Expanding its suite of VISI software (
www.visicadcam.com) has enabled a medical-component specialist to increase its capacity by up to 40% — and dedicate the extra capacity to making parts to fight Covid-19.
Stockton-on-Tees-based XL Precision Technologies already produces components for respiratory devices, but it saw that existing customers and other medical businesses might need further support as the coronavirus crisis took hold. A free temporary licence from VISI enabled the company to start increasing its capacity immediately, after which it drew up an ‘internal capital expenditure request’ for the purchase of additional seats, which was duly completed.
Managing director Tom Graham said: “We had been planning a £300,000 investment in software during the next three years, but this emergency highlighted how valuable it is. It made us realise that if we had more seats of VISI, we would be even more effective in introducing new products. We had licences to allow three people to work with the suite at any one time, while I had six engineers who could use it.
“We are in steady production most of the time, but the Government’s call for Covid-19 product support led to a completely different set of circumstances, where customers potentially needed thousands of components within days of ordering them.
“Having the free 30-day licences from VISI meant that we could immediately dedicate increased production capacity to the new Covid-19 component runs. We identified the machines required, and because we have the appropriate VISI CAD/CAM software, our engineers were able to convert customers’ drawings to a proper CAD design and create laser cutting, milling and EDM wire machine programs.”