The facility employs a Make Like Production concept, which was pioneered by the Warwick Manufacturing Group, producing castings for early-stage development parts that behave as a production component would.
This enables extensive vehicle testing and validation to be completed, even though production line materials and manufacturing processes may be very different. It provides a vital cost and time advantage to vehicle manufacturers seeking to bring new models, packed with latest technologies and materials, to market quickly and efficiently.
“Casting of prototype components traditionally bared little semblance to final parts, but our Make Like Production mantra brings the prototyping process right up to date and in line with the fast-moving automotive industry’s requirements,” explained James Grainger, Grainger & Worrall director. “Now, prototype component performance characteristics can mimic those of production parts even in intensive test conditions. CT technology provides the fastest and most comprehensive opportunity for evaluation of material integrity and overall quality control. This latest investment into Grainger & Worrall’s leading-edge facilities is testament to our commitment to growing proactively in line with industry demand for our casting expertise and brings our investment in CT technology to a total of £1.2m.”
The latest CT machine is an industrial grade 450kV Yxlon compact CL. As well as increasing the company’s throughput capacity by 50%, it also provides the capability to scan larger components of up to 125 kg, which can handle the largest structural components the company makes and reflects the increasing move to lightweight cast vehicle structures as well as drivetrain.
Grainger continued: “This latest scanner broadens our scope of work to include components that would have previously fallen outside our end-to-end production parameters. Increasing our capacity through the addition of a third CT scanner ensures that our components adhere to our own strict standards and provides customers with a reliable, proven source of castings even while demand for our speciality continues to intensify. Our commitment to Right First Time means we might well now have the largest industrial CT scanning capability in the UK.”
