Investment provides platform for continued growth

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 9, 2003

In a climate where more and more UK based industries are moving their manufacturing offshore, it is truly refreshing to know that some companies are actually increasing their UK production facilities.

In a climate where more and more UK based industries are moving their manufacturing offshore, it is truly refreshing to know that some companies are actually increasing their UK production facilities.

Amongst these is Rotalink, an ISO9001-registered designer and producer of a wide range of miniature AC, iron core DC and stepping motors, spur and planetary gearboxes, linear actuators, encoders, controls and associated mechanical transmission equipment.

In the past 6 months alone, Crewkerne based Rotalink has invested more than GBP 0.5 million in new machine tools and manufacturing plant to provide its customers with a faster and more flexible service.

Rotalink has established its success on forging close partnerships with global manufacturing companies for low-cost sourcing of common and higher volume components in combination with its own specialised design and manufacturing expertise to produce exactly what the customer requires.

With a very broad base of customers including several global companies with UK development facilities, Rotalink has found this approach keeps production costs and lead-times to a minimum and that its customers benefit from competitively priced products with a faster, more efficient turnaround from prototype to production.

From the recent investment, the star performer is a new Citizen M32, CNC lathe.

The dual spindle machine is fitted with a gear hobbing attachment capable of producing gears and components up to 32mm diameter.

The new 13-axis fully automated machine features servomotor controlled collet operation, work-piece ejection and magazine bar-feed; the synchronised control system enables fast, front and rear machining.

Using the latest technology means that typical setup times have been significantly reduced and whilst large quantities are often produced on the M32, small quantities can also be accommodated; so smaller production runs, design prototypes and concepts can be produced without high cost to their customers.

Another benefit of its UK manufacturing setup is Rotalink's application and customer support process that has proven to be extremely efficient and widely acclaimed by its customers.

Degree qualified sales engineers handle initial enquiries, directly visit the customer and continue with the project throughout its development phase and beyond to volume manufacture.

They work closely with Rotalink's design and production engineers and in this way, information passes directly between the customer and Rotalink without the costly time delays and potential communication problems that can occur when distributors or UK based sales offices for offshore manufacturers are involved.

The "complete solution" culture extends even further with in-house departments and processes covering coil winding, injection moulding, gear hobbing, soldering, terminating and final assembly.

Indeed, many of Rotalink's customers now specify their requirements well beyond simple components and are supplied customised assemblies to their exact mechanical and electrical interfacing specifications with delivery direct to their production line, exactly when they are required.

Rotalink's customised solutions include mechanical options such as spur and planetary gearboxes, flatted, slotted, threaded or internally tapped shafts, modified mounting arrangements as well as pulleys, leadscrews and other transmission components.

Electrical and electronic options include a wide range of control and drive options, encoder and tacho assemblies and specialised connectors supplied exactly to customer requirements.

Rotalink is confident that its blend of global partnerships and UK manufacturing expertise will continue to provide the platform for its continued growth as a world-class producer of miniature motors, transmission and control products.