Archive for Aerospace

Modern uses of 3D printing

3D printing (otherwise known as additive manufacturing) is the development of a three-dimensional object from a digital CAD model or an advanced 3D model. The expression “3D printing” can refer to an assortment of cycles wherein material is added, removed, joined or set under PC control to make a 3D object, with material being added together, (for example, plastics, fluids or powder grains being intertwined), commonly layer by layer.

In recent times, 3D printing was regarded as just for the development of prototype models. In recent years, 3D printing has become more accurate, cheaper, and the available materials scope of 3D printing have expanded to the point that some 3D printing processes are thought of as practical as a modern creation alternative. One of the critical benefits of 3D printing is the capacity to deliver extremely complex shapes or calculations that would be generally difficult to build manually, including empty parts or parts with inside bracket constructions to diminish weight.

An increasingly popular and widely used type of 3D printing is known as Directed Energy Deposition or DED printing. This process brings metal powder into a melt pool created by a laser. Parts are then created by an overlay of weld beads. This technology is suitable for the manufacture of large parts, and also allows other types of applications such as the repair of worn or deteriorated parts, the addition of features (for example the modification the geometry of an existing part), metal coating on existing parts (for example modification of part properties), and the creation of new materials from multiple metals.

Examples of the modern use of 3D printing or ded additive manufacturing include Orbex – a UK based company. It recently unveiled its Prime rocket which is powered by the world’s largest 3D rocket engine. The rocket is made from a specially formulated lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium composite and is printed in one single piece. As this new engine doesn’t have any joins or welds, it has advantages over other traditionally manufactured rocket engines. Another great example of a modern application of 3D printing is in housing. In America, the 3D printer manufacturer ICON – a 3d printing machine manufacturer – teamed up with New Story – a not-for-profit organisation – to build one of the first 3D printed houses. According to them, they will be able to build a new 800 square foot, single story house, within 24 hours using a portable 3D printer – and all for under £3000!

Why Choose Electroplating?

Electroplating is a modern form of metal finishing.  It is commonly used in the automotive, aerospace, medical, army and electrical industries.  It occurs by means of an electrochemical process when metal ions in an electrolyte solution bond to a metal substrate through electrodeposition.   The required metal component is suspended in solution, whereby a direct power supply provides a direct flow of current to the said metal component in the chemical bath.  This current provokes the ions in the solution to attract to the surface of the metallic part, resulting in a metal coating which covers the base metal thoroughly.

Electroplating Benefits

Electroplating is mainly done in order to enhance the performance and longevity of the component part in question.  Certain characteristics can be added to the part in order to create specific needs for the manufacturers.  These can include areas such as:

  • Lower friction through greater lubrication
  • Better wear, abrasion and corrosion resistance
  • Temperature and impact resistance
  • Improved conductivity
  • Improved solderability
  • Porosity reducing
  • Creating added strength and hardness to the component
  • Creating a thicker appearance to smaller or undersized components
  • Increased protection for EMI and RFI shielding

Common Plating

Plating facilities match base metals with a wide array of coating surface metal finishes.  The most commonly used in this field are copper, brass, nickel, steel and bronze.  In order to decide which surface metal is used to coat for the finish, the components uses are highly considered so that the manufacturer can get the highest performance and longest lasting component part electroplated.

As examples:

Gold plating is the perfect solution for electrical conductivity, heat protection and corrosion and can survive in a multitude of environments and temperatures.

Silver plating is commonly used in the electrical industry dues to its low electrical resistance.

Nickel plating is ideal for the chemical industry.  It protects against chemicals and is corrosion and wear resistant.

Copper plating is most commonly used in the automotive industry.

Contact Us Today at us

If you or your business are interested in plating, be it electroless nickel plating or copper plating or heat treatment which may require specialist assistance, then get in touch with us?  A Derbyshire based company, we are leading specialists in the plating industry offering a wide range of well-developed, tried and tested techniques which are high-end and also cost effective.  We have experience of working for many different industries, including the aerospace, medical, army and automotive industries, to name but a few.  We offer our services to the whole of the UK, Germany, France, Brazil and Holland. 

Whisky Sipping in Space Thanks to Plating

Due to inspirational Physics developments, it is now possible for astronauts to drink Whisky in Space.  The activity of visiting to space may be a dangerous one but at the end of each day, the astronauts can rest easy when they are assured that they can have a ‘real’ drink, which isn’t out of a plastic bag.  Apparently, this is one of the most common complaints from the International Space Station (ISS) crews that they miss their familiar Earth-like environment back home.

Plating in the Solution to the Problem

On hearing this, Ballatine’s therefore addressed this by commissioning an Open Space Agency team, led by James Parr, in order to create an innovative, microgravity glass which would enable the astronauts in question to enjoy a glass of whisky, just as they would with their feet on the Earth.  Ballatine’s Space Glass looks like a regular whisky glass but has special, particular features allowing liquid to enter the glass, stay in the glass and which allow sipping.

It has been studied for over a year as to how whisky behaves in a zero gravity environment by building a series of prototype glasses to test their theories.  The final result is something that somewhat resembles a Don Draper balloon glass but which is made out of 3D printed plastic and has a weighted rose-gold plated spiral convex base which sits perfectly in the holders hand.  Its weight comes from the 10kg pull magnet, giving the glass some inertia, anchoring it to the table when in zero gravity.  The base also contains a clever, one-way valve to fill the glass using a standard Ballantine’s whisky bottle, in order to stop the whisky from spilling.

Gold Plated Glasses

The reason as to why the Space Glass has been gold plated was partly due to the aesthetics with the gold plating matching the plating used on the astronauts’ sun visors on their spacesuits.  But the gold plating was also used because it is one of the very few metals which does not affect the taste of the whisky when in Space.

How does Gold Plating help drinking in Space?

When liquids are in Space, they tend to turn in to a sticky jelly, so to counteract this from happening with the whisky, a spiral in the glass creates surface tension which holds it down.  The side of the glass contains a helix with a small channel concealed inside it which picks up the whisky in a capillary action, pulling it up to a gold plated mouthpiece on the rim of the glass.  Why a gold plated mouth piece you may well ask?  This is for multiple reasons – Firstly, so that the astronaut can physically see where their lips are meant to be placed so that they are over the concealed channel exit point and they know where to put their lips.  Secondly, the gold cools the alcohol as it passes through the mouthpiece.  Thirdly, gold plating and not metal plating of any other kind, means that there is no nasty after taste left in the mouth of the drinker and the texture of drinking out of what (at the end of the day) is a plastic beaker, is concealed.

us and You

If you or your business are interested in plating, such as electroless nickel plating or diffused nickel plating, heat treatment or have a special project requiring specialist assistance, then why not contact us today?  We are Derbyshire based, leading specialists in the plating industry, offering a wide range of well-developed, tried and tested techniques which are not only high-end but are also cost effective.  We have experience of working for the aerospace, medical, army and automotive industries and offer our services to the UK, Germany, France, Brazil and Holland.   

Boeing up in the World

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The famous aeroplane makers, Boeing, have found what seems to be the “Lightest Metal Ever” known as microlattice.  This is a material which is 99.9% air!  Developed in California, it is a way for planes and even rockets to have their weight reduced.  This 3D open cellular polymer structure will reduce the amount of fuel a plane needs to use during take off, flying and landing.  Currently, Boeing are looking in to using this structure internally on their planes in areas such as the overhead compartments, under the floor and in other fixtures to create a modern internal environment for passengers.

Boeing and Electroless Nickel Plating

Researchers decided that the 3D open cellular polymer structure should be coated with electroless nickel plating, in order to give the structure the required strength, because the web of nickel-phosphorus alloy lattice tubes are only just 100 nanometres thick.  The theory behind using this new structure coated with electroless nickel plating is a lot more advanced in the theory of aeronautical engineering, so has not been trialed yet for space-bound vehicles.  However, it is known that it would be used for exactly the same weight saving reasons to go to space, but also because it has the ability to compress, too, which could mean that objects sent in to space could expand after launch, reducing cargo hold space.  More, evidence will be needed though, before this is trialled as part of a space-bound launch, but nevertheless is a very exciting move forward in science.

Electroless Nickel Plating

Electroless nickel plating as a high quality, cost effective solution for metal coating, elongating the life of a component dramatically, because it leaves an equal thickness metal layer deposit all over the surface of a component, no matter what size or shape it is.  It is ideal for use in harsh environment as it is corrosion resistant, rust is prevented from forming and does not chip or flake which reduces the cost and frequency of repairs and replacement needed.  Electroless nickel plating can be hardened up to 950vhn, is self-lubricating and is non-magnetic.  These are just some of the advantages of electroless nickel plating.  If you would like to find out more then you can find out more by contacting us, the leading suppliers of electroless nickel plating.

Contact us Today

us are experts in the process of electroless nickel plating (ENP) and have a friendly and professional team who are more than happy to help you with any query you may have at any time.  If electroless nickel plating is something you or your business would like to find out more about, then please contact us on our phone number, alternatively you can click here to go directly to our website.  Our website contains information about other services we provide, such as diffused nickel plating, copper plating, shot blasting and heat treatment.

Boost for Aerospace Industry with £1m Training Centre

The Aerospace industry is set for a boost with a £1m centre of excellence opening on the Isle of Man this month. The new centre is a joint project between the Manx government and the The Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster (IOMAC).

Red Arrows ejector seats are made on the Isle of Man

BBC news reports that according to government figures, the high-tech sector contributes 4% of the island’s economy.

More than 1,000 people are employed to manufacture a range of high-tech aerospace items, such as the ejector seats used by the red arrows.

Worldwide Civil and Defence Aerospace Project

A spokesman said the new training facility would support the “growing need for highly-skilled engineers in the thriving industry”. The IOMAC is established as an integral part of the UK aerospace supply chain and member firms support every current major civil and defence aerospace project worldwide. Made up of 22 firms on the island including RLC Ronaldsway, Swagelok and Triumph Actuation Systems, the IOMAC produces precision-engineered parts for use of the island.

IOMAC’s Chris Allen said: “Everything from landing gear, ejector seats and optic lenses are made here and have travelled as far as Mars. The age of the skilled engineers is high and this centre is very important for the future.”

Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

The cluster of aerospace firms has had enormous involvement in setting up the training centre and helping to create and deliver a three year training course. Courses began in 2019 but the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre will be officially opened on 15th October 2019 by Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children.

Electroless Nickel Plating Services

Here at us, we provide a range of metal finishing and metal plating services. Our high quality electroless nickel plating service is the perfect solution for critical high-end engineering items such as those used in the defence, healthcare, automotive and aerospace industries. For more information, please call us or email

The Importance of…Electroless Nickel Plating and the Benefits

You may be aware of Electroless Nickel (EN) plating, but do you know all about the process of EN and how it could help you in your industry?  This article informs you about the concentration ranges, the environmental legislation by which EN complies and flags up specific industries which it is now prevalent in.  Could Electroless Nickel plating help you?

Process This

The process of Electroless Nickel plating is autocatalytic – A controlled reaction between a nickel-phosphorous alloy and a metal or plastic substrate, without the use of electric current or other external electrical power supply.  The metal being used in submerged in an aqueous solution called a bath, during this chemical reaction.  An agent within the bath, normally sodium hypophosphite, acts as a reducing agent, releases hydrogen, which reacts with the metals ions producing a negative surface charge.  This creates nickel alloy as a deposition on to the metal or plastic substrate.  This method is a reliable, repeatable typical thickness layer which is known to prevent the need for post-plate grinding.  Electroless Nickel plating is often thought highly of due to its mechanical properties, stabilities and brightness which the plating obtains.  This process also provides superior corrosion protection, solderability, lubrication and wear resistance.  Due to these reasons, it has been widely used in the Automotive, Aerospace, printed circuit board industry and Military fields and can be applied to a wide range of base materials such as aluminium, titanium, stainless steel, copper brass and die-cast zinc.  This shows the usage flexibility of Electroless Nickel plating, thanks to its three phosphorus concentration ranges: low (2-5%), mid (6-9%) and high (10-13%).  It is beneficial to these industries because it helps them comply with specific environmental legislations, such as End of Life Vehicle (ELV), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), to name but a few.

Anything Chrome Can Do, ENP Can Do Better

Electroless Nickel plating is now a good alternative for industries, such as Automotive, Aerospace, printed circuit board and Military, rather than chrome technology – It is more energy efficient, falls inside the engineering requirements and reduces the amount of hazardous waste matter introduced into the environment in comparison to chrome technology.

Electroless Nickel Plating Company, Derbyshire, UK

Here at us, we are experts in the process of Electroless Nickel plating. To find out more about our Electroless Nickel plating and other metal plating services, please call the us team , email  or get in touch via our contact page.

Nickel Use in Rocket Engines and Aerospace

Nickel coatings are often used in the aerospace and aircraft industry because they are an effective corrosion resistant coating at high temperatures.

This means that they are capable of protecting airfoil components from abrasion and erosion by providing a surface coating that will allow high nickel/chromium alloy parts to be joined by brazing or welding, to produce nickel or nickel alloy components for space applications and to repair worn or damaged components.

By repairing parts rather than replacing them, they can continue to be used rather that scrapped.

Nickel and alloys of nickel are often used for space applications.

Electroless nickel coatings are used in the Aerospace industry for space applications:

  • Docking
  • Cargo bays
  • Rudder mechanisms of the NASA Space Shuttle

Nickel electroforming has also been used in the space program. It has been used to produce lightweight precision parts for rocket engines, such as:

  • Waveguides
  • Antennae
  • Bellows
  • Heat shields
  • Thrust chambers

High precision electroformed nickel bellows are widely used in the aerospace industry, as electroforming is often the only practical and most economical method. These parts are used for:

  • Flexible electromagnetic interference shielding
  • Metallic hermetic seals
  • Volume compensators
  • Temperature and pressure sensors
  • Flexible couplings

Whether it is electroless nickel plating, diffused nickel plating, or copper plating, the staff at us will ensure that you receive the right service for your industry. To make an inquiry or request more information, please visit our contact page at http://www.electroless-nickel-plating.co.uk/enquire-electroless-nickel-plating-corrosion-resistance-copper-plating.php

Record Orders for Britain’s Aerospace Industry

Britian’s aerospace order book has reached a record high after the success of Farnborough airshow. According to The Daily Telegraph, orders for British made commercial aircraft and engines have reached the highest they’ve ever been thanks to a boost in orders generated at the airshow.

ADS, the trade organisation for the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Industries have revealed that the total orders that UK manufacturers have on their books stands at over 12,000 aircraft and more than 21,000 engines. This is estimated to be a combined value of between £135bn and £155bn.

9 Years of Work for the Aerospace Sector

It has been estimated that these orders equal approximately 9 years worth of work for companies in the aerospace sector. Chief Executive of ADS Paul Everitt said: “As an important event for the global aerospace industry, we expected to see a peak in orders during the Farnborough airshow. However, the volume of firm orders placed throughout July was unprecedented; adding almost 650 aircraft and 1,100 engines an already robust order book.”

The Aerospace Growth Partnership

According to the chief economist at ADS Jeegar Kakkad, these impressive figures are proof that the government’s industrial strategy to champion aerospace has been a success. “Countries around the world are sitting up and taking notice of what is going on in the UK aerospace industry with the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) and thinking, ‘We can use the UK as a base to launch into’,” he said. “Countries are too, with Germany wondering how we have taken market share from them and the US looking at how we set up the AGP.”

UK Aerospace Industry Facts

  • Annual turnover of the UK aerospace industry – £27.8bn
  • UK share of global aerospace market – 17%
  • Number of people either directly employed or jobs supported by the aerospace industry – 229,100
  • Backlog of aircraft orders – 12,096
  • Backlog of engine orders – 21,094
  • Year’s worth of work at current levels – 9

Increased Sales of Aircraft Engines

A spokesman for Airbus said: “The Farnborough airshow was excellent as Airbus won 345.4bn billion worth of business for a total of 496 aircraft. This is particularly good news for the UK where the wings for our aircraft are designed and manufactured.

“Airbus sustains work for more than 100,000 people through an extended supply chain of more than 1,000 companies located across the UK, around 45 per cent of which are SMEs. The continuing strong order book helps to maintain the UK’s position as a European and global leader in aerospace.”

Metal Finishing and Metal Plating Services

As experts in a range of metal finishing techniques that can be used in the aerospace industry, such as electroless nickel plating, us are incredibly pleased that the sector is experiencing such a boom. It’s fantastic news for the future of the UK aerospace industry!

Pickling Stainless Steel for World Renowned Aerospace group Meggitt

As experts in the various processes of metal finishing, and often the company of choice for several aerospace companies, us recently took on a project pickling steel for world renowned Aerospace group Meggitt.

Meggitt PLC – Engineering for Extreme Environments

Meggitt PLC is a global engineering group specialising in extreme environment components and sub-systems for aerospace, defence and energy markets.They are a FTSE 100 supplier of aircraft parts, and they supply flight displays and wheels to both Boeing and Airbus.

Why Pickle Stainless Steel?

The process of pickling stainless steel is a metal surface treatment that is used to remove any impurities from the surface of the metal. This could be stains, inorganic contaminants, and rust or scale. Acid is commonly used to remove these surface impurities.

The Safe Handling of Hydrofluoric Acid

Staff at us used hydrofluoric and nitric acid to remove the discoloured scale from the stainless steel, and as you can see from the pictures, the process makes a huge difference to the surface of the steel.

Hydrofluoric acid is a really effective acid for pickling; although it is typically more expensive than other acids, the process of pickling is much quicker and it effectively minimises the base metal loss.

We had the exciting task of pickling stainless steel for a project located in offshore Brazil and were lucky enough to be chosen as partners in the project because of our expertise in the safe handling of hydofluoric acid, which is an integral part in the process we carried out for Meggitt.

Metal Finishing Services in Chesterfield, Derbyshire

If you would like more information about us’s capabilities with regard to metal pickling, pickling stainless steel, and our experience working with substances such as hydofluoric acid, please don’t hesitate to call us on our phone number or email us at .

Aerospace and Defence Set to Rebalance the Economy

Farnborough International Airshow 2019 takes place this week, an event known throughout the world for promoting UK engineering excellence and industrial expertise. Aerospace and defence industry leaders will gather at the air show to discuss new technologies and trends, sharing the very latest thinking and exploring new opportunities within the sectors.

The Hampshire Airport will play host to politicians, military officials and airline executives from all over the world as the global aerospace and defence industry meet to display and discuss the latest commercial airliners, fighter jets and drones.

Domestic manufacturing giants Airbus, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce will be in attendance. On the commercial side, airline executives will no doubt be tempted by Boeing and Airbus, looking for multibillion dollar deals, while Rolls-Royce anticipate sales for the engines that power the aircraft.

The Thriving UK Aerospace Industry

The aerospace industry is experiencing a definite upturn in fortune, with global air passenger traffic on the rise and the continued demand for new aircraft. Major aerospace companies have thousands of aircraft on order and have been regularly increasing the rate of aircraft deliveries. This is having an impressively positive effect on UK businesses too; the latest global commercial aircraft data shows that orders are worth an estimated £150bn to the UK alone.

This event provides the UK with an opportunity to make real waves in the aerospace and defence sectors, underlining its prominent role despite cuts being made globally. Paul Everett, chief executive of ADS, the aerospace and defence trade body, told the Guardian newspaper, “Aerospace sustains high-value long-term jobs in the UK. We help create a rich science base with the kind of high-skilled jobs that politicians dream about. Aerospace is unquestionably the Premier League of our manufacturing industries.”

Engineering Excellence

The success and appeal of the Farnborough Airshow owes much to the UK pioneers and innovators who have contributed to revolutionising the aerospace industry. The UK remains a significant industrial power in the sector, and a huge amount of the aircraft that will be flying, and on display, at the airshow rely on the advanced skills, manufacturing and engineering excellence of the UK.

Metal Plating for Aerospace and Defence

If you would like to find out more about our metal plating and coatings for use in the aerospace and defence industries, call us , email us at  or visit the contact page on our website to make an enquiry.

Significant Growth in the Aerospace and Automotive Sectors

In the last 5 years, the aerospace and automotive industries have reported significant growth, despite the manufacturing sector in the UK’s having declined dramatically over the past 30 years.

The Financial Times has reported that “Britain’s manufacturers are using cutting edge technology and gadgets to improve products and processes as the sector accelerates it recovery.”

Revival in Manufacturing

British companies have contributed to the growth in the aerospace and car making industries, leading many to believe that the future of UK manufacturing is in the hands of those that use innovative technology, or so called “advanced manufacturing.”

The Financial Times’ recent analysis of the Office for National Statistics’ has found that the British aerospace industry’s output is up by 60% and the automotive industry up by 40% compared to 5 years ago.

Coatings for the Aerospace and Automotive Industries

Here at us, we regularly operate in the aerospace and automotive sectors, providing a range of surface technology options which include electroless nickel plating, diffused nickel plating and other metal plating and surface treatments.

Electroless nickel plating can be used for a wide variety of functional applications and includes many advantages. Electroless nickel coatings are have excellent levels of hardness, lubricity and corrosion resistance. The coating is also able to cover components with complex geometrics and cover internal and external surfaces evenly.

We recently became approved suppliers for the aerospace company HS Marston Aerospace Limited. Our staff are fully committed to developing our services for use in the aerospace sector and are understandably delighted that our services are compliant with HS Marston’s quality standards and requirements.

If you would like to find out more about our metal plating and coatings for use in the automotive and aerospace industries, call us , email us at  or visit the contact page on our website to make an enquiry.

UK Aircraft Engine Blade Casting Facility Opened by Rolls-Royce

As experts in metal finishes and plating techniques used in the aerospace industry, we were delighted to read the news about the new £110 million advanced blade casting facility which has been opened nearby in Rotherham. Rolls-Royce have opened the 50,000ft² facility, which is expected to produce more than 100,000 single crystal turbine blades a year, including high pressure (HP) and intermediate pressure (IP) single crystal blades.

New Technology and Modern Manufacturing Processes

Rolls-Royce plan to open the facility in 2017, and it is estimated to bring 150 new jobs into the region. Matthew Hancock, who is the UK Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: “This new facility will house the most advanced blade casting facility in the world, and is a truly remarkable feat of engineering. Our aerospace growth partnership has put in place a long-term industrial strategy for the whole aerospace industry, and this investment by Rolls-Royce in new technology and modern manufacturing processes is testament to the ongoing strength of this sector.”

The facility will make use of the manufacturing methods that have already been developed within Rolls-Royce and at the Coventry based Manufacturing Centre. The facility will include automated manufacturing techniques, including integrated wax fabrication lines, 3D structured light inspection and computed tomography (CT).

Turbine Blades for Trent, Rolls-Royce and Airbus

The new plant will produce turbine blades which will be used in various Trent aero engines, Rolls-Royce Trent XWB, which will power Airbus A350 XWB. Each Trent XWB engine requires 182 HP and IP turbine blades, which are 10cm in height and 300g in weight, and undergo 200 processes before being installed. The blades operate at temperatures of up to 200°, and are placed in a disc that rotates at over 12,000rpm. The turbine extracts energy from the engine’s combustor hot gas stream, and uses it to drive the fan and compressors.

UK Based Metal Plating Services

Here at us, we provide a range of metal finishing and metal plating services. Our high quality electroless nickel plating service is the perfect solution for critical high-end engineering items such as those used in the defence, healthcare, automotive andaerospace industries. For more information, please call us or email

Facebook To Buy Titan Aerospace for $60 Million

Here at us, we like to keep up to date with all things going on in the aerospace industry. This week’s big news is that Facebook, backer of Internet.org, is set to buy Titan Aerospace.

Internet.org is a project which aims to make internet access affordable across the globe. According to recent figures, there are some 5 billion people without access to the World Wide Web, that’s a third of the globe’s population, and this project is set to change that. Facebook has partnered with Samsung, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera and Qualcomm to create data-compression technologies and cheaper smartphones to make browsing the internet cheaper.

Orbital Solar-Powered Drones 

Source:Titan Aerospace

Titan Aerospace makes orbital, solar-powered drones which are able to fly for five years without landing. TechCrunch have reported that Facebook are looking at buying the company for a whopping figure of 60 million dollars.

Facebook then plans to use these drones to provide parts of the world without access to the internet, such as Africa, with reliable internet access.

The first step is to build 11,000 unarmed aerial vehicles to blanket these parts of the world.

The models that are reported to be used are the Solara 50 and 60, which are launched from internal battery packs. They are able to rise to 20 Kilometres above sea level and can remain there with enough energy for 5 years. Capabilities like this make them perfect for regional internet systems. According to TechCrunch, all of Titan Aerospace’s production would then be for the Internet.org project.

As specialists in electroless nickel plating and the use of surface technology in the aerospace industry, it’s very exciting to see the changes and growth within the aerospace sector. If you would like to find out more about the use of electroless nickel or diffused nickel, contact us

us Are Now Approved Suppliers for HS Marston Aerospace Ltd

We are pleased to announce that we are now approved suppliers for HS Marston Aerospace Limited. HS Marston is a great company and we are delighted to have been approved as their suppliers.

Commitment to the Aerospace Sector

Quality Director Paul Allen said: “I am particularly proud of this approval as Marsden are a very well respected aerospace company. This approval demonstrates us’s commitment to the aerospace sector.”

HS Marston Aerospace Limited has been providing products for use in the aerospace industry for more than 90 years. Today, they supply a range of heat transfer and fluids management products for commercial and military markets. HS Marsden’s products are used within airframes and engines and on fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

Full Compliance with HS Marston Aerospace

The scope of our approval is as follows: ‘This approval requires full compliance with HS Marston Aerospace Limited, Purchase Orders, Quality Standards and Requirements for Suppliers and Subcontractors defined in Company Standard ME1019.’

Here at us, we operate in a variety of sectors and endeavour to provide the right service for each industry.

Whether it is electroless nickel plating, diffused nickel plating, shot blasting or heat treatment, we will work with your requirements to make sure that you get the highest quality service at a cost to suit your business.

For more information about our services,  call us , email us at  or visit the contact page on our website to make an enquiry.

 

Pickling Stainless Steel Components for Aerospace Group Meggitt

As experts in electroless nickel plating, us have taken on some great projects over the years, as well as working with some really fantastic companies. In the past we have been lucky enough to do some work for Meggitt, a global engineering group specialising in components for extreme environments and smart sub-systems for aerospace, defence and energy markets.

Removing Scale from Stainless Steel

Meggitt are a FTSE 100 supplier of aircraft parts, and they supply flight displays and wheels to both Boeing and Airbus. Our job was to pickle a stainless steel component for a project located in offshore Brazil.

We were lucky enough to be involved in the project due to our experience working with hydofluoric acid, which requires safety procedures that we are familiar with. Using this type of acid was integral to the process we carried out for Meggitt, therefore we were an obvious choice to help with it.

Hydofluoric and nitric acid was used to remove the discoloured scale from the stainless steel component, and as you can see from the pictures, the process makes a huge difference to the surface of the steel.The component on the right in this image shows what the steel looked like before the process of pickling, and the component on the left shows the finished result.

If you would like more information about us’s experience working with substances such as hydofluoric acid and stainless steel, please don’t hesitate to call us on our phone number or email us at . Alternatively, you can click here to visit the us website.

Boom for UK Aerospace Orders after 2019 Record Year

According to The Manufacturer, the industry’s leading publication of manufacturing news, articles and insights, last year was a record year for the aerospace industry in the UK.

The trade organisation ADS, who work to advance the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries,  have reported that UK orders of commercial aircraft have increased by 28% in the last year. This makes 2019 a record year for the aerospace industry, with orders rising more than a quarter compared to 2012.

According to the ADS, there is also now a backlog of orders for commercial aircraft, including 20,000 engines and 11,000 aircraft. This backlog of orders is set to keep the UK aerospace industry, and its employees, busy for approximately 9 years!

“Growth in the aerospace industry”

“These figures highlight the opportunity for growth in the aerospace industry and the potential rewards that British businesses could reap,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable.

He also suggested that by working together, the UK government and industry can make sure that the opportunities are optimised.

Mr Cable said: “Together we have committed £2 billion over the next 7 years to create an Aerospace Technology Institute to help us win work on developing and building the planes and helicopters of the future, here in the UK. The Aerospace Industrial Strategy, which the Government has developed jointly with industry, is giving businesses the confidence to invest in the UK, creating more high-skilled, long-term jobs.”

Paul Everett, CEO of ADS said, “Global demand for new aircraft and engines is generating new demand and opportunity for the UK aerospace industry. The Aerospace Growth Partnership and the government’s long-term commitment to the sector’s growth is making a difference and we must continue to maximise the value of this unique collaboration between industry and government.”

UK specialise in aircraft manufacture

ADS has predicted that by 2032, there will be demand for the following:

  • 29,000 large civil airliners
  • 24,000 business jets
  • 5,800 regional aircraft
  • 40,000 helicopters

It’s great news, as the UK specialise in the development and manufacture of some of the most complicated and high tech parts of modern aircraft.  ADS predict that this means a potential market share of around $600bn for the UK.

Here at us electroless nickel plating specialists, we are thrilled that UK manufacturing is thriving. The aerospace industry is a growing sector and there is so much talent in the industry in this country. Our electroless nickel plating services can be used for a wide variety of industries including oil and gas, aviation and aerospace, so it’s fantastic news for us too.

If you would like more information about our electroless nickel plating services call us , email us at  or visit the contact page on our website to make an enquiry.