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KIRKLEES BUSINESS NEWS The business NEWSpaper for Kirklees
Company cutting it with the jet set A COMPANY supplying cutting tools is helping the latest fighter jet take to the skies. N ow B r i g h o u s e - b a s e d B r u n sw i c k To o l i n g h a s achieved success in the BAE Systems Chairman’s Awards for its work providing precision reamers for the F-35 Lightning II. The company was one of 28 firms to win one of the top awards, which were presented by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes at a ceremony at Heathrow Airport. The annual competition attracted more than 3,500 e n t r i e s a c ro s s t h e U K , Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Brunswick won silver in conjunction with BAE Systems and the integrated manufacturing services team at Salmesbury, where components for the F-35 are made. Roy Gledhill, design engineer at Brunswick, said the company was approached by BAE Systems more than a year ago with the challenge of
■ AIR CREW: Brunswick Tooling managing director Paul Briggs (left) with machine programme operator Andy Bell (centre) and design engineer Roy Gledhill showing some of the tools made for BAE Systems and the F-35 (far left)
producing specialist reamers for use in the production of large bores of up to three inches in diameter on the F-35
machined Titanium frames. Said Mr Gledhill: “BAE Systems had been to a few other major companies, but
no one else came up to scratch. Now they came to us. “We did a lot of research and development and we undertook a lot of trials to find a way to ensure the parts could be made more quickly and 100% right first time, every time.” The team’s efforts reduced the time for producing each bore from three days by manual conventional effort to five minutes of reaming by integrating it in to the computer-controlled manufacturer of the parts. The innovation has eliminated all manual operations and is now fully automated – help-
ing BAE Systems to its target of being able to manufacture one F-35 a day. “We have saved them a lot of money and time,” said Mr Gledhill. “Potentially, this contract could lead to business with BAE Systems around the world. We have already supplied reamers for the comp a ny t o m a ke - 3 5 s i n Australia.” Brunswick, based at Birds Royd Lane, supplies cutting tools to the general engineering, automotive, aerospace and defence industries and to overseas markets including Europe and the USA.
Paxman keeps its cool on the export trail
■ EXPORTS: Richard Paxman is all set for the next major trade show
A COMPANY providing equipment to help reduce hair loss in cancer patients is hitting the export trail. Paxman Ltd, based at Fenay Bridge, will be exhibiting at MEDICA, the largest medical technologies trade show in the world. The move will promote Paxman’s scalp cooling systems to a worldwide audience. The four-day event, which gets under way tomorrow in Dusseldorf, Germany, is expected to attract more than 137,000 visitors. Paxman Ltd will feature at the Yorks h i re Pav i l i o n , wh i c h i s r u n by Leeds-based Medilink Yorkshire & Hum-
ber – an organisation dedicated to expanding the region’s healthcare technologies sector on behalf of regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and the government’s export support arm UKTI. Paxman Ltd produces scalp cooling equipment to reduce the risk of hair loss for patients undergoing chemotherapy – helping to improve their self-confidence and enabling them to retain their dignity. The company will feature its new generation of hair loss prevention systems, Orbis I and II. Orbis I provides cooling for a single patient and is suitable for a small chemo-
therapy suite or private bed, while Orbis II provides cooling for one or two patients simultaneously with each cap working independently. Paxman will use MEDICA to speak to current and potential distributors across the globe. Operations director Richard Paxman said: “Preserving self-esteem during chemotherapy leads to a more positive attitude to treatment and gives patients a rare light in a dark time of their lives. “We’re passionate about providing help to patients around the world and hope Medica will allow us to offer the solution to thousands more patient’s worldwide.”
INSIDE Back to the future THE chief executive of occupational health company PROHMS has returned to her career roots. Her firm has opened its new headquarters and a health academy in the former premises of motor manufacturer Brook Crompton at Longroyd Bridge. Sandra Babbings worked there 20 years ago looking after the health of the workforce. And her time there made such an impression on Sandra that she decided to make occupation health her career.
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Express delivery LOGISTICS company The Pink Link has taken delivery of an industry award. The Netherton firm has been recognised for high standards of customer service by Palletways, Europe’s market leader in the express distribution of small consignments of palletised freight.
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