Non-standard mechanical parts from catalogue firm

WDS is now offering a fast, problem-solving service to customers who require bespoke non-standard parts that are not in the WDS catalogue, and not available elsewhere

WDS is now offering a fast, problem-solving service to customers who require bespoke non-standard parts that are not in the WDS catalogue, and not available elsewhere.

The flexibility of the new service means that even difficult to obtain products, such as items manufactured from special materials, those with non-standard dimensions, hard or soft materials and special coatings and finishes can all be supplied on short lead times.

"The nature of manufacturing today is all about flexibility and response," says Jon Walker, WDS's Marketing Manager.

"Our existing catalogue range of over 10,000 standard parts satisfies these demands daily, by fulfilling over 90% of the supply requirements of designers, machine builders, machine refurbishers and maintenance personnel.

Now, with our new service, we are going a step further and attempting to satisfy the remaining 10%, which are more difficult because they are non-standard.

We are well placed to meet these demands: we have both the capacity and engineering expertise to produce virtually any item in any quantity, so as long as the customer knows roughly what he wants we can design and manufacture a new product, modify an existing product, or produce replacements for discontinued catalogue items in a short time frame." The comprehensive list of products covered by WDS's non-standard service includes items such as support and location parts, fixings, screws, knobs, clamps, indexing and positioning parts, profiles grips and levers.

Parts manufactured from metal can be supplied, soft, hardened, plated or in a range of surface finishes, including chemical treating for colour and surface texture.

Alternative materials such as nylon or colour coded plastics are also available and can be used to reduce weight or differentiate a product, adding to the finished appearance and perceived value.

The choice of materials under the new service also extends to stainless steel, brass and alloy where standard engineering steel would normally be the only option.

This feature will be of special interest to producers of equipment for the marine, medical and food processing industries where corrosion prevention and hygiene considerations are paramount.

The bespoke nature of WDS's new service, and the fact that it encompasses such a wide range of products, materials and finishes, means that it will appeal to the widest range of industry sectors.

Machine builders and refurbishers, in particular, will find the service invaluable.

The facility to obtain bespoke components quickly and to specification means that these OEMs can achieve their build aims without having to compromise on their designs due to lack of availability of the required parts.

The service also optimises upon WDS's current position as a major supplier to the metalworking production industry.

Since most engineering jigs have unique dimensions, WDS already provides a wide range of machined cast iron, steel and aluminium profiles in different sections and sizes.

The new service, however, makes any combination of material and shape achievable, allowing companies to order bespoke profiles for specialised projects or just to simplify their production.

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