Craig Vickers, ARRK Managing Director – Europe:
We welcome 2025 with enthusiasm and energy. With resolutions, hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. One thing remains core to our culture and values though – to be the best we can for our customers and to deliver a range of solutions that are reflective and supportive of our clients’ product development and manufacturing needs.
We are always looking to evolve as a business, listening to our customers, suppliers and industry partners so we can position ourselves as the go-to manufacturing partner.
OUR COMPOSITES CENTER REINFORCES ITS CNC AND PAINT CAPABILITY
As we start the year it brings me great pleasure to talk about the excellent work that is taking place at our Composite and Engineering facility in Nuneaton. The team there have overseen the reorganisation and refurbishment of the facility, including the installation of additional CNC machines. Our large 5 axis 5m bed Edel CNC machine has also been fully refurbished by the manufacturer, ensuring optimum performance. Combined with our big Parpas machine, these two large bed CNC machines, are at the forefront of our offering of an exceptional machining capability. As well as new and updated equipment we have also made significant improvements to the facility: new roof, new security measures and more efficient use of the space – all combine to allow us to continue to support customers old and new.
We’re also enhancing and extending our paint capability. This has allowed us to offer an even wider range of paint options generating opportunities in some strategic sectors.
ARRK EUROPE – JOSCAR REGISTERED FOR AEROSPACE, DEFENCE AND SECURITY
Our membership of the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol and JOSCAR accreditation has also allowed us to engage with many more customers within the Aerospace, Defence and Security sectors. Collectively, the improvements we are making at the site and activities we are undertaking are opening more doors for us whilst also helping customers with their specific manufacturing challenges. There is a real buzz around the factory at Nuneaton and with our new direction and management structure, it is really paying dividends and setting the site up for a strong future.
ARRK EXPANDS ITS 3D PRINTING OFFERING
Our 3D Printing centre in Gloucester continues to support many leading businesses, large and small, with their Prototype and Production demands. Customer interest in our DLP service and the range of materials available continues to grow, especially as a quick turnaround, low volume manufacturing solution. This, combined with our long-standing capabilities in SLA, SLS etc is giving more and more choice to customers.
ARRK BARCELONA EXPERTS IN LARGE SCALE VACUUM CASTING
Moving further afield our colleagues at our sister site in Barcelona (Spain), continue to provide and deploy their expertise in solving customer problems with a vacuum casting / polyurethane solution. Their “can-do attitude”, combined with their experience and problem-solving approach, makes what is generally considered impossible, possible! They continue to rise to the challenge!
ARRK FRANCE STANDS OUT FOR ITS MODEL AND RAPID TOOLING WORKSHOPS
Our team at ARRK LCO in France continue to excel and meet customer demands. As well as providing a Prototype and Production service, similar to Gloucester, they are also blessed with a dedicated model shop and “Rapid Tooling” workshop. The specialist model shop team work tirelessly to make designers concept a physical reality, ready in time for that all important product launch or trade show. From automotive interior cabins, drones through to consumer products, they continue to deliver, that “Je ne sais quoi”.
LET’S MEET IN 2025
So looking ahead, building on some of the improvements made in 2024, we are excited by the opportunities that 2025 may bring. We are pleased to report that we will be exhibiting once again at the Advanced Engineering Show at the NEC later this year, as well as taking part at the Medical Technology Show in Galway Ireland and several others under consideration.
For those clients who find it difficult to spend time away from the office, our Tech Workshops continue to prove a popular option. Subject to your needs and requirements ARRK can come to you and host a workshop that is designed to inform, educate and engage with your team to tackle some of those manufacturing needs. This saves clients precious time and the need to send an army of employees off site for a day or two.
So forward into 2025 we go. Positive and hungry. If we can be of assistance with your next project, then please let us know and let us see how we can help you.