Archived News
Here you can checkout our archived news.
Orbital Fabrications at the MACH 2012 Exhibition
February 2012
Orbital Fabrications exhibited at the MACH 2012 exhibition, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, 16-20 April.
The MACH exhibition featured products, services and innovations to come from the manufacturing technologies sector and has previously attracted more than 20,000 visitors.
The organiser, The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), is a UK based trade association dealing specifically with engineering based manufacturing.
Orbital Fabrications Buys State-of-the-Art Welding System
November 2011
A market leader in orbital welding, Orbital Fabrications which specialises in the assembly of gas and fluid handling systems, has become one of the first UK companies to purchase an ARC Machines EPS-1500 welding system, following its launch earlier this month.
Cambridgeshire based Orbital Fabrications, no stranger to ARC Machines having used its products for over 22 years and has nothing but praise for the EPS-1500. The company says that it has enabled it to adopt a far more flexible method of working.
In addition, the EPS-1500 will allow the business to undertake a more diverse range of new projects, as its Chief Executive Officer, Philip Pearson, explains: “The EPS-1500 is almost universal because it operates with a cross-section of different manufacturers’ weld heads, is compact and has a continuously adjustable weld level instead of a step level. The cost was no more expensive than any other comparable welding system so it was not only a highly viable purchase but has also assisted Orbital Fabrications with future proofing.”
Orbital Fabrications supports a lot of diverse industries including leading aerospace, electrical, semiconductor, biopharm, pharmaceutical, fuel cell and automotive manufacturers. Services range from small scale projects to full turnkey solutions, so flexibility is an important issue. The adaptability of the EPS-1500 means that the firm can now service all these industries with the minimum of change downtime, which allows it to provide a full one-stop-shop service.
“The EPS-1500 allows coverage of all sectors of the industry and adds another string to our bow. If a job comes along, then the equipment’s continuous up or down slope, will provide the solution. At the moment we have a step level rather than a continuous level, which is limiting,” adds Mr Pearson.
He also extols the service he has received from ARC Machines which he describes as very good. “They continue to come each year and recalibrate equipment such as the 207s which were bought many years ago,” he said.
This latest ARC Machines order follows a decision by Orbital Fabrications, which prides itself on producing high quality and reliable work, to continue its expansion plans, which have included doubling the capacity of its machine shop and adding a bespoke projects facility.
The EPS-1500 is supplied with 150 amp power supply, weighs just 23Kg and has a patented S3 weld schedule. The feature rich EPS-1500 offers substantial operational cost savings to companies like Orbital Fabrications because it can be used with a wide range of AMI weld heads and those of competing suppliers.
Other features include intuitive 12” software driven touch screen, which uses just three dashboard screens to control and monitor the entire weld process. Fully microprocessor controlled, weld parameters are set by the power supply which records the weld schedule for each size and wall thickness of tube or pipe in the unit’s memory. These can easily be recalled and modified for different materials with any subsequent changes logged by the system.
Equipped with a high level of connectability, the EPS-1500 has two USB ports that allow for the interfacing of peripherals and storing weld schedules on a memory stick for back-up. In addition, there is a network connection allowing for access to both local networks and the internet, enabling if required long distance real-time weld monitoring.
Summarising, Arc Machines UK’s General Sales Manager, Sean Blandford, said: “This latest purchase by Orbital Fabrications clearly demonstrates the flexibility the EPS-1500 provides and I am delighted that the company has become one of the first to purchase our latest solution.
Further Expansion at Orbital Fabrications
July 2011
Following an increase in the demand for its products and services and to provide for future expansion, Orbital Fabrications have recently purchased three additional properties in Stephenson Road, St. Ives, adding 10,000 square feet to its manufacturing capacity. The additional properties which adjoin Orbital’s current premises, a ‘straight run’ of buildings will facilitate ease of logistics and services.
The additional space will be used to set-up a dedicated Special Projects area to house the company’s Special Projects Team, focussing on bespoke gas control panels, equipment and tenders for OEM clients.
The area will also double the capacity of the Machine Shop and will be used to house additional CNC and machining equipment. The capacity of the orbital welding and hand welding areas will also be significantly increased.
Also to cope with the increased levels of business, Orbital have recruited additional staff; including a new Business Development Manager, Administration Staff, Purchasing Manager and qualified Welders and Fabricators. These additional staff members bring the number of employees to thirty eight.
Orbital Fabrications relocate to new purpose built premises
June 2008
Orbital Fabrications have recently relocated to new premises in Cambridgeshire following continued growth of its business and demand for its orbital and micro-TIG welding and fabrication services to its semiconductor, pharmaceutical and technology based customers.
The newly fitted 10,000 square feet premises feature a state-of-the-art workshop and equipment including passivation and etching facilities. In-house machining equipment include a heavy duty 3-axis CNC lathe and a CNC mill. And as many of Orbital’s customers demand the highest levels of purity, a class-1000 clean room with a localised 100 work station.
The new facility enables Orbital Fabrications to work with a wide range of material dimensions and can weld precision components as small as 0.1mm.
Chairman, Ian Pearson said “ our new premises and facilities which will enable us to offer a full in-house fabrication and testing service. I am delighted by the positive feedback I have received from both our existing customers and potential clients who have been to visit us”.
The company specialise in the orbital welding and micro-TIG welding of stainless steel, precious metals and high nickel alloys and have completed projects for customers worldwide including Rolls Royce, NASA and BAE Systems. In addition, Orbital Fabrications are also able to provide an on-site welding and installation service including full documentation and certification.
