Finishing may be the last step that determines the look of our precision engineering solution for you, but it’s arguably the most important. At Kirkstall Precision Engineering our finishing department have over 30 years-experience and a wide range of expertise in product finishing. The Finishing department is the final part in the process of the precision engineering products we create here at Kirkstall Precision Engineering. Finishing is where instruments come to life.
As with all aspects of our production processes, the care and attention given to this area, is of the highest standards.
The finishing department is a conduit which brings together all the other manufacturing processes and adds the final touches in how a product gets its final look. The finishing department specialises on the following processes:
- Satin bead blasting – a well-known approach that achieves a uniform finish
- Vibro de-burring and polishing – – vibrates excess residue and debris until any excess matter completely drops away from the product
- Hand polishing to medical standards – to ensure the most exceptional of finish
- Electro Polishing – Is process used to bright polish, passivate and deburr metallic workpieces, reducing the surface roughness by levelling micro-peaks and valleys so as to improve the surface finish
- Ultrasonic surface cleaning – Is a process using ultrasound technology for precision cleaning in difficult to reach areas
- Passivation – treating or coating a metal in order to reduce the chemical reactivity of its surface.
In addition, the finishing department at Kirkstall Precision work with approved, and stringently monitored, partners for additional coatings such as Anodizing, Titanium Nitride and Gold Plating.
A crucial part of this particular area of our business is finisher extraordinaire, Matt Davis. Here’s some notes from a recent conversation we had with Matt.
Hi Matt, what’s your background in the finishing area?
My journey at Kirkstall started with booking in material and building my knowledge of the different types of medical plastics and steels used, an opportunity in the finishing department arose and I learnt how to use the clean line, bead blast and final finish of products.
This ignited my curiosity and inspired my passion wanting to increase my knowledge of the finishing processes. I took on a position in the laser marking department, which is where products are laser etched or engraved with their lot numbers and any particular measurements and logos. After a few years, and having managed the extremely high pace environment, I took on the role to date in finishing .
Why is finishing important?
Finishing is a crucial stage of the production process; we change a product from a machined finish into a fully blemish free and aesthetically pleasing functioning product that meets all QC requirements. We also have several processes that we put products through from heat treatment to corrosion testing, passivation to hand polishing. The finishing department is also a key place in the production line for final inspection and quality before being sent for QA and shipment.
What are you most proud of finishing?
We do a number of really exciting and intricate parts here at Kirkstall Precision, working predominantly in the medical sector, the parts manufactured here at Kirkstall Precision are used for a wide range of innovative medical procedures, so I’m very proud and humble that the service we offer helps to improve the quality of life for many people.
What is the future of the finishing department?
I think we will see several automated machines and special process been introduced at Kirkstall Precision, even the use of robotic in the very near future.
However, I truly believe that because of the intricacy of our products we will always require a high level of skill set in our engineers and technicians to continue to achieve the high stand of quality required by the critical sectors we service.