Norco invests in CNC, kit cutting capability expansion

Norco Composites & GRP (Poole, Dorset, U.K.) has made a significant expansion of its CNC and kit cutting capabilities. The development will boost the composite company’s internal manufacturing capability and enable it to extend these services to external customers, meeting a growing demand for precision machining solutions.

To support this strategic growth, Norco has invested in new plant equipment and expanded its production floor space from 8,000 to 16,000 square feet. As part of this expansion, Norco is relocating its existing CNC Centre to a dedicated CNC facility in Unit 33. This increase in capacity ensures that the company has the resources to handle growing customer demand and accommodate latest technology advancements, including:

• Three- and five-axis routers and mills
• Multiple conveyor-fed CNC ply cutters for dry reinforcements, prepregs, glue films and vacuum bagging consumables up to 2,500 millimeters 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 coordinate measuring machine (CMM) functions
• Refrigeration for prepregs
• Vacuum press for core bonding and panel making.

Adding to this equipment, Norco is now able to offer a more 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 three- and five-axis milling, waterjet and wire cutting
• Kit development from CAD, templates or using Norco’s scanning and digitizing capability
• Complex surface flattening
• Reverse engineering and prototyping, optimizing material processes and developing subassemblies

Norco notes that this outsourcing of machining and kitting services offers customers cost efficiency, quality assurance, faster turnaround, stock management, resource optimization and capability expansion generally.

“Our recent investments reflect Norco’s commitment to staying at the forefront of composites manufacturing technology,” says 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.”

In addition, as part of the expansion, Norco has added 12 members to its team, all of whom have extensive experience in 3D printing and related fields. The new talent will strengthen capabilities in key areas, including business development, operations, engineering, programming, quality control and planning. Leading the group are Kelvin Brennan, Darren Dennis and Dan Whitelock, bringing expertise and dedication to ensure the success of Norco’s CNC and kit cutting expansion.