Derbyshire-based Carfulan Group is making its technology available for sub-contracting work to help ease the pressure put on UK manufacturers by the COVID-19 outbreak.

OGP UK, SYS Systems and Vicivision UK – all members of the Carfulan Group – specialise in the supply and servicing of world-leading multi-sensor metrology, 3D-printing and optical measurement systems.

However, with businesses around the country hit by staff shortages and supply chain disruption, the three companies have made moves to plug capacity gaps by offering their technologies for bureau services.

In doing so, the Carfulan Group hopes to play its part in keeping the wheels of UK manufacturing turning — particularly vital at a time when many in the sector are being asked to urgently produce and supply medical equipment to help combat the wide-reaching effects of the virus.

Carfulan Group managing director Chris Fulton said: “These are unprecedented times and we are all facing up to the reality that life is going to be very different in the months ahead.

“However, we know from our experience of working with our 700-plus customers that manufacturing will rise to the challenge by applying the innovation for which the sector is renowned.

“It is important that everyone does their bit and we hope that we can do ours by sharing the expertise of our highly qualified engineers through sub-contracting services, ensuring that those faced with fulfilling orders and satisfying customer demand stand the best chance of doing so.”

A UK platinum partner for Stratasys (www.sys-uk.com/sub-contract), SYS Systems has access to the full range of professional 3D-printing systems at its Advanced Innovation Centre, with expertise in supporting industries including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, rail, military, consumer goods, precision engineering and composite tooling.

From the high-accuracy, multi-material and multi-colour PolyJet capabilities of the Connex range to the large, ultra-tough industrial-grade FDM material options afforded by the F900, SYS has solutions for every application.

It can work on everything from single parts or short production runs to large-scale projects, all backed up by superior levels of service and support.

Meanwhile, OGP UK’s (www.sys-uk.com/sub-contract) multi-sensor metrology solutions employ optimum-performance sensors and probes to complete the work of a traditional co-ordinate measuring machine, as well as a laser scanner and profile projector, with ultimate precision.

Detailed data about even the most demanding components and features is collected quickly and reliably by highly trained and UKAS-accredited engineers, giving comprehensive feedback and complete peace of mind in the accuracy of the results.

Using its technology suite in a temperature-controlled environment, OGP UK can help with dimensional measurement, component measurement, non-destructive inspection, first article inspection and gauge R&R on parts up to 0.5m³, so that manufacturers of precision parts can benefit from shorter production cycles and improved quality control.

Vicivision UK’s (www.vicivision.co.uk/sub-contract) optical, non-contact measuring systems cater for turned, ground and cylindrical parts, guaranteeing improved manufacturing efficiency, reduced down-time and increased productivity, through superior data analysis.

Using a combination of high-resolution video camera technology and light projection, its solutions deliver fast, detailed and consistent results, completing metrology tasks that were once reliant on the time-consuming and unreliable manual methods reserved for specialist laboratories.

Whether it’s diameters, angles, orthogonalities or thread pitches, coaxialities, cylindricities, axial run-outs or dynamic parallelisms, even the most complex features can be inspected quickly, down to the last minute detail.

By more readily satisfying the modern standards required to reduce noise on production lines, Vicivision UK is offering metrology services that empower manufacturers to minimise part non-conformance and deliver top-class products without fail, giving them a competitive advantage.