News & insights
With continued growth we are recruiting again
We have an exciting new role at Powdertech Surface Science as part of our ongoing investment in growth and development. We are looking for a coating engineer with the ability to cover a range of tasks using machinery and also hands-on precision work. This role is an important one in contributing to the company’s growth strategy through our flagship service ‘INTRICOAT’. The role reports to our Engineering Manager.
Powdertech Surface Science is an innovative company with an enthusiastic and mutually supportive team, proud of our leadership position in the industry. We have a culture of technical excellence, long-term customer relationships and a desire to exceed customer expectations.
If you are interested in applying for this post then please send an email with subject line ‘Powdertech Surface Science Coating Engineer’ and a CV to john.m@acqui-tal.com
Powdertech Surface Science, Bicester.
INTRICOAT powder coating for premium cycling indoor trainer
Powdertech’s specialist INTRICOAT powder coating service is used on the superlative Muov TiltBike from Muoverti; a lightweight immersive cycling indoor trainer. This bike tilts with you as you bank around corners, accelerates and brakes and lets you ‘shift’ between gears approaching gradients. Our services provided not only precision INTRICOAT coating for exceptional aesthetic quality on machined aluminium but we also advised on the powder coating colour choice and facilitated the fast turnaround of five demonstrator units.
See our INTRICOAT page for more detail.
Our longest serving team member,Stuart Corstorphine,retires.
We have said a very heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Stuart Corstorphine for 35 years of unstinting hard work and dedication to Powdertech Surface Science.
Stuart has retired, and this week in the main office we can’t believe that he will no longer be in that desk by the window. Stuart has always been here! With a degree in Biochemistry from Leeds University, Stuart joined Powdertech in 1987. Founder, Martyn Green, said that he could immediately see the potential in the twenty-something graduate. Stuart oversaw the installation of the UK’s first chrome-free metal treatment line in 2003, which resulted in commercial deals with the Jaguar Land Rover supply chain and other OEMs, which are still in place to date. He was appointed a Director of Powdertech Surface Science in 2007. Stuart will not have free rein for golf every day of the week though; for two days a month his expertise will be assisting us with one of our major collaborative research projects.
Instron testing equipment for TiZr coating
At Powdertech we are clear that our role goes further than providing exemplary aluminium surface treatments. We want to be certain that the passivation process we provide is 100% fit for any intended purpose, most especially when it comes to TiZr coating for bonding. This includes ensuring that the bonds achieved following our TiZr conversion coating consistently meet and exceed our customers’ requirements.
Analysing passivation process on aluminium alloys
We now have world leading Instron equipment as part of our testing suite. This is an electromechanical universal testing machine, able to perform a wide range of mechanical tests including tensile, compression, bend, peel, tear, friction, and shear testing. Tests are performed on all the aluminium alloys we work with, from 3xxx series up to 7xxx series, and in all formats, cast, extruded and sheet.
The results of our Instron testing enable us to work with our clients to help them to understand the optimal surface finishing pre-treatment process they need to take their bonding strategies to the next level, and to achieve repeatability going forwards.
The Instron 34TM-50 tests materials, components, and products in accordance with ASTM, ISO and other industry standards. It has a 50kN load cell and 100kN 80mm wide grips, with a thermal chamber capable of reaching 350C.
New website for PowderBond
PowderBond has a brand new website www.powderbond.co.uk. For bonding metal to polypropylene, PowderBond is more than three times stronger than structural adhesives, and quicker and cleaner. Our new PowderBond website explains all, provides technical test results and case study examples. Take a look and call us if you’d like to know more on 01869 248 218.
PowderBond used in the construction of the PACES platform. Image courtesy WattEV
New promotions to strengthen our team
We are delighted to announce the following promotions within Powdertech Surface Science.
Stuart Hutt is promoted to Manufacturing Engineer. He will be running key improvement projects to increase efficiency and capacity and will also play a key role in developing procedures for our exciting new customer products.
Robert Lyszczarz is promoted to Shift Team Leader. Rob will be supporting and leading the manufacturing team in driving the all-important production output plan.
These are exciting milestone within our business as we move forward with enhancements to safety, quality and customer experience.
Bring on the intricate
What all services in every walk of life should provide - a good deal of thought, planning, care and attention. We certainly understand that assignment with our ‘Intricoat’ service, providing masking and powder coating for exquisitely machined intricate products. The dedicated new facility is up and running and receiving compliments from customers and staff alike. Employ our expertise early in the design process and many potential challenges can be avoided entirely. The more intricate the better! We relish a challenge.
Proud to be involved with the new Range Rover Sport
We have secured TiZr passivation work on Landrover’s new Range Rover Sport. This electric hybrid model is the epitome of sporting luxury and is designed to deliver exceptional performance and efficiency in a hybrid vehicle.
An incredibly important piece of equipment
Timely action, on site, can make all the difference. The vital importance of having a defibrillator on our premises was brought home to us recently when a team member suffered a cardiac arrest. Mites are critical in such a situation. We were fortunate to have paramedics promptly on the scene and our colleague returned to full health but this was a wake-up call. We now have an AED defibrillator installed in reception and members of staff trained in its use. Such a small, straightforward addition to ‘office equipment’, yet one that could be truly invaluable for both employees and visitors.
We are hiring - Senior QHSE Engineer
We have an exciting new role at Powdertech Surface Science as part of our ongoing investment in growth and development. We are looking for a senior QHSE Engineer to work within our Operations team. This key role will contribute to the company’s growth strategy , with a focus on continuous improvement.
Powdertech Surface Science is an innovative company with an enthusiastic and mutually supportive team, proud of our leadership position in the industry. We have a culture of technical excellence, long-term customer relationships and a desire to exceed customer expectations.
Full details of the role can be found here.
If you are interested in this position please contact Phil Tyler by sending your CV and covering letter to the address below.
We look forward to hearing from you.
phil.t@powdertech.co.uk
Expert precision coating in a brand new Powdertech unit.
The recently installed facility for our INTRICOAT service is already improving coating control and throughput for our customers’ machined components. These complex pieces of engineering are guided smoothly through all INTRICOAT masking and powder coating stages in a brand new room created within our plant.
We are receiving increasingly intricate machined parts for precision powder coating, driven as ever by the pace of technological change, together with requirements for sustainability and end-of-life considerations. Powder coating is VOC-free and removable at EOL allowing the metal to be re-used, benefits which are becoming increasingly meaningful to customers.
Visit the INTRICOAT page to learn more.
Powdertech Surface Science appoints Phil Tyler as Operations Director.
We are delighted to welcome Phil Tyler to our team as Operations Director. Phil joins Powdertech Surface Science having overseen manufacturing processes and output in the automotive, rail and energy sectors, most recently working as Head of Manufacturing for Oxford Instruments Nano Science. This high-level technical experience across demanding sectors will be vital in ensuring that our operations are further optimised. From the processes we deliver to our automotive clients to the work we increasingly conduct for clients with complex machined components, Phil’s domain knowledge and understanding of the client base will be invaluable.
Phil said “I’m joining a highly motivated and dedicated team here at Powdertech Surface Science. There are many exciting projects underway and others in the pipeline so I am looking forward to being a part of, and contributing to, the growth of this innovative company.”
Phil Tyler, Operations Director.
Exclusive facility for powder coating work on intricate, machined components
We anticipate huge benefits for clients, especially those in the medical sector, from our new clean coating room. We’re gearing up to have the room and next door lab filmed as a virtual tour so that clients can see how expertly their components are treated. In the meantime, here’s how we built a new room inside our factory.
Looking forward to the benefits from our brand new specialist facility
Our new specialist masking and coating room within our plant is almost ready to go. Everything has come together, thanks to hard work from all concerned. Measurements all correct down to the last mm as you can see as the well wrapped oven enters the building. This new room will give us increased control over output in specialist intricate work and increase turnaround times for our customers.
Recruiting for two new posts - see this entry and the entry below.
In addition to the Operations Director position shown below we are also recruiting a Process Improvement Engineer to take on 6-9 month project. The job title says it all - work from our customers continues to increase in volume and process improvement is needed to enhance capacity within our plant. Our Process Improvement Engineer will have proven experience in analysing engineering production processes and designing and implementing change improvements. They will also need to be experienced in complex Project Management.
We are an innovative company, always looking for ways to help our customers with their technical challenges as well as continually improving our own systems and facilities. We are a friendly and supportive company, proud of everything that Powdertech Surface Science is achieving through great team work.
The position is advertised on a number of recruitment sites. Click HERE to see the full job description on one of those. (The CV Library). We look forward to hearing from you.
Growth at Powdertech continues
Many of our clients are in sectors which continue to grow and they need increased support from us. We feel very fortunate and in order to continue provide the highest possible level of service we are recruiting for a senior Operations Director.
This is an exciting role with opportunities to create a significant impact on our current business and future growth. The successful applicant will be someone who thrives in a technically demanding operation, has a flair for creating positive change and enjoys establishing organisational clarity alongside maximising efficiency. Our new Operations Director will be responsible for the day to day running of all operations functions, and for ensuring a culture of continuous improvement across those activities.
We are known for production excellence, engagement with our clients and their businesses and continuous improvement to exceed client expectations.
We are an enthusiastic and mutually supportive team, proud of our leadership position in the industry.
The position is advertised on a number of recruitment sites. Click HERE to see the full job description on one of those. (The CV Library). We look forward to hearing from you.
Joining in Car Body Engineering
We are looking forward to presenting at ‘Joining in Car Body Engineering 2021 – Detroit meets Bad Neuheim’, 19-22nd April, together with bigHead Bonding Fasteners. The presentation is an exciting update to LeanBonding - namely Lean BondingPP in which PowderBondPP forms easy, secure bonds between metal and PP. Joining technology is central to technical discussions within automotive industry as it transforms and embraces advanced mixed material concepts. Both the US and European conferences will take place virtually, forming an all-virtual Automotive Circle Joining in Car Body Engineering week, 2021. Make sure you are there to hear the latest developments.Register at https://www.automotive-circle.com/en/conferences/joining-conference-week
Investing in sustainability
Our solar panels may only be a drop in the ocean but if, individually, we can all keep a few kilograms of carbon dioxide out of the air, and a few bits of plastic out of the sea, collectively we can make a real difference.
Thank you to Harvest Green Developments for the installation and to Aerial Film & Photography for capturing the effort.
PowderBond as an enabler in EV manufacturing
This week has seen more press coverage of the Watt EV Company Coupe designed by Neil Yates. The vehicle incorporates a lightweight modular PACES platform for EV, referred to as bonded aluminium ‘skateboard’ and this is made super-strong and secure using our adhesive-free PowderBond system, bonding aluminium to PP in a single step and with outstanding results for strength, repeatability and reliability. We are delighted to be making a contribution to the revolution in EV automotive engineering and manufacture.
