Norco Composites & GRP is pleased to announce the significant expansion of its CNC (Computer Numerical Control) and kit cutting capabilities. This development will not only boost their internal manufacturing capability but also allow them to extend these advanced services to external customers, meeting a growing demand for precision machining solutions.
Transition from Internal to External Demand Over the last five years, Norco has developed its CNC and kit cutting capabilities to support their internal manufacturing needs. With this latest expansion, they are ready to offer these capabilities to a wider market, providing businesses with high-quality, precision manufacturing services to help them achieve their goals.
Investing in New Plant Equipment and Increased Production Space To support this strategic growth, Norco has invested in new plant equipment and expanded its production floor space by 8,000 to 16,000 square feet. As part of this expansion, they will be relocating their existing CNC Centre to a dedicated CNC facility in Unit 33. This increase in capacity ensures that they have the resources to handle growing customer demand and accommodate the latest advancements in technology.
Comprehensive Equipment and Technology Capabilities
Our expanded facility is equipped with the latest technologies designed to meet a wide range of machining and kit cutting needs, including:
- 3 and 5 axis routers and mills
- Multiple conveyor-fed CNC ply cutters for dry reinforcements, prepregs, glue films and vacuum bagging consumables up to 2,500 mm wide
- Waterjet profile cutting
- Conveyor-fed abrasive wire profile cutting
- Solid Model Complex Surface Flattening
- Extensive CAD capability with the ability to process multiple CAD formats
- 3D scanning for reverse engineering and CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) functions
- Refrigeration for pre-pregs
- Vacuum press for core bonding and panel making
New Service Offerings for Material Outsourcing and Digital Engineering
Norco’s expanded capabilities enable them to offer a comprehensive range of material outsourcing and digital engineering services, including:
- Complex core and e-plate machining and kitting
- Cutting, slitting, and kitting of reinforcement fabrics, prepreg, adhesive film, surface veils, and vacuum bagging consumables
- 2D preform kit assembly of multilayer bonded reinforcements
- CNC machining with 3 & 5 axis milling, waterjet, and wire cutting
- Kit development from CAD, templates, or using our scanning and digitising capability
- Complex surface flattening
- Reverse engineering and prototyping, optimising material processes, and developing sub-assemblies
Benefits of Outsourced Machining and Kitting
Norco’s enhanced machining and kitting services offer significant advantages to their customers:
- Cost Efficiency: Known, controllable cost per build
- Quality Assurance: Consistent, repeatable CNC quality
- Faster Turnaround: Quicker build times and reduced waste costs
- Stock Management: Less ordering and stock holding requirements
- Resource Optimisation: Controlled labour costs aligned with real demand and valuable production space recovered
- Capability Expansion: Access to specialist skills and expertise to enhance your own offerings
“Recent investments reflect Norco’s commitment to staying at the forefront of composite manufacturing technology,” said Mark Northey, Managing Director at Norco. “By expanding our CNC and kit cutting capabilities, we can not only meet the needs of our internal projects but also offer these precision services to external customers who value quality and efficiency.”
Team Expansion to Support Growth
As part of this expansion, Norco are proud to announce the addition of 12 new team members, all of whom have extensive experience in 3D printing and related fields. This new talent will strengthen their capabilities in key areas, including:
- Business development
- Operations
- Engineering
- Programming
- Quality control
- Planning
Expertise and Leadership
Norco’s dedicated team continues to excel in delivering high-quality solutions. Leading this talented group are Kelvin Brennan, Darren Dennis, and Dan Whitelock, who bring exceptional expertise and dedication to ensuring the success of Norco’s CNC and kit cutting expansion.
Looking Ahead
Norco’s investment in expanding its CNC and kit cutting capabilities marks a significant step forward in their mission to deliver solutions to both their internal operations and external customers. Norco look forward to partnering with businesses that can benefit from their advanced technologies and precision engineering services, driving innovation across the composite manufacturing industry.