Milltek Ltd, a manufacturer of performance exhaust systems, is investing in advanced laser welding technology as part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing its engineering capabilities. Dedicated laser bays have now been installed at both its Ilkeston and Derby manufacturing sites.
Kev Hall, Milltek’s technical operations manager, said: “We are seeing significant changes in welding equipment, and in particular, laser welding is a strategic enhancement to our manufacturing processes. It doesn’t generate the high temperatures of traditional welding methods, so there is less heat and potential distortion. This makes it ideal for more intricate parts, and it can dramatically reduce production times and cost while improving efficiency.”
This investment in laser welding is also allowing Milltek to upskill its workforce and create new jobs. Mr Hall said: “By providing comprehensive training in laser welding, with no prior experience required to master the technique, we can quickly bring existing staff and new apprentices up to the highest standards, equipping them with valuable skills and ensuring their professional growth in a short period.”
In the past year, Milltek has sold more than 16,500 performance exhaust systems, so streamlining the production process is vital to meeting increasing demand. The company has always been at the forefront of innovative technologies, embracing plastic prototyping and 3-D printing in both development and production.
These technologies help the company develop a new exhaust system more efficiently and use modular design to adapt sections. It means an exhaust system design can be modified from road legal to motorsport use while still complying with varying legislation around the world. Milltek still believes in rigorous real-world testing and buys development cars for 90% of its new-build exhaust systems. This ensures the correct packaging, emissions, noise, heat management and performance.