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Introducing the new Director of Engineering for Erodex UK ltd.
Erodex UK LTD is delighted to announce the appointment of Gary Smith as the new Director of Engineering. This position has a group wide remit for Change Management and Process Improvement. This will primarily focus on our Cost Per Part and Machining Divisions. Gary has extensive experience in the automotive, aerospace, and motorsport sectors. Gary Smith - Director of Engineering for Erodex (UK) LTD Throughout his career, Gary demonstrates a commitment to drive continuous improvement and lead transformation projects to deliver lean manufacturing systems. As a technically minded individual with strong leadership skills, Gary has a proven track record for improving performance and delivering outstanding results. He has effectively managed teams in delivering new products and manufacturing systems. This ranges from concept to full-scale production, and utilises methodologies, such as value stream mapping, visual performance management, and key performance indicators through Hoshin and policy deployment. During his initial weeks at Erodex, Gary will primarily station himself at our state-of-the-art machine shop in Darlaston, working closely alongside James Kirk, our Operations Director. This period allows Gary to observe and shadow James and gain an in-depth understanding of our existing processes and pipelines. Based on his observations, Gary has already identified several key areas to focus on during his first three months.These areas mainly revolve around implementing best practices, refining processes, and developing policies to enhance overall efficiency. James Kirk, our Operations Director, expresses his confidence in Gary's abilities by stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Gary to our team as Director of Engineering." This appointment signifies a significant step forward for our business, as Gary's expertise in strategy and policy deployment will undoubtedly strengthen our management team". Gary's CV highlights his strong leadership skills and meticulous attention to detail. With his strategic mindset and proficiency in policy deployment, he will be an asset to the management team at Erodex. We look forward to the positive impact Gary will make as he takes on this crucial role within the organisation. To all esteemed suppliers, customers, and internal staff, we encourage you to extend a warm welcome to Gary Smith, our new Director of Engineering. We are confident that his addition to our team will contribute to the ongoing success and growth of Erodex UK LTD.
Read Time: 4 minutes
June 8, 2023
ECP becomes Erodex (UK) ltd.
Strengthening Commitment to Customer Excellence Introduction: Exciting news is on the horizon for our valued customers and partners. We are thrilled to announce that our ECP (Engineering Carbon Products) division has officially rebranded to Erodex (UK) Ltd., marking an important milestone in our journey. This strategic decision reflects our dedication to providing you with an even better experience, combining our expertise and resources under a unified brand. Our Electrical Carbon Products division (formally ECP), has been supplying high quality carbon brushes to OEMs and the motor rewind community for over 50 years…..and with 95% of our orders dispatched same day we have built our reputation on reducing customer downtimes. Unifying Strengths for Enhanced Service: At Erodex (UK) Ltd., we have always prioritised delivering exceptional products, outstanding customer service, and unbeatable value. By integrating the ECP division officially into our brand, we aim to streamline our operations and create a more cohesive approach to meet your needs. This transition ensures that you will continue to receive the same high-quality products and services you have come to rely on, all conveniently provided under the trusted Erodex (UK) Ltd. name. Streamlined Operations for Unparalleled Convenience: Our decision to unite under the Erodex (UK) Ltd. banner allows us to consolidate our expertise and resources, resulting in a more efficient and focused approach. By centralising our operations. We can further optimise our processes to provide you with a seamless and hassle-free experience. This streamlined structure empowers us to continue delivering excellence while enhancing our service delivery and responsiveness. Unwavering Commitment to Customer Satisfaction: As we move forward as Erodex (UK) Ltd., our commitment to your satisfaction remains unwavering. Our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way, just as we always have. Whether you have questions, need assistance. Or require personalised guidance. We are here to provide the outstanding customer service you have come to expect. Looking Ahead: This exciting transition marks a new chapter in our journey, and we are confident that it will allow us to serve you even better. As Erodex (UK) Ltd., we will continue to innovate, adapt, and expand our offerings to meet your evolving needs. We are committed to remaining at the forefront of our industry, maintaining. 'The Leading Edge' and delivering remarkable value to support your success. Thank you for your ongoing loyalty and support. We are genuinely excited about this change and the opportunities it brings. Rest assured that you will continue to receive. The highest level of service and quality as part of the Erodex (UK) Ltd. family. For any inquiries or further information. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to provide the outstanding support you deserve.
Read Time: 4 minutes
May 18, 2023
Erodex celebrate 50th anniversary with £400k automation investment
Erodex Group, UK leaders in the design and manufacture of graphite electrodes, tooling and fixtures are celebrating 50 years in business by investing £400,000 in automation at their state-of-the-art graphite machining facility in the West Midlands. Celebrating 50 years 2023 marks 50 years in business for the family-owned firm, who are looking to the future with the purchase of an automated pallet loading system to work in coordination with existing high speed machining centres. As a result of the investment, the company expects to maximise efficiencies and output within a high-volume area of the business; creating capacity without the need to layer in additional shift patterns. In addition, the alignment of existing machining capacity with automation provides Erodex with a portfolio that it has previously been unable to offer customers, therefore creating new business opportunities. Investment into the machine shop will keep Erodex at the forefront for Graphite machining. The company’s state of the art machining facility in Wednesbury has been established for over 35 years, enabling Erodex to machine its wide variety of graphite grades into highly complex components for a range of industries. It has also been a key driver in the significant growth that the Erodex Group has experienced in recent years, following a £1.75million investment in new machinery in 2021. Steve Rolinson, Director at Erodex Group, comments: “We are very proud to celebrate 50 years in business, which is a significant milestone for the Erodex Group. “The fact that we continue to go from strength to strength as a business is testament to the fantastic, loyal workforce that we have here, many of whom have been with us for a significant amount of time. “Further investment in our machining facility represents the next stage of evolution for the business. Since the mid-1980s the Erodex Group has enabled our customers to benefit from the capabilities of our ISO 9001 accredited graphite machining facility, which is widely regarded as the best graphite machining facility in Europe. “Continued planned investment as part of our continuous improvement programme - including that in automation - means that we are well placed to capitalise on market opportunities moving forward and further reinforces our position as UK leaders in the design and manufacture of graphite electrodes, tooling and fixtures for the aerospace and IGT sectors”. Directors of Erodex Group Ian (facing) and Steve Rolinson Erodex investing in their employee's, with up-skilling and further training set to future proof the workforce. Alongside the automation investment, Erodex continue to invest in the upskilling of its’ employees; placing 2 Operators on additional CAD training and will continue this investment in people through the short and medium term. The company is also set to relaunch its’ apprenticeship scheme this coming summer, developing the next generation of engineers and further future proofing the workforce. Founded in 1973, the Erodex group employs 90 people across two sites in the West Midlands with headquarters in Halesowen alongside the Wednesbury based machining facility.
Read Time: 4 minutes
May 16, 2023
Erodex inspire the next generation with innovative VR experience
Erodex UK, specialists in graphite and graphite machining for the aerospace industry, have launched an innovative virtual reality experience to inform and inspire Engineering students at a local college towards a career in their industry. Over a period of two days, team members from Wednesbury based Erodex ran four sessions for over sixty full time engineering students at City of Wolverhampton College. The sessions were the first to include a new virtual reality experience, which enabled students to get a first-hand 3D insight into Erodex’s state of the art graphite machining facility, hear from a range of team members and more broadly, gain an understanding of the variety of roles available at a company like Erodex. The virtual reality experience was complimented by ‘meet the employee’ Q&A discussions including former apprentice and current Production Manager Ellie Emery, Engineer and Apprentice Mentor John Webb and James Kirk, Operations Director. During the sessions, students were also set a task to complete in small groups with the aim of enhancing their learning experience and providing more depth to their level of insight into real world engineering. This required them to inspect several graphite machined electrodes using digital micrometers, comparing each to the kind of exacting quality standards that apply across all components produced for the aerospace industry. Students were then informed of the apprenticeship roles available this summer at Erodex, with those interested in learning more being invited to apply for work experience placements with the company. James Kirk, Operations Director at Erodex comments: “Like so many engineering firms Erodex are looking to the next generation to future proof our workforce. 2023 sees the relaunch of our apprenticeship scheme, something which we are committed to making sure is best in class. “We want the best young engineering talent to aspire to work for us and we understand that for that to happen we need comprehensive local outreach to raise our brand awareness as a good employer and a top choice for engineering apprenticeships. “The time commitment to deliver these sessions is considerable, so we wanted to ensure that we created a memorable and informative experience for the students – many of whom are now fully aware of what we do, who we do it for and how they could be the engineers of the future with us”. Daniel Degg, Head of Employer Engagement & Business Development at City of Wolverhampton College adds: “We are delighted to have hosted Erodex for these educational sessions and for our students to be able to access them. The virtual reality experience is very innovative, and we are pleased to be able to utilise this technology to engage and inspire students. “As a college, it is important that we give our students an insight into what working within engineering is like and the range of opportunities available to them. This was not only a fantastic way of achieving that but the variety of activities within the sessions ensured that the students we always engaged and had multiple opportunities to learn. “It is also important for members of our teaching staff to gain a better understanding of local companies like Erodex and the industries in which they work, as we are now more able to advise students moving forward”. This summer Erodex will be taking on two Apprentice Engineering Technicians within its’ graphite machining facility in Wednesbury, West Midlands. The company expects their Apprenticeship scheme to expand significantly within the coming years covering a range of roles across both the machining facility and the company’s HQ in Halesowen. James Kirk concludes: “Overall we were delighted with how well the VR sessions were received. We acknowledge that for SME’s like us to compete for young engineering talent we need to differentiate and innovate, as evidenced by this project. We expect to expand on this activity moving forward, potentially opening the opportunities up to deliver sessions in local high schools as well as colleges. “To achieve this, we are fortunate to have the ongoing support of two specialised organisations, Digital Gap - who created the VR experience and Next Gen Makers, whose Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme we are following to benchmark our approach and ensure our apprenticeship scheme is best in class as it scales”.
Read Time: 4 minutes
May 11, 2023
Are you ready to start your career in engineering? Apprenticeships with the Erodex Group
Are you ready to start your career in engineering? Do you want to learn from the best, most experienced engineers, earning while you’re learning, at Europe’s biggest state-of-the-art machine shop? Are you looking for a company that’s passionate about putting young talent at the forefront of their workforce, encouraging the next generation of engineers? If you answered yes to the above, then you’re in the right place. Who is Erodex? Watch our video below for a brief overview of Erodex. Erodex – The leading edge for apprenticeships. At Erodex, we strive to maintain the leading edge in everything we do, and that includes our apprenticeship scheme. An apprentice joining Erodex can benefit from the following. A competitive salary Career support and finding the right route for you Investment in your training and development Working towards professional qualifications Learning new skills from real work experience Yearly incremental salary increases Learning from world class colleagues Making friends for life If you want to earn while you learn, we pay more than the national minimum wage, and during your first year, you can expect to earn £6 per hour, with gradual increases in line with age, skills and national minimum wage across year 2.We aim to develop your skills, and offer the best workplace experience we can in order to home grow talent that we can retain, once the apprenticeship is complete. What types of apprenticeships are available to you? We offer apprenticeships in multiple disciplines across Erodex sites. Here, you can hear from some of our past apprentices and their career journey So how do apprenticeships work? As an apprentice, you are a paid employee at Erodex.Most of your time will be spent with us learning in our world class machining facility and supporting departments.In year one, you will spend two days per week at college, developing your understanding of engineering via a mix of classroom and workshop learning as you work towards your professional qualification.From year two onwards, you will spend one day per week at college and the rest of your week back with us within the business.Erodex apprenticeships start at level 3 (A-Level equivalent) which lasts for a minimum of three years.We also offer progression up to degree level as part of our apprenticeship scheme for the right individuals and based on your chosen role within the business. Our commitment to you At Erodex we are serious about apprenticeships.In return for your hard work and commitment, we provide you with world class training, education, and life experiences.We are committed to providing a great apprentice experience for our apprentices.That’s why we are pursuing accreditation for the Make UK Engineering Apprenticeships: Employer Kitemark through Next Gen Makers, which recognises excellent employers of engineering apprentices in the UK.This means that you know that when you choose an Erodex apprenticeship, you’re choosing a company that cares about you. Apply now! We have two fantastic apprenticeships this year, the vacancies are:Apprentice Engineering Technician (CNC Machinist)Apprentice Engineering Technician (Grinding)For more information on these positions, or to apply, please contact deborah@nextgenmakers.co.uk
Read Time: 8 minutes
March 6, 2023
Blog: Our EDM Industry view – w/ Andrew McFarlane, Sales Manager Erodex UK
We are now past the halfway mark of 2022, so we thought the time was right to check in with Andrew McFarlane, Erodex UK Sales Manager, to get his latest view of the EDM industry and more specifically, how Erodex are helping customers gain the leading edge.With multiple new product launches, the development of partnerships with customers to assist with cost per part reduction and even new website launches, there’s lots of ground to cover.Here, we get Andy’s top five updates: 1 - New website launched for Fast Hole Tubing www.fastholetubing.com A dedicated destination for 100% Flow Tested Precision Tubing for Fast Hole Drilling. Brass and Copper tubes manufactured to the highest level of quality 100% flow tested Cleaned and dried before packaging to ensure freedom from oxidation and blockages. Available in any size over 0.1mm/0.00391 Inches OD and up to 900mm/35.433 Inches in length Qualified by aerospace primes and machine tools manufacturers worldwide. 2 - Performance up, costs down with Betterbrass Erodex stock an unbeatable range of EDM wire, enabling us to provide the perfect solution for your application. Using our experience and expert engineers, we work closely with you to ensure optimum performance is achieved.Most recently, our customers have been hugely impressed with the performance of Betterbrass, a next generation special alloy brass wire from Bedra (Berkenhoff) Germany.Customers are experiencing less downtime due to fewer wire breaks, better threading and reduced cycle time - sometimes up to 20% depending on the machine and the operator. 3 - Erodex supporting customers with ‘cost per part reduction’ Erodex have been supporting customers within the Aerospace and Industrial Gas Turbine sectors with a ‘cost per part reduction’ program focused on EDM Die Sink. This has involved partnering with customers who can then leverage the expertise of Erodex Engineers to make EDM processes more efficient, increase productivity, reduce scrap parts and reduce cycle times.At a time where cost down is all important, we know that we can help customers achieve that goal.Working in partnership with our customers, we look at the volume, size of parts, the machine, and what the company wants to achieve, and have been able to identify and help to implement bespoke turnkey solutions for each, optimising their end to end process. To date, this has included redesigning fixtures, tooling holders and advising on electrode redesign.Such solutions have enabled customers to reduce the number of machines required to produce a part, reduce setup times, increase ‘right first time’ and significantly decreasing cycle times by switching from copper to graphite. 4 - Right Graphite choices also leading to reduced energy consumption Working with customers, we have found that if a company is using a competitors grade of graphite they may need to make 2 or 3 electrodes to sink the part, whereas by switching to Poco for example, they could reduce the number of electrodes that they make and still get the same number of cavities sunk.If a company can reduce say 2-3 hours off electrode manufacture, they will benefit from lower machining costs and consequently they will reduce energy and other associated costs for that part. During a period where energy prices are at an all-time high, this benefit - whilst secondary to increased productivity - has been met with a positive response. 5 - Additional new products launching Erodex continues to build on our market leading choice of EDM consumables with more new product introductions.Keep an eye out soon for new product updates such as clamping rails for wire EDM machines, starter packs for work-holding and electrode holding for Die Sink machines.