epm: technology gears up for the Aerospace Aero Engineering 2010 and Composites Engineering 2010 shows

Leading UK composites manufacturer epm: technology will ask visitors their views on how composites firms should best serve the aerospace industry when it exhibits at the Aerospace Aero Engineering 2010 and Composites Engineering 2010 shows next month.

The company, one of the country’s foremost suppliers of components to Formula 1, will be at Stand 210 at the shows, which it is attending for the first time as it looks to expand into aerospace.

epm: technology already serves an unprecedented four F1 teams, a feat made possible by it having aligned its production processes to meet its clients’ needs for high precision engineered components manufactured to meet extremely tight deadlines.

Its managing director, Graham Mulholland, says that it will take this customer-focused approach into the aerospace market and, instead of using the show to tell potential customers what it can do, will ask them to list what they think it should do instead.

By listening to the answers, he believes, epm: technology can then alter its processes to meet their demands and overcome the kinds of barriers currently preventing independent suppliers from playing a more active role in manufacturing components for the aerospace industry.

Mr Mulholland said: “To coin a phrase, we are not coming to the show asking what the aerospace industry can do for us, but what we can do for the industry.

“The full potential of how composite materials can shape aerospace remains untapped, because so many problems of producing composite components on a large enough scale are unresolved.

“We don’t currently have the answers, but we do have a can-do attitude that involves altering our processes to meet our customers’ needs. We are bringing examples of our high precision components to the show, but our main concern is engaging with industry leaders to find out what they are looking for from companies like ours.”

epm: technology employs 80 people and is based in Draycott, Derbyshire, in the East Midlands, which is home to one of the world's largest aerospace clusters.

The region accounts for around 15 per cent of the UK aerospace industry by value and employment, with an annual R&D spend of up to £300m and 25,000 workers.

Mr Mulholland described the company’s move into the aerospace sector as the next logical step, backed by a £400,000 investment in new equipment.

It has also cut 30 hours from its tooling process by micro-managing each job to the nearest hour in a bid to drive up productivity.

epm: technology has already worked on a number of projects in the aerospace market and as well as professional motorsport, serves the luxury car, defence, health and transport sectors.

It most recent project was to manufacture four sets of carbon fibre hands for the largest mechanical clock, in Ganzhou, China.

To find out more about epm: technology go to www.epmtechnology.com or visit Stand 210

epm: technology is one of the country’s foremost manufacturers of components for professional motorsport and is now looking to expand into the aerospace market.

Graham Mulholland, Managing Director of epm: technology