Overview of project – Our client required an AS9100 Rev D CNC machinist to manufacture a number of parts for a large defence contract they had won on a 5-year basis. The 37 parts per vehicle require multi axis machining and range from 300mm x 300mm up to 2,500mm and are required monthly in batches of 5.

Problems client had – Fining capacity in one location with correct approvals and a variety of machine sizes, coupled with the experience and ability to undertake First Article Inspection and an organized delivery schedule.

How Cube helped / skills covered – We helped by implementing a new production management system that we designed in-house so that we could have full traceability, tracking the lifecycle of the process through to the delivery.

Outcomes – A commitment to continuous improvement through the use of machine optimization, implementation of jigs and fixtures.

Overview of project – Our customer invested in three new press lines to improve productivity. The new press lines offer the customers faster production speeds, quicker die changes and automatic die loading facilities. We were tasked with migrating tooling from the old press lines to the new ones. This involved re-design of the tooling to fit the new presses including, new electrical circuits, machining clearance for the new transfer mechanism, upgrading parking stops and adding cast and mild steel plates, where appropriate to satisfy the shut heights of the new presses.

In all 120 dies have been adapted and delivered on time.

Problems client had – Old machinery and technology did not meet current and predicted production demands. Breakdowns and sourcing replacement parts was expensive and time consuming a contingency plan to run dies in other press lines was the solution.

How Cube helped / skills covered – Using the full project management resource from design, manufacture, tryout, machining and inspection. Now our customer is doing production runs in between our adaptions so they don’t have to build bank stock which in turn saves them time and money.

Outcomes – We have 100% right first time success rate. Our customer is now able to insource parts more cost effectively and can mitigate the risks with any future plans.

Overview of project –The client manufactures dies in South Korea for a UK based automotive OEM. While commissioning the tools in the UK, several engineering changes to the parts were implemented. On the OEM’s recommendation, The South Korean toolmaker asked us to support them in the implementation of the changes. With a 24hr production facility we were able to work around the schedules of The OEM supplying them with round the clock support, without the need to send the dies back to Korea.

Problems client had – The time and cost to send dies back to the mother toolmaker was prohibitive to commissioning the tools at the OEM. This allowed our client to support TheOEM, while hitting their time and delivery for the updated tooling.

How Cube helped / skills covered – A 24-hour facility and reactive supply chain, with on-site design helped in reacting immediately to the requirement of both the OEM and the Client.

Outcomes – A new partnership between the South Korean manufacturer and Cube has allowed us to recommend then to other OEM and Tier 1 suppliers in the UK who they are now working with, using Cube to commission locally when home line commissioning is required.

Overview of project – We were commissioned by our customer to manufacture 4 off 4m multi stage transfer tools, for commissioning in Spain and Poland. The customer was working with a new type of material to reduce weight and increase strength in their component. The difficulty of the project was working with a new material to form highly complex parts. Throughout the project we were faced with many development issues which were not apparent on the pre-manufacture simulation. To overcome these problems, we conducted off line research and development which ran concurrently with the tooling manufacture. Once solved, the dies were commissioned and bought off by our staff on site at various European locations.

Problems client had – The main problem the client had was getting conforming parts when we were running at the required SPM due to the toughness of the material.

How Cube helped / skills covered – We were able to solve the problem no-one else in the business had come across before by developing offline from the tooling and having our team work closely with the customer, the problem was solved in time for serial production.

Outcomes – Increased experience in new, higher tensile materials when used on complex components.