Leicestershire-based Winbro Group, an aerospace manufacturer, says its partnership with multi-sensor metrology specialist OGP UK (www.ogpuk.com) has been a ‘game changer’ for delivering ‘right first time’ parts in the highly regulated industry.

A world leader in the design and production of machines and technologies based on non-conventional processes, Winbro (www.winbrogroup.com) specialises in producing the miniature cooling holes and forms in components used in the most demanding part of aero and industrial gas turbines.

These holes are critical in allowing internal airflow to prevent overheating during engine operation; because effective cooling improves component efficiency, this leads to reduced fuel consumption and nitrogen oxide emissions on today’s generation of lightweight low-noise jet engines.

Winbro first teamed up with OGP UK eight years ago and now uses three of its SmartScope inspection systems — a CNC 300 and two Vantage 450s.

Chief technology officer Andy Lawson said: “As Winbro’s advanced machining division has gained more and more parts, in both aerospace and industrial gas turbines, we’ve gone back to OGP UK for turn-key solutions.

"We’ve bought additional programming and help for parts that we weren’t necessarily familiar with, and OGP has been very responsive in that area. Ultimately it’s about the speed of inspection versus production.

"We’re able to take parts straight off the machine, and while the second part is being machined or drilled, the first part will go into the inspection lab, and feedback is given straight to the operator in less than 10min to control the process.”