Left to right: Peter Henning and Jan Soderstrom (Quintus), Simeon Collins and Ian Griffin (Wallwork), Tom Walsh (Quintus)Bringing forward plans by two years,
Wallwork Group have signed for a second hot isostatic press (HIP) from
Quintus Technologies. This follows hot on the heels of the opening of its £10 million Wallwork HIP Centre, with Quintus completing the commissioning of the first HIP in the third quarter of 2023.
Group director Simeon Collins said: “Demand from customers for processing components in our first hot isostatic press has been astonishing. It is prudent to bring forward planned investment for the next HIP, knowing it will take most of 2024 to build and install. We hope to have it up and running by early 2025. Deciding to prepare pits for expansion during the first installation has proved right.”
Wallwork HIP Centre business manager David Loughlin added: “We expected strong demand from UK castings, 3-D printing, powder fabrication, and near-net-shape manufacturers, especially as the UK is currently under-served with hot isostatic pressing capacity. More surprising is the amount of international interest we are seeing from Europe and as far afield as India.”
Adding a second HIP sooner has many advantages for the business as it will provide greater flexibility in processing customer components. It will also allow better contingency during planned maintenance schedules. Improving continuity during unexpected business interruptions is an added benefit.
The second HIP will be identical to the first, operating at pressures from 40 to 207 MPa (5,800 to 30,000psi) and temperatures up to 1,250°C, and will also have the latest rapid cooling technology. The capability to offer increased cycle pressures at elevated temperatures, complements engineering advances in metal 3-D printing and more.
Signing for the new hot isostatic press took place at Quintus Technologies’ headquarters in Sweden in January. Wallwork directors Simeon Collins and Ian Griffin were met by Jan Soderstrom CEO and Peter Henning marketing and sales director at Quintus.
Mr Collins concluded: “A hot isostatic press is a major piece of equipment. Quintus Technologies is a world leader in this technology and we are pleased to be cementing our relationship with it by bringing forward this investment. Quintus are a key part of the success of the Wallwork HIP Centre, now and into the future.”