Transforming our laboratory into a world-class facility

Our laboratory has always been a vital part of our integrated facility as we work to some of the most exacting quality standards in the world. Our reputation for quality has meant the demand for our laboratory has grown significantly in recent years and so we decided to bring more of its services in house in order to enhance our agility.

We began investing in machinery to enable us to prepare both a greater range and quantity of test specimens onsite and this was such a success that we decided to invest even more in bringing laboratory services in house.

We carried out a complete refurbishment and reorganisation of the laboratory so we could accommodate new technologies and improve workflow. Some of the state of the art investments we’ve added to this world-class facility include:

• New Instron 350KN tensile and 250KN tension/compression frames as well as a Leco 800 series multi-gas analysis unit for elemental analysis of titanium and other metal alloys.
• An image analysis suite with fully automated stage microscope and advanced image analysis software, enabling us to conduct everything from basic metallography evaluations to inclusion counts, grainsize and phase fraction analysis.
• A Struers micro hardness tester which has opened up additional test techniques for the determination of alloy depletion and surface contamination. It’s fully automated and can operate 24 hours a day, reducing analysis time.

In addition, we’ve also introduced a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) which controls laboratory testing functions. It downloads test data and collates reports in real time. This allows us to update certificates immediately so we can deliver even faster for customers.

Robin Jones, Technical Services Manager, said: “The investment over the last five years has transformed our laboratory into a recognised, world-class facility. It’s an inspiring environment to work in and we’re proud that it’s become one of the first things customers want to see when they visit our site.”

We will continue to invest in the laboratory so we can always deliver the very best service for customers and we’re proud to be setting the standards in the industry.