Andrew Hanson, from Somerset EBP spoke with M-CNC Business Development Manager, Leigh Howarth about the importance of the UK precision manufacturing and engineering industry.
(Andrew) M-CNC is a precision manufacturing and engineering company. Put simply, what is precision engineering?
(Leigh): We make components for a variety of industries and sectors. What they have in common is that precision is vital. We use the very latest and incredibly accurate measuring equipment to create complex components to within five to ten microns. Everybody knows what a millimetre is and if you divide a millimetre by 1,000, that’s how accurate, how small and precise M-CNC can work.
What type of components do you manufacture and how are they used?
Using designs or CAD (Computer Aided Design) models supplied by our clients, M-CNC make specialist components to their exacting specifications. One sector we are heavily involved in is motorsport and automotive, where we make components and gearboxes for vintage cars such as Ferrari and Bugatti.
We also provide precision manufacturing and engineering for the leisure industry. One particular client specialises in advanced technologies, which includes a range of jet-powered surfboards. M-CNC make the impeller pump housings for the surfboards, which form a key part of the jet propulsion system.
M-CNC have the capabilities to machine solid Seven Series aluminium, which is an incredibly strong, dense material. We’re also A9100 Rev accredited, which are the quality systems and procedures required to service both the aerospace and space industries.
The UK is home to a rapidly developing international space industry, which includes satellite communications, rocket technology, fuel technology, and communications technology, all of which require precision manufacturing and engineering.
Are there exciting career opportunities in precision manufacturing and engineering?
Absolutely. To give you an idea, the M-CNC team has grown from nine people to 32 people in the last three and a half years! Our biggest challenge is finding skilled people. Luckily for us, we’ve got a superb relationship with Bridgwater and Taunton College and we regularly take on apprentices. There are different aspects of engineering and we tend to look for machinists, but we also need programmers, people that understand CAD CAM and software.
What skills are you looking for in team members?
An analytical mind and being able to think ahead. We’re looking for bright young people that have fundamental core skills in subjects like science, technology, engineering and maths. We want the 16 year old that takes apart their skateboard, BMX or moped, fixes them and puts them back together. That tells us that they’ve had to plan or think about it, because it’s one thing to take something apart, but it’s something else to repair it and put it all back together so it’s in good working order.
Technology is certainly leading the way forward and people may think that manufacturing will eventually be fully automated. We have robotics and automation here at M-CNC. However, the technology is only as good as the person that’s telling it what to do. So you’ll always need skilled people to develop and operate the automated equipment and systems of the future.
