As the reshoring of technical moulding of components gain momentum, West Yorkshire moulder forteq UK has increased its production capacity by investing in two Sumitomo Demag high-precision IntElect 100 ton machines.
The company, formerly known as Mikron, is part of the forteq Swiss-owned global technology group.
The extensive product portfolio comprises precision automotive components, utility meters (gas, water, electrical and thermal management), as well as precision automotive gears and transmission systems. The highly automated UK facility has recently secured a number of new blue-chip contracts to supply electric vehicle (EV) components.
Serving predominantly Tier 1 automotive customers, supplying electric vehicle components is now one of the company’s key strategic business lines. This complements expertise in air suspension, actuator gears, engine timing systems and fuel filtration systems. Refreshing their portfolio of machines with the addition of two IntElect 100 ton machines underpins forteq UK’s strategic aim of optimising processing efficiency and supporting domestic manufacturing in the electric vehicle (EV) market. Overall investments by firm in recent years are valued at close to £2 million.
Managing Director of forteq UK Paul Wallis comments: “forteq UK is striving to realign its business in line with group strategy to ensure we maintain and grow our automotive business content during the market transition to hybrid and full electric vehicles. We are investing in equipment and processes which support this, while at the same time improving our sustainability and environmental impact yet further. In the domestic market we aim to support re-shoring programs, also offering capacity in larger machines which enables more local supply of bigger components. Our other niche products comprise 2k components, precise gears and over-moulded parts, all linked to high precision products.”
Demonstrating the company’s technical prowess, one of the new Sumitomo (SHE) Demag machines has been allocated specifically to manufacture 400,000 complex sets of gas meter precision components per annum.
The new contract, which commenced officially in Q4 2021, involves producing three very technical components on four cavity mould tools. When assembled, the components form a complex mechatronic valve featuring tight flatness and roundness characteristics, along with a threaded seal carrier, clips and living hinge to minimise parts list and cost.
Processing high performance polymers, machine exactitude forms a critical part of this application’s success, notes business development manager Steve Roberts. He expands: “Each element alone is complex with demanding flatness tolerances of +/- 50 microns where nearby features can cause distortion. This level of dimensional accuracy requires the most exact injection moulding precision to achieve the required quality and repeatability.”
The IntElect’s direct drive technology is designed purely for injection moulding. This means it delivers the accelerated injection speeds needed for accurate dosing and injection performance, prerequisites for tight tolerance applications like this gas meter valve.