Hemel Hempstead–based Micro-Precision Gear Technology has expanded its factory and installed new machinery, investing £2 million as part of the process.
Business is booming both for its precision gear component business and its high precision assembly service, with orders from motorsport teams and subcontract work for civil aerospace and military related hardware specifically highlighted.
The extension added another 15,000 sq ft to the company's facilities, taking it to 20,000 sq ft of factory space and 6,000 sq ft of office space.
The new machines include precision CNC Hofler Gear grinding machines and 5-axis S & T Gear Hobbing machines, alongside specialist measurement and finishing machines, all of which will be kept busy with orders from the UK and, increasingly, by international customers operating global manufacturing businesses. Indeed, the company is anticipating international expansion in 2012 and beyond.
Founded in 1978 by Terry Grubb, the company is an ISO 9001-2000/AS 9100-accredited manufacturer, providing specialised precision components to the civil, military, aerospace, medical, and commercial markets, including Formula 1. Apart from its machining capability, it also has non-destructive testing facilities, boasting aerospace Nadcap approval for both NDT and Nital Etch inspection.
Mr Grubb, managing director, says: "Micro-Precision has been in business for over 30 years, quietly supplying subcontract and make-complete engineering work to some of the highest profile commercial engineering operations in the world - from the latest generation of aircraft to Formula 1 cars. We have grown organically by providing an absolutely top-class service, and this has now allowed us to make this latest investment in new machinery and factory expansion in order to satisfy demand.
"As engineering production becomes ever more streamlined and tolerances and materials become ever more exacting, our value to our customers is on the increase, mainly because of our quality and our flexibility. If a customer requires just one part, manufactured to the same tolerances and put through the same test regime as a larger batch would, then we can do it. Low-to-medium volume production is our current forte, and having continually invested in the very latest high accuracy machines, we have always been ahead, in terms of accuracy and production economies."