In 2020, as COVID-19 swept across the globe, there was a critical surge in demand for medical ventilators. Kirkstall Precision Engineering swiftly rose to the challenge, joining an impressive consortium, including industry leaders like Rolls Royce. 

As we wrap up the first quarter of 2024, I’m thrilled to share the journey and achievements of Kirkstall Precision Engineering. It’s been a quarter filled with growth, Challenges, exciting developments, and milestones that underscore our commitment to servicing the MedTech industry. 

Adam Thornton, CEO of Kirkstall Precision Engineering, sat down recently with Colin Martin Co-Founder and Director of Medtech Media Ltd, the organisers of Medical Technology UK to discuss the significance of the event for companies like Kirkstall Precision Engineering.

In the world of medical device manufacturing, precision and compliance are crucial. At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, our collaboration with Access FactoryMaster MRP is a key part of how we’re evolving.

In today’s fast-paced, digitally-driven world, Kirkstall Precision Engineering stands out by embracing a more traditional and profoundly impactful approach to business relationships through in-person customer visits. This commitment to personal interaction is especially vital in our niche field of medical device manufacturing, where precision, trust, and detailed understanding are key.

As we step into 2024, Kirkstall Precision Engineering is poised to embrace a year of significant growth and innovation. With a clear vision and strategic initiatives, we are dedicated to advancing our capabilities and reinforcing our position as leaders in the precision engineering sector. 

As the new year unfolds, Kirkstall Precision Engineering is poised to explore the bright prospects of UK manufacturing in 2024. This year promises to be a defining one, marked by significant advancements and opportunities that herald a new chapter in the sector’s evolution. In this blog, we’ll delve into ten compelling reasons that are shaping our optimistic outlook for the future of UK manufacturing. 

As 2023 draws to a close, we at Kirkstall Precision Engineering take a moment to reflect on the year’s journey, filled with challenges, innovations, and significant growth.

2023 has been a pivotal year for Kirkstall Precision Engineering. We’ve seen ourselves transform, adapting to the dynamic nature of the industry while maintaining our focus on quality and excellence. Our journey this year has been about pushing boundaries and extending our capabilities. 

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, our role extends beyond mere manufacturing; we are pioneers in the realm of medical device production, where precision, innovation, and reliability are paramount. With a rich legacy stretching over 35 years, our journey in this specialised field is a testament to our deep-seated commitment to quality, excellence, and innovation.

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, our commitment to these principles is embodied in our adherence to ISO:13485 standards. This internationally recognised certification is not just a badge of compliance but a testament to our dedication to delivering medical devices and implants of the highest calibre.

In the dynamic field of medical device and implant manufacturing, staying at the forefront of technological and process innovation is not just ideal but essential. Our recent visit to GF Machining Solutions in Biel, Switzerland, afforded us a deep dive into the current and future landscape of medical manufacturing.

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, we’ve been at the forefront of innovations in medical devices and implants manufacturing. Our continued growth and achievements in this area are a testament to our commitment to excellence and precision. As we look ahead to further solidify our position in the industry, we’re on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team. Explore our latest career opportunities below:

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, we are more than just a name in precision engineering; we are a dynamic force in medical devices and implants manufacturing. Our continued strides in this arena underscore our commitment to innovation and quality. With solid growth trajectories in the medical sector, we are excited to pave new paths in precision and excellence. As we bolster our presence and footprint in the domain, we’re actively seeking individuals who resonate with our ethos and vision.

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, we firmly believe that personal connections are the bedrock on which enduring business relationships are built. Our recent participation in the MedTech Ireland trade show underlined the invaluable nature of these human interactions.

Iqbal Bahia’s journey from an apprentice to a managing director has been a series of lessons. It’s been about commitment, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude.

In the fast-paced world of medical device manufacturing, leaders are pressed to not only champion innovation but to ensure meticulous delivery of trustworthy and effective solutions. At Kirkstall Precision, I’ve been immersed in these evolving dynamics, gaining both the challenges and rewards inherent in this journey.

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering (KPE), we take great pride in our team’s accomplishments. Today, we shine a spotlight on one such achievement: the one-year work anniversary of our dedicated Planning Manager, Jeremy Wisner. His relentless dedication to his role is marked by an incredible 200-mile round trip three times a week – a true testament to his commitment to KPE.

We are delighted to welcome Clare Firth, our new QA/RA Manager, to the Kirkstall Precision Engineering family. Clare’s appointment brings with it an invaluable depth of experience, a strong focus on improvement, and an undeniable passion for quality assurance. To provide a glimpse into the dynamism she brings to the table, we had a sit-down with Clare to discuss her career, her goals, and the drive that motivates her.

Kirkstall Precision Engineering has recently been recognised as a top employer for engineering apprenticeships in the UK, awarded the prestigious Make UK Engineering Apprenticeships: Employer Kitemark Accreditation. This honour is a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence, an attribute that has been meticulously fostered within their Engineering Apprentices.

Kirkstall Precision Engineering, a renowned name in the medical engineering sector, recently had the honour of sponsoring the prestigious Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards in association with Med-Tech Innovation. 

In the world of precision engineering, longevity and dedication are often key determinants of success. Craig Dowling, Manufacturing Director at Kirkstall Precision Engineering, exemplifies this ethos perfectly.

We’re thrilled to announce that Kirkstall Precision Engineering will be attending the prestigious Med-Tech Innovation Expo on 7th-8th June. With our long-standing reputation as an ISO: 13485 certified ‘solution provider’, we are excited to explore new partnership opportunities and demonstrate our cutting-edge medical device manufacturing capabilities.

Kirkstall Precision has long been a trusted name in the medical device manufacturing sector, recognised for its expertise in manufacturing high-quality products that meet the most stringent standards. This reputation is a testament to our state-of-the-art facilities, dedicated team, and relentless pursuit of quality and innovation. 

It was an honour to have Dawn Huntrod and Annette Hobson from Make UK visit our facility here at Kirkstall Precision Engineering, accompanied by our CEO Adam Thornton and MD Iqbal Bahia. During their visit, we had the chance to showcase our medical manufacturing expertise and discuss the challenges facing manufacturing in the UK.

Recently, here at Kirkstall Precision Engineering  we have had two of our apprentices nominated for the Leeds Manufacturing Festival awards. One of the apprentices, Kalum Downey, won the Future Manufacturing Leader Award. Cameron Pinder was another apprentice who was nominated for the Apprentice of the Year award and won second place.

The 2023 Leeds Manufacturing Festival sees the return of the Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards, recognising the achievements of the sector’s next generation of manufacturing leaders and rising stars, together with best practice in training and workforce development. 

Medical Technology UK is a unique exhibition that focuses solely on the needs of the UK medical device manufacturing community. The Event comprises an exhibition that showcases leading specialists from all tiers of the medical device manufacturing supply chain. 

Viewers of Channel 4 News were treated to an expert panel on the evening of Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget Announcement. Amongst this panel was our very own Iqbal Bahia, MD of Kirkstall Precision Engineering.

Kirkstall Precision is the leading precision engineering sub-contractor to the global medical instrumentation sector. When you join our company, you will become part of a fast-paced and dedicated team that works together to provide our customer with the highest possible level of service and quality without compromise.

As we approach National Apprenticeship Week and the Leeds Apprentice Fair 2023, we thought now would be a good time to look back at the apprentices we took on in 2022. This intake of apprentices was our largest yet, with four young people recruited and set on a journey to a bright future thanks to our apprentice academy.

Five years ago, our current Managing Director Iqbal Bahia, walked through the doors at Kirkstall Precision and so began a journey of constant improvement, managerial excellence, people motivation and development and a strong vision of how this business could grow, develop, and stay relevant for decades to come.

2022 witnessed the aftermath of Brexit and the continued impact of Covid on elective surgeries and its impact on our business. We experienced a positive effect in the growth in sales orders and a negative effect on the availability of raw materials. These supply problems were due to demand as the world’s economy reopened after the pandemic and the lack of global production capacity during the pandemic.

We have always recognised as a business that what comes out of our despatch areas is only as good as the people who walk in through the doors every day. That’s why we have always recruited the best, enhanced our people with training and ensured that whatever we engineer or manufacture, it is always done with the right mix of people and technology.

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering, we fully understand the power of direct integration and getting out and meeting people face-to-face. After all business is all about

The need for highly skilled professionals in the UK precision engineering sector and UK manufacturing is well documented. The impact of COVID-19 hit the engineering industry hardest and as many as 85% of firms have noticed the engineering skills gap has yet to be closed.

We’ve been interviewing a lot of candidates recently for a wide range of positions we have available at Kirkstall Precision Engineering. As well as some seriously talented and experienced candidates, one thing that has captured our imaginations (and a major thing we look out for in our people) is how passionate they are about precision engineering and manufacturing in general.

Recently, one of our apprentices here at @kirkstall Precision Engineering was nominated for a Rising Star Award as part of the Leeds Manufacturing Festival. We

Kirkstall Precision is the leading precision engineering sub-contractor to the global medical instrumentation sector. When you join our company, you will become part of a

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we sat down with some of the female members of our team to ask them three simple questions to help

Having recently passed its ISO3485 audit – the internationally recognised quality standard for the design, production, installation and servicing of medical devices and related services – and witnessed a new Managing Director appointed, Kirkstall Precision Engineering has its sights firmly set on the future.

Over the years here at Kirkstall Precision Engineering, we have been approached by a wide range of companies to look at translating ideas into reality

This week at Kirkstall Precision Engineering has seen us focus on the next generation of employees as we look to bring in more apprentices and

At Kirkstall Precision Engineering we have a long and proud track record of helping young people attain a bright future in the precision engineering and manufacturing sector.

Earlier this week we paid a visit to the launch of the Leeds Manufacturing Festival. This is an initiative that celebrates the continuing strength of West Yorkshire’s manufacturing industry as it emerges from the challenges of the pandemic. It also highlights the range and depth of career opportunities on offer for young people with the right skills in the sector.

Are you getting the most out of your business management systems? After successfully completing our ISO 13485 recertification audit we were happy to receive a

Kirkstall Precision Engineering’s ability to provide medical devices, and related services, which have consistently met customer and applicable regulatory requirements, has long been a mainstay of our core business ethos.

As we are governed by medical regulatory requirements every 3 years, we must undertake a 5-day re-certification audit for our ISO13485 standard. The ISO13485 is an internationally agreed standard, which sets out the requirements for a quality management system specific to the medical devices industry. 

Compared to 2020, 2021 has certainly been an improvement for us all, whether it be in your personal or professional lives. Saying that, it’s still been a year filled with unique challenges posed by the global pandemic and Brexit.

It was a year that saw our team return fully to the Kirkstall Precision Engineering site and remain incredibly disciplined in their adherence to Covid guidelines. The strict measures we put in place, and our people embracing following them, meant our employees protected both each other, our customers, and our business.

As we all know, it’s been a tough few years. And as our attention moves away from the global pandemic, it is naturally now being