The Tamworth-based work-holding specialist Brown & Holmes (www.brownandholmes.co.uk) recently supplied 59 fixtures to Cosworth’s flagship Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Northampton.

This was one of the largest single orders that Brown & Holmes has ever received; it included the supply of more inspection fixtures for the recently opened AMC.

Brown & Holmes received an enquiry from Cosworth in the spring of 2014 for hydraulic fixtures that were to be stored and managed on a Fastems 72-pallet system forming part of an automated machining cell.

Furthermore, the use of robots to lift components onto and off the fixtures during the wash part of the process meant that the fixtures had to be designed to provide access for gripping — and air sensing was needed to confirm the correct location of components following auto loading.

Carl Baker, Brown & Holmes joint managing director, said: “It was important to collaborate closely not only with Cosworth but also with other suppliers associated with the project. These included: Walter, which supplied the tooling; ABB, which supplied the robotics; Fastems, which designed and supplied the pallet system; and Matsuura, which supplied the machining centres.”

The size and complexity of this project meant that four Brown & Holmes design engineers worked on it full time during the critical development stage.

Mr Baker says: “We have a large in-house design capacity and were able to dedicate almost 50% of our design resource to this project. We were also able to apply our CAD capabilities to good effect, so that all parties involved could have as much input as needed before the final design was set and manufacturing took place.”

The fixtures were delivered on a phased basis, and the project was completed towards the end of last year. The fixtures are helping Cosworth to machine cylinder heads, chain case covers, sumps and cylinder blocks for three major car and sports car manufacturers.