Midlands Aerospace Alliance’s technology manager Peter Knight, describes how an Aerospace UP programme grant has helped precision engineering company, CBE+ take a fresh look at the electroless nickel plating process.
In a world where the push for automation seems to be almost entirely driven by the bottom line, it is nice to see applications where the introduction of robotics can also deliver other benefits including higher quality and more environmentally friendly solutions. A timely grant from the Aerospace UP programme has helped precision engineering company CBE+ to take a fresh look at an old process – electroless nickel plating.
Engineering supply chain solution provider CBE+ has recently completed the relocation of its five divisions together under one roof in a 100,000ft2 state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chesterfield. Relocating the Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP) division, formerly known as Nitec UK, was the final piece in the jigsaw which allows CBE+ to offer a full, more streamlined and efficient supply chain solution from a single location.
During this five-year, £4 million project, CBE+ considered the environmental impact of the business at every step. Investment included the installation of a combined heat and power system which captures the heat generated as a by-product of electrical power generation. This excess heat is used to heat the group’s ENP tanks, reducing the need to purchase more energy for heating and significantly reducing the company’s carbon footprint. The combined heat and power system installation, along with a number of other energy saving initiatives, coupled with the benefits of operating from a single location, means CBE+ has managed to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50%.
Click here to read more.
