution’ is witnessing a shift towards cleaner, renewable energy sources across the manufacturing sector, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power.

A new generation of precision engineering technologies and design tools are playing a crucial part in this transformation – for instance by machining the complex components required in wind turbines. Let’s look at the different ways in which precision engineering can contribute to making manufacturing practices more sustainable and energy-efficient at every level of the supply chain.

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An Innovative Approach

Innovation is one of the key benefits of precision engineering. Manufacturers can refine existing ideas to create new products and, with reverse engineering, a review of a component’s development can be completed to identify areas that need to be changed for optimum efficiency.

Precision engineering also ensures that products are viable and eliminates the need for producing multiple variants of the same design. Problems are identified early, and modifications implemented, so there is no unnecessary wastage of resources and energy, thus making less of a negative impact on the environment in the product development cycle.

Unrivalled Reliability

All components produced for the renewable energy industry must be constructed with durability in mind. Precision engineering can ensure that every component is built-to-last, with robust quality control procedures ensuring products meet demanding specifications.

This is especially important for components that will be subjected to harsh conditions, such as offshore wind turbines. With precision engineering, you can be confident that every part is manufactured to withstand extreme stresses for a long-term, durable solution.

Creating The Most Intricate Parts Accurately

Components in the production of renewable energy are often highly complex, and many intricate parts are assembled to create mechanisms. Every component must meet exacting specifications and be incredibly accurate to function correctly.

Precision engineering, particularly CNC machining, eliminates the risk of human error and minimises tolerances, so each component works exactly as it is, no matter how demanding the application.

Rapid Mass production

The renewable energy industry is expanding rapidly in line with the changing political landscape and demand for positive action to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. Components used in the green energy sector need to be produced rapidly and accurately to fulfil demanding project requirements.

CNC machining is especially useful in the mass production of parts and ensures that each component is identical to the last. Computerised technology also reduces the need for human intervention, so production can continue with minimal supervision overnight and during weekends to maximise output.

Get in touch with Hone-All for expert machining of all your renewable energy components today.

At Hone-All, we offer reliable CNC precision machining services for the renewable energy industry, with durability, accuracy, and speed our priorities. To request a free, no-obligation quotation for your green engineering project, get in touch here or call us on 01525 370666.

We are looking forward to welcoming a new Pinacho ST285 CNC lathe to our workshop here at Hone-All, after accepting a quote from C Dugard Ltd, of East Sussex.

This is an exciting investment for us because it is the first CNC lathe we’ve purchased with a C-axis. The additional axis gives us the capacity to drill and tap on PCDs and machine keyways/slots in-house, increasing the range of services we can offer. Previously we had to either subcontract this aspect of our work to a trusted supplier (with customer permission of course), or request the customer to arrange it themselves after machining – something we were always uncomfortable with because it meant we couldn’t offer an end-to-end service.

A Quality Investment

We have invested in several Pinacho machines in the past and have been consistently impressed with their quality, reliability, and output. The lathes are manufactured and assembled in Spain at the Pinacho factory with a durable cast iron bed, and spindles, bearings and gears made from F155 steel. Along with the robust engineering quality comes the cutting-edge servo control systems and software that distinguish Pinacho from many of their competitors, with the capacity to upgrade these systems over time.

All components are CE/UKCA marked for quality compliance in both the UK and EU.

Technical Specifications – At A Glance

• Swing over bed –570 mm
• Swing over cross slide – 360 mm
• Distance between centres – 2000 mm
• Quick-change 12 station tool post
• Feed rate:
  • X axis rapid traverse – 15 m/m
  • Z axis rapid traverse – 12.5 m/m
  • X axis cutting feed rate – 10 m/m
  • Z axis cutting feed rate – 10 m/m
• Fanuc 0i-TF servo control package (we chose this operating system for its accuracy and contouring controls during high-speed precision machining)
• On-board profile editor
• Direct-drive headstock with servo motor
• Tolerance controls for real time adjustments during machining cycles

‘Covid Resilience’ Funding

We can’t mention this new addition to our asset base without citing the financial support we received from a Covid Resilience Bounce Back Grant towards the cost of the machine. This was thanks to Make UK making us aware of the funding opportunity by posting about it on their LinkedIn page – so thank you to them for sharing news that in reality, should have come from our local LEP or Chamber!

Our new Pinacho CNC lathe increases both the scope and volume of the projects we can undertake, so while these-bounce back grants are modest in value, it goes to show what a real difference they can make when used strategically to support investments in plant and machinery.

Find Out More

To find out more about the wide variety of machinery, technology and CNC equipment we use within our machining, or to discuss a project with one of our engineers, please give us a call today, or send us any questions through to our online contact form.

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.

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1) Less Room For Human Error

CNC machining is a skilled business and requires training, experience, and intuition on the part of design engineers and machine operators. Nevertheless, the process involves far less manual involvement than previous machining techniques before the introduction of CNC – and with this comes less room for human error. With the aid of CNC machines, engineers can manufacture complex designs in less time, with fewer errors than ever before, lowering the price of precision engineering and enabling faster turnaround times.

2) Reduced Waste

CNC-produced parts can be produced to tighter tolerances, using less raw materials, than their hand-machined counterparts. This reduces the waste material associated with each part, with cost savings that can quickly add up over large production runs. Computer aided manufacturing enables engineers to determine the best angles and cuts in advance, before sending the most efficient coordinates to the CNC lathe – completely removing trial and error from the process.

3) Greater Efficiency

Due to its high level of automation, CNC machining can produce a larger number of complex components and parts, in a shorter amount of time, than manual machining. Businesses that use CNC machining require fewer machines and fewer staff to deliver the same output, leading to reduced production costs, and a faster rate of production. This produces valuable savings that reduces the overall cost of manufacturing.

4) Lower Labour And Energy Costs

Because CNC machining involves less human input, the process is less intensive in the number of person-hours it takes to produce each part. The latest generation of CNC equipment is also highly energy efficient, capable of operating at a fraction of the cost of older models. When added to greater efficiency and accuracy, and lower materials costs, these factors directly affect the end cost of components and drive down prices.

5) Complex And Innovative Parts

CNC machines are exceptionally versatile in the range of parts and products they can produce, allowing design engineers to innovate with complex and non-standard solutions to engineering problems. This opens the doors to greater efficiency and output in manufacturing and enables large-scale production of complicated parts that were previously prohibitively costly to fabricate in such numbers.

Outsourced Bespoke CNC Machining From Hone-All

Bespoke CNC machining has the potential to save manufacturers a lot of time and money, and even more so when they outsource the process to a specialist precision engineering business, such as Hone-All. We work with manufacturers in the aerospace, motorsport, automotive, and hydraulics sectors to produce their custom-designed components at competitive prices and in the shortest possible time frame.

To discuss your project with one of our design engineers, or to request a quote, please give us a call today.

A wide range of materials are used in CNC machining, making it one of the most versatile methods in modern precision manufacturing. Most metals are compatible with CNC machining, alongside several plastics and polymers, and even certain foams. Your choice of material hinges on the purpose of the component, the environment in which it will be used, it’s stress load, and your production budget.

In this article, we run down the most used materials in CNC machining, providing applications for each, and introducing some of the advantages and disadvantages.

1) Aluminium

Aluminium is a soft, ductile, and easily machined metal that is suitable for a wide range of components. Its natural resistance to weathering and corrosion, and its innate antibacterial qualities, make it a popular choice for hygienic components in medical machinery, electronics, and aerospace engines. The relatively low cost of aluminium also makes it a cost-effective choice for large production runs.

2) Copper

Copper has one of the best levels of electrical conductivity of all the metals used in manufacturing and is a common candidate for CNC machining. The metal is easy to machine and conducts heat well, making it a popular choice for components used in heat exchangers, valves, cooling systems, and vehicle engines.

3) Titanium

Titanium is among the hardest and strongest of metals but is also brittle – making it difficult to machine in certain circumstances. CNC machining, however, has proven capable of shaping titanium into a wide range of strong, corrosion-resistant components used in aircraft design, medical implants, and motorsport engines.

5) Carbon Steel

Most grades of carbon steel work well with CNC engineering projects, with excellent machinability and thermal conductivity. Steel alloys are perfect for components designed for use in high-stress environments, including car engines and industrial machinery.

6) Stainless Steel

Many precision engineers consider stainless steel to be the CNC machining material par excellence, due to its unparalleled versatility and ease of fabrication. Stainless steel is used in dozens of industry sectors, from handrails to hydraulic cylinders, and has an almost endless range of applications.

7) Nylon

Nylon is one of the three non-metallic materials most commonly used in CNC machining and is relatively easy to machine. CNC-machined nylon components include rollers, insulators, and bearings, alongside various consumer products.

8) Polyester Ether Ketone (PEEK)

Polyester ether ketone (PEEK) is a ceramic thermoplastic used in several engineering applications, including connectors, sockets, piston parts, pumps, valves, and cable insulation.

Precision CNC Machining From Hone All-Precision

At Hone All, we offer a bespoke CNC machining service, using a wide selection of materials and processes, to deliver custom products designed to your specifications. To discuss a project with one of our team, please get in touch today by phone or email.

Precision engineering is now one of the most widely used techniques in manufacturing, responsible for manufacturing the majority of everyday items, alongside specialist and precision components used in engines, pumps, and machinery.

What Is Precision Engineering?

Precision engineering refers to any manufacturing process that involves a high level of detail or precision. It is therefore used for intricate components designed to carry out a specific function, usually within a larger machine or application. The components produced by precision engineering techniques are extremely diverse, but they have in common a set of demanding or tight production tolerances, and a low tolerance for deviation across production runs.

Precision engineered parts must be accurate and repeatable, which is why the advent of computer-controlled (CNC) machinery and computer aided design (CAD) has enabled an explosion of precision engineered parts across every manufacturing sector.

The marriage of CAD design and CNC production has enabled a greater level of complexity in precision engineered components, with tight tolerances that can be repeated over production cycles of hundreds or thousands of identical parts.

The Main Benefits Of Precision Engineering In Manufacturing

• Faster production cycles – complex parts and components can now be created in a shorter time, using accurate, energy-efficient CNC machinery.
• Longer component lifespan – The more precise a component’s design, the less wear and tear it will experience as it interacts with other parts within the application. This generates less friction and waste heat and means that precision engineered parts last longer, being less prone to sudden breakage, and needing to be replaced less frequently.
• Reduced production costs – modern precision engineering methods actually reduce the cost of components that used to be very pricey to create using manual methods and machinery. Combined with faster production and longer product life spans, a lower cost per unit reduces the overall cost of manufacturing and makes complex components more economically viable in a wider range of applications.
• Replicability – precision engineering is configured to produce complicated components to the same configuration over lengthy production runs. With a very low margin for error, even a slight deviation from the design may require the component to be rejected, so modern CNC machines are designed to be exceptionally accurate, with near-precise replicability over large production runs. This reduces wastage and costs, and enables applications to run more smoothly, with fewer errors and less energy expenditure.

Precision Engineering In Daily Life

Precision engineering methods and technologies are used in almost everything we use and everything we do including a wide range of consumer products, including:

• Refrigerators and freezers
• Air-conditioning systems
• Dishwashers, tumble dryers, washing machines, and other consumer white goods
• Green energy devices, including wind turbines
• DIY tools, including drills, planes, lawnmowers etc
• Stationary engines, domestic boilers, and generators
• Cars, vans, and lorries – precision engineered components are used throughout consumer vehicles
• Garden and street furniture, handrails, bicycle racks
• Computers and consumer electronics
• Jewellery and cutlery

Find Out More

At Hone-All Precision, we create precision engineered products for high-performance industrial applications, with customers drawn from the aerospace, automotive, hydraulic engineering, and medical equipment manufacturing sectors. We use a selection of advanced CNC machines and computer-aided design methods to manufacture unique components that minimise wear and optimise efficiency.

To find out more, or to discuss a project with one of our engineering team, please get in touch today by phone or email.

Few people foresaw the Covid-19 pandemic and, in a world in which global supply chains had become the norm for many businesses, disruption was unsurprisingly high. With many countries implementing lockdowns at different times, manufacturing hubs subjected to short-notice closure, and international shipping routes restricted, supply chains have suffered. Furthermore, unstable political climates have forced many businesses to evaluate their dependence on international suppliers and markets.

How Supply Chains Can Be Disrupted Suddenly

If Covid-19 has taught us one thing, it’s to expect the unexpected. The longer and more complex a supply chain, the more likely disruption will occur, particularly if it transcends international borders. Apart from pandemic disease and political unrest, supply chains can be disrupted by:

• Changes in material availability
• Safety concerns or accidents
• Extreme weather
• Shortage of labour
• Environmental restrictions
• Client indecisiveness or unrealistic expectations

With the effects of Covid-19 persisting, manufacturing businesses should consider whether changes to supply chains are justified, particularly supply chain length.

Will The Short Supply Chain Become The New Normal?

There is certainly a strong argument for shorter supply chains becoming the norm in the post-Covid manufacturing world. Supply chains that are less dependent on international markets offer some compelling benefits for UK manufacturers:

Resilient Supply Chains That Can React Quickly

In a crisis, it’s important that supply chains have the flexibility to respond quickly to surging demands for components or products. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to source large volumes of PPE from overseas, for example, resulted in insufficient quantities being readily available, until domestic manufacturers stepped up to the challenge. Short supply chains eliminate many of the potential risks of disruption, ensuring that manufacturers can upscale production at short notice.

Short Supply Chains Are Robust

Covid-19 has proven that long supply chains are fragile when subjected to stress. A disruption upstream in the supply chain can cause major disruption throughout. In the new normal, businesses will evaluate their existing supply chains and consider the benefits of onshoring, reducing their dependence on overseas markets that may be unstable.

Short Supply Chains Promote Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming more important in modern manufacturing, so shorter supply chains can help businesses to achieve greener credentials. International shipping causes the production of damaging greenhouses gases, while overseas suppliers may manufacture components using unsustainable methods. Switching to UK-based suppliers reduces reliance on environmentally damaging transportation and supports the use of sustainable manufacturing.

Ready To Shorten Your Supply Chain? Contact Hone All Today.

If you’re planning to partner with a reliable, experienced precision engineering specialist in the UK, speak to Hone All today. We offer an extensive range of professional services, from deep hole drilling and CNC honing, to tube manufacturing and trepanning for the oil and gas, aerospace, hydraulics, and medical industries. We understand the importance of effective supply chain management to reduce the chances of disruption, enabling us to deliver prompt and reliable services to meet the needs of your business. For more information, get in touch today.