Cairnhill Structures, a leader in steel fabrication and part of the
Watson Towers group, has enhanced its production capabilities with the installation of its third Ficep Gemini system at its 150,000ft
2 headquarters in Scotland, marking ‘a new milestone’ in a partnership with Wakefield-based
Ficep UK Ltd that spans over 40 years. Cairnhill was one of the first UK companies to invest in a Ficep system and has since installed six further systems, including a CNC Endeavour and three Ficep Gemini CNC and plasma machines.
Cairnhill Structures serves sectors that include nuclear, rail, bridges, and offshore projects, and the company’s latest Ficep Gemini HD system is a complete plate processor solution for high-precision fabrication, and is capable of thermal cutting, marking, milling, grinding, and drilling on steel plate up to 200mm thick — plus bevel cutting.
Steven Hendry, Cairnhill Structures’ group managing director, said: “Precision and quality are non-negotiable for the industries we serve. When it came to selecting a new system to increase our capacity, the Ficep Gemini HD was a natural choice, as our operators are already familiar with the system. Moreover, this investment will future-proof our operations for years to come.”
Operating 24/7 alongside Cairnhill’s two existing Gemini systems, the new Gemini HD significantly expands production capacity while introducing enhanced tooling capabilities that include multi-pass bevel cutting, high-speed milling, and precision grinding. Furthermore, the machine’s integrated scribing system ensures traceability for every component.
Chris Berriman, Ficep UK’s sales director, concluded: “We are immensely proud of our ongoing relationship with Cairnhill Structures as it continues to raise the bar in steel fabrication. This latest investment underscores Cairnhill’s commitment to excellence, ensuring it remains a trusted partner for some of the most demanding projects in the steel fabrication industry.”