Blog

12 Sep 2013

Five Axis Machining is the way forward

September 12, 2013
5 Axis Machining

Five Axis machining PRV-Engineering Ltd are constantly moving with the times and investing in equipment to make sure the company stays ahead of its competitors. Over the last 12 months, managing director Simon Jones has invested more than £1.25million as part of the overall development of the Pontypool based engineering company.

Through the acquisition of and constant investment in new technology, PRV has moved forward at a significant rate of knots with one of the latest additions to the company’s plant being a state of the art, vertical travelling column machining centre with full Five Axis Synchronous milling ability – the Mazak VTC800/30SR

What is Five Axis machining?

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5 Sep 2013

What is industrial spray painting?

September 5, 2013
Spray Painting

Spray painting was invented in 1892 and whilst it might not require the imagination of Picasso or Constable, it does need a high level of skill to do the job well.
But why do we need to spray paint machines in the industrial sector? Why not just leave the manufactured machines in their original state?

The answer is two-fold. Spray painting not only protects the customers’ machines against rust, but it makes the machines look good!

Six spray painting methods

Air gun spraying
HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure)
LVLP (Low Volume Low Pressure)
Electrostatic spray painting
Air assisted airless spray guns
Airless spray guns

The main variables that industrial spray painters consider when undertaking a job are as follows:

29 Aug 2013

Powder coating provides the perfect finish

August 29, 2013
Powder Coating

Powder coating is the process of coating a surface in which a powder material is applied using an electrostatic or compressed air method. It is also one of the most advanced techniques for applying a protective and decorative finish to almost any type of metal.

The process of powder coating basically involves spraying an electrostatically charged powder on the surface that needs to be coated. The charged powder particles adhere to the surface, forming a smooth, durable and uniform coating, with a high quality finish.

Many businesses, industries and consumers around the world speak highly of the process which provides one of the most long-lasting, colour durable, economical and high quality finishes. No matter which colour or texture you are looking for, powder coating can provide the right solution.

22 Aug 2013

Further changes to CE marking in the construction industry

August 22, 2013
Manufacturing, News, Steel Fabrication

What is CE Marking?

CE Marking is the conformity marking for products sold in the European Union and has been a common requirement on things such as toys and electrical goods for many years. It consists of the CE-Logo and, if applicable, the four digit identification number of the notified body involved in the conformity assessment procedure.

What does the CE mark mean?

By affixing the CE mark a person takes on responsibility for the conformity of the product. CE marking is a visible sign that the product complies with all relevant product supply law.Its presence together with the Declaration of Conformity gives the product to which it is affixed presumption of conformity with relevant product safety Directives. CE marked products are entitled to free movement throughout the European market.

The construction industry has gone through one of the most significant changes for a decade this year, when CE Marking of construction products became mandatory in all member states throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area. It’s also preparing itself for further change.

13 Aug 2013

Getting more from electric vehicles

August 13, 2013
Engineering Education, New Technology, Uncategorized

Electric Vehicles (EVs) first came into existence in the mid-19th century when electricity was among the preferred methods for motor vehicle propulsion, providing a level of comfort and ease of operation that could not be achieved by the gasoline cars of the time.

The internal combustion engine remains as the dominant propulsion method for motor vehicles, but electric power is certainly commonplace in other vehicle types, such as trains and smaller vehicles of all types.

UK scientists claim that by simplifying the power electronics they have developed a way to help Electric Vehicles travel further on a single battery charge. Lead by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) researchers have created a new material that they say can act as a more effective capacitor than those currently used in EVs, which require complex cooling systems.

6 Aug 2013

Design and construction of single storey buildings

August 6, 2013
Engineering Education, Steel Fabrication

Single storey buildings are by far the largest sector of the UK structural steelwork market, representing nearly two thirds of total activity.

These buildings are typically used for workshops, factories, industrial warehouses, distribution warehouses and retail warehouses. Referred to colloquially as ‘Sheds’ sizes vary from small workshops of just a few thousand square feet up to distribution warehouses covering over one million square feet.

Similar construction techniques are used in all of these buildings with Industrial type buildings usually having relatively simple elevations with metal cladding panels, either full height or down to a brickwork dado rail. Retail developments and other statement projects tend to have much more complex elevational treatments, incorporating various materials and features and using combinations of cladding panels with different orientations, profiles and colours.

29 Jul 2013

Subcon

July 29, 2013
News, Subcon Show

Subcon is an international show for the latest technology and the finest manufacturing services in the world dedicated to contract and subcontract manufacturing.

The event offers the opportunity to speak with hundreds of suppliers and discover new subcontracting solutions or manufacturing techniques you have never had before.

Subcon 2013 and Advanced Manufacturing broke all records with a significant 64 per cent increase in visitor numbers. The UK’s only exhibition of its kind ran alongside the new Advanced Manufacturing Show and The Engineer Conference. Organisers were understandably delighted that over the duration of the show, more than 4,100 visitors pitched up at Birmingham’s NEC.

22 Jul 2013

PRV Engineering – silver plating and busbars

July 22, 2013
Engineering Education, Plating Services, PRV Engineering

Silver plating is a practice that is done for a variety of reasons, on both individual and commercial levels. Companies will sometimes add silver to other metals simply to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the item. It is also often used as a way of increasing the conductivity of another metal, particularly in electronic devices.

New Plating Facility for Silver and Tin Plating

Here at PRV Engineering, we pride ourselves in the fact that all of the high precision capabilities we offer our clients take place and are controlled in-house. The new plating facility that we have invested in is another demonstration of our determination to maintain this policy, and in the process, to ensure the high quality of the finished products that we supply our clientele.

15 Jul 2013

PRV Engineering – building for the future

July 15, 2013
5 Axis Machining, CNC Machining, Expansion, PRV Engineering

Although the current recession has created difficulties in business, PRV Engineering has spent the last year establishing a platform on which they can confidently support their ambitious plans- 2013 is about building for the future.

CEO Simon Jones has invested £1.25million in the company over that 12 month period, primarily to increase the size and capacity of the unit from 29,000 to 38,000 square feet. As part of the overall development, PRV Engineering have also installed a state of the art crane with a 10 tonne overhead capacity. “These are exciting time for us,” said Simon, who confirmed that PRV has also returned to the construction industry from which they retracted several years ago.

8 Jul 2013

PRV – a one stop shop for Deep hole drilling

July 8, 2013
CNC Machining, Deep Hole Drilling

Deep hole drilling is beneficial across several applications and requires specialist equipment to maintain the straightness and tolerances. Oil and gas exploration equipment, armaments, aerospace equipment and engines are amongst the common applications for deep hole drilling and machining processes, and in each of these industries hole qualities are necessary for high-performance end products, such as landing gear that easily retracts. It’s a given that production requires deep hole drilling that is reliable, but accurate and time-efficient.

Five Axis Machining is the way forward

What is Five Axis machining?

Read More