Shropshire-based SDE Technology (www.sde.technology), a manufacturer of pressings and assemblies, has signalled its intention to be a world leader in lightweight components by adopting a ground-breaking new process.

The company, previously known as Salop Design and Engineering, is the first in Europe to hold a production licence for Hot Form Quench (HFQ), a new forming process for producing high-strength aluminium parts (for use in the automotive, aerospace and renewable-energy sectors).

This gives designers the freedom to create parts that offer significant weight savings yet still deliver higher structural strength. In some instances, it can also reduce the part count from multiple components to just one.

Because HFQ lends itself to higher-strength aluminium, it is suitable for vehicle safety cells in the automotive sector; it has also been used to develop a prototype aircraft arm-rest.

SDE Technology’s CEO, Richard Homden, said: “This is a real game-changer for our business. Thanks to HFQ, we can now offer a lightweight solution for making complex parts in one pressing — reducing weight, time to manufacture and cost inthe process.

"You cannot form this high-strength aluminium in any other way, unless you use a Super Plastic Forming process. Even then, SPF makes one part every 15 to 20min, whereas the cycle time for our technology is one part every 15 to 20sec. It is a design and manufacturing dream.”

Christopher Greenough, chief commercial officer, said: “We are focused on how we can deliver lightweight manufacturing solutions that can help to solve a lot of industry’s current and future requirements.

"The Government is pushing hard for electrification and this is something that our technology can assist with; we believe it will be a big driver in helping to quadruple our turnover in the next five years.”