DP Engineering is a precision sub-contract engineering firm with a stellar 70-year reputation for delivering quality products. They specialise in machining critical components for industries such as marine, aerospace, defence, oil and gas.
DP Engineering’s tailored, state-of-the-art engineering service prioritises accuracy, ensuring that form, function, and safety are never compromised. With a commitment to further development and growth, they combine their rich legacy with ambitious aspirations for the future.
Project Brief:
DP Engineering faced several challenges in their quality control operations. Due to the intricate nature of their products and the specific materials involved, the company heavily relied on manual inspection methods. However, this traditional approach proved to be time-consuming, hindering their capacity and productivity goals.
DP Engineering’s Phillip Anthony explained: “Being in the sub-contract business, if we don’t keep on top of new technology then we get left behind.”
Manual measurement also introduced a risk of inaccuracy, as the process lacked repeatability and was not efficient enough for anything beyond batch sampling.
“As a company, we always continue to try to invest in technology and, at the end of the day, offer a higher standard of service to our customers,” said Phillip
DP Engineering recognised the need to improve their quality control processes to address these challenges and achieve their growth objectives.
The Solution:
In order to address their quality control challenges, DP Engineering turned to VICIVISION UK, a renowned supplier of optical, non-contact turned-part measurement machines and quality control systems in the UK.
They decided to install the M309 system, specifically designed for shop-floor use, featuring wide measuring fields, impressive load capacities, high-resolution capabilities, and user-friendly software. This system enables DP Engineering to quickly and precisely measure cylindrical components directly within the production environment.
Phillip said: “It’s aided our production. We make our money from cutting metal, so any down time is a no-go, and the VICIVISION machine has certainly reduced our down time.”
“There are features you can measure on the VICIVISION UK machine that you can’t measure on a co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM), so we use them in parallel.”
The Benefits:
The VICIVISION UK Techno M309 system offers immediate inspection capabilities next to machining centres, eliminating workflow constraints and resulting in increased efficiency.
Its high-resolution video camera technology automates multiple checks on a single set-up, eliminating the need for multiple manual instruments. The system enables fast, non-contact, non-destructive measurement, resulting in quicker completion of tasks, improved competitiveness, and a strengthened inspection department.
“The biggest thing for us is the in-process inspection – where you could do a sample size before, now you’re not limited as to how long things take. There’s no issue with running a whole batch, let alone sample parts,” said Phillip.
“It enables you to complete things a lot quicker and we’re able to offer a more competitive price as a consequence.”
The implementation of the VICIVISION Techno M309 system has consolidated DP Engineering’s multiple inspection processes into a single machine, enabling them to efficiently check various external features of components.
“Whereas we would usually have to check on different bits of kit – – now it can all be done on one machine,” said Phillip
“Nothing can leave this building without being inspected, as a whole our inspection department has grown, which is key to DP and the quality performance that we try to aim for.”
Why VICIVISION UK?
VICIVISION’s efficient, accurate and reliable measuring processes have provided DP Engineering and other manufacturers total peace of mind when it comes to the repeatable supply of quality products.
“We asked ourselves how we were going to reduce our set-ups and down time – the VICIVISION machine has enabled us to reduce offsets and first-off inspection reports,” recommended Phillip.
With increased productivity comes increased capacity, allowing businesses to take on more work with the confidence that demand and quality standards can be met.
