Steering manufacturer invests in the future

The Midlands-based manufacturer, which supplies some of the world’s largest OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), has made a series of strategic investments to maintain product quality and improve capacity.

Pailton Engineering has recently made a string of new investments, including a new 3D printer, a new robot welding cell and a new 5-Axis HAAS machine. These investments are part of a wider drive to ensure the company can continue to provide the quality and consistency it is renowned for, while at the same time enhancing capacity and building for the future.

The new machinery includes a FANUC robotic welding cell — a familiar piece of equipment to Pailton’s engineers. The company has used robotic welders for many years, as these machines provide a higher level of speed and consistency than manual welding. As well as refurbishing its existing robotic equipment, Pailton Engineering has invested in a new machine with a larger envelope, allowing its factory to produce a higher volume of parts.

The company’s design engineers will also benefit from access to a new 3D printer, which, when combined with their solidworks CAD software, will allow them to produce prototype products within a matter of hours rather than waiting for parts to be produced. Although this capability is not new to Pailton – having had 3D printing capability for over a decade – purchasing this newer model provides access to further variation in printing materials and prepares the factory for future projects and new product introduction.

A further boost to capacity has been provided by an additional new 5-Axis HAAS machine. The factory now includes multiple 5-axis capable machines, so the new investment helps strengthen the move toward increasing quality and capacity.