The NDI Supply Chain 21st Century SC21 North Cluster visited Sheffield Forgemasters to understand their methods of SC21 implementation and the Continuous improvements department ideas and objectives for future. It was very pleasing to see the company doing so well and the team work and commitment of the employees to making world class products in a profitable production techniques. There has been significant investment by the company, many workers are shareholders, turnover is L100m. We visited the Northern Machine Shop which has recently been refurbished and this is where castings are finished machined and fabricated being manoeuvred in the sand pit. These are large castings and fabrications up to 350 tonnes. We also have seen the forging plant capable of working steel billets up to 200 tonnes, and with compression of 10,000 tonnes. We then witnessed a 96 tonne metal casting being poured for a new US defence contract which was officially signed off on the day.

http://www.sheffieldforgemasters.com/sfm/news/2014/08/sheffield-forgemasters-wins-key-us-defence-contract

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CHuzc6mzPw

Olsen exhibited at Risley Sellafield offices to display latest electric linear actuation solutions for Nuclear industry. With many new stations planned with many control valves, doors and mechanisms needing to be actuated Exlar is well placed compared with hydraulics to supply equipment for sub assemblies. Obviously on going disposal issues with hydraulic oil systems is not preferable and all electric technology is already used successfully in this industry. Exlar even have a dual stator dual feedback version of the GSX actuator for critical applications where redundant back up systems are needed.

This month the team visited an Aerospace networking reception at Australia house with Mr. Christian Becker from Exlar Europe in London. We also visited Farnborough air show and exhibition to discuss potential applications with various clients. The lunch and viewing gallery in the ADS pavilion was well received. Olsen is actively looking at developing a workable tested solution for landing gear assemblies for UAV's, also small and large aircraft platforms. Active flight controls, reverse thrusters, trim, etc are in some cases on new programs sometimes already actuated using balls screws with electric or hydraulic motors. Many of these products are currently life tested using Exlar GSX actuators and we are hoping once AS 9100 approved, we can supply our Exlar GSX integrated servo motor roller screw design as the modern volume solution for these applications.