Long-Serving Toolmaker Announces His Retirement

Goodbye, Terry Spinks

One of RP Technologies’ longest-serving members of staff has announced his retirement.

Terry Spinks, who joined RP on 6th October 2008, is to retire on 18th October 2024, bringing to an end his sixteen-year stint with the company.

Terry has produced high quality work for RP for many years as one of our most experienced toolmakers. During this time, Terry has helped to craft some of the most innovative and complex tools we’ve produced. These tools have supplied parts to the automotive, aerospace, and medical sectors, as well as many other industries.

Last year, RP celebrated the manufacture of its 2000th tool. People like Terry are the reason why we have been so successful for so long. His loyalty, good work, and willingness to support his fellow toolmakers has enabled RP to produce high quality tooling within very competitive lead times.

In addition to his own work, Terry has always been willing to support the younger members of our team. He has imparted his knowledge, offered guidance, and has helped many of our apprentices over the years to grow and develop as young toolmakers. Many of these apprentices have now gone on to have very successful careers in the toolmaking industry.

Terry is now looking forward to having a bit of time for himself. When asked how he was planning to spend his retirement, Terry said: “The big thing we would like to do is move house. We are planning to buy a property over in Wales. It’s a beautiful part of the world and I have always wanted to live by the sea. In the short term, I’m just looking forward to not having to get up and brave the winter weather early in the morning.”

Terry has a wife and three daughters. He also has quite a few grandchildren. “I have five grandchildren whom I see regularly, but, in total, I have fifteen grandchildren.”

When reflecting on his time at RP, Terry said: “You couldn’t find a better place to work than RP. I’ve enjoyed my time here. I’ve particularly enjoyed the many social events that we’ve had – the Christmas parties, climbing Ben Nevis and Mount Snowdon, the Butlins weekend. But I’ve also just enjoyed being around the guys on the shopfloor.”

Terry added: “I’m very grateful to Darren and Lisa. They’ve given me an opportunity to work here for such a long time. In today’s world, that’s not something you can take for granted.”

Darren Withers, Director, was quick to pay tribute to Terry’s contribution to the company. He said: “Terry has served RP with great distinction during his time here. To complete 16 years of service with a single employer is a wonderful achievement.

Terry has been a key part of our toolmaking team and has played a central role in the manufacture of many tools for our customers.

We would like to thank him for his contribution, and to wish him a very happy retirement.”

Terry – from everyone at RP, we wish you all the very best!

Q&A with…. Craig Partridge

Getting to Know.... Craig

What is your role at RP Technologies?

I work in the injection moulding department and my title is Operations Supervisor.

How long have you been with the company?

I’ve been here for nearly nine years.

What do you most like doing outside work?

I like walking, particularly walking the dogs.

What’s your favourite film?

My favourite film is Superman, the original, with Christopher Reeve.

What’s your favourite song?

That’s a tough one because I listen to all types of songs. At the moment, my favourite one is by Linkin Park, and it’s called Emptiness Machine.

Favourite band or solo artist

Right, it might sound daft, but my favourite solo artist is Robbie Williams. And if we continue the 90s theme, my favourite band is probably Oasis.

Who are your 3 ultimate dinner party guests?

For me, it would always have to be stand-up comedians, so I’d probably have Peter Kay, Lee Evans, and Stuart Francis.

If you had to go to the pub with one person at RP, who would you choose?

I think, currently, I’d probably go with Luke Morgan.

What’s the top item on your bucket list?

That’s a tough one. It’s not something I’ve ever thought about. I suppose if I had to choose one thing it would be going to Vegas.

Top holiday destination

My top holiday destination out of all the places I’ve been to would have to be Egypt.

Favourite TV programme of all time

If you’re talking about a series, I would probably pick Breaking Bad.

What would be your last meal if you could choose?

That’s another tough question. I think I would have to go for a Tomahawk Steak.

Who’s your celebrity crush?

That’s an easy one for me – and my Mrs will probably confirm this – my ultimate celebrity crush is Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Favourite drink

It depends what mood I’m in. I do like a nice German beer, but I also like a nice red wine. If you put a gun to my head and I had to choose, I’d go for a German beer.

Favourite flavour crisps

I’d probably go for Cheese and Onion.

Favourite type of chocolate

That’s a tough one as well. I do love a Twix.

Star sign

Aquarius.

What are your 3 pet hates?

Untidiness. This is a very sore point for me given that I live with three kids. My second pet hate would have to be other drivers on the road. And, finally, I’d have to say people who go around littering. There’s just no need for it.

Tell us one exciting thing you’re planning to do in the next year

Well, it’s not really a treat for me, but my partner is a very big fan of Busted and McFly, and they’ve just announced a tour for 2025 called Busted vs. McFly. So, I’ve booked some tickets for next year as a surprise, which I’m planning to reveal to her this weekend on her birthday.

What is your favourite RP memory?

A memory which is always special to me is from when I first started here in November 2014. The company was kind enough to invite me to the Christmas party at Birmingham NEC. It was a black-tie event, and they had a fun fair and a casino and so on, and I thought, to invite me, even though I’d only just started here, was a really nice touch. They actually invited me before I’d even come to work on my first day. That’s always stayed in the back of my mind.

More New Recruits

RP Adds to its Workforce Again!

As part of our continuing drive to keep up with growing demand for our services, RP Technologies is delighted to announce the appointments of two new members of staff.

Reece Walker and Scott Wootton have joined our production team with immediate effect.

Reece has joined our toolmaking department. He has gained experience in a variety of toolmaking roles, and we believe he will bring a lot of enthusiasm to his new role with us.

After amassing several years of experience in similar roles elsewhere, Scott has joined our CNC machining department. We’re confident that he will prove to be a very valuable asset and will contribute to the good work done by the existing CNC machining team.

As we continue to expand and develop our services, we aim to continue to grow our workforce at a steady and sustainable pace. This means that there will be future opportunities for individuals who are either keen to begin a career in manufacturing, or for those already in production-based roles who would like to take the next step up the ladder.

We’re happy to be at the forefront of the industry, by continuing to provide capable and motivated individuals with the opportunity to progress within the UK manufacturing sector.

We are currently looking for another Toolmaker and CNC Programmer. If you think you have what it takes to excel in either role, please email your CV and a covering letter to info@rptechnologies.co.uk. More information on these roles can be found on our website.

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Reece and Scott to the team, and to wish them every success in their future positions here at RP Technologies.

Precision Toolmaker Who is Also a Passionate Pilot

The Sky's the Limit for Precision Toolmaker

Meet Andy Dennies: skilled toolmaker during the week, passionate flight instructor at weekends.

While most people unwind after a long week at work by kicking back and relaxing, Andy finds solace in the skies.

As a qualified pilot, Andy has been flying aeroplanes for 18 years.

“I get a real buzz out of flying,” Andy reveals. “There’s no feeling quite like it. I do a lot of things outside of my work as a toolmaker with RP Technologies, including cycling, scuba diving, cooking, and paddleboarding. But nothing quite comes close to being up there in the sky on a clear summer’s day.

You just feel such a sense of freedom. It really is quite liberating.”

From Toolmaking to Piloting

Andy’s love for aviation began when he was a child. As a boy, he and his friends used to make aeroplanes out of old pieces of wood.

As he grew into a man, his fascination with aeroplanes became even stronger. A friend of Andy’s became a qualified pilot, and this provided Andy with the necessary motivation to proactively pursue his dream of flying.

Andy earned his pilot’s licence in 2007, becoming a highly skilled pilot of single-engine aircraft.

But Andy’s passion for aviation didn’t stop there. He soon realised that he had a natural talent for teaching others to fly. In his spare time, he began studying to become a qualified flight instructor.

“I felt I had the right skills to become an effective instructor”, Andy says. “In my work as a toolmaker at RP Technologies, I have helped to develop several apprentice toolmakers over the years. I enjoy helping others, and I thought I could do the same in the cockpit.

I was keen to spend my time in the skies, tutoring people who are novices so that they could become proficient pilots. I just needed to study hard so that I could qualify as an instructor first.”

In 2013, Andy passed his exams and became a qualified instructor.

Making the Change from Pilot to Instructor

With his qualifications secure, Andy took to the skies with great gusto.

Andy was keen to impart his skills to those who shared his passion for flying. His patience, knowledge, and expertise have earned him a loyal base of students, all of whom have benefited greatly from his guidance.

Andy has taught 10 people to fly over the years. On average, Andy gives about 70 lessons per year.

Andy can proudly lay claim to several success stories in his time as a flight instructor. “I taught a young man called Andy Moores. Andy had never been in a cockpit before he met me. He is now a commercial pilot for Ryanair. Seeing him develop his career in this way and become a successful pilot is immensely satisfying.”

For Andy, the pleasure of seeing someone without any flying skills learn to become a pilot under his tutelage is almost as great as the pleasure he gets from flying himself.

“I particularly enjoy seeing my students go from complete novices to confident, expert pilots.

It’s satisfying to know that I have taught them a skill which is fairly exceptional. After all, you don’t meet too many pilots!”

Not too long ago, Andy started teaching Kieran Wellings. Kieran began his lessons with Andy when he was only 14 years old. Kieran, like Andy Moores before him, has ambitions to become a commercial pilot. Now 18, Kieran has passed his flying exams and is currently working in the Control Tower at the airport where Andy taught him to fly.

“I remember standing in the Control Tower with Kieran’s mother and Andy’s father,” Andy recalls, “when they both went up on their maiden solo flights. The parents of newly qualified pilots are obviously very proud of them in these moments, and so am I.

For me as the instructor, though, I’m always too scared to enjoy the moment completely! But they both acquitted themselves very well indeed.”

Teaching the Next Generation of Commercial Pilots

Andy Moores now earns his living by utilising the skills that Andy has taught him.

Andy M is full of praise for Andy’s teachings, and he can’t recommend him highly enough:

“I started learning to fly with Andy Dennies in 2016. His contagious enthusiasm for flying and flight training meant I caught the aviation bug right from the very beginning.

Andy is a first-class flight instructor and always helped me to get the most out of my lessons. This meant I progressed quickly. He is extremely professional, considerate, funny, and is a brilliant teacher.

It was noticeable how he really did take the time and effort to explain things in such a way that I would understand them first time.

Thank you, Andy, for helping me through my PPL. I have learnt skills that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my career.”

Without Andy’s teachings, Andy M would not have the opportunities he has today – flying passengers around the world on commercial flights for Ryanair.

Balancing Life as a Toolmaker with Flying

Andy has been with RP Technologies for just over a decade now. He joined the company back in August 2023. During this time, he has been a committed toolmaker who has contributed to a variety of very important toolmaking projects for RP’s customers.

Toolmaking and flying may seem like an unlikely combination, but for Andy, they’re not all that different. He takes the same meticulous approach to his work in the toolroom and his time in the cockpit, ensuring that every detail is carefully accounted for.

“There are similarities to both roles,” Andy explains. “They may appear completely different, but both occupations rely on precision, attention to detail, and fine margins.”

Despite his demanding job as a toolmaker, Andy always manages to find time for flying and instructing. He is currently busy preparing a local scientist for his flying exam.

Andy’s Role at The Flying School

Andy is a Senior Flying Instructor and Examiner at The Flying School. The Flying School is located at Halfpenny Green Airport in Bobbington, which is just outside Wolverhampton. Andy has been based at Halfpenny in Bobbington for 11 years.

Andy’s dedication has made him a valued and well-respected figure in the local aviation community.

His flying qualifications include:

  • Commercial pilot’s licence
  • Multi-engine instrument rating
  • Frozen airline transport licence
  • Flight instructor
  • Qualified to teach single engine piston, night rating, and IR/R
  • Flight examiner

In the summer of 2024, Andy added to this impressive list of qualifications by passing his latest flying exam. He can now teach would-be flyers to pilot multi engine rating aircraft.

Andy’s Other Activities

With his toolmaking in the week and his flying at weekends, it’s a wonder Andy has any time to do anything else. But Andy is seldom found standing still for very long. He is always filling his free hours with one leisure pursuit after another.

“I swim three mornings a week before work. That’s in addition to all the other physical pursuits I do. I like to keep active, and I’m interested in many different things.”

And now that he’s conquered the air, Andy has his sights firmly set on the seas:

“My next ambition,” Andy reveals, “is to sail a 30 ft. yacht. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, if only to see if the sea is as good for the soul as the skies are!”

Find Out More

If you have an interest in flying, or would like to possibly learn to fly yourself, you can visit the Flying School website to find out more.

Alternatively, if you’d like to find out more about Andy’s piloting, please send him an email with your questions.

RP Welcomes New Toolmaker

Richard Turner Joins RP as a Toolmaker

RP Technologies is delighted to announce the appointment of a new toolmaker.

Richard Turner has recently joined us at the end of June. Richard will offer RP strong experience of the toolmaking sector, having worked previously in several toolmaking roles.

Richard joins us at an exciting time for RP. The last year has been an extremely busy time for our toolmakers, who have had to juggle several high priority projects all at once.

Richard is already settling into his new role. He has integrated well with the existing toolmakers, and he is already getting a chance to demonstrate his skills.

Investing in People

The toolmaking department has grown significantly in recent times, with many new appointments. Some of these positions are newly created roles, whilst other new employees have been recruited to replace toolmakers who have now retired.

This is all part of RP Technologies’ commitment to continuing to strengthen and develop its workforce at every level.

We have invested in all areas of our production, taking on new CNC Programmers, new Injection Moulding Technicians, and new Quality Engineers. In addition to this investment in personnel, we have also added new state-of-the-art machinery in various departments.

Richard joins us at an exciting time, as we continue to grow and develop as a business, improving and developing our team while retaining a core of highly experienced and loyal professionals who have been the bedrock of RP’s success over the last nineteen years.

With a perfect blend of youth and experience, we are ideally equipped to handle the challenges which lie ahead, and to take advantage of the opportunities which the market has to offer us.

Further Toolmaking Opportunities

In addition to Richard’s appointment, we are also currently recruiting for another new toolmaker, start date yet to be confirmed.

If you have the necessary skills and experience, we’d like to hear from you. Please send us your CV, outlining how your skills and experience meet the criteria outlined in the job advertisement.

Deadline for receipt of CVs is 22nd July 2024.

Toolmaker Retires After Nearly 18 Years

Toolmaker Retires After Years of Loyal Service

Keith Culwick, a Toolmaker at RP Technologies, has retired after nearly 18 years of service.

Keith joined RP in November 2006 and was one of our longest-serving employees.

Keith has been an integral part of RP’s toolroom for nearly two decades. He has, along with his colleagues, contributed greatly to the success of our toolmaking operations.

Always punctual, always hardworking, Keith has devoted a lot of effort to RP over the years. He is a well-liked and valuable member of the team.

Keith has also been a great example to our younger toolmakers, many of whom he has helped to develop by imparting his skills and knowledge to them.

Keith has been a toolmaker for 50 years. Prior to joining RP, Keith worked at Michael J. Billingham, a toolmaking and patternmaking company in the West Midlands.

Keith has known the owner of RP Technologies, Darren Withers, for over half a century. Of Keith’s contribution, Darren said: “Keith has been a very loyal, trustworthy, and supportive member of the team. I have had the pleasure of knowing Keith for several decades, and he has always demonstrated great commitment to RP during his time here.

He has produced good quality work for us over a sustained period. Along with his colleagues, he has helped us to build a reputation within the industry for toolmaking excellence.

Everyone at RP recognises his contributions over the past seventeen and a half years. On behalf of RP, I would like to thank him for his efforts, and wish him a very happy retirement.”

Keith can now look forward to spending some quality time with his family and grandchildren.

Keith will also be enjoying some nice holidays away in his caravan, as well as finding as much time as possible for the odd round of golf here and there.

From everyone at RP Technologies, we would like to thank you for your contribution to the company over the years, and to wish you a fantastic retirement.

RP Technologies Celebrates its 19th Anniversary

Our 19th Anniversary is Upon Us!

RP Technologies is thrilled to announce that we are celebrating our 19th anniversary!

Over nearly two decades, we have grown from a small startup to a leading player in the toolmaking, injection moulding, and CNC machining industry.

Our success during this period is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our team, as well as the trust and support of our loyal customers.

We take great pride in our ability to deliver precision-engineered aluminium tooling, injection moulded parts, and CNC machined prototypes.

RP was founded in the summer of 2005. Since then, we have been committed to providing high-quality, cost-effective manufacturing services. Our cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment have allowed us to stay at the forefront of the industry, constantly improving our processes and expanding our capabilities.

As we look back on the past 19 years, we reflect on the progress we’ve made. From launching new services to expanding to a new purpose-built manufacturing facility, we have continuously strived for excellence and innovation. Our experienced team of toolmakers, injection moulding technicians, CNC machinists, quality engineers, and CAD designers are always pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

It is this unique ‘Without Limits’ approach that has set us apart from our competitors.

One of the keys to our success has been our unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. We understand that our clients rely on us to deliver high-quality products in a timely manner, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Our dedication to building strong, long-lasting relationships with our customers has been instrumental in our growth and success as a company. That’s why we’re “Partners not Suppliers.”

As the years have gone on, we have consistently attempted to improve efficiencies and make savings where possible. These savings have been passed on to the customer.

Over the years, we have also prioritised our corporate social responsibility agenda. We recognise the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and minimising waste in our manufacturing processes. That is why we have implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, such as recycling programmes and the use of energy-efficient equipment, to help us to reduce our impact on the environment.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the future. With the rapid advancements in technology and the increasing demand for innovative products, we are confident that we are well-positioned to continue our growth and success in the years to come. We are committed to staying at the cutting edge of our industry, embracing new technologies and techniques to better serve our customers and fulfil their evolving needs.

On behalf of the RP Technologies team, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our customers, partners, and employees for your sustained support over the past 19 years. We are truly grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in us. We look forward to many more years of success and collaboration together.

Here’s to another 19 years of innovation, excellence, and customer satisfaction!

Recycling for World Environment Day

RP’s Commitment to Recycling Excellence Continues

As we prepare for World Environment Day on Wednesday 5th June, we thought it would be worthwhile to point out that we take our environmental responsibilities as a manufacturer very seriously here at RP Technologies.

As a toolmaking, CNC machining, and injection moulding operation, we produce metal, aluminium, and plastic waste as part of our daily production processes.

We’re fully committed to recycling every last bit of metal or plastic that doesn’t get used in the products which we produce.

This commitment has led to us partnering with a number of our customers to recycle redundant tools which are obsolete and for which there is no longer any requirement.

This activity has led to the recycling of over 300 aluminium tools. During times when raw materials have become scarcer to source and the price of aluminium is increasing all the time, we believe that making aluminium available for reuse will make a big difference to our supply chain partners, the wider industry, and the overall environment.

In addition to this, we also recycle our excess plastic material. In September 2022, we teamed up with our latest environmental partner, MBA Polymers, to recycle plastic material from our injection moulding projects.

Since working with MBA, RP Technologies has recycled over 3.25 tonnes of plastic. This has saved this plastic waste from going to landfill and has allowed it to be repurposed for secondary use elsewhere.

This is a fantastic achievement in what has been approximately only a year and a half of working with MBA.

Material which cannot be repurposed, either because it is not suitable or because it contains mixed constituents, is shredded, and processed to separate the good single grade material. Any material which cannot be separated is used as an alternative source of fuel.

Overall, our work in this area has allowed us to improve our carbon footprint and to contribute, in our small part, to making the earth a greener, more sustainable place.

RP Invests in New Delivery Van

New Delivery Van to Keep Us Ahead of Schedule

Following a very successful last 12 months, RP Technologies has now invested in a new delivery van.

This new van will provide RP’s delivery service with greater flexibility. It will also ensure that we continue to stay ahead of schedule.

Getting injection moulded parts delivered on time every time is one of our core business principles. By improving our resources, we can ensure that we are well equipped to deal with the fast turnaround of tooling and parts.

Our new delivery van is a Renault Master. It has a large amount of storage space in the rear, and it is well equipped to distribute parts up and down the country. This ensures that we can provide an efficient, reliable, and professional delivery service for our customers’ plastic injection moulded components.

Corporate Branding for New Delivery Van

 

We’ve recently had our corporate branding added to the delivery van. This work was carried out by Sure Signs, who are only around the corner to our production facility here in Kingswinford.

The branding includes our company name and logo. It also communicates our key brand values and purpose – as aluminium tooling and plastic injection moulding specialists.

Sure Signs also completed the branding on our other van.

Delivery Van Will Support Collection and Delivery Service

 

We offer a collection and delivery service for existing tooling which customers may want to relocate from their current supplier. For customers who are looking to move existing tooling, we can collect tooling and bring it to our production facility.

We can also collect parts from customers who want us to support them with CMM inspection. Our new Sub-contract CMM measurement service includes an optional collection and delivery service.

We can also transport the injection moulded parts we manufacture for our customers to their business premises. This is the case for standard injection moulding projects, as well as for RP Rapid projects.

Find Out More About Collection and Delivery

 

If you’d like to find out more about the collection and delivery options which are available for your manufacturing projects, please contact us.

RP Launches New Sub-Contract CMM Inspection Service

New CMM Inspection Service

RP Technologies is pleased to announce that from March 2024 we will be offering a new sub-contract CMM inspection and measurement service.

This service will provide metrology, CMM measurement, quality inspection, and quality engineering solutions to companies whose parts have been manufactured by third party suppliers.

We will offer a cost-effective solution for manufacturers, engineers, product design agencies, OEMs, and Tier 1 suppliers, both in the UK and across Europe.

This new CMM inspection and measurement service will supplement the many Quality Engineering services which we already provide to the marketplace.

It will also herald a new dawn for RP’s Quality Engineering department, in that it will be the first time RP has provided a CMM inspection service for parts made by third party suppliers.

This new service will have many benefits for customers. It will provide an expert and unbiased appraisal of tooling and parts, and it will also be supported by full documentation. We will offer comprehensive reporting for one-off and multi-batch inspections. We will also provide an advice and consultation service where our Quality Engineers will conduct a 1-hour online meeting with each customer to talk them through the findings of their report.

All work will be conducted in-house at our purpose-built 25,000 sq. ft. production facility. Measurement and inspection work will be carried out in our fully air-conditioned temperature-controlled quality engineering room.

This latest service follows the launch of our very successful fast turnaround service for tooling and parts, RP Rapid, which launched in May 2022. RP Rapid provides tooling and parts to customers in as little as 7 business days.

The launch of this new CMM service demonstrates our commitment to making RP Technologies a single-source, one-stop-shop solution for all your manufacturing needs. We want to be able to offer as many high quality, relevant services as possible within the disciplines of toolmaking, injection moulding, CNC machining and quality engineering.

This latest venture will go some way towards helping us to achieve that.

For more information, please visit our CMM inspection page, or contact us for an informal discussion.

RP Gains its 2000th LinkedIn Follower

LinkedIn Success

RP Technologies has recently gained its 2000th follower on social media platform, LinkedIn.

RP started sharing content on the popular networking site for professionals several years ago. Since then, we have seen a steady and significant increase in the number of followers.

Much of RP’s work is covered by non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality clauses, so we’re always limited by what we can show. However, we choose content very carefully, and we try to inform and engage our followers by giving them an insight into the type of work we do. We post photographs, videos, news items, blog links, industry-related content, and employment opportunities.

Our followers consist of a variety of stakeholders, including customers, partners, potential buyers, company employees, and rival organisations.

Our standing in this online community is a reflection of our commitment to engage with all parties in the supply chain who have an interest in the company’s products and services.

We are happy to engage in all aspects of thought leadership and opinion forming for our industry. We use our LinkedIn profile page as a way of sharing our expertise, experience, and advice on all things in relation to toolmaking, injection moulding, rapid prototyping, CNC machining, and CMM inspection.

If you’re not already following us, please make sure you do so by logging into your LinkedIn account and searching for ‘RP Technologies.’ You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our social media activities over the years, particularly those who currently follow us and engage with our content, either by reading, liking, commenting, or sharing.

Here’s to the next 2000 followers….

Following Us on LinkedIn?

If you’d like to get involved and join the conversation, please go to LinkedIn and follow us.

High Shine Specialist Finish for Aluminium Tool

High Shine Finish

RP Technologies provides a range of specialist finishing options for each of the tools we manufacture.

Not all tools require specialist finishes, but it may be necessary in some cases to manufacture a tool which has a particular surface finish.

There are multiple finishing options available. The type of finishing option chosen will depend upon the final application of the end component, the functionality that needs to be achieved, its cosmetic requirements, and its performance objectives.

Some of these finishing options include texturing and graining, bead blasting, and engraving.

But there are many other options which are also available.

For instance, we were recently asked by a customer of ours to create a tool with a mirror finish. This finishing option was necessary because a gloss finish was needed for the final moulded component.

The benching team in our onsite toolroom were responsible for creating this mirror finish.

The finishing process was long, and involved a lot of dedicated and focused work, where care and attention to detail were essential requirements of the process. The benching team went through different grades of paper, taking the cutter marks out at grade 400, before putting the paper marks in. They then alternated with smoother paper from grades 800 – 2000 until they managed to create a smoother finish.

Polish was then added to achieve the high mirror shine.

In all, the polishing process took about a week to complete.

Our customer was extremely happy with the finished results.

Want to Know More?

If you’d like to find out more about our many finishing options, please visit  https://rptechnologies.co.uk/aluminium-tooling-finishes.

This link contains some of our most regularly employed finishes, but it is by no means a comprehensive list of all our finishing options. So, if you can’t find the particular type of finish you’re looking for, please email info@rptechnologies.co.uk, or call +44 (0)121 550 5868.

You can also read our technical article, ‘Decorative Finishes in Toolmaking.’ This article examines the function of decorative finishing, how it is achieved, and what types of products benefit from this these finishes.

RP Enjoys Very Successful Period

Great Success for RP

2023 was RP Technologies’ busiest year to date.

We were extremely busy across all sides of the business, with our toolmaking, injection moulding, and CNC machining departments working to full capacity for much of the year.

Orders were flying in from new and existing customers to such an extent that we have, in the past 12 months, increased our staffing in every single production department. We have taken on new Toolmakers, CNC Programmers, Machine Operators, and Quality Engineers.

These additions have helped to ensure that we continue to honour the quality expectations which we set for ourselves, whilst also enabling us to meet our promised lead times to customers.

All this endeavour helped to make 2023 the 4th most successful year in RP Technologies’ 18-year trading history.

We expected this frenzy of activity to diminish as the year reached its conclusion. However, as we reached December, we began to receive a raft of new orders. This meant that we were still ordering materials right up until Christmas, in order to ensure that we finished these projects before we closed for the winter holidays.

We ended up having our best December on record. This is something we are particularly proud of, given that December was only a three-week month, and it is typically a time when things tend to go a little bit quieter, as people start to wind down for the Christmas break.

And 2024 has started in much the same way as 2023 left off, with lots of new interest in our work from old and new stakeholders.

All this increased interest and activity bodes well for the future.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported us during this period. We thank you for your custom and we look forward to continuing to work with you in 2024.

Please contact us if you have any new projects for toolmaking, injection moulding, rapid prototyping, or CNC machining, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Here’s to a great 2024….

Christmas Jumper Day

RP Raises Money for Good Cause

On Thursday 7th December 2023, RP Technologies participated in Christmas Jumper Day.

This very special occasion sees everyone wearing silly jumpers in order to raise awareness for a very good cause, and, just as importantly, to raise some money for Save the Children.

Save the Children do some incredible work for children who are experiencing serious hardships, such as war, hunger, and poverty.

With everything that is currently going on in the world, particularly in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Africa, and in the Israel/Palestine conflict, this type of activity is more important than ever.

RP Technologies was more than happy to get involved in whatever way we could, in order to make a small contribution to the collective effort.

This year we managed to raise £50.

We have participated in Christmas Jumper Day for several years now, and we will continue to do so in the many years that lie ahead.

Well done to each of our employees who participated in this worthwhile event. We would like to say a big thank you to all those who donated to this very important cause.

It’s a Busy Summer for RP Technologies

Fast Times at RP

2023 has been extremely busy for RP. We’ve been receiving orders and issuing quotations right, left and centre. We’ve taken on projects for existing customers, as well as building relationships with companies whom we have haven’t worked with before.

We’ve been busy, busy, busy.

And it looks like there will be no respite through the summer months either.

Traditionally, things start to slow down as people go on holiday in July. But not this year.

Last month was RP’s best July on record. This follows a very strong performance in June.

Even now in August, we continue to receive new business and more fresh enquiries.

We’ve seen a big increase in the amount of toolmaking and injection moulding orders which have come our way during this period. We have also added several new customers during this period.

In addition, our CNC machining department has had its busiest year on record. To cope with this increased demand, we have had to take on new CNC Programmers and we have also had to invest in some new state-of-the-art 5-axis CNC machining centres.

We’ve been busy across all areas of our business, and we are looking to end the year on a high.

Thank you to everyone for their continued support during this period.

RP is Recruiting!

RP on the Lookout for Talent

RP Technologies has been extremely busy in 2023, with increased orders and enquiries throughout the year.

To cope with this demand, we’ve expanded our workforce throughout the year by 10%.

With the volume of new orders continuing to gather pace, this upsurge in activity shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

Consequently, we find ourselves looking to expand our workforce all over again.

We are now recruiting for a new CNC Programmer to join our busy CNC machining department.

The CNC Programmer will be responsible for operating either a 3-axis or 5-axis CNC machine to perform a range of milling and turning operations on complex metal and plastic parts.

The successful candidate will be able to set up and operate the CNC machine independently, whilst working to their own initiative to complete the machining of the workpiece.

The candidate will need to be capable of reading and interpreting instructions from CAD design software, and they must also be able to machine components to tight tolerances.

Previous experience of offline programming, as well as 5-axis CNC programming, is essential. Experience of NCG software is desirable but not essential, as some training will be provided.

The role is full time, days, permanent, Monday-Friday only.

If you think you have what it takes to succeed in this role, we’d love to hear from you.

Please email your CV to info@rptechnologies.co.uk, or call +44 (0)121 550 5868.

Busy Times for RP’s CNC Machining Department

CNC Machining Success

RP Technologies’ CNC Machining Department is going through an incredibly busy period.

We’ve received a large amount of CNC machining projects in the past couple of months. Our 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining centres have been inundated with prototype and low-medium volume production orders.

Demand has been so great that we have had to employ two new CNC Machinists to ensure that we meet our commitment on lead times.

This increased workload comes at an opportune time. At the end of last year, RP Technologies invested in a new state-of-the-art 5-axis Hurco CNC machining centre.

The #Hurco VMX60SRTi has an advanced Ultimotion feature for reduced cycle time, enhanced version 10 software, and an ergonomically designed control console.

It’s the perfect CNC machining partner for prototype or low-medium volume components.

In addition to this increased CNC activity, we’ve also seen a rapid increase in tooling orders. Things have been so busy that we’ve had to recruit new toolmakers just to stay ahead of the curve.

Our mould shop has been the main beneficiary of this increased demand for tooling, with plastic injection mouldings suddenly being required from these new tools.

So, all things considered, it’s been a busy old time at RP. Having said all of that, we’re still very much open for business!

If you have any CNC machining, plastic injection moulding, or aluminium tooling requirements, please do not hesitate to call +44 (0)121 550 5868.

Thank you for your continued support.

RP Technologies Launches New Website

New Website for RP

RP Technologies is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, which showcases our very best toolmaking, injection moulding, CNC machining, and rapid prototyping.

RP has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years. As part of these successes, we’ve reinvested in the business at every opportunity. We’ve purchased new CNC machines, new CMM equipment, increased our workforce, and renovated our production facility.

Following these investments, we felt the time was right to enhance our commercial operations by commissioning a new website.

This new website is larger in scope than our previous website and shows off our key services in more detail. We hope it will be a useful information tool for those who want to learn more about aluminium tooling, plastic injection moulding, and CNC machining.

This website profiles each of these key service areas in detail, as well as our new fast turnaround service, RP Rapid, which supplies tooling and parts in as little as 7 business days.

In addition, there is a section which explores some of our key markets in more detail. There is also an About section which provides information on our company history and achievements, as well as an in-depth Resources section, which contains video material, company news, and technical articles about the tooling and injection moulding processes.

Please take a moment to have a look around this website. If you have any feedback you’d like to share with us, please email info@rptechnologies.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for your continued support.

RP Technologies is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, which showcases our very best toolmaking, injection moulding, CNC machining, and rapid prototyping.

RP has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years. As part of these successes, we’ve reinvested in the business at every opportunity. We’ve purchased new CNC machines, new CMM equipment, increased our workforce, and renovated our production facility.

Following these investments, we felt the time was right to enhance our commercial operations by commissioning a new website.

This new website is larger in scope than our previous website and shows off our key services in more detail. We hope it will be a useful information tool for those who want to learn more about aluminium tooling, plastic injection moulding, and CNC machining.

This website profiles each of these key service areas in detail, as well as our new fast turnaround service, RP Rapid, which supplies tooling and parts in as little as 7 business days.

In addition, there is a section which explores some of our key markets in more detail. There is also an About section which provides information on our company history and achievements, as well as an in-depth Resources section, which contains video material, company news, and technical articles about the tooling and injection moulding processes.

Please take a moment to have a look around this website. If you have any feedback you’d like to share with us, please email info@rptechnologies.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you.

Thank you for your continued support.

RP Rapid Gains Pace!

New Fast Turnaround Service Marches On!

It’s now been several months since RP Technologies launched its latest venture, RP Rapid.

We launched Rapid on 4th May and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response. There have been many enquiries and quite a few subsequent orders for Rapid tooling and parts.

We are beginning to establish a very strong base of Rapid customers across a variety of different industries. We have just completed projects for companies in the medical, aerospace and automotive sectors, to name just a few.

Each of these projects has been delivered with the usual RP standard of quality, and within timeframe, with some projects even being completed ahead of schedule.

We’ve done such a good job of fulfilling our promise on fast turnarounds that a third of our new Rapid customers have already placed follow-up Rapid orders. There is one customer who is so pleased with our service that they’ve already placed 8 separate Rapid orders!

We’re delighted that so many of our customers, when faced with fast-approaching deadlines for tooling and parts, choose to put their trust in RP, rather than in anyone else.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported this new venture.

If you have a project which you need turned around quickly, why not contact RP? You can email info@rptechnologies.co.uk, or you can call 0121 550 5868.

RP Rapid

Fast Tactics, Fast Plastics

It’s now been several months since RP Technologies launched its latest venture, RP Rapid.

We launched Rapid on 4th May and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response. There have been many enquiries and quite a few subsequent orders for Rapid tooling and parts.

We are beginning to establish a very strong base of Rapid customers across a variety of different industries. We have just completed projects for companies in the medical, aerospace and automotive sectors, to name just a few.

Each of these projects has been delivered with the usual RP standard of quality, and within timeframe, with some projects even being completed ahead of schedule.

We’ve done such a good job of fulfilling our promise on fast turnarounds that a third of our new Rapid customers have already placed follow-up Rapid orders. There is one customer who is so pleased with our service that they’ve already placed 8 separate Rapid orders!

We’re delighted that so many of our customers, when faced with fast-approaching deadlines for tooling and parts, choose to put their trust in RP, rather than in anyone else.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported this new venture.

If you have a project which you need turned around quickly, why not contact RP? You can email info@rptechnologies.co.uk, or you can call 0121 550 5868.

RP Rapid

Fast Tactics, Fast Plastics

Andy Potter Wins Rave Reviews

Quality Engineer Gets Standing Ovation

As you’ll probably be aware by now, our Quality Engineer, Andy Potter, has quite a talent for amateur dramatics. When he’s not puzzling over measurements and dimensions here at RP, there is nowhere else he’d rather be than on stage somewhere, acting, singing, or dancing.

Fresh from his recent performance at the Dormston Theatre in Sedgley, where he played former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, in Made in Dagenham, Andy has now made his long-awaited return to the stage with his latest project.

Andy recently appeared in two short original comedy plays with Action Theatre Group. These plays were performed at Gig Mill Methodist Church Hall in Stourbridge on 30th September and 1st October.

‘Minus 272’ and ‘It Never Rains’ were both written by local author, David Robertson, and had previously won awards at the Worcestershire Theatre Festival.

In ‘Minus 272’, Andy played Tom, a betrayed husband who wants to teach his wife a lesson, and so he embarks on an ‘Extreme Tourism’ trip. He ends up becoming marooned on an ice planet 2 billion years into the future. His only companion is a partially damaged computer.

‘It Never Rains’ is a cautionary tale about the impact of global warming. A granddaughter and her grandfather are trapped in a building after a flood takes place. Andy played a Fire and Rescue Officer.

Following the success of these plays, Andy’s attention will now turn to a production of his pantomime, ‘The Princess and the Pea,’ which Andy wrote during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is scheduled to be performed for the first time ever at the Pelsall Methodist Church Hall in February 2023. Casting has already begun, with costumes currently being sourced.

For the first time in his stage and performance career, Andy will step into the maestro’s shoes and direct ‘The Princess and the Pea’ himself.

If you are interested in hearing more about this work in progress, please email Andy at andrew.potter@rptechnologies.co.uk to find out more.

 

As you’ll probably be aware by now, our Quality Engineer, Andy Potter, has quite a talent for amateur dramatics. When he’s not puzzling over measurements and dimensions here at RP, there is nowhere else he’d rather be than on stage somewhere, acting, singing, or dancing.

Fresh from his recent performance at the Dormston Theatre in Sedgley, where he played former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, in Made in Dagenham, Andy has now made his long-awaited return to the stage with his latest project.

Andy recently appeared in two short original comedy plays with Action Theatre Group. These plays were performed at Gig Mill Methodist Church Hall in Stourbridge on 30th September and 1st October.

‘Minus 272’ and ‘It Never Rains’ were both written by local author, David Robertson, and had previously won awards at the Worcestershire Theatre Festival.

In ‘Minus 272’, Andy played Tom, a betrayed husband who wants to teach his wife a lesson, and so he embarks on an ‘Extreme Tourism’ trip. He ends up becoming marooned on an ice planet 2 billion years into the future. His only companion is a partially damaged computer.

‘It Never Rains’ is a cautionary tale about the impact of global warming. A granddaughter and her grandfather are trapped in a building after a flood takes place. Andy played a Fire and Rescue Officer.

Following the success of these plays, Andy’s attention will now turn to a production of his pantomime, ‘The Princess and the Pea,’ which Andy wrote during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is scheduled to be performed for the first time ever at the Pelsall Methodist Church Hall in February 2023. Casting has already begun, with costumes currently being sourced.

For the first time in his stage and performance career, Andy will step into the maestro’s shoes and direct ‘The Princess and the Pea’ himself.

If you are interested in hearing more about this work in progress, please email Andy at andrew.potter@rptechnologies.co.uk to find out more.

New General Manager

Promotion for Russell Hopkins

RP Technologies is delighted to announce that Russell Hopkins has been promoted to the position of General Manager.

Russell has been a big part of RP’s success over the years and this latest promotion is a reflection of his considerable contribution during this time.

Russell, one of our longest serving members of staff, joined RP back in 2005, shortly after the company had been founded. He began his career here as a Toolmaker. Keen to do well and progress, he soon turned his hand to many different things, quickly gaining his forklift truck licence and embarking upon a dedicated programme of in-house CNC training.

In 2010, he was promoted to the role of CNC Programmer. During this time, he further developed his skills, and became something of an expert in spark erosion, for which he attended external training.

In 2018, Russell was promoted again, this time to the position of Toolroom Supervisor, where he managed the various projects which came through the tooling department on a day-to-day basis.

Following Paul Roe’s promotion to the role of Director at the end of 2021, Russell has now been promoted again, and will take over Paul’s previous position as General Manager.

Russell said: “I’m really pleased to be given the opportunity to embark upon this new challenge. I’ve very much enjoyed my time working with all the team at RP over the years. We have an excellent group of people at the company, and I’m delighted that I will be able to begin my new role safe in the knowledge that I have the full support of everyone here.

I would like to thank Darren, Lisa and Paul for this opportunity.”

Darren Withers, Co-owner and Director of RP Technologies, said: “Russell has been very important to us over the years at RP. His latest promotion is a fitting testament to his conscientious and dedicated approach, and to his excellent work.

We are a company that has always believed in investing in its staff and promoting from within. Our people are very important to us, and this latest appointment represents our sustained commitment to supporting the professional development of our employees wherever possible.”

Congratulations, Russ! From all the team at RP.

RP Technologies is delighted to announce that Russell Hopkins has been promoted to the position of General Manager.

Russell has been a big part of RP’s success over the years and this latest promotion is a reflection of his considerable contribution during this time.

Russell, one of our longest serving members of staff, joined RP back in 2005, shortly after the company had been founded. He began his career here as a Toolmaker. Keen to do well and progress, he soon turned his hand to many different things, quickly gaining his forklift truck licence and embarking upon a dedicated programme of in-house CNC training.

In 2010, he was promoted to the role of CNC Programmer. During this time, he further developed his skills, and became something of an expert in spark erosion, for which he attended external training.

In 2018, Russell was promoted again, this time to the position of Toolroom Supervisor, where he managed the various projects which came through the tooling department on a day-to-day basis.

Following Paul Roe’s promotion to the role of Director at the end of 2021, Russell has now been promoted again, and will take over Paul’s previous position as General Manager.

Russell said: “I’m really pleased to be given the opportunity to embark upon this new challenge. I’ve very much enjoyed my time working with all the team at RP over the years. We have an excellent group of people at the company, and I’m delighted that I will be able to begin my new role safe in the knowledge that I have the full support of everyone here.

I would like to thank Darren, Lisa and Paul for this opportunity.”

Darren Withers, Co-owner and Director of RP Technologies, said: “Russell has been very important to us over the years at RP. His latest promotion is a fitting testament to his conscientious and dedicated approach, and to his excellent work.

We are a company that has always believed in investing in its staff and promoting from within. Our people are very important to us, and this latest appointment represents our sustained commitment to supporting the professional development of our employees wherever possible.”

Congratulations, Russ! From all the team at RP.

Work Experience For Local Student

RP Supports Talented Young Student

Following our recent newsletter, in which we profiled our new apprentice toolmaker, Ellyott Meakin, we have, this week, also had the pleasure of having a work experience student with us here at RP Technologies.

Adrian Fok, 18, has been spending time with our production team, where he has been learning about aluminium tooling and plastic injection moulding.

Adrian, from Bromsgrove, has grand ambitions in life. When asked what he wanted to do in his future career, Adrian simply replied, after a slight pause, “Err… I guess I’ll just probably either build or invent rocket engines.”

While this may seem like a far-fetched dream for some, for Adrian this is a distinct possibility. Adrian has received excellent reviews from the management team here at RP, who have been quick to praise him for his intelligence, his inquisitiveness, and his willingness to learn.

“I just like to learn new things,” Adrian said. “I like to learn how things are made. If I don’t know how things are made, how can I possibly be an inventor, or come up with new ideas?”

The first real step for Adrian on his long journey towards achieving such lofty goals will be taken very soon, when he begins a four year course in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London.

But Adrian isn’t getting carried away just yet. When asked about his future, he said: “I don’t know yet whether I will work for an employer, or just for myself, inventing things. It’s too far away at the moment. I haven’t decided. All I know is that I want to continue to learn new things for now.”

And learning new things is something we’ve been helping Adrian with. We have given him full access to each facet of our operations. He has divided his time between production management, our toolmaking team, and some of our specialist engineers. And he still has a lot left to do before the week is out. “I’ll be learning about spark erosion later in the week, which I’m particularly looking forward to, and I’ll also be observing some plastic injection moulding work.”

“I’ve learned many things I didn’t know, including how to programme CNC machines. I’ve also spent several enjoyable hours with the CAD designers, learning how they approach each unique project.”

Russell Hopkins, Production Manager, was quick to pay tribute to Adrian’s efforts: “We’ve very much enjoyed having Adrian with us this week. He has been eager to learn and is clearly very intelligent. It has been a pleasure to field his many questions, and we wish him the very best in his studies. If he does one day invent a rocket that goes to the moon, we hope he will remember his time with us!”

For Adrian, the week has been a very positive experience, one which will supplement his studies and give him an appreciation of the practical working environment. “I have really enjoyed my week,” said Adrian. “The people at RP have been extremely nice, and I have learned many new things.”

Talented and enthusiastic young people like Adrian and Ellyott represent the future of our industry, and RP is committed to ensuring that we do all we can to support and foster their learning.

All the best with your university studies, Adrian! We’ve enjoyed your company, and everyone at RP would like to wish you good luck in your future career.

Following our recent newsletter, in which we profiled our new apprentice toolmaker, Ellyott Meakin, we have, this week, also had the pleasure of having a work experience student with us here at RP Technologies.

Adrian Fok, 18, has been spending time with our production team, where he has been learning about aluminium tooling and plastic injection moulding.

Adrian, from Bromsgrove, has grand ambitions in life. When asked what he wanted to do in his future career, Adrian simply replied, after a slight pause, “Err… I guess I’ll just probably either build or invent rocket engines.”

While this may seem like a far-fetched dream for some, for Adrian this is a distinct possibility. Adrian has received excellent reviews from the management team here at RP, who have been quick to praise him for his intelligence, his inquisitiveness, and his willingness to learn.

“I just like to learn new things,” Adrian said. “I like to learn how things are made. If I don’t know how things are made, how can I possibly be an inventor, or come up with new ideas?”

The first real step for Adrian on his long journey towards achieving such lofty goals will be taken very soon, when he begins a four year course in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London.

But Adrian isn’t getting carried away just yet. When asked about his future, he said: “I don’t know yet whether I will work for an employer, or just for myself, inventing things. It’s too far away at the moment. I haven’t decided. All I know is that I want to continue to learn new things for now.”

And learning new things is something we’ve been helping Adrian with. We have given him full access to each facet of our operations. He has divided his time between production management, our toolmaking team, and some of our specialist engineers. And he still has a lot left to do before the week is out. “I’ll be learning about spark erosion later in the week, which I’m particularly looking forward to, and I’ll also be observing some plastic injection moulding work.”

“I’ve learned many things I didn’t know, including how to programme CNC machines. I’ve also spent several enjoyable hours with the CAD designers, learning how they approach each unique project.”

Russell Hopkins, Production Manager, was quick to pay tribute to Adrian’s efforts: “We’ve very much enjoyed having Adrian with us this week. He has been eager to learn and is clearly very intelligent. It has been a pleasure to field his many questions, and we wish him the very best in his studies. If he does one day invent a rocket that goes to the moon, we hope he will remember his time with us!”

For Adrian, the week has been a very positive experience, one which will supplement his studies and give him an appreciation of the practical working environment. “I have really enjoyed my week,” said Adrian. “The people at RP have been extremely nice, and I have learned many new things.”

Talented and enthusiastic young people like Adrian and Ellyott represent the future of our industry, and RP is committed to ensuring that we do all we can to support and foster their learning.

All the best with your university studies, Adrian! We’ve enjoyed your company, and everyone at RP would like to wish you good luck in your future career.

RP Recruits New Apprentice Toolmaker

RP Welcomes Apprentice Toolmaker

RP Technologies has recently recruited a new apprentice.

Ellyott Meakin, 18, has just finished his studies and has joined our team of specialist toolmakers. Their in depth knowledge and vast experience will be hugely beneficial to Ellyott, as he embarks upon a dedicated programme of learning with us.

For RP, Ellyott represents the next generation of toolmakers. He will carry RP’s toolmaking forward for many years, so that our longstanding customers can rest assured that the same level of quality which we have become synonymous with will sustain itself for the many years and decades ahead. Ellyott will add energy, enthusiasm and freshness to our daily operations, allowing us to evolve, adapt and nurture new talent.

Darren Withers, co-owner and director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ellyott to our team. We were all impressed by his desire to learn and his determination to succeed. A professional approach and a willingness to take on board constructive feedback are important qualities in any workplace.

Ellyott’s time will be apportioned between various members of the tooling department, so that he can learn different skills from each of them. This will give him an appreciation of the toolmaking process from A-Z.

It is our hope that in the fullness of time, Ellyott will be confident enough to work without supervision on each aspect of the toolmaking process. He now has the opportunity to build a successful career, and we will fully support him in his efforts to do so.”

Welcome to the team, Ellyott!

RP Technologies Celebrates 2000th Tool

2000 Tools and Counting!

It’s been a busy old year so far for RP Technologies.

In May, we launched our brand new service, RP Rapid. This is a fast turnaround service which supplies tooling and parts in as little as 7 business days.

In June, we celebrated our 17th anniversary as a business.

And now, in July, we’ve reached another very significant milestone.

RP Technologies is proud to announce that it has recently received an order for what will be its 2000th tool!

Yes, very nearly 2000 tools produced in 17 years! This equates to, on average, approximately 117 tools a year.

This is a special achievement and represents a great contribution to British manufacturing (even if we do say so ourselves!).

We would like to thank our customers for making this incredible achievement possible! We would also like to thank all of our staff for their efforts during these past 17 years!

Here’s to the next 2000!!

It’s been a busy old year so far for RP Technologies.

In May, we launched our brand new service, RP Rapid. This is a fast turnaround service which supplies tooling and parts in as little as 7 business days.

In June, we celebrated our 17th anniversary as a business.

And now, in July, we’ve reached another very significant milestone.

RP Technologies is proud to announce that it has recently received an order for what will be its 2000th tool!

Yes, very nearly 2000 tools produced in 17 years! This equates to, on average, approximately 117 tools a year.

This is a special achievement and represents a great contribution to British manufacturing (even if we do say so ourselves!).

We would like to thank our customers for making this incredible achievement possible! We would also like to thank all of our staff for their efforts during these past 17 years!

Here’s to the next 2000!!

RP Invests in CMM Machine

New CMM Machine for Quality Engineering

Quality Engineering is a very important part of our work at RP Technologies. Our Quality Engineers ensure that the expectations of our customers are met at all times. They closely monitor projects to ensure that the highest levels of precision and accuracy are achieved.

In recent times, we have made considerable investment in this area of our business. This investment includes employment of additional members of staff, renovation of the quality offices, and investment in high precision measuring tools and equipment.

In keeping with our desire to constantly evolve and improve our service, we have recently invested in a state-of-the-art CMM machine to replace our existing one. This new machine will significantly enhance the quality of our work and improve operational efficiencies.

The QCT Quantum 4 CMM machine includes a hard anodised aluminium X axis bridge and Z spindle with air bearings. It is fitted with high precision Renishaw digital reader heads and scales. Superior Maxon motor gearbox units are used on all drive axis. The controller is QCT ACC3000 (USB) and a high-quality joystick unit ensures full multi-axis control.

What makes the QCT Quantum 4 stand out from the crowd is its QCT Inspect 3D-PRO Software. The systems graphics engine allows for quick calculations and the construction of complex features. It has a comprehensive set of reporting tools for ease of analysis and the tracking of precise data. Reports are exportable in Excel and PDF formats and can be shared with colleagues and customers alike. Additional features include SPC Charts, Measurement MACROs and PIPE Measurement.

The QCT Quantum 4 also boasts the Renishaw Probe System. This is a fully motorised indexing head designed specifically for use on CNC CMMs. It provides 720 indexing positions in 7.5 degree indexing steps in both axes. The MCR20 rack allows TP20 modules to be automatically changed during a program. This probe system comes with a PH10T probe head with TP20 module and an MCR20 rack.

Quality Engineer, Andy Potter, said: “The QCT Quantum 4 will save inspection time and increase the scope and accuracy of our measuring facility.

It will also allow us to more easily compare both tooling and product to CAD. We will be able to create programs which will run automatically, as well as generate dimensional reports directly from the measured component.

The purchase of the QCT Quantum 4 reflects RP’s sustained commitment to investing in areas where we can return added value to our customers, and where we can stay ahead of our competitors.”

This machine will also give us greater scope for introducing additional quality engineering services. Our aim is to continue to expand our quality engineering so that we can provide a more comprehensive suite of solutions. Watch this space for more developments…

Quality Engineering is a very important part of our work at RP Technologies. Our Quality Engineers ensure that the expectations of our customers are met at all times. They closely monitor projects to ensure that the highest levels of precision and accuracy are achieved.

In recent times, we have made considerable investment in this area of our business. This investment includes employment of additional members of staff, renovation of the quality offices, and investment in high precision measuring tools and equipment.

In keeping with our desire to constantly evolve and improve our service, we have recently invested in a state-of-the-art CMM machine to replace our existing one. This new machine will significantly enhance the quality of our work and improve operational efficiencies.

The QCT Quantum 4 CMM machine includes a hard anodised aluminium X axis bridge and Z spindle with air bearings. It is fitted with high precision Renishaw digital reader heads and scales. Superior Maxon motor gearbox units are used on all drive axis. The controller is QCT ACC3000 (USB) and a high-quality joystick unit ensures full multi-axis control.

What makes the QCT Quantum 4 stand out from the crowd is its QCT Inspect 3D-PRO Software. The systems graphics engine allows for quick calculations and the construction of complex features. It has a comprehensive set of reporting tools for ease of analysis and the tracking of precise data. Reports are exportable in Excel and PDF formats and can be shared with colleagues and customers alike. Additional features include SPC Charts, Measurement MACROs and PIPE Measurement.

The QCT Quantum 4 also boasts the Renishaw Probe System. This is a fully motorised indexing head designed specifically for use on CNC CMMs. It provides 720 indexing positions in 7.5 degree indexing steps in both axes. The MCR20 rack allows TP20 modules to be automatically changed during a program. This probe system comes with a PH10T probe head with TP20 module and an MCR20 rack.

Quality Engineer, Andy Potter, said: “The QCT Quantum 4 will save inspection time and increase the scope and accuracy of our measuring facility.

It will also allow us to more easily compare both tooling and product to CAD. We will be able to create programs which will run automatically, as well as generate dimensional reports directly from the measured component.

The purchase of the QCT Quantum 4 reflects RP’s sustained commitment to investing in areas where we can return added value to our customers, and where we can stay ahead of our competitors.”

This machine will also give us greater scope for introducing additional quality engineering services. Our aim is to continue to expand our quality engineering so that we can provide a more comprehensive suite of solutions. Watch this space for more developments…

RP Teams Up With MBA Polymers

RP Joins Forces With Plastics Recycling Firm

As a specialist supplier of aluminium tooling and injection moulding services, RP Technologies, like most manufacturers, gets through a lot of production-based materials.

RP recognises that as a manufacturer we have a responsibility to ensure that we are adhering to the highest possible standards of environmental efficacy.

Therefore, RP is proud to announce that it has partnered with MBA Polymers, a specialist plastics recycling company based in Nottinghamshire.

MBA has several branches, including in Birmingham, where our plastic goes initially. Here, it is batched up with similar materials and reduced in size to 10mm chips. Depending on the material, this plastic is then sent to either the Worksop or Dover depots, where it is blended and compounded into recycled polymer which can then be reused.

Mixed material is shredded and processed in order to separate the good single grade material. Any material which can’t be separated is used as an alternative source of fuel.

Paul Roe, Director at RP, said:

“RP is committed to achieving the highest standards of environmental best practice.

In addition to plastics, we have also begun an ambitious project to recycle redundant tools which our customers no longer require. Working in conjunction with our clients, we have already palletised and dispatched approximately 150 aluminium tools for recycling.

With the help of our supply chain partners, it is our hope that we can continue to improve our carbon footprint and to maintain the best possible practices in everything that we do.”

As a specialist supplier of aluminium tooling and injection moulding services, RP Technologies, like most manufacturers, gets through a lot of production-based materials.

RP recognises that as a manufacturer we have a responsibility to ensure that we are adhering to the highest possible standards of environmental efficacy.

Therefore, RP is proud to announce that it has partnered with MBA Polymers, a specialist plastics recycling company based in Nottinghamshire.

MBA has several branches, including in Birmingham, where our plastic goes initially. Here, it is batched up with similar materials and reduced in size to 10mm chips. Depending on the material, this plastic is then sent to either the Worksop or Dover depots, where it is blended and compounded into recycled polymer which can then be reused.

Mixed material is shredded and processed in order to separate the good single grade material. Any material which can’t be separated is used as an alternative source of fuel.

Paul Roe, Director at RP, said:

“RP is committed to achieving the highest standards of environmental best practice.

In addition to plastics, we have also begun an ambitious project to recycle redundant tools which our customers no longer require. Working in conjunction with our clients, we have already palletised and dispatched approximately 150 aluminium tools for recycling.

With the help of our supply chain partners, it is our hope that we can continue to improve our carbon footprint and to maintain the best possible practices in everything that we do.”

RP Says Farewell to Founding Member

Jane Mitchell to Leave RP

RP Technologies bade farewell to a very special member of its team this week.

On 15th August, Jane Mitchell, one of RP’s founding members, left her role as a company director after 17 years of dedicated service.

RP began in 2005 in a small unit in Cradley Heath in the West Midlands, before it quickly outgrew its premises and moved to Halesowen in 2010. Due to continued expansion and increased orders, the company moved again, this time to Kingswinford, its current base, in 2014.

Jane has been highly dedicated and proactive in her approach to her work. She has led from the front and has always been on hand to identify challenges and to resolve them.

Jane will now embark on a new chapter in her life with her husband, Brett, who also retired last year. Jane has many things she wants to do, including travelling and sewing.

Everyone at RP would like to thank Jane for her many efforts over the years, and to wish her the very best for her future.

Jane has made a significant contribution to the continued evolution of RP, from start-up company to one of the UK’s market leaders in the tooling and injection moulding sector. RP would not be where it is today without her contribution.

I’m sure you will all want to join me in wishing Jane a very happy retirement.

RP Technologies bade farewell to a very special member of its team this week.

On 15th August, Jane Mitchell, one of RP’s founding members, left her role as a company director after 17 years of dedicated service.

RP began in 2005 in a small unit in Cradley Heath in the West Midlands, before it quickly outgrew its premises and moved to Halesowen in 2010. Due to continued expansion and increased orders, the company moved again, this time to Kingswinford, its current base, in 2014.

Jane has been highly dedicated and proactive in her approach to her work. She has led from the front and has always been on hand to identify challenges and to resolve them.

Jane will now embark on a new chapter in her life with her husband, Brett, who also retired last year. Jane has many things she wants to do, including travelling and sewing.

Everyone at RP would like to thank Jane for her many efforts over the years, and to wish her the very best for her future.

Jane has made a significant contribution to the continued evolution of RP, from start-up company to one of the UK’s market leaders in the tooling and injection moulding sector. RP would not be where it is today without her contribution.

I’m sure you will all want to join me in wishing Jane a very happy retirement.

RP Launches Fast Turnaround Service

RP Introduces RP Rapid

RP Technologies is proud to announce that from 4th May we will be launching our new service, RP Rapid.

RP has enjoyed its best-ever opening quarter, and, in line with continued expansion in production and staffing, we have decided that now is the right time to introduce RP Rapid.

For the past fifteen years, we have been providing aluminium tooling and plastic injection moulded components in highly competitive lead times.

Unlike many of our competitors, we have manufactured complex components which are true to their original intent, and which do not incur expensive or timely design changes.

On many occasions, we have turned these parts around in double fast time, often completing them well before their proposed finish dates.

It is therefore quite logical that we introduce a supplementary service which will cater specifically for the fast turnaround of parts.

RP Rapid will do the same things as RP Technologies – it will just do them much faster.

From receipt of final CAD and purchase order, RP Rapid will complete tooling and produce sample parts in as little as 7 working days.

The service will be simple-to-use, streamlined and easily navigable. We won’t burden you with complex guidelines and confusing stipulations. You won’t have to spend hours wading through endless amounts of small print to determine what is eligible for fast turnaround and what isn’t. We’ll simply receive your enquiry and tell you what we can do and what we can’t do. We’ll do all the work so that you don’t have to get bogged down in the detail.

Our team of expert CAD designers, engineers, toolmakers and moulding specialists will oversee your project from start to finish, ensuring that it stays on time and is completed to the highest possible standard.

As is the case with RP Technologies, ownership of RP Rapid’s tooling will belong to the customer. We will store the tool in a secure facility at no extra charge, so that repeat parts can be produced at very short notice and in the quickest possible time.

So if your back is against the wall and you find yourself needing tooling and parts in double quick time, RP Rapid could be just the solution you’re looking for.

RP Rapid.

Fast tactics, fast plastics.

For more information, please email info@rptechnologies.co.uk, or call +44 (0) 121 550 5868.

RP Technologies is proud to announce that from 4th May we will be launching our new service, RP Rapid.

RP has enjoyed its best-ever opening quarter, and, in line with continued expansion in production and staffing, we have decided that now is the right time to introduce RP Rapid.

For the past fifteen years, we have been providing aluminium tooling and plastic injection moulded components in highly competitive lead times.

Unlike many of our competitors, we have manufactured complex components which are true to their original intent, and which do not incur expensive or timely design changes.

On many occasions, we have turned these parts around in double fast time, often completing them well before their proposed finish dates.

It is therefore quite logical that we introduce a supplementary service which will cater specifically for the fast turnaround of parts.

RP Rapid will do the same things as RP Technologies – it will just do them much faster.

From receipt of final CAD and purchase order, RP Rapid will complete tooling and produce sample parts in as little as 7 working days.

The service will be simple-to-use, streamlined and easily navigable. We won’t burden you with complex guidelines and confusing stipulations. You won’t have to spend hours wading through endless amounts of small print to determine what is eligible for fast turnaround and what isn’t. We’ll simply receive your enquiry and tell you what we can do and what we can’t do. We’ll do all the work so that you don’t have to get bogged down in the detail.

Our team of expert CAD designers, engineers, toolmakers and moulding specialists will oversee your project from start to finish, ensuring that it stays on time and is completed to the highest possible standard.

As is the case with RP Technologies, ownership of RP Rapid’s tooling will belong to the customer. We will store the tool in a secure facility at no extra charge, so that repeat parts can be produced at very short notice and in the quickest possible time.

So if your back is against the wall and you find yourself needing tooling and parts in double quick time, RP Rapid could be just the solution you’re looking for.

RP Rapid.

Fast tactics, fast plastics.

For more information, please email info@rptechnologies.co.uk, or call +44 (0) 121 550 5868.

Quality Engineer Takes to the Stage

Andy Potter Hits the Stage

When RP hired new recruit, Andy Potter, we thought we knew exactly what we were getting.

As our new Quality Engineer, we knew that Andy would be detailed, methodical and precise. We also knew that he would be highly skilled in quality assurance, risk assessments and problem solving.

It turns out, however, that there are more strings to Andy’s bow than even we could have imagined.

For the past month, Andy has been hiding a hidden talent from us all… a talent for musical theatre.

Unbeknownst to everyone at RP, it transpires that Andy is about to appear on stage in a production of ‘Made in Dagenham.’ The show, which takes place in May at The Mill Theatre in Sedgley, is based on the true story of a group of sewing machinists who went on strike in 1968 to obtain equal pay.

There was a successful film made in 2010, starring Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins, followed by a 2014 West End musical.

Andy will play former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. Andy has his own pipe and overcoat already selected, ensuring that he can slip effortlessly into character at a moment’s notice.

But what does Andy think about taking on the role of such an influential figure in British political history? “I have never acted before so it will certainly be a challenge,” Andy joked. “And I am definitely old enough to remember him. In the show, I will embellish his character somewhat and will play him as a buffoon. I will just have to ensure that I remember my lines!”

So how does someone who has never acted before suddenly end up on the stage? “I reached a point when I decided it was time to do the things that I had always wanted to do but had never got round to,” Andy recalls. “I made a concerted effort to get out there and make these things happen.”

And Andy certainly did that. Not content with tearing up the stage, Andy decided that he could be just as useful behind the scenes as well. “During COVID, like most people, I had plenty of time on my hands, so I decided to sit down and write a pantomime. Six weeks later, I’d finished it.”

The pantomime that Andy has written is adapted from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen called ‘The Princess and the Pea.’ It is about a prince who wants to marry a princess but the only ladies he meets are rude and spiteful and vain. One night, a charming young lady knocks the door to the palace and claims to be a princess. The prince decides to put her sensitivity to the ultimate test.

Andy sent his finished script to several theatre companies, and it wasn’t long before the phone rang. “I’m in talks with a theatre company who have asked if they can stage it. They have also asked me if I would be interested in directing it! I certainly didn’t expect to have that kind of opportunity.”

So, in a short period of time, Andy has gone from Quality Engineer, to writer, to actor, to (potentially!) director.

Well done, Andy Potter! At least you didn’t spend all of lockdown procrastinating!

The dates for the performance of ‘Made in Dagenham’ at The Mill Theatre in Sedgley have not yet been announced. If you are interested in seeing Andy as Harold Wilson, please check for updates on the theatre website: https://www.thedormstoncentre.co.uk/theatre. Alternatively, if you would like to check on the progress of Andy’s pantomime, please email andrew.potter@rptechnologies.co.uk.

When RP hired new recruit, Andy Potter, we thought we knew exactly what we were getting.

As our new Quality Engineer, we knew that Andy would be detailed, methodical and precise. We also knew that he would be highly skilled in quality assurance, risk assessments and problem solving.

It turns out, however, that there are more strings to Andy’s bow than even we could have imagined.

For the past month, Andy has been hiding a hidden talent from us all… a talent for musical theatre.

Unbeknownst to everyone at RP, it transpires that Andy is about to appear on stage in a production of ‘Made in Dagenham.’ The show, which takes place in May at The Mill Theatre in Sedgley, is based on the true story of a group of sewing machinists who went on strike in 1968 to obtain equal pay.

There was a successful film made in 2010, starring Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins, followed by a 2014 West End musical.

Andy will play former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. Andy has his own pipe and overcoat already selected, ensuring that he can slip effortlessly into character at a moment’s notice.

But what does Andy think about taking on the role of such an influential figure in British political history? “I have never acted before so it will certainly be a challenge,” Andy joked. “And I am definitely old enough to remember him. In the show, I will embellish his character somewhat and will play him as a buffoon. I will just have to ensure that I remember my lines!”

So how does someone who has never acted before suddenly end up on the stage? “I reached a point when I decided it was time to do the things that I had always wanted to do but had never got round to,” Andy recalls. “I made a concerted effort to get out there and make these things happen.”

And Andy certainly did that. Not content with tearing up the stage, Andy decided that he could be just as useful behind the scenes as well. “During COVID, like most people, I had plenty of time on my hands, so I decided to sit down and write a pantomime. Six weeks later, I’d finished it.”

The pantomime that Andy has written is adapted from the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen called ‘The Princess and the Pea.’ It is about a prince who wants to marry a princess but the only ladies he meets are rude and spiteful and vain. One night, a charming young lady knocks the door to the palace and claims to be a princess. The prince decides to put her sensitivity to the ultimate test.

Andy sent his finished script to several theatre companies, and it wasn’t long before the phone rang. “I’m in talks with a theatre company who have asked if they can stage it. They have also asked me if I would be interested in directing it! I certainly didn’t expect to have that kind of opportunity.”

So, in a short period of time, Andy has gone from Quality Engineer, to writer, to actor, to (potentially!) director.

Well done, Andy Potter! At least you didn’t spend all of lockdown procrastinating!

The dates for the performance of ‘Made in Dagenham’ at The Mill Theatre in Sedgley have not yet been announced. If you are interested in seeing Andy as Harold Wilson, please check for updates on the theatre website: https://www.thedormstoncentre.co.uk/theatre. Alternatively, if you would like to check on the progress of Andy’s pantomime, please email andrew.potter@rptechnologies.co.uk.

Staff Training and Continued Professional Development

Upskilling our Manufacturing Team

Staff training and continued professional development is of the utmost importance to RP Technologies.

We are committed to ensuring that our employees have the best possible skills to excel in everything they do.

As part of this commitment, the company has recently invested in the training and development of a key member of its team.

Garry Duffield, who has been with RP for seven years this month, has recently been promoted to the position of EDM Engineer.

Garry, who was previously part of our tooling and benching department, undertook several months of intensive onsite and external training at Sodick, the supplier of our equipment.

Having completed his training, Gary is now well-versed in the practice of spark erosion, which is a critical part of what we do here at RP.

This is a service that few of our competitors offer in the fast turnaround of aluminium tooling. Instead, they may ask the customer to change design features to enable them to be machined in place. However, this isn’t always possible, as it pushes the design away from intent and causes the design engineer untold problems and delays in timelines for projects.

Having Garry fully trained means that we can provide the highest possible standard of service. It also ensures that our customers are receiving the most expert care and advice for the entire project lifecycle.

Well done, Garry! Keep up the good work.

 

Staff training and continued professional development is of the utmost importance to RP Technologies.

We are committed to ensuring that our employees have the best possible skills to excel in everything they do.

As part of this commitment, the company has recently invested in the training and development of a key member of its team.

Garry Duffield, who has been with RP for seven years this month, has recently been promoted to the position of EDM Engineer.

Garry, who was previously part of our tooling and benching department, undertook several months of intensive onsite and external training at Sodick, the supplier of our equipment.

Having completed his training, Gary is now well-versed in the practice of spark erosion, which is a critical part of what we do here at RP.

This is a service that few of our competitors offer in the fast turnaround of aluminium tooling. Instead, they may ask the customer to change design features to enable them to be machined in place. However, this isn’t always possible, as it pushes the design away from intent and causes the design engineer untold problems and delays in timelines for projects.

Having Garry fully trained means that we can provide the highest possible standard of service. It also ensures that our customers are receiving the most expert care and advice for the entire project lifecycle.

Well done, Garry! Keep up the good work.

Medical Technology UK 2022

Come visit us at the Ricoh Arena

On 16th-17th March, RP Technologies exhibited at Medical Technology UK. This is an exhibition held for product designers, engineers and manufacturers in the medical device sector.

It was the first time the event had been staged here in England, and it took place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

We met many interesting delegates from different parts of the med tech industry, including B2B enterprises, product development specialists and senior figures from the world of academia. We also had an opportunity to engage with engineering and design students, who, to us, represent the next generation of product designers.

RP would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited us at the event. It was particularly interesting to learn about your tooling, prototyping and plastic injection moulding requirements. We enjoyed meeting you all and hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to discuss your projects in greater detail, or if you did not have time to attend the event and would like to talk to us anyway, please do not hesitate to email info@rptechnologies.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can also contact us on 0121 550 5868.

On 16th-17th March, RP Technologies exhibited at Medical Technology UK. This is an exhibition held for product designers, engineers and manufacturers in the medical device sector.

It was the first time the event had been staged here in England, and it took place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

We met many interesting delegates from different parts of the med tech industry, including B2B enterprises, product development specialists and senior figures from the world of academia. We also had an opportunity to engage with engineering and design students, who, to us, represent the next generation of product designers.

RP would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visited us at the event. It was particularly interesting to learn about your tooling, prototyping and plastic injection moulding requirements. We enjoyed meeting you all and hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to discuss your projects in greater detail, or if you did not have time to attend the event and would like to talk to us anyway, please do not hesitate to email info@rptechnologies.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can also contact us on 0121 550 5868.

Investing in Our People – NCG Training

Training and Development Continues at RP

Phil Beese, RP’s Toolroom Supervisor, recently issued a questionnaire to our machinists. The aim was to empower our employees to tell us how they felt further training could improve their skills.

Phil said: “The training we offer at RP Technologies reflects our ongoing desire to strive for continuous improvement across all aspects of the business. Our people are very important to us. We want them to be as skilled as they can possibly be, so that they are fully engaged, and so that our customers can reap the benefits.”

We offer an inclusive process at RP, in which we ask our team to help us to determine their training and development needs.

The feedback Phil received was very positive, with several of the team indicating a willingness to pursue further training.

Based upon the information submitted, Phil paired up candidates with similar training needs and organised tuition accordingly.

This week, John Ellis from NCG CAM Solutions Ltd, came to our Kingswinford head office to train nine of our CNC machinists.

NCG CAM provides CAM software solutions to us, and as part of our continued relationship with them, they also offer training in the use of this software.

The initial training session lasted three full days, with a follow-up session planned 4 weeks from now.

This one-month window will give our machinists an opportunity to apply the skills which they have learned, and to address any practical issues that they encounter when the sessions reconvene.

The course was attended by John Walker, one of our CNC machinists. He said: “John was helpful and very informative with any queries we had.” John also remarked that NCG CAM made the process more streamlined, more straightforward, and more efficient.

Using the latest technology and software to increase operational efficiency reflects our commitment to reduce lead times and deliver the best and most timely service possible.

John added: “Using macros and compound drilling will also be beneficial to us when performing repetitive processes such as clamp plates, ejector plates and risers, leaving us just the setting up on machines to do, and bringing in the relevant macros to complete the parts.”

Well done to Luke White, Luke Jones, Andy Dennies, Ken Pitter, Paul Robinson, Carl Townsend, Curt Freer, Calvin Byfield and John Walker! We hope that you found your training useful, and we hope that you benefit from it.

Phil Beese, RP’s Toolroom Supervisor, recently issued a questionnaire to our machinists. The aim was to empower our employees to tell us how they felt further training could improve their skills.

Phil said: “The training we offer at RP Technologies reflects our ongoing desire to strive for continuous improvement across all aspects of the business. Our people are very important to us. We want them to be as skilled as they can possibly be, so that they are fully engaged, and so that our customers can reap the benefits.”

We offer an inclusive process at RP, in which we ask our team to help us to determine their training and development needs.

The feedback Phil received was very positive, with several of the team indicating a willingness to pursue further training.

Based upon the information submitted, Phil paired up candidates with similar training needs and organised tuition accordingly.

This week, John Ellis from NCG CAM Solutions Ltd, came to our Kingswinford head office to train nine of our CNC machinists.

NCG CAM provides CAM software solutions to us, and as part of our continued relationship with them, they also offer training in the use of this software.

The initial training session lasted three full days, with a follow-up session planned 4 weeks from now.

This one-month window will give our machinists an opportunity to apply the skills which they have learned, and to address any practical issues that they encounter when the sessions reconvene.

The course was attended by John Walker, one of our CNC machinists. He said: “John was helpful and very informative with any queries we had.” John also remarked that NCG CAM made the process more streamlined, more straightforward, and more efficient.

Using the latest technology and software to increase operational efficiency reflects our commitment to reduce lead times and deliver the best and most timely service possible.

John added: “Using macros and compound drilling will also be beneficial to us when performing repetitive processes such as clamp plates, ejector plates and risers, leaving us just the setting up on machines to do, and bringing in the relevant macros to complete the parts.”

Well done to Luke White, Luke Jones, Andy Dennies, Ken Pitter, Paul Robinson, Carl Townsend, Curt Freer, Calvin Byfield and John Walker! We hope that you found your training useful, and we hope that you benefit from it.

Medical Technology 2022

Medical Device Exhibition

RP Technologies is delighted to announce that we will be attending the Medical Technology UK 2022 exhibition. The event will take place on 16-17 March at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

This is a brand-new event which has been organised by the team behind Medical Technology Ireland.

The event will showcase the latest services, components and equipment from the UK medical device design and manufacturing industry.

Organisations in attendance will include medical device manufacturers, major OEMs, SMEs, start-ups and university spin outs.

RP Technologies has worked with many designers and engineers over the years to produce medical devices and equipment for the medical technology sector.

Our expertise has enabled us to build excellent working relationships with many product development and design agencies. We have also worked directly with medical device manufacturing companies to produce prototypes of products and components.

We are really looking forward to showcasing our injection moulding and prototyping services, and to speaking with the many delegates in attendance. We will be exhibiting on both days of the conference, and we can be found at Stand #13.

Please stop by and see us. We look forward to seeing you there.

RP Technologies is delighted to announce that we will be attending the Medical Technology UK 2022 exhibition. The event will take place on 16-17 March at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

This is a brand-new event which has been organised by the team behind Medical Technology Ireland.

The event will showcase the latest services, components and equipment from the UK medical device design and manufacturing industry.

Organisations in attendance will include medical device manufacturers, major OEMs, SMEs, start-ups and university spin outs.

RP Technologies has worked with many designers and engineers over the years to produce medical devices and equipment for the medical technology sector.

Our expertise has enabled us to build excellent working relationships with many product development and design agencies. We have also worked directly with medical device manufacturing companies to produce prototypes of products and components.

We are really looking forward to showcasing our injection moulding and prototyping services, and to speaking with the many delegates in attendance. We will be exhibiting on both days of the conference, and we can be found at Stand #13.

Please stop by and see us. We look forward to seeing you there.

RP Technologies Raises Money for Compton Care

Charitable Donation to Local Care Group

The team at RP Technologies held a Christmas raffle in December. The prize was a great big food hamper, which contained a vast array of festive treats and goodies. The lucky winner was a long-serving member of our production team, Terry Spinks, who has by now no doubt scoffed the lot!

As delighted as were to see our friend, Terry, indulging with gluttonous abandon over Christmas, we were most happy about the fact that we managed to raise £170 for charity.

There are many excellent and very important causes that are worthy of our patronage. However, after some careful consideration, we decided to donate this sum of money to Compton Care.

Based in Wolverhampton, Compton Care is a charitable organisation which helps people living with complex or incurable illnesses. They provide a wide range of care and assistance, including emotional, practical and spiritual support, which enables people to live the best lives possible.

This year marks an historic year for the organisation. It is a rather special anniversary. Founded in 1982, Compton Care has been providing palliative care to those in need for the past 40 years.

With this donation, all the team at RP Technologies would like to commend their efforts over the last four decades. They provide a very significant service to the community, changing people’s lives for the better, and we hope that they will continue to do so for at least another forty years!

The team at RP Technologies held a Christmas raffle in December. The prize was a great big food hamper, which contained a vast array of festive treats and goodies. The lucky winner was a long-serving member of our production team, Terry Spinks, who has by now no doubt scoffed the lot!

As delighted as were to see our friend, Terry, indulging with gluttonous abandon over Christmas, we were most happy about the fact that we managed to raise £170 for charity.

There are many excellent and very important causes that are worthy of our patronage. However, after some careful consideration, we decided to donate this sum of money to Compton Care.

Based in Wolverhampton, Compton Care is a charitable organisation which helps people living with complex or incurable illnesses. They provide a wide range of care and assistance, including emotional, practical and spiritual support, which enables people to live the best lives possible.

This year marks an historic year for the organisation. It is a rather special anniversary. Founded in 1982, Compton Care has been providing palliative care to those in need for the past 40 years.

With this donation, all the team at RP Technologies would like to commend their efforts over the last four decades. They provide a very significant service to the community, changing people’s lives for the better, and we hope that they will continue to do so for at least another forty years!

New Appointments

Toolmaking and Injection Moulding Appointments

RP Technologies is delighted to announce the appointment of three new members of its team. Continued expansion has allowed us to increase our staffing over the recent weeks and months. We have appointed Phil Beese as Toolroom Supervisor, while Wayne Williams and Daniel Barker have also joined RP as Machine Operators.

We are delighted to welcome these new faces and we wish them well in their new roles with us.

RP Technologies is delighted to announce some new appointments in its toolmaking and injection moulding divisions.

We have recently appointed three new members to our team.

Continued expansion has allowed us to increase our staffing over the recent weeks and months.

We have appointed Phil Beese as Toolroom Supervisor. Phil’s key responsibility will be to oversee the toolroom, by being a continual presence on the shopfloor. He will need to ensure that each of our tooling projects for customers is being managed smoothly and is on track to meet its deadline for completion.

Wayne Williams and Daniel Barker have also joined RP as Machine Operators in our injection moulding department. Our injection moulding team have never been so busy, with new projects flying in from all over the place.

Wayne and Daniel will be vital additions to our team, and will help to keep all our injection moulding projects on track and on time.

It’s an exciting time to join RP Technologies. We’re are taking on new customers on a regular basis, and we are also enjoying an increase in the amount of repeat custom we are receiving from some of our most loyal customers.

We are delighted to welcome these new faces and we wish them well in their new roles with us.

Malcolm Williams

RP Stalwart Retires After 15 Years

The team at RP says goodbye this week to one of our longest serving members of staff. Malcolm Williams is leaving the company to take up retirement after fifteen years of dedicated and distinguished service.

Malcolm has been with the company almost since the very beginning, joining us back in 2007. He has been a very loyal and hardworking member of RP and his efforts will be sorely missed, as will his personality and sense of humour.

Malcolm is a very popular member of the RP family, who commands the full respect and admiration of each of his peers. Jane Mitchell, a director here at RP, paid tribute to Malcolm’s efforts: “Malcolm’s conscientiousness, hard work and dedication will be sadly missed. We feel like we are losing a friend. We would like to wish Malcolm a very happy and relaxing retirement.”

Malcolm said that he has many fond memories of his time here at RP, particularly of attending pre-COVID Christmas parties. When asked what he would miss the most, Malcolm said: “I will miss the camaraderie and the people. I have enjoyed coming into work every day.”

We hope very much that Malcolm will continue to pop in from time to time to say hello and to keep us all updated on what he is doing in his retirement.

We wish Malcolm, his wife, Jean, and his family the very best and a happy retirement.

The team at RP says goodbye this week to one of our longest serving members of staff. Malcolm Williams is leaving the company to take up retirement after fifteen years of dedicated and distinguished service.

Malcolm has been with the company almost since the very beginning, joining us back in 2007. He has been a very loyal and hardworking member of RP and his efforts will be sorely missed, as will his personality and sense of humour.

Malcolm is a very popular member of the RP family, who commands the full respect and admiration of each of his peers. Jane Mitchell, a director here at RP, paid tribute to Malcolm’s efforts: “Malcolm’s conscientiousness, hard work and dedication will be sadly missed. We feel like we are losing a friend. We would like to wish Malcolm a very happy and relaxing retirement.”

Malcolm said that he has many fond memories of his time here at RP, particularly of attending pre-COVID Christmas parties. When asked what he would miss the most, Malcolm said: “I will miss the camaraderie and the people. I have enjoyed coming into work every day.”

We hope very much that Malcolm will continue to pop in from time to time to say hello and to keep us all updated on what he is doing in his retirement.

We wish Malcolm, his wife, Jean, and his family the very best and a happy retirement.

News

IS 9001:2015 Annual Audit

We’re delighted to announce that we have passed our annual ISO 9001:2015 Audit.

This fantastic result continues our clean slate of zero non-conformances since becoming ISO 9001 accredited 9 years ago, which we are extremely proud of.

Being ISO 9001 accredited means as an organisation we are focused on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

Quality assurance, control and monitoring procedures are built in to every aspect of our work to ensure we’re always supplying a service that is of the highest quality.  These procedures are reviewed by internal and external audits which are maintained by our dedicated Quality Team

We’re delighted to announce that we have passed our annual ISO 9001:2015 Audit.

This fantastic result continues our clean slate of zero non-conformances since becoming ISO 9001 accredited 9 years ago, which we are extremely proud of.

Being ISO 9001 accredited means as an organisation we are focused on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

Quality assurance, control and monitoring procedures are built in to every aspect of our work to ensure we’re always supplying a service that is of the highest quality.  These procedures are reviewed by internal and external audits which are maintained by our dedicated Quality Team

Christmas Shutdown

Holiday Hours Over Christmas

Please note that our manufacturing facility and offices will be closed over the Christmas period.

We close on Thursday 23rd December and re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2022.

The holiday season is very nearly upon us and we would like to let you know about our Christmas shutdown.

We are working incredibly hard at present to get all our existing tooling, injection moulding, and CNC machining projects finished before the holiday period begins.

We’re confident that each of the tooling, injection moulding, and CNC projects that we are due to finish before the Christmas shutdown will be finished by that time.

Every effort is being made to do this.

Please note that our manufacturing facility and offices will be closed over the Christmas period.

We close on Thursday 23rd December and re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2022.

From everyone at RP, have a very happy Christmas period and New Year.

We look forward to seeing you again in the New Year.

Thank you for your support throughout the last 12 months.

Meet the Toolmaker

GTMA and BPF Host Exclusive Toolmaker Event

GTMA and BPF are hosting an exclusive event next week, ‘Meet The Toolmaker.’

‘Meet the Toolmaker’ brings together UK injection moulding and toolmaking specialists to showcase their services for tooling solutions and moulded components.

RP Technologies are exhibiting at the event and will be showcasing our aluminium tooling and plastic injection moulding capabilities.

We have some samples of our tooling and injection moulding projects on display for delegates to review. We’ll also be taking questions and explaining a little bit more about the type of toolmaking and injection moulding work we do.

If you have a prototype or low-medium volume production project, our team will be on hand to explore your requirements and to give you our expert advice and feedback.

The event is being sponsored by the Gauge and Tool Makers Association (GTMA), and the British Plastics Federation.

‘Meet the Toolmaker’ takes place on Thursday 21st October 2021 at The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry.

Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and the vent will close at 14:30 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Meet The Toolmaker

RP Technologies to Exhibit at TCT 3Sixty 2021

RP To Attend Manufacturing Exhibition

A leading manufacturer of injection moulded prototype and production components are exhibiting at this year’s TCT 3Sixty and are back with a bang after the 2020 event was postponed due to COVID-19.

August 5th 2021, Kingswinford, UK.  RP Technologies are back with a bigger and better stand than ever at the TCT 3Sixty event at the NEC, Birmingham on 28th -30th September. Not only will they be showcasing their aluminium tooling and injection moulding capabilities they have several exciting features to attract visitors to their stand.

RP invite show visitors to stand B41 to test their nerve and ‘Walk the Plank’ on a virtual reality adventure that lets you experience the fear of walking on a plank hundreds of feet above the ground on a Skyscraper building! Will you be brave enough to go all the way to the top of the Skyscraper and walk the plank? The VR technology behind the experience is mind blowing and extremely realistic, you’ll fully immerse yourself within the game, all you need is the courage to take that first step on to the plank.

Visitors can also see RP’s tooling and moulding capabilities in action, the company have a Borche Bi130 injection moulding machine (IMM) on the stand which will be moulding parts from one of RP’s aluminium mould tools. Visitors can take away a sample injection moulded component when they visit the stand.

There will also be an impressive aluminium mould tool on display that RP manufactured to produce a large, complex automotive component in just 5 weeks. The company will also be displaying an array of injection moulded components and their team of experts will be on hand to discuss any upcoming projects visitors may have.

Although TCT 3Sixty mainly showcases additive manufacturing and 3D Printing services, RP Technologies are the next step in the product development process. Their services provide high quality components suitable for testing and development and low to medium volume production.

RP are unique in this sector as they have a without limits approach when it comes to offering solutions to customers. Their ‘without limits’ philosophy means they offer a solution to meet customer needs no matter how complex the component design or process. RP manufacture what has been designed, no changes just a simple solution.

RP Stand

New Employees

RP Takes on More New Staff

It’s been 12 months since the UK went into the first national lockdown.

During these challenging times, we feel very privileged to have some positive news.

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve employed two new members of staff within our injection moulding facility.

Jack is a Moulding Technician and Anita is a Moulding Operative.

Both Jack and Anita have extensive experience within prototype injection moulding and their skills will add extra value to our services.

Jack and Anita will use their valuable experience to increase the speed of our output in our injection moulding facility. They will contribute to our quality control processes and will help to identify any manufacturing issues quickly before they become problems.

Welcome to the team, Jack and Anita!

2020… Well That Wasn’t What We Expected!

Review of the Year

What a strange year 2020 has been, none of us expected how much of an impact COVID-19 would have on the World! It’s been a very unusual and tough year, but we stuck together, pulled through and the New Year is just a few weeks away.

Although this year didn’t go as expected, we’re still extremely proud of what RP have achieved, given the circumstances we’re very pleased to have accomplished the following:

Stayed open and operational

Retained our loyal customer base

Gained new customers, growing our customer base by nearly 30%

Had our 15th Anniversary (celebration pending!)

Passed our ISO 9001 Audit with zero non conformances for the 8th year in a row

Helped the fight against COVID-19 by producing tooling and mouldings for PPE and critical medical devices

We’d like to say a huge “Thank You”  to all of our customers, new and existing. Your ongoing support this year has been more important than ever and we really appreciate the projects you’ve allowed us to complete for you.

Here’s hoping 2021 is a better year all round!

What a strange year 2020 has been, none of us expected how much of an impact COVID-19 would have on the World! It’s been a very unusual and tough year, but we stuck together, pulled through and the New Year is just a few weeks away.

Although this year didn’t go as expected, we’re still extremely proud of what RP have achieved, given the circumstances we’re very pleased to have accomplished the following:

Stayed open and operational

Retained our loyal customer base

Gained new customers, growing our customer base by nearly 30%

Had our 15th Anniversary (celebration pending!)

Passed our ISO 9001 Audit with zero non conformances for the 8th year in a row

Helped the fight against COVID-19 by producing tooling and mouldings for PPE and critical medical devices

We’d like to say a huge “Thank You”  to all of our customers, new and existing. Your ongoing support this year has been more important than ever and we really appreciate the projects you’ve allowed us to complete for you.

Here’s hoping 2021 is a better year all round!

RP Team

ISO 9001:2015 Audit

RP Passes ISO Re-certification Audit

We’re delighted to announce that we have passed our re-certification ISO 9001:2015 Audit.

This fantastic result continues our clean slate of zero non-conformances since becoming ISO 9001 accredited 8 years ago, which we are extremely proud of.

Being ISO 9001 accredited means as an organisation we are focused on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

Quality assurance, control and monitoring procedures are built in to every aspect of our work to ensure we’re always supplying a service that is of the highest quality.  These procedures are reviewed by internal and external audits which are maintained by our dedicated Quality Team.

We’re delighted to announce that we have passed our re-certification ISO 9001:2015 audit.

This fantastic result continues our clean slate of zero non-conformances since becoming ISO 9001 accredited 8 years ago, of which which we are extremely proud.

This is a reflection of the excellent work which our Quality Engineering department do on a day-to-day basis. They manage projects from inception right through to final delivery, ensuring that all tooling and parts are produced to the most exacting requirements and tolerances as possible.

Being ISO 9001 accredited means that we are focused on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction.

This commitment to standards is one of the reasons why we have such a loyal customer base who continually return to us at the expense of our competitors for repeat work.

Quality assurance, control and monitoring procedures are built into every aspect of our work. They help to ensure that we’re always supplying a service which is of the highest possible quality.

These procedures are reviewed by internal and external audits. These audits are regularly maintained by our dedicated Quality Team.

ISO Logo

Lockdown Announcement

An Update on COVID

As a UK Manufacturer we will continue to work at our pre-COVID operating capacity and ensure that we remain committed to running the business as safely as possible throughout the latest UK lockdown.

Our Offices and Manufacturing facility are fully operational to ensure our customer supply is not disrupted. Our top priority continues to be the safety of our employees, we will continue to follow and review the UK Government guidelines to ensure that our workplace is COVID secure, reducing the risk of infection at work and within our local community.

RP will keep our customers, suppliers, and employees informed of any updates throughout the new lockdown. If you have any questions in the meantime please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We would like to make a brief lockdown announcement with regard to our tooling, injection moulding, and CNC machining operations. We are working as much as the lockdown restrictions allow us to, but for those customers who have existing tooling and injection moulding projects with us, please read the below information.

As a UK Manufacturer we will continue to work at our pre-COVID operating capacity and ensure that we remain committed to running the business as safely as possible throughout the latest UK lockdown.

Our Offices and Manufacturing facility are fully operational to ensure our customer supply is not disrupted. Our top priority continues to be the safety of our employees, as well as the completion and on-time delivery of our existing manufacturing projects.

We will continue to follow and review the UK Government guidelines to ensure that our workplace is COVID secure, reducing the risk of infection at work and within our local community.

RP will keep our customers, suppliers, and employees informed of any updates throughout the new lockdown.

If you have any questions in the meantime please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We’ve Been Busy Bees at RP

Honeycomb Ribs for Part Design

One of our Automotive customers chose to use honeycomb ribs on their latest application as a simple yet effective way to improve strength and rigidity, and to make the part lighter without affecting functionality or structural integrity of the component.

On areas with thin wall sections, ribs are used to strengthen the walls of the moulded components without increasing wall thickness.

Incorporating ribs into the part design minimises the problems that occur when moulding thick wall sections, including warping and sinking which can lead to the entire design being rejected.

Using ribs to add structural support to a thin wall is an effective way to overcome this design problem whilst increasing the strength of a moulded part.

Honeycomb ribs for part design are a a simple yet effective way to improve strength and rigidity, and to make the part lighter without affecting functionality or structural integrity of the component.

On areas with thin wall sections, ribs are used to strengthen the walls of the moulded components without increasing wall thickness.

Incorporating ribs into the part design minimises the problems that occur when moulding thick wall sections, including warping and sinking which can lead to the entire design being rejected.

Using ribs to add structural support to a thin wall is an effective way to overcome this design problem whilst increasing the strength of a moulded part.

One of our Automotive customers chose to use honeycomb ribs on their latest application.

This was a particularly complex part which required a lot of attention to detail when it came to both the toolmaking side, and the injection moulding processes.

Our skilled manufacturing professionals managed to produce a part which was incredibly lightweight to the touch, but deceptively strong and resistant.

Our customer was very happy with the component, and has already asked us to produce another batch at an increased volume.

News

Automotive Expansion Tanks

Over the last 3 years RP have worked closely with various automotive customers to develop a range of coolant expansion tanks, not only for conventional petrol and diesel engines but also for the development of battery cooling in a range of new breed electric vehicles. RP manufactured aluminium tooling, injection moulded parts and hot plate welded the tanks on-site in Kingswinford to supply assembled prototype components for testing and development vehicles. RP commissioned a custom built hot plate welding machine for these projects in order to support their customer’s specific requirements.

Automotive expansion tanks are an item which we are frequently asked to produce for our many automotive customers.

Our hot plate welding capabilities, our experience in the automotive sector, and our injection moulding capacity make us a popular choice for our automotive customers who need expansion tanks to be manufactured for their vehicles.

Over the last 3 years RP have worked closely with various automotive customers to develop a range of coolant expansion tanks, not only for conventional petrol and diesel engines but also for the development of battery cooling in a range of new breed electric vehicles.

RP manufactures the aluminium tooling and injection moulded parts for these tanks on-site in Kingswinford. We also have our own hot plate welding machine here.

We supply assembled prototype components for testing and development vehicles.

As part of this process of manufacturing automotive expansion tanks, RP has commissioned a custom-built hot plate welding machine, which is located in our production facility here in the West Midlands.

At Last Some Positive News for 2020…

Happy News for Brave RP Employee

We’re delighted to welcome Garry back to work after recovering from his battle with cancer. Garry developed a rare form of bone cancer, chondrosarcoma and under went major surgery to remove the tumour. After 8 months recuperation at home we’re over the moon that Garry is 6 months cancer free and is regaining his health and strength. It’s good to have you back Garry, the tool room hasn’t been the same without you.

We’re delighted to welcome Garry back to work after recovering from his battle with cancer.

Garry has been with RP for several years. He is one of our experienced toolmakers. He is also one of our most well-liked employees.

Garry developed a rare form of bone cancer, chondrosarcoma and under went major surgery to remove the tumour.

After 8 months recuperation at home, we’re over the moon that Garry is 6 months cancer free and is regaining his health and strength.

Throughout this time, Garry has been incredibly brave. He has also managed to keep his good sense of humour in tact. Garry is a very approachable, helpful individual, who always has time to lend colleagues a hand when they are struggling.

He has been a great asset to the business.

Everyone at RP Technologies has missed him tremendously.

It’s good to have you back, Garry. The tool room hasn’t been the same without you.

July Update

Working Through COVID

First of all, apologies for the radio silence! As you know it’s been a very strange and tough few months, but we wanted to let you know what we’ve been up to here at RP.

When lockdown was first announced, we closed our manufacturing facility and offices for 3 weeks in order to keep our employees and their families safe. Typically, enquiries and orders then came flooding in for tooling and plastic injection moulded components for PPE to help protect our NHS and front-line workers.

We pulled together a skeleton structure within our manufacturing facility and worked around the clock so that we could do our bit to help the fight against COVID-19. We manufactured 7 tools to produce head bands for face masks, each tool made from aluminium in approximately 4 days per tool. From these tools we produced circa 100,000 plastic injection mouldings with ongoing requirements, and some of the tools were shipped to customers to supply directly into other areas of need around the UK.

We also manufactured 9 aluminium tools for respirator components which are currently going through medical approval. Once approved we’re due to mould in excess of 10,000 sets with a continued requirement moving forwards.

All of this was on top of supporting our current customers and bringing on board projects for several new medical device companies, an area that will become part of RP’s continued growth strategy in the coming months.

Whilst the manufacturing facility was closed our team of directors have been working tirelessly to ensure that everything was in place for our employees to safely return to work with new social distancing procedures.

It’s still a very strange time with companies starting to get back to “normal”, it’s a big adjustment for everyone but now’s the time for the UK to pull together and get stronger. We’re extremely proud to be a UK manufacturer and we hope that moving forwards more companies’ re-shore and use UK manufacturers.

We have more updates in the pipeline so keep an eye out for case studies, videos, and product photos, and as always, if you’d like to discuss any upcoming projects feel free to get in touch.

First of all, apologies for the radio silence! As you know it’s been a very strange and tough few months, but we wanted to let you know what we’ve been up to here at RP.

When lockdown was first announced, we closed our manufacturing facility and offices for 3 weeks in order to keep our employees and their families safe. Typically, enquiries and orders then came flooding in for tooling and plastic injection moulded components for PPE to help protect our NHS and front-line workers.

We pulled together a skeleton structure within our manufacturing facility and worked around the clock so that we could do our bit to help the fight against COVID-19. We manufactured 7 tools to produce head bands for face masks, each tool made from aluminium in approximately 4 days per tool. From these tools we produced circa 100,000 plastic injection mouldings with ongoing requirements, and some of the tools were shipped to customers to supply directly into other areas of need around the UK.

We also manufactured 9 aluminium tools for respirator components which are currently going through medical approval. Once approved we’re due to mould in excess of 10,000 sets with a continued requirement moving forwards.

All of this was on top of supporting our current customers and bringing on board projects for several new medical device companies, an area that will become part of RP’s continued growth strategy in the coming months.

Whilst the manufacturing facility was closed our team of directors have been working tirelessly to ensure that everything was in place for our employees to safely return to work with new social distancing procedures.

It’s still a very strange time with companies starting to get back to “normal”, it’s a big adjustment for everyone but now’s the time for the UK to pull together and get stronger. We’re extremely proud to be a UK manufacturer and we hope that moving forwards more companies’ re-shore and use UK manufacturers.

We have more updates in the pipeline so keep an eye out for case studies, videos, and product photos, and as always, if you’d like to discuss any upcoming projects feel free to get in touch.

COVID-19 Update

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Over the growing concerns of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) we would like to assure you that RP Technologies are operating as normal, whilst following a strict process to safeguard our employees and clients. Our process is based on advice from the UK Government and the World Health Organisation and is being reviewed on a regular basis.

Despite the current situation RP are still incredibly busy, we’re taking new orders and are looking forward to completing current projects for both new and existing clients. If you have any queries relating to our Coronavirus process, please contact Paul Roe.

We would like to provide a COVID-19 update to our key stakeholders.

We would like to assure you that RP Technologies are operating as normal, whilst following a strict process to safeguard our employees and clients.

We are taking the COVID-19 pandemic extremely seriously and we are implementing a series of health and safety protection mechanisms to ensure the full safety of everyone.

Our process is based on advice from the UK Government and the World Health Organisation. We are keeping up to date with changes in the instructions given on a day-to-day basis, and we are constantly reviewing our own processes and behaviours in accordance with the directives being issued.

Despite the current situation, RP Technologies is still incredibly busy. We’re taking new orders all the time and we are looking forward to completing current projects for both new and existing clients.

If you have any queries relating to our Coronavirus process, or if you have any concerns relating to the information given here, please contact Paul Roe.

Are You Launching a New Product?

Getting New Products Off the Ground

When launching a new product, whether for oral hygiene, e-mobility, agricultural machinery, special vehicles or any other field, all projects start on a small scale often in the board room or home office. But all projects have the same problem, finding a reliable and competent prototype injection moulding partner who can give support when it comes to material selection, tool design or even filling & temperature analysis.

The team at RP Technologies has experience in all these cases and more. Our broad experience across a wide range of industries gives us invaluable knowledge which can be applied to your project. We take the time to support you, to analyse and if necessary, give advice on how to streamline the prototyping process.

RP have a vast understanding of working with start-ups, medium-sized enterprises and large organisations, our experienced team are dedicated to providing the support that’s required to get your project off the ground.

Contact us today on 0121 550 5868 or info@rptechnologies.co.uk to discuss how RP can help with your latest project.

When launching a new product, whether for oral hygiene, e-mobility, agricultural machinery, special vehicles or any other field, all projects start on a small scale often in the board room or home office. But all projects have the same problem, finding a reliable and competent prototype injection moulding partner who can give support when it comes to material selection, tool design or even filling & temperature analysis.

The team at RP Technologies has experience in all these cases and more. Our broad experience across a wide range of industries gives us invaluable knowledge which can be applied to your project. We take the time to support you, to analyse and if necessary, give advice on how to streamline the prototyping process.

RP have a vast understanding of working with start-ups, medium-sized enterprises and large organisations, our experienced team are dedicated to providing the support that’s required to get your project off the ground.

Contact us today on 0121 550 5868 or info@rptechnologies.co.uk to discuss how RP can help with your latest project.

RP Technologies Grow Business with Support from Borche UK

RP Teams Up With Injection Moulding Machine Supplier

Leading prototype & production toolmaker and injection moulding supplier, RP Technologies have successfully grown their company over the last 6 years with the continued support from their trusted supplier, Borche UK.

RP Technologies opened their injection moulding facility in 2012 after they saw an increase in demand for injection moulded components. It made good business sense to open the moulding facility so the aluminium prototype tooling they manufactured could be moulded on-site. Offering both services as a package means their customer not only save time and money but they can benefit from a better service including a project life time guarantee on their tooling.

The last 6 years has seen RP grow considerably and the team of directors strongly believe in investing their profits back in to the company to ensure they offer their customer the best service possible. Since opening the moulding facility RP have invested in excess of £500,000 by purchasing eleven brand new injection moulding machines from Borche UK. Ranging from 60 tonne to 600 tonne means they can offer injection mouldings up to 1400mm x 700mm x 600mm with a shot weight of 2.3KG.

The company has seen an increase in requests for larger sized components in the last few months, to meet this demand they have recently purchased the 600-tonne injection moulding machine to increase part size capacity. RP invested in a Hurco CNC machining centre with a bigger machining envelope earlier this year to increase their capability to manufacture larger tooling.

Flexibility is key
RP manufacture components for an array of industries from automotive to medical to consumer product. Having such a wide customer base involves processing a varied range of materials, including high temperature complex materials that other prototype moulders struggle to process.

Part complexity differs between each tool, from simple open and shut tooling to complex manual tooling that require multiple inserts to form certain features on the component. RP also offer insert moulding and over-moulding, so they need to ensure their machinery has great flexibility and can stand up to the different types of components they manufacture. They also require machines that are quick and easy to set up as well as machines that offer constant repeatability.

Why Borche?
Borche are one of the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world with an annual production capacity of 10,000 machines. They have three manufacturing sites with a combined production area of 215,000 square meters. The UK market has become a key market for Borche who have thus decided to establish the first overseas subsidiary to support the increasing market share across all sectors.

The recently opened Borche UK Service Centre is located in Kingswinford, it is centrally located to support the company’s customer base throughout the UK and Ireland. The company has a showroom for machine demonstrations, a team of five highly experienced and skilled service engineers together with a comprehensive stock holding of spare parts. Being located on the same trading estate as RP Technologies has meant that RP can continue to strengthen their relationship with the company and they are readily available if spare parts or servicing is required.

Borche injection moulding machines are very precise in terms of shot repeatability and accuracy, which is imperative for RP as they offer high quality, repeatable parts to their customers.

RP Technologies run their moulding facility for 24 hours a day, five days a week meaning they need machines that are energy efficient. Borche injection moulding machines are one of the most efficient on the market due to their servo drive system.
The servo motor driven pump system engineered by Borche integrates the advantages of hydraulics with the control intelligence of servo drives and offers considerable advantages with regards to energy conservation and cycle repeat accuracy, together with a reduction in noise levels and a reduced need for cooling of the hydraulic oil. This enables RP to not only reduce their overheads but also reduce their carbon footprint.

For further information about RP Technologies and their injection moulding capabilities please contact Paul Roe, General Manager on 0121 550 5868.

For further information about Borche UK and their range of machinery please visit https://borche.co.uk/ or contact Terry O’Reilly, Sales Director on 01384 885328.

Leading prototype & production toolmaker and injection moulding supplier, RP Technologies have successfully grown their company over the last 6 years with the continued support from their trusted supplier, Borche UK.

RP Technologies opened their injection moulding facility in 2012 after they saw an increase in demand for injection moulded components. It made good business sense to open the moulding facility so the aluminium prototype tooling they manufactured could be moulded on-site. Offering both services as a package means their customer not only save time and money but they can benefit from a better service including a project life time guarantee on their tooling.

The last 6 years has seen RP grow considerably and the team of directors strongly believe in investing their profits back in to the company to ensure they offer their customer the best service possible. Since opening the moulding facility RP have invested in excess of £500,000 by purchasing eleven brand new injection moulding machines from Borche UK. Ranging from 60 tonne to 600 tonne means they can offer injection mouldings up to 1400mm x 700mm x 600mm with a shot weight of 2.3KG.

The company has seen an increase in requests for larger sized components in the last few months, to meet this demand they have recently purchased the 600-tonne injection moulding machine to increase part size capacity. RP invested in a Hurco CNC machining centre with a bigger machining envelope earlier this year to increase their capability to manufacture larger tooling.

Flexibility is Key

RP manufacture components for an array of industries from automotive to medical to consumer product. Having such a wide customer base involves processing a varied range of materials, including high temperature complex materials that other prototype moulders struggle to process.

Part complexity differs between each tool, from simple open and shut tooling to complex manual tooling that require multiple inserts to form certain features on the component. RP also offer insert moulding and over-moulding, so they need to ensure their machinery has great flexibility and can stand up to the different types of components they manufacture. They also require machines that are quick and easy to set up as well as machines that offer constant repeatability.

Why Borche?

Borche are one of the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world with an annual production capacity of 10,000 machines. They have three manufacturing sites with a combined production area of 215,000 square meters. The UK market has become a key market for Borche who have thus decided to establish the first overseas subsidiary to support the increasing market share across all sectors.

The recently opened Borche UK Service Centre is located in Kingswinford, it is centrally located to support the company’s customer base throughout the UK and Ireland. The company has a showroom for machine demonstrations, a team of five highly experienced and skilled service engineers together with a comprehensive stock holding of spare parts. Being located on the same trading estate as RP Technologies has meant that RP can continue to strengthen their relationship with the company and they are readily available if spare parts or servicing is required.

Borche injection moulding machines are very precise in terms of shot repeatability and accuracy, which is imperative for RP as they offer high quality, repeatable parts to their customers.

RP Technologies run their moulding facility for 24 hours a day, five days a week meaning they need machines that are energy efficient. Borche injection moulding machines are one of the most efficient on the market due to their servo drive system.

The servo motor driven pump system engineered by Borche integrates the advantages of hydraulics with the control intelligence of servo drives and offers considerable advantages with regards to energy conservation and cycle repeat accuracy, together with a reduction in noise levels and a reduced need for cooling of the hydraulic oil. This enables RP to not only reduce their overheads but also reduce their carbon footprint.

For further information about RP Technologies and their injection moulding capabilities please contact Paul Roe, General Manager on 0121 550 5868.

For further information about Borche UK and their range of machinery please visit https://borche.co.uk/ or contact Terry O’Reilly, Sales Director on 01384 885328.

New Production Moulding Service

RP Technologies Expand Service Offering to Include Production Moulding

Leading prototype toolmaker and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies have announced that they are expanding their service range to offer series production moulding from existing tooling.

15th May 2018, Kingswinford UK. Over the last 6 years RP Technologies have grown their injection moulding business to offer functional prototype and low to medium volume components. Their recent growth including opening a Sales Office in Germany which has expanded their customer network across the region, alongside their continued investment in machinery and staff has opened new opportunities. The company has seen an increase in requests for series production following the invaluable support they have offered to their customers with bridge tooling ensuring production lines were not stopped.

These key factors have given the company the resources to expand their service range to offer series production moulding from existing tooling. Introducing this service opens the door for new and existing customers to re-shore tools from overseas or relocate tooling from suppliers that are under achieving.

RP Technologies have an impressive suite of modern Injection Moulding Machines ranging from 60 Tonne to 600 Tonne offering components with a shot weight capacity up to 2.3KG. Their moulding facility runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week offering a high level of capacity. The company have the added benefit of a large on-site Tool Room ensuring that tooling can be serviced and maintained during the production process offering high quality, repeatable components. RP’s vast experience in the prototype industry across a broad spectrum of industries including, but not limited to; automotive, medical, defence and consumer product gives them valuable knowledge on processing a wide range of materials including PEEK, ABS, PC, PC/ABS, PET-G, ASA, SAN, PA6, PA66, PPA, PA12, TPE, TPU and many more.

RP involve their Quality Engineers with projects from day one ensuring they have a good understanding of their customer quality expectations and closely monitoring each stage of production to ensure specifications are met. Utilising standard measuring equipment alongside a Co-Ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) RP can produce accurate measurements of components. Utilising these measurements, the company offers Initial Sample Inspection Reports (ISIR), dimension reports and PPAP reporting up to level 3.

Being ISO 9001:2015 Certified means as an organisation RP are focussed on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction. Quality assurance, control and monitoring procedures are built in to every aspect of their work to ensure they always provide a service that is of the highest quality.

If you have tooling that you’d like to discuss with RP Technologies, please contact Paul Roe on 0121 550 5868 for further details

Leading prototype toolmaker and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies have announced that they are expanding their service range to offer series production moulding from existing tooling.

15th May 2018, Kingswinford UK. Over the last 6 years RP Technologies have grown their injection moulding business to offer functional prototype and low to medium volume components. Their recent growth including opening a Sales Office in Germany which has expanded their customer network across the region, alongside their continued investment in machinery and staff has opened new opportunities. The company has seen an increase in requests for series production following the invaluable support they have offered to their customers with bridge tooling ensuring production lines were not stopped.

These key factors have given the company the resources to expand their service range to offer series production moulding from existing tooling. Introducing this service opens the door for new and existing customers to re-shore tools from overseas or relocate tooling from suppliers that are under achieving.

RP Technologies have an impressive suite of modern Injection Moulding Machines ranging from 60 Tonne to 600 Tonne offering components with a shot weight capacity up to 2.3KG. Their moulding facility runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week offering a high level of capacity. The company have the added benefit of a large on-site Tool Room ensuring that tooling can be serviced and maintained during the production process offering high quality, repeatable components. RP’s vast experience in the prototype industry across a broad spectrum of industries including, but not limited to; automotive, medical, defence and consumer product gives them valuable knowledge on processing a wide range of materials including PEEK, ABS, PC, PC/ABS, PET-G, ASA, SAN, PA6, PA66, PPA, PA12, TPE, TPU and many more.

RP involve their Quality Engineers with projects from day one ensuring they have a good understanding of their customer quality expectations and closely monitoring each stage of production to ensure specifications are met. Utilising standard measuring equipment alongside a Co-Ordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) RP can produce accurate measurements of components. Utilising these measurements, the company offers Initial Sample Inspection Reports (ISIR), dimension reports and PPAP reporting up to level 3.

Being ISO 9001:2015 Certified means as an organisation RP are focussed on meeting customer expectations and delivering customer satisfaction. Quality assurance, control and monitoring procedures are built in to every aspect of their work to ensure they always provide a service that is of the highest quality.

If you have tooling that you’d like to discuss with RP Technologies, please contact Paul Roe on 0121 550 5868 for further details

RP Invest in Injection Moulding Capacity

Injection Mould Shop Sees £130,000 Investment

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies invest more than £130,000 which will increase their injection moulding part size capacity.

10th May 2018, Kingswinford, UK: As part of RP Technologies’ ongoing investment and expansion plans the company has invested more than £130,000 on additional machinery. The company has purchased a Borche 600-tonne injection moulding machine to add to their already impressive suite of machinery in their West Midlands based facility. The new machine will increase their part size offering to components with a shot weight capacity up to 2.3kg.

Over the last five years RP Technologies have continued to progress their services by investing profits back in to the company. They have purchased a large amount of new machinery, employed additional members of staff and opened a sales office in Germany to sustain their increasing demand. This growth strategy has opened new opportunities for the company and they have recently seen a surge of requests for larger sized components. In order to fulfil the customers requests RP decided to invest in the 600-tonne moulding machine.

This is the company’s second investment of the year, in earlier months they invested £250,000 on two sizeable Hurco CNC Machining centres, a Hot Plate Welding Machine and a Mould Simulation Analysis software package. The Hurco CNC machines were purchased as part of their forward planning to ensure they had the capacity to manufacture larger tooling to fit within the new 600-tonne moulding machine. These investments ensure that RP continually offer new and improved services to their ever growing customer base.

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies invest more than £130,000 which will increase their injection moulding part size capacity.

10th May 2018, Kingswinford, UK: As part of RP Technologies’ ongoing investment and expansion plans the company has invested more than £130,000 on additional machinery. The company has purchased a Borche 600-tonne injection moulding machine to add to their already impressive suite of machinery in their West Midlands based facility. The new machine will increase their part size offering to components with a shot weight capacity up to 2.3kg.

Over the last five years RP Technologies have continued to progress their services by investing profits back in to the company. They have purchased a large amount of new machinery, employed additional members of staff and opened a sales office in Germany to sustain their increasing demand. This growth strategy has opened new opportunities for the company and they have recently seen a surge of requests for larger sized components. In order to fulfil the customers requests RP decided to invest in the 600-tonne moulding machine.

This is the company’s second investment of the year, in earlier months they invested £250,000 on two sizeable Hurco CNC Machining centres, a Hot Plate Welding Machine and a Mould Simulation Analysis software package. The Hurco CNC machines were purchased as part of their forward planning to ensure they had the capacity to manufacture larger tooling to fit within the new 600-tonne moulding machine. These investments ensure that RP continually offer new and improved services to their ever growing customer base.

RP Director Interviewed by MTDCNC

MTDCNC Come to RP

MTDCNC recently interviewed one of our Directors, Brett Mitchell about our recent investments with Hurco.

Learn about our 13 years in business, why we use Hurco CNC machining centres and what our business strengths are. Simply click here to watch the interview.

MTDCNC recently interviewed one of our Directors, Brett Mitchell about our recent investments with Hurco.

MTDCNC is a digital marketing company in Wellingborough, which specialised in machine tools and CNC machining.

We invited the team from MTDCNC over to our head office and production facility in the West Midlands.

The guys were extremely impressed with our production facility, and the way that we have embraced Hurco  CNC machines and made them a central part of our manufacturing operations.

As a founding member of RP Technologies, Brett was asked to take part in an in depth interview with one of MTDCNC’s main reporters. The interview covered a number of topics, including how the company first began and what role CNC machining plays in our overall manufacturing output.

Brett was also asked about 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining centres.

If you’d like to here what Brett had to say about these topics, and you’d like to understand why we use Hurco CNC machining centres and what our core business strengths are, you can watch the interview in full on our Videos page.

RP Technologies Invest £250,000

Investment in Machinery, Software and Employees

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies invests £250,000 on additional machinery, software and employees.

30th January 2018, Kingswinford, UK: RP Technologies have kick-started the new year by investing quarter of a million pounds to increase capacity and add additional services. The company has invested in two additional Hurco CNC Machining Centres, a custom built Hot Plate Welding Machine, a Mould Simulation Analysis software package and additional members of staff.

The investment ties in with their ongoing growth and expansion plans and will increase the capacity and productivity in their West Midlands based facility, with additional services expanding their offering.

The company have purchased a Hurco VMX30i which adds to their impressive suite of CNC machining centres. They’ve also invested in a impressive VMX64i which will increase their capability to machine larger tools as the machining centre features a table size of 1,676 x 889mm.

In the past year the company have seen an increase in demand from their Automotive customers. With the Automotive industry pushing to develop more electric vehicles the increase in demand for battery cooling systems has gone through the roof. This demand has given the company vast experience with manufacturing tooling, injection moulding and welding expansion tanks for many OEM and Tier 1 customers. To meet this demand the company has purchased a custom built Hot Plate Welding machine. Offering this service in-house gives greater control over the process ensuring RP provide high quality welded components to match customer specifications.

RP’s third investment is a software package which enables component design to be validated with a Mould Simulation Analysis. The software allows them to gain product insights, visualise flow & thermal properties and optimise processes before physical parts are moulded. Using this software RP endeavour to catch design faults that could potentially cause setbacks during tool trial. This not only helps to improve quality, but it also helps to reduce development costs and manufacturing time for their customers by eliminating potential issues before manufacture begins.

RP have also employed additional engineering and manufacturing staff within the company to keep up with their ever-increasing demand.

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies invests £250,000 on additional machinery, software and employees.

30th January 2018, Kingswinford, UK: RP Technologies have kick-started the new year by investing quarter of a million pounds to increase capacity and add additional services. The company has invested in two additional Hurco CNC Machining Centres, a custom built Hot Plate Welding Machine, a Mould Simulation Analysis software package and additional members of staff.

The investment ties in with their ongoing growth and expansion plans and will increase the capacity and productivity in their West Midlands based facility, with additional services expanding their offering.

The company have purchased a Hurco VMX30i which adds to their impressive suite of CNC machining centres. They’ve also invested in a impressive VMX64i which will increase their capability to machine larger tools as the machining centre features a table size of 1,676 x 889mm.

In the past year the company have seen an increase in demand from their Automotive customers. With the Automotive industry pushing to develop more electric vehicles the increase in demand for battery cooling systems has gone through the roof. This demand has given the company vast experience with manufacturing tooling, injection moulding and welding expansion tanks for many OEM and Tier 1 customers. To meet this demand the company has purchased a custom built Hot Plate Welding machine. Offering this service in-house gives greater control over the process ensuring RP provide high quality welded components to match customer specifications.

RP’s third investment is a software package which enables component design to be validated with a Mould Simulation Analysis. The software allows them to gain product insights, visualise flow & thermal properties and optimise processes before physical parts are moulded. Using this software RP endeavour to catch design faults that could potentially cause setbacks during tool trial. This not only helps to improve quality, but it also helps to reduce development costs and manufacturing time for their customers by eliminating potential issues before manufacture begins.

RP have also employed additional engineering and manufacturing staff within the company to keep up with their ever-increasing demand.

New Year… New Toolmakers

Toolroom Benefits From New Additions

As part of our ongoing growth and investment programme, we’ve recently employed a new Tool Maker and an additional Tool Making Apprentice.

Geoff – Tool Maker

Geoff started his training to become a tool maker at the age of 15, he’s worked in various roles over the years gaining almost 50 years of experience. His background in precision tool making and gauges means his invaluable skills and experience make him a vital new addition to our team.

Russell – Tool Making Apprentice

Russell is currently working towards his level 3 apprenticeship and attends Dudley college once a week to learn about the theoretical side of Tool Making. There’s a huge skill gap within our industry and apprenticeships provide the vital hands on experience which can’t be picked up in the classroom.

This week we have welcomed some new toolmakers to our very busy toolroom here at RP.

As part of our ongoing growth and investment programme, we’ve recently employed a new Toolmaker and an additional Apprentice Toolmaker.

Geoff – Toolmaker

Geoff started his training to become a toolmaker at the age of 15.

Geoff has worked in various roles over the years and has gained almost 50 years of toolmaking experience.

Geoff’s background in precision tool making and gauges means his invaluable skills will make him a vital new addition to our team.

Geoff impressed us with his energy and his desire to learn new things.

Russell – Apprentice Toolmaker

Russell has joined us as our new apprentice toolmaker.

We have always taken on apprentices, many of whom now have more senior roles at the company.

We believe in giving young people who are keen and hardworking an opportunity to succeed in the world of manufacturing.

Russell is currently working towards his level 3 apprenticeship and attends Dudley College once a week to learn about the theoretical side of toolmaking.

There’s a huge skill gap within our industry and apprenticeships provide the vital hands on experience which can’t be picked up in the classroom.

Russell will be supported by a team of experienced toolmakers who will help him to learn while he is working with us.

Staff Member Working

£1000 Donation for 1,000th Tool

RP Technologies Celebrate 1,000th Tool with £1,000 Charity Donation

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies celebrate their 1,000th injection mould tool by donating £1,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support.

8th January 2018, Kingswinford, UK: RP Technologies have recently taken an order for their 1,000th injection mould tool. The order was placed by one of their regular customers, Deb Group, who have been utilising RP’s services since April 2015 to produce prototype and low volume plastic components.

The order for the 1,000th tool follows the companies restructure in November 2012 when they opened an injection moulding facility. Previously manufacturing casting and wax tooling the company saw a huge increase in demand for aluminium plastic injection mould tooling and made the decision to restructure the company to meet their customer requirements. Since 2012 RP Technologies have continued to grow and invest profits back into plant and employees ensuring their services match their customers’ expectations.

To celebrate the landmark order RP Technologies have donated £1,000 to Deb Group’s chosen cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. Olympia Shipley, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan says “There are 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK, one in two people are likely to get cancer in their lifetimes. Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, emotional and personal support to people affected by cancer every year. The charity is there to support people during treatment, help with work and money worries, and listen when people need to talk about their feelings. Macmillan receives no government funding and relies on generous donations like this from RP Technologies to continue the valued support”

Darren Withers, Director at RP Technologies said “We are honoured to donate £1,000 to Macmillan, the support they provide helps people to live their lives again. We also want to thank Deb for their repeat custom. It’s customers like Deb that allow us to sustain our growth at RP Technologies meaning we can continue to offer high quality services. Here’s to the next thousand tools.”

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies celebrate their 1,000th injection mould tool by donating £1,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support.

8th January 2018, Kingswinford, UK: RP Technologies have recently taken an order for their 1,000th injection mould tool. The order was placed by one of their regular customers, Deb Group, who have been utilising RP’s services since April 2015 to produce prototype and low volume plastic components.

The order for the 1,000th tool follows the companies restructure in November 2012 when they opened an injection moulding facility. Previously manufacturing casting and wax tooling the company saw a huge increase in demand for aluminium plastic injection mould tooling and made the decision to restructure the company to meet their customer requirements. Since 2012 RP Technologies have continued to grow and invest profits back into plant and employees ensuring their services match their customers’ expectations.

To celebrate the landmark order RP Technologies have donated £1,000 to Deb Group’s chosen cancer charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. Olympia Shipley, Fundraising Manager for Macmillan says “There are 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK, one in two people are likely to get cancer in their lifetimes. Macmillan Cancer Support provides practical, emotional and personal support to people affected by cancer every year. The charity is there to support people during treatment, help with work and money worries, and listen when people need to talk about their feelings. Macmillan receives no government funding and relies on generous donations like this from RP Technologies to continue the valued support”

Darren Withers, Director at RP Technologies said “We are honoured to donate £1,000 to Macmillan, the support they provide helps people to live their lives again. We also want to thank Deb for their repeat custom. It’s customers like Deb that allow us to sustain our growth at RP Technologies meaning we can continue to offer high quality services. Here’s to the next thousand tools.”

RP Employs New Operations Engineer

Meet our New Operations Engineer

As part of our ongoing growth and investment programme, we’ve recently employed an Operations Engineer, Neil Lewis.

Neil originally trained as a Toolmaker before becoming a Moulding Technician where he gained 15 years experience. He then moved into a Product Launch Process Engineer role where he’s broadened his extensive experience.

In his new role and he’ll be managing projects through the tool room and moulding facility until components are ready for dispatch. He’ll be working closely with our customers to keep them notified of progress and to answer any queries along the way.

Neil’s invaluable skills and experience means he’s a vital new addition to our team and we’re delighted to welcome him to RP Technologies.

As part of our ongoing growth and investment programme, we’ve recently employed an Operations Engineer, Neil Lewis.

Neil originally trained as a Toolmaker before becoming a Moulding Technician where he gained 15 years experience. He then moved into a Product Launch Process Engineer role where he’s broadened his extensive experience.

In his new role and he’ll be managing projects through the tool room and moulding facility until components are ready for dispatch.

Neil will also be working closely with our customers to keep them notified of progress and to answer any queries along the way.

Part of what makes Neil such a valuable acquisition for RP is his breadth of skills and knowledge. He is just as comfortable on the tooling side as he is on the injection moulding side.

Neil’s invaluable skills and experience means he’s a vital new addition to our team and we’re delighted to welcome him to RP Technologies.

New staff member

New Injection Moulding Machines

RP Invest in New Injection Moulding Machines

We’re pleased to announce that as part of our ongoing growth and expansion plans, we’ve invested in excess of £100,000 on 2 new Borche Injection Moulding machines.

The additional 200T and 320T machines will add to our existing suite of machinery and will strengthen our capacity to ensure we keep up with the increasing demand from both new and existing customers.

We have further plans for additional investment later this year and in early 2018 so look out for upcoming announcements.

New Team Member…

We’ve employeed a new member of staff earlier this week, Amy.

Amy has joined RP as Shipping Coordinator and to assist with general administration in the sales and finance offices. She’s already proving to be a vital part of our growing team.

We’re pleased to announce that as part of our ongoing growth and expansion plans, we’ve invested in excess of £100,000 on 2 new Borche Injection Moulding machines.

This investment in additional machinery is part of a sustained effort on behalf of the company to develop and modernise its production capacity.

We have enjoyed a lot of success in the last few years, with continued financial growth, increased customers, and an impressive amount of repeat business. This success has enabled RP to reinvest a sizeable amount of profit into the business, so that we can continue to evolve and to improve our service methods and delivery.

The additional 200T and 320T machines will add to our existing suite of machinery and will strengthen our capacity to ensure we keep up with the increasing demand from both new and existing customers.

We have further plans for additional investment later this year and in early 2018, so look out for upcoming announcements.

New Team Member

Our increased investment doesn’t just extend to the physical resources around us.

In addition to this new machinery, we have also added another new member of staff to our team.

We’ve taken on another new face in our administration office earlier this week.

Amy has joined RP as our Shipping Coordinator.

Amy will assist with oversee the smooth delivery of parts and components, both in the UK and overseas.

She will also have general administration duties in the sales and finance offices.

Her proactive approach and flair for problem solving is already making her a popular member of our growing team.

Borche Injection Moulding Machine

We've Had an Exciting Delivery...

As part of our ongoing investment and expansion plans we’ve recently purchased an additional Borche 120 tonne injection moulding machine.

The new machine will add to our existing suite of Borche injection moulding machines and will strenghten our capacitiy to ensure that we keep up with the increasing demand from both new and existing customers.

We have further plans for growth and investment later this year so look out for future announcements.

As part of our ongoing investment and expansion plans we’ve recently purchased a new Borche 120 tonne injection moulding machine.

The new machine will add to our existing suite of Borche injection moulding machines and will strengthen our capacity to ensure that we keep up with the increasing demand from both new and existing customers.

This new Borche injection moulding machine will also increase the scope of our injection moulding capabilities. It will provide us with greater versatility and more options when it comes to moulding different types of parts.

It will also provide us with increased operational efficiencies, greater speed of production, and a more streamlined production process.

These cost savings will be passed on to the customers in the form of more competitive pricing and improved lead times.

We have further plans for growth and investment later this year so look out for future announcements.

Meet our New Operations Engineer

Operations Engineer for Toolroom and Mould Shop

As part of our growth and investment programme we’ve recently employed an Operations Engineer, Phil Nicklin.

Phil originally trained as a tool maker and gained 20 years experience within this role, he then moved into a Tooling Engineer role where he’s spent the past 10 years adding to his extensive experience.

His position at RP is a new role and he’ll be managing projects through the tool room and moulding facility until components are ready for dispatch. He’ll be working closely with our customers to keep them notified of progress and to answer any queries along the way.

Phil’s invaluable skills and experience means he’s a vital new addition to our team and we’re delighted to welcome him to RP Technologies.

As part of our growth and investment programme we’ve recently employed an Operations Engineer, Phil Nicklin.

Phil originally trained as a toolmaker, where he gained 20 years experience in this role. Phil then moved into a Tooling Engineer role where he’s spent the past 10 years adding to his extensive experience.

His position at RP is a new role and he’ll be managing projects through the tool room and injection moulding facility until components are ready for dispatch.

Phil will play a vital role in ensuring that there is as much synergy as possible between the tooling and injection moulding departments here at RP Technologies. Phil will be on hand to proactively manage projects, ensuring that our high standards of product manufacturing and on-time-delivery of finished components are upheld for every project.

Phil will also be working closely with our customers to keep them notified of progress and to answer any queries along the way.

Phil’s invaluable skills and experience means he’s a vital new addition to our team and we’re delighted to welcome him to RP Technologies.

£120,000 Investment for RP

RP Technologies Invest £120,000 in Machinery and Employ 4 New Members of Staff

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies invest £120,000 which will increase their tool room and injection moulding capacity. The investment sees them purchase a Hurco CNC Machining Centre and a Borche Injection Moulding Machine as well as employing 4 new members of staff.

12th June 2017, Kingswinford, UK: As part of RP Technologies’ ongoing investment and expansion plans they have invested £120,000 and purchased two new machines. The company have purchased an impressive Hurco VMX30i CNC machining centre and a Borche 120 tonne injection moulding machine to add to their already impressive suite of machinery in their West Midlands based facility. They have also employed 4 additional members of staff which will improve their current capabilities and lead times.

The Hurco VMX30i is one of Hurco’s signature milling centres that takes machining to the next level. This machine delivers high performance capabilities to any machining application and has the added benefit of a dual-screen control which streamlines programming.

The Borche 120 tonne machine will add to their suite of injection moulding machines which are all energy efficient giving up to 80% power savings compared to conventional machinery.

The investment in new machinery will increase the capacity and productivity in the tool room and injection moulding facility. Over the last five years RP Technologies have continued to grow and invest in new machinery to keep up with the increasing demand from both new and existing customers.

The company have also taken on 4 new employees; a Tool Design Engineer, 2 Injection Moulding Operators and a trainee CAD/CAM Engineer.

RP Technologies are forecasting further investment later this year and plan to purchase additional injection moulding machines, a mould flow analysis package and software to streamline their order processing systems. They also have plans to employee additional sales, engineering and manufacturing staff within the company.

Leading prototype & production tooling and plastic injection moulding company, RP Technologies invest £120,000 which will increase their tool room and injection moulding capacity. The investment sees them purchase a Hurco CNC Machining Centre and a Borche Injection Moulding Machine as well as employing 4 new members of staff.

12th June 2017, Kingswinford, UK: As part of RP Technologies’ ongoing investment and expansion plans they have invested £120,000 and purchased two new machines. The company have purchased an impressive Hurco VMX30i CNC machining centre and a Borche 120 tonne injection moulding machine to add to their already impressive suite of machinery in their West Midlands based facility. They have also employed 4 additional members of staff which will improve their current capabilities and lead times.

The Hurco VMX30i is one of Hurco’s signature milling centres that takes machining to the next level. This machine delivers high performance capabilities to any machining application and has the added benefit of a dual-screen control which streamlines programming.

The Borche 120 tonne machine will add to their suite of injection moulding machines which are all energy efficient giving up to 80% power savings compared to conventional machinery.

The investment in new machinery will increase the capacity and productivity in the tool room and injection moulding facility. Over the last five years RP Technologies have continued to grow and invest in new machinery to keep up with the increasing demand from both new and existing customers.

The company have also taken on 4 new employees; a Tool Design Engineer, 2 Injection Moulding Operators and a trainee CAD/CAM Engineer.

RP Technologies are forecasting further investment later this year and plan to purchase additional injection moulding machines, a mould flow analysis package and software to streamline their order processing systems. They also have plans to employee additional sales, engineering and manufacturing staff within the company.

Training and Development

Training Keeps RP Technologies Top of Their Game

Manufacturing aluminium mould tools and plastic injection moulded parts from our UK based facility in Kingswinford, we heavily rely on our team of experienced workforce to supply high quality mouldings to our customers.

Within the tool-making and plastics industries there is a huge skills shortage so it’s imperative that RP train and develop our employees both in-house and with external training courses. This not only helps to close the skills gap but it also ensures that our team is the best it can possibly be, resulting in customers receiving the highest standard of components.

RP Technologies partner with a local polymer training company, The Polymer Training and Innovation Centre (PTIC) for our plastic training requirements. PTIC are a technical training and consultancy business that is owned by City of Wolverhampton College who specialise in the provision of injection moulding training including technical training, troubleshooting and skills gap analysis. Blending theoretical tuition with practical activity at their purpose built training and trials facility ensures that maximum knowledge transfer between tutor and delegate is achieved.

RP Technologies recently sent two of our Trainee Moulding Technicians, Luke and Martin on the Injection Moulding Technology Part 2 (IMT2) course which is designed to introduce candidates to the fundamental principles associated with operating an injection moulding machine. The course is a blend of theory and practical application sessions and provides a good understanding of the injection moulding process and associated working practices.

On completion of the course Luke and Martin can now identify process hazards, start up and shut down an injection moulding machine safely and efficiently, detail the construction, control and operate an injection moulding machine, recognise common moulding problems, suggest remedial actions and state common quality systems, techniques and quality requirements associated with the injection moulding process.

Luke commented that the learning environment at PTIC was excellent and the tutors were extremely approachable. With the knowledge, he’s gained he’ll be able to apply it to his everyday work to help with troubleshooting and ensure he performs tasks safely.
Martin really enjoyed both the practical and theory sides of the training and said the most important thing he learnt is how to make a stable process, how to surpass any problems that arise and understand why problems occur.

Both Luke and Martin said the training has greatly helped their future development in becoming Moulding Technicians and they’re looking forward to practising and further developing their new skills in house and with future training opportunities at PTIC.

In the future RP plan to continue Luke and Martin’s development with the IMT3 training course which provides delegates with an in-depth knowledge of the Injection Moulding process to competently and safely set up a range of moulding machines to achieve a specified product quality and output rate. After completion of this training their role will also involve some customer facing aspect as they’ll be able to receive customers when they’re on site for tool-trials.

Training and developing employees increases job satisfaction, morale and motivation ensuring RP have a satisfied workforce. It also increases efficiency in processes, which in turn increases capacity and ensures our business continues to grow and reach targets.

For further information about PTIC visit www.wolvcoll.ac.uk/polymer or call them on 01952 610101.

Manufacturing aluminium mould tools and plastic injection moulded parts from our UK based facility in Kingswinford, we heavily rely on our team of experienced workforce to supply high quality mouldings to our customers.

Within the toolmaking and plastics industries there is a huge skills shortage so it’s imperative that RP train and develop our employees both in-house and with external training courses. This not only helps to close the skills gap but it also ensures that our team is the best it can possibly be, resulting in customers receiving the highest standard of components.

RP Technologies partner with a local polymer training company, The Polymer Training and Innovation Centre (PTIC) for our plastic training requirements. PTIC are a technical training and consultancy business that is owned by City of Wolverhampton College who specialise in the provision of injection moulding training including technical training, troubleshooting and skills gap analysis. Blending theoretical tuition with practical activity at their purpose built training and trials facility ensures that maximum knowledge transfer between tutor and delegate is achieved.

RP Technologies recently sent two of our Trainee Moulding Technicians, Luke and Martin on the Injection Moulding Technology Part 2 (IMT2) course which is designed to introduce candidates to the fundamental principles associated with operating an injection moulding machine. The course is a blend of theory and practical application sessions and provides a good understanding of the injection moulding process and associated working practices.

On completion of the course Luke and Martin can now identify process hazards, start up and shut down an injection moulding machine safely and efficiently, detail the construction, control and operate an injection moulding machine, recognise common moulding problems, suggest remedial actions and state common quality systems, techniques and quality requirements associated with the injection moulding process.

Luke commented that the learning environment at PTIC was excellent and the tutors were extremely approachable. With the knowledge, he’s gained he’ll be able to apply it to his everyday work to help with troubleshooting and ensure he performs tasks safely.

Martin really enjoyed both the practical and theory sides of the training and said the most important thing he learnt is how to make a stable process, how to surpass any problems that arise and understand why problems occur.

Both Luke and Martin said the training has greatly helped their future development in becoming Moulding Technicians and they’re looking forward to practising and further developing their new skills in house and with future training opportunities at PTIC.

In the future RP plan to continue Luke and Martin’s development with the IMT3 training course which provides delegates with an in-depth knowledge of the injection moulding process to competently and safely set up a range of moulding machines to achieve a specified product quality and output rate. After completion of this training their role will also involve some customer facing aspect as they’ll be able to receive customers when they’re on site for tool-trials.

Training and developing employees increases job satisfaction, morale and motivation ensuring RP have a satisfied workforce. It also increases efficiency in processes, which in turn increases capacity and ensures our business continues to grow and reach targets.

For further information about PTIC visit www.wolvcoll.ac.uk/polymer or call them on 01952 610101.

New Cooling System for Injection Moulding

Refcool Cooling System

As another successful year draws to an end at RP Technologies, we have started to invest in preparation for our next phase of expansion.

We’ve installed a new cooling system which is an integral part of increasing the size and capacity of our injection moulding facilities early next year.

Industrial refrigeration experts, Refcool assessed our establishment and commissioned a RAK30C2 chiller earlier this month. The system was chosen due to it’s very low energy consumption and the potential for us to add extra moulding machines to support our continuing growth.

The new system exceeds our current capacity and future proofs our cooling requirements to fall in line with our investment and growth plans for next year.

Watch this space for more news about our 2017 expansion programme…

RP Technologies has purchased a new cooling system for its injection moulding department.

As another successful year draws to an end, this recent investment will allow us to move towards our next phase of expansion.

This new cooling system represents an integral part of increasing the size and capacity of our injection moulding facilities early next year.

This will bring with it increased operational efficiencies, as well cost savings for our business. These cost savings will then be passed on to the customer by way of more competitive pricing and quicker lead times for injection moulded parts.

Industrial refrigeration experts, Refcool assessed our establishment and commissioned a RAK30C2 chiller earlier this month. The system was chosen due to it’s very low energy consumption and the potential for us to add extra moulding machines to support our continuing growth.

The new system exceeds our current capacity and future proofs our cooling requirements to fall in line with our investment and growth plans for next year.

Watch this space for more news about our 2017 expansion programme…

Refcool Logo

General Manager Makes Manufacturer Top 100

The Manufacturer Top 100

The Manufacturer Top 100 project began in 2014, with an aim to dispel the myths surrounding the image of manufacturing and to provide a platform to publicly identity dynamic leaders and innovators within the industry.

We’re extremely proud to announce that our General Manager, Paul Roe has been selected as a top 100 figure in UK manufacturing.

Paul falls under two categories within his listing;
Bold Investor in New Markets and Inspiring Leader.

Since joining RP in 2013 to open our mould shop Paul’s efforts of reshaping the company to help bring in business from new markets has seen the company grow year on year. His can do attitude is passed down through his team who all pull together to ensure the company targets are met. Paul is a strong believer that with growth comes investment in people, plant and technology and ensures that RP are always top of their game.

Please join us in congratulating Paul for his fantastic achievement, we’re delighted that he’s been selected as a remarkable individual within UK manufacturing.

The Manufacturer Top 100 project began in 2014, with an aim to dispel the myths surrounding the image of manufacturing and to provide a platform to publicly identity dynamic leaders and innovators within the industry.

We’re extremely proud to announce that our General Manager, Paul Roe has been selected as a top 100 figure in UK manufacturing.

Paul falls under two categories within his listing;
Bold Investor in New Markets and Inspiring Leader.

Since joining RP in 2013 to open our mould shop Paul’s efforts of reshaping the company to help bring in business from new markets has seen the company grow year on year. His can do attitude is passed down through his team who all pull together to ensure the company targets are met. Paul is a strong believer that with growth comes investment in people, plant and technology and ensures that RP are always top of their game.

Please join us in congratulating Paul for his fantastic achievement, we’re delighted that he’s been selected as a remarkable individual within UK manufacturing.

Double Award Winners

Birmingham Business Post Awards

Birmingham Post Business Awards

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we won two awards at the Birmingham Post Business Awards last night:

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Small Business of the Year Award

We’re so proud of the team here at RP for all of their hard work which has made this fantastic achievement possible, we couldn’t have done it without them.

Head over to our Twitter page to see more photos from the evening.

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we won two awards at the Birmingham Post Business Awards last night:

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Small Business of the Year Award

We’re so proud of the team here at RP for all of their hard work which has made this fantastic achievement possible, we couldn’t have done it without them.

Winner Image

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of our customers. Without you, this fantastic double award success would not have been possible. Your loyalty and continued custom has enabled us to build our company over the years, to increase our manufacturing capabilities, and to enjoy some great success along the way.

This award shall be shared with all our key stakeholders, customers and employees alike.

We’re incredibly proud to work with each of you.

Birmingham Post Business Awards

RP Selected as Finalists

We’re delighted that we have been selected as finalists in two categories for the Birmingham Post Business Awards:

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Small Business of the Year Award

The Awards aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the most innovative companies across Birmingham who are putting our region on the map by boosting the economy, whilst making a positive contribution to the local community.

The Awards Evening takes place tomorrow evening where we’ll find out if we’ve been lucky enough to be selected as a winner.

We’ll be Tweeting live from the event so head over to our Twitter page tomorrow from 7pm to find out how we get on.

Wish us luck!

We’re delighted that we have been selected as finalists in two categories for the Birmingham Post Business Awards:

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Small Business of the Year Award

The Awards aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the most innovative companies across Birmingham who are putting our region on the map by boosting the economy, whilst making a positive contribution to the local community.

The Awards Evening takes place tomorrow evening where we’ll find out if we’ve been lucky enough to be selected as a winner.

We’ll be Tweeting live from the event so head over to our Twitter page tomorrow from 7pm to find out how we get on.

Wish us luck!

Birmingham Post Business Awards 2016

Awards Recognition for RP

The Birmingham Post Business Awards aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the most innovative companies across Birmingham who are putting our region on the map by boosting the economy, whilst making a positive contribution to the local community.

We are delighted to announce that we’ve been selected as finalists for the following two categories:

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Small Business of the Year Award

The Awards final takes place on 26th October where we’ll find out if we’ve been lucky enough to be selected as a winner …. Wish us luck!

RP Technologies has been named as a Finalist in the Birmingham Business Post Awards.

The Birmingham Post Business Awards aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the most innovative companies across Birmingham, the Black Country, and the West Midlands.

The Birmingham Post Business Awards has recognised RP for being among a distinct group of companies who have put our region on the map by boosting the local economy. This shortlisting also recognises companies who have made a positive contribution to the local community.

We are delighted to announce that we’ve been selected as finalists in not just one but two categories. These categories are:

Excellence in Manufacturing Award

Small Business of the Year Award

These awards recognise the fact that we have grown from a small start up to a regional employer with a strong base of domestic UK customers, as well as a number of customers in Europe and the wider world.

We have worked with some of the biggest brands out there, including Proctor & Gamble, BAE Systems, Mercedes F1, Jaguar, British American Tobacco and many more.

We would like to say thank you to our customers for enabling us to get this kind of recognition.

We would also like to acknowledge the tremendous work done by our many highly skilled toolmakers, injection moulding technicians, CNC programmers, quality engineers, and professional/administrative staff.

The Awards final takes place on 26th October where we’ll find out if we’ve been lucky enough to be selected as a winner …. Wish us luck!

Meet our New Apprentice Toolmaker…

A New Face in the Toolroom

As part of our continued commitment to the future of RP and the future of tool making we regularly employ apprentices. There’s a huge skill gap within our industry and apprenticeships provide the vital hands on experience that’s essential within the trade. Employing apprentices is a core part of our growth and investment plans for the future.

At the start of July Jamie joined us for a week on work experience to learn about the tool making industry and to help him decide if this is what he wants to do as a career.

Jamie spent a week on the shop-floor learning an array of different skills which helped him to decide that tool making is his chosen career path. We’ve since employed Jamie as an apprentice, here’s a summary of why he enjoyed his work experience and why he chose tool making as an apprenticeship…

What did you do during your work experience?
I had two day working as a toolmaker using the manual machines to finish some parts for a new tool, I also cut the ejector pins. I had a couple of days using the CAD/CAM CNC Machining Centres to see how they worked and what they’re used for. My last day was spent in the mould shop to see how the plastic is processed through the tool to create parts.

What did you enjoy the most during your work experience?
The thing I enjoyed the most was using and programming the CNC Machines and seeing the finished product the next day.

What made you want to become a tool maker?
I chose to do an apprenticeship in tool making as I really like the idea of getting to make the different parts of a tool and watch everything come together to produce plastic products. Knowing that I’d helped to make that product is something I’m really looking forward to.

What are you looking forward to most about your apprenticeship?
I’m looking forward to getting hands on experience to be able to make my own tools, start to finish.

As part of our continued commitment to the future of RP and the future of toolmaking we regularly employ apprentices. There’s a huge skill gap within our industry and apprenticeships provide the vital hands on experience that’s essential within the trade. Employing apprentices is a core part of our growth and investment plans for the future.

At the start of July, Jamie joined us for a week on work experience to learn about the tool making industry and to help him decide if this is what he wants to do as a career.

Jamie spent a week on the shop-floor learning an array of different skills which helped him to decide that tool making is his chosen career path. We’ve since employed Jamie as an apprentice, here’s a summary of why he enjoyed his work experience and why he chose tool making as an apprenticeship…

What did you do during your work experience?

I had two day working as a toolmaker using the manual machines to finish some parts for a new tool, I also cut the ejector pins. I had a couple of days using the CAD/CAM CNC Machining Centres to see how they worked and what they’re used for. My last day was spent in the mould shop to see how the plastic is processed through the tool to create parts.

What did you enjoy the most during your work experience?

The thing I enjoyed the most was using and programming the CNC Machines and seeing the finished product the next day.

What made you want to become a toolmaker?

I chose to do an apprenticeship in tool making as I really like the idea of getting to make the different parts of a tool and watch everything come together to produce plastic products. Knowing that I’d helped to make that product is something I’m really looking forward to.

What are you looking forward to most about your apprenticeship?

I’m looking forward to getting hands on experience to be able to make my own tools, start to finish.

Best Place to Work Award Winner

Express & Star Business Awards

The Awards evening took place last night at Wolverhampton Racecourse so we got suited and booted to celebrate great businesses across the West Midlands.

We are delighted that we won the award for the Best Place to Work!!

We were runners up in the Manufacturing Champion Award, Jaguar Land Rover took the trophy home and we are very proud to have been short-listed against the automotive giant.

To see more pictures from the evening head over to our Twitter page…

As you’ll know from our recent news posts, RP Technologies was recently nominated for two awards at the Express & Star Business Awards.

The Awards evening took place last night at Wolverhampton Racecourse. This was the perfect excuse for us all to get suited and booted and head off to Wolverhampton to celebrate.

It was a great night for local business. We were joined by several inspiring companies who, like us, have made the journey from start up to being recognised as one of the West Midlands’ top performing companies.

After much alcohol had been consumed, and a fair amount of chatter had taken place, we all settled down and awaited the announcement of the awards.

We are delighted to tell you that we won the award for the Best Place to Work!!

We were Runners Up in the Manufacturing Champion Award.

Ironically, it was one of our customers, Jaguar Land Rover, who took this trophy home with them. We say a big well done to them.

Overall, the evening was a great success. It afforded us the opportunity to network with a number of business leaders from the local West Midlands economy.

Well done to all the team at RP. Your efforts have been recognised and we share this award between us as a team.

RP Shortlisted as Finalists for Awards

Express & Star Business Awards

As you may already know we recently entered the Express & Star Business Awards and were delighted to find out that we had been short-listed as finalists for the following categories:

Manufacturing Champion Award

Best Place to Work Award

Over the last few weeks we’ve been put through our paces with the Judges visits and in today’s issue of the Express and Star there’s a great ‘Meet the Finalists’ write up. We’ve got some tough competition so keep your fingers crossed for us!

The Awards Ceremony is taking place on Thursday, we’ll be getting suited and booted for an evening celebrating great local businesses.

Wish us luck!

It’s time to celebrate as RP shortlisted as finalists for awards!

We’re always trying to produce good quality tooling, injection moulding, and CNC machining.

We’re fully committed to delivering the best quality products to our customers in the shortest possible timeframes.

And it’s nice to see that our efforts have been recognised in the Express & Star’s Business Awards.

These business awards celebrate everything that’s good about business and commerce in the Black Country and West Midlands areas.

RP Technologies is delighted to announce that are part of a small but distinguished group of businesses who have been shortlisted for awards.

We have been shortlisted as finalists for in two categories:

Manufacturing Champion Award

Best Place to Work Award

Over the last few weeks we’ve been put through our paces by the judges of the awards ceremony. They visited us on several occasions to run the rule over our production facility and our manufacturing operations here in the West Midlands.

Their observations of our company are captured in the ‘Meet the Finalists’ article in today’s issue of the Express and Star.

The Awards Ceremony is taking place on Thursday. We’ll be getting suited and booted for an evening where we get to celebrate great local businesses.

Wish us luck!

RP Purchases New Hurco CNC Machines

We've had an Exciting Delivery

As part of our ongoing investment and expansion plans we have purchased two new Hurco CNC Machining Centres to increase our Tool Room capacity.

The VM30i and the VMX30i will add to our already impressive suite of Hurco machines and will improve our current capabilities and lead times.

The VM30i is a 3-axis vertical milling machine with a small footprint but a large work cube. No other mill packs as much productivity in to such an efficiently designed package.

The VMX30i is one of Hurco’s signature milling centres that takes machining to the next level. This machine delivers high performance capabilities to any machining application & has the added benefit of a dual-screen control for streamlined programming.

The investment in new machinery will increase our capacity and productivity in the tool room and will ensure we keep up with our ever increasing order book.

As part of our ongoing investment and expansion plans we have purchased two new Hurco CNC Machining Centres to increase our Tool Room capacity.

The VM30i and the VMX30i will add to our already impressive suite of Hurco machines and will improve our current capabilities and lead times.

The VM30i is a 3-axis vertical milling machine with a small footprint but a large work cube. No other mill packs as much productivity in to such an efficiently designed package.

The VMX30i is one of Hurco’s signature milling centres that takes machining to the next level. This machine delivers high performance capabilities to any machining application & has the added benefit of a dual-screen control for streamlined programming.

The investment in new machinery will increase our capacity and productivity in the tool room and will ensure we keep up with our ever increasing order book.

Business Awards Finalists

Express and Star Business Awards - Finalists

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been short-listed as finalists for the following categories in the Express and Star 2016 Business Awards:

Manufacturing Champion Award

Best Place to Work Award

We’re over the moon that we’ve been short-listed and we’re looking forward to the Judges visiting in the next few weeks.

The Awards Ceremony takes place on 26th May… Wish us luck!

RP Technologies is delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted as business awards finalists at the Express and Star 2016 Business Awards.

The past 12 months have proved to be an incredibly exciting time for RP, with the company continuing to make great strides in the fields of toolmaking, injection moulding, and CNC machining.

This latest success is a reflection of the great work which our toolmakers, injection moulding technicians, CNC programmers and quality engineers have been producing.

Being shortlisted for an award is fantastic. Being shortlisted for two awards at the same time is a bit special.

We are shortlisted in each of the below categories:

Manufacturing Champion Award

Best Place to Work Award

We’re over the moon that we’ve been shortlisted and we’re looking forward to the judges visiting us in the next few weeks to run the rule over our manufacturing operations.

The Awards Ceremony takes place on 26th May… Wish us luck!

Technological Updates at RP

The Importance of Keeping Technology Up to Date

Technology is inescapable. It Influences every area of our life. From how we work, play and live day-to-day. Technology is a revolution that will grow for as long as humans continue to advance in their capabilities.

As the months and years go by, technology just gets better and better. What was yesterdays ‘next big thing’, is old hat today. The bottom line is, technology doesn’t wait for you and if your organisation isn’t keeping up with it, you will surely be left behind by your competitors

Here at RP Technologies we embrace technology and pride ourselves in keeping it up to date. All of our Hurco CNC machines are different ages but they are all running the latest update of software, but why bother?

The first Apple iPhone was released in 2007 and it’s plain to see how much that technology has moved forward since then. The years of constant development mean we can now use our smartphones to do almost anything. So why do many people think that when we buy a machine the investment is complete when the machine is paid for?

Our new Hurco machines have a cycle time 30% faster than older versions as well as improved surface finish. We recently upgraded all of our machines so they now benefit from the same hardware and software with the associated advantages. This improves our tooling throughout the manufacturing process and also reduces wear and tear on the machines, giving the added benefit of reduced servicing.

Keeping up to date with technology isn’t all about having the latest gadgets, for RP it’s about utilising the latest technology updates to improve our processes so that we offer the best possible service to our customers. Having latest technology enables us to retain our ‘without limits’ philosophy and offer a unique service to our customers.

Technology is inescapable. It influences every area of our life. From how we work, play and live day-to-day. Technology is a revolution that will grow for as long as humans continue to advance in their capabilities.

As the months and years go by, technology just gets better and better. What was yesterdays ‘next big thing’, is old hat today. The bottom line is, technology doesn’t wait for you and if your organisation isn’t keeping up with it, you will surely be left behind by your competitors

Here at RP Technologies we embrace technology and pride ourselves in keeping it up to date. All of our Hurco CNC machines are different ages but they are all running the latest update of software, but why bother?

The first Apple iPhone was released in 2007 and it’s plain to see how much that technology has moved forward since then. The years of constant development mean we can now use our smartphones to do almost anything. So why do many people think that when we buy a machine the investment is complete when the machine is paid for?

Our new Hurco machines have a cycle time 30% faster than older versions as well as improved surface finish. We recently upgraded all of our machines so they now benefit from the same hardware and software with the associated advantages. This improves our tooling throughout the manufacturing process and also reduces wear and tear on the machines, giving the added benefit of reduced servicing.

Keeping up to date with technology isn’t all about having the latest gadgets, for RP it’s about utilising the latest technology updates to improve our processes so that we offer the best possible service to our customers. Having latest technology enables us to retain our ‘without limits’ philosophy and offer a unique service to our customers.

Black Country Guide to Prototyping

Translating Our Local Dialect

Being based in the Black Country we’ve realised a lot of our customers might have trouble understanding us! We thought we’d help you to learn our lingo and teach you a few key phrases that might come in useful when working with us….

“Tool meker”  = tool maker

“It’s only a ickle part” = it’s only a small part

“It’ll only tek a couple or three hours” = It will only take a few hours

When designing a tool…”We cor mek it loike tha” = We can’t make it like that

When looking at a part…”Nice though ay it” = Nice though isn’t it

When sending a quote…”Eer ya goo” = Here you go

Often heard in the tool room…”yow bin bost it ay ya” = you’ve broken it haven’t you?… “It wor me, ar day do it” = It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it!

“Ar got oyl on mi tay shert” = I’ve got oil on my t-shirt

“Yow need to put mowa werter in theya to keep the part cowd” = You need to put more water in there to keep the part cold

And here’s a few extra phrases that you may need…

“Yow cor av ya tay, it ay tay time” = You can’t have your dinner yet, it isn’t dinner time

“Ar bin all round the ‘reekin” = I’ve been all over the place (The Wrekin is a hill in Shropshire)

“Put wud in ‘ole” = Close the door please

“Ar bin” = I am   “Ar bay” = I’m not   “Ar cor” = I can’t

“Tara-a-bit” = Bye for now

We’re looking forward to hearing you practise our lingo!

Being based in the Black Country we’ve realised a lot of our customers might have trouble understanding us! We thought we’d help you to learn our lingo and teach you a few key phrases that might come in useful when working with us….

“Tool meker”  = tool maker

“It’s only a ickle part” = it’s only a small part

“It’ll only tek a couple or three hours” = It will only take a few hours

When designing a tool…”We cor mek it loike tha” = We can’t make it like that

When looking at a part…”Nice though ay it” = Nice though isn’t it

When sending a quote…”Eer ya goo” = Here you go

Often heard in the tool room…”yow bin bost it ay ya” = you’ve broken it haven’t you?… “It wor me, ar day do it” = It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it!

“Ar got oyl on mi tay shert” = I’ve got oil on my t-shirt

“Yow need to put mowa werter in theya to keep the part cowd” = You need to put more water in there to keep the part cold

And here’s a few extra phrases that you may need…

“Yow cor av ya tay, it ay tay time” = You can’t have your dinner yet, it isn’t dinner time

“Ar bin all round the ‘reekin” = I’ve been all over the place (The Wrekin is a hill in Shropshire)

“Put wud in ‘ole” = Close the door please

“Ar bin” = I am   “Ar bay” = I’m not   “Ar cor” = I can’t

“Tara-a-bit” = Bye for now

We’re looking forward to hearing you practise our lingo!

Sodick Spark Erosion Machine

New Spark Erosion Machine Adds to Our Capabilities

As part of our ongoing investment and expansion, we have purchased another impressive machine; the Sodick AD55L CNC Spark Erosion machine with 6 stage tool change facility.

What is spark eroding?

Spark Erosion is a method used when machining challenging tooling with intricate detail. As toolmakers we always try to achieve what the client requires with regard to the part form and not change the part to fit in with our manufacturing process. We believe this philosophy makes us stand out from our competitors.

The spark erosion process involves both the work piece (the male form) and the tool (the female form) being connected to a direct current; this provides a constant spark between the two. The area where the spark contacts the surface of the work piece is heated to an extremely high temperature. The molten metal on the surface of the work piece evaporates creating a minute crater. Continual discharge creates multiple craters, constantly eroding the work piece to the desired finish which can be controlled within a very precise envelope.

The work piece and the electrode are divided by a gap which is filled with a synthetic insulating fluid. The liquid allows for the eroded debris to be flushed away from the work area. The synthetic fluid is also used to control the temperature of the process, without it a thermal shock would result, by eliminating heat no distortion or change in temper takes place.

The AD55L features Sodick’s latest LN NC unit which is equipped with the new “TMM3” discharge power supply capable of high speed, high precision  and high efficiency machining.
The rigid linear motor drive is the ideal mechanism that semi-permanently sustains high speed axis movements and instantaneous response using rigid linear motor axis drives and eliminates the need for external flushing.

Extensive training has been given to our toolmakers to ensure our customers get the most out of this equipment. Why not be one of the first to give this new facility a test drive – we think you will be impressed…

As part of our ongoing investment and expansion, we have purchased another impressive machine; the Sodick AD55L CNC Spark Erosion machine with 6 stage tool change facility.

What is Spark Erosion?

Spark Erosion is a method used when machining challenging tooling with intricate detail. As toolmakers we always try to achieve what the client requires with regard to the part form and not change the part to fit in with our manufacturing process. We believe this philosophy makes us stand out from our competitors.

The spark erosion process involves both the work piece (the male form) and the tool (the female form) being connected to a direct current; this provides a constant spark between the two. The area where the spark contacts the surface of the work piece is heated to an extremely high temperature. The molten metal on the surface of the work piece evaporates creating a minute crater. Continual discharge creates multiple craters, constantly eroding the work piece to the desired finish which can be controlled within a very precise envelope.

The work piece and the electrode are divided by a gap which is filled with a synthetic insulating fluid. The liquid allows for the eroded debris to be flushed away from the work area. The synthetic fluid is also used to control the temperature of the process, without it a thermal shock would result, by eliminating heat no distortion or change in temper takes place.

The AD55L features Sodick’s latest LN NC unit which is equipped with the new “TMM3” discharge power supply capable of high speed, high precision  and high efficiency machining.

The rigid linear motor drive is the ideal mechanism that semi-permanently sustains high speed axis movements and instantaneous response using rigid linear motor axis drives and eliminates the need for external flushing.

Extensive training has been given to our toolmakers to ensure our customers get the most out of this equipment. Why not be one of the first to give this new facility a test drive – we think you will be impressed…

No Mountain Too High for RP

RP Technologies Team Tackles Ben Nevis

Over the weekend 8 of our guys headed to Scotland to tackle Ben Nevis! Depsite lots of aching legs the team had a fantastic time.

To view the rest of the pictures please head to our Facebook Page.

Over the weekend, 8 of our guys headed up to Scotland to tackle Ben Nevis!

By specialising in complex toolmaking and injection moulding, we’re used to impossible challenges. That’s why we’re ‘Without Limits.’

But when somebody suggested we spend our weekend climbing Ben Nevis, to many of us it seemed like the impossible challenge.

But, despite lots of aching legs and sore feet, not to mention a fair amount of moaning along the way, the team had a fantastic time.

There were a few people hobbling around our manufacturing facility when Monday morning arrived, and more than a few grumbles to be heard about this ache here and that pain there.

In fact, our First Aiders have never been so busy, dispensing plasters like they’ve gone out of fashion!

But, in all seriousness, we’d like to commend all the guys who took part on their efforts. It took a Herculean effort, but it’s something which they can be proud of.

Well done, guys! Next year, Everest!

To view the pictures please head to our Facebook Page.

On Yer Bike!

RP Sponsor Leoni’s Charity Cycle Ride

This Saturday (27th June 2015) eight of Leoni’s employees will be riding 150 miles on a Charity Cycle Ride.

The challenge Leoni’s Cycle Club been set is to ride 150 miles in ONE day which includes crossing the top of the Brecon Beacons!
The ride begins at Leoni’s facilities in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire and see’s the team cross the English and Welsh countryside. They’ll be calling in at the old Lucas Rists factory in Ystradglynlais before they cross the finish line on the beach at Swansea Bay.

Leoni are fundraising for the ride with all proceeds going to the Leoni CCC which is a workforce led Charity Committee that supports charities in the local area. Following last year’s ride they handed out cheques for a total of £14,000 to 11 charities including Donna Louise Trust, CLIC, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Special Olympics Stafford and Joe Gilligan Cancer Trust just to name a few.

The line up of riders includes Mick Fitzpatrick, Neil Stephenson, Meirion Evans, Alun Darlington, Kev McGing, Steve Brearley, Darryl Hilton and Mick McKenna.

Leoni are a valued customer of RP Technologies so we have pleasure in donating to such a fantastic cause and wish the team the best of luck.

Good luck to the magnificent eight!

This Saturday (27th June 2015) eight of Leoni’s employees will be riding 150 miles on a Charity Cycle Ride.

The challenge Leoni’s Cycle Club been set is to ride 150 miles in ONE day which includes crossing the top of the Brecon Beacons!
The ride begins at Leoni’s facilities in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire and see’s the team cross the English and Welsh countryside. They’ll be calling in at the old Lucas Rists factory in Ystradglynlais before they cross the finish line on the beach at Swansea Bay.

Leoni are fundraising for the ride with all proceeds going to the Leoni CCC which is a workforce led Charity Committee that supports charities in the local area. Following last year’s ride they handed out cheques for a total of £14,000 to 11 charities including Donna Louise Trust, CLIC, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Special Olympics Stafford and Joe Gilligan Cancer Trust just to name a few.

The line up of riders includes Mick Fitzpatrick, Neil Stephenson, Meirion Evans, Alun Darlington, Kev McGing, Steve Brearley, Darryl Hilton and Mick McKenna.

Leoni are a valued customer of RP Technologies so we have pleasure in donating to such a fantastic cause and wish the team the best of luck.

Good luck to the magnificent eight!

Milestone Celebration

RP Technologies Celebrate 10th Anniversary

RP was founded in 2005 by Brett Mitchell and Darren Withers. They had previously been Directors at local tool-making company and between them had over 35 years of experience in the industry. The company was based in the Gunbarrel Industrial Estate in Cradley Heath in a unit approximately 1500 sq ft in size. The original setup comprised of 2 Hurco CNC machining centres plus various essential manual equipment and a pedestrian truck! We started with 1 toolmaker and 1 bench hand and Jane & Lisa managing finance and administration. In the next few of years the company developed steadily, increasing in both workforce and machinery.

In 2008 we extended into the next door unit, adding another 1100 sq ft to the footprint of the premises. This expansion also gave us the opportunity for a dedicated CAD room with 4 CAD engineers. At this time we also employed a dedicated sales engineer and purchased a CMM so we could offer measurement services to our customers. By the end of this year we employed 9 toolmakers and the plant list had increased to 7 CNC machining centres plus a suite of manual millers.

By 2010 it was obvious that the current premises would not be able to sustain the growth of the company so the decision was made to move to a larger site. We relocated to Hereward Rise, Halesowen in September of that year and took advantage of the additional space to purchase our first plastic moulding machine, producing prototype moulded parts in small batches. The change in location also made the production process much more efficient. The workforce was increased by another 7 toolmakers over the next couple of years, including the introduction of a toolmaking apprentice and a dedicated Quality engineer. The machinery was also invested in to give the company more flexibility, including a 5 axis machining centre.

The introduction of the moulding facility took off much better than expected and by 2012 it was decided to separate out that side of the business and set up RP Mouldings. New premises of 1600 sq ft were acquired to accommodate the moulding operations and a General manager employed oversee the company. 2 brand new Borsche moulding machines were purchased (320 & 150 Ton) and this was quickly followed by 60 Ton machine and new staff to operate them.

Now we’re in 2015 and the company is growing and developing every day with increased demand. We recently moved to a new facility in Kingswinford that’s 3 times larger than our previous premises. We’ve bought 3 new CNC machining centres, and 2 new injection moulding machines and now have a total of 37 employees!

Here’s hoping the next 10 years are just as successful.

RP was founded in 2005 by Brett Mitchell and Darren Withers. They had previously been Directors at local tool-making company and between them had over 35 years of experience in the industry. The company was based in the Gunbarrel Industrial Estate in Cradley Heath in a unit approximately 1500 sq ft in size. The original setup comprised of 2 Hurco CNC machining centres plus various essential manual equipment and a pedestrian truck! We started with 1 toolmaker and 1 bench hand and Jane & Lisa managing finance and administration. In the next few of years the company developed steadily, increasing in both workforce and machinery.

In 2008 we extended into the next door unit, adding another 1100 sq ft to the footprint of the premises. This expansion also gave us the opportunity for a dedicated CAD room with 4 CAD engineers. At this time we also employed a dedicated sales engineer and purchased a CMM so we could offer measurement services to our customers. By the end of this year we employed 9 toolmakers and the plant list had increased to 7 CNC machining centres plus a suite of manual millers.

By 2010 it was obvious that the current premises would not be able to sustain the growth of the company so the decision was made to move to a larger site. We relocated to Hereward Rise, Halesowen in September of that year and took advantage of the additional space to purchase our first plastic moulding machine, producing prototype moulded parts in small batches. The change in location also made the production process much more efficient. The workforce was increased by another 7 toolmakers over the next couple of years, including the introduction of a toolmaking apprentice and a dedicated Quality engineer. The machinery was also invested in to give the company more flexibility, including a 5 axis machining centre.

The introduction of the moulding facility took off much better than expected and by 2012 it was decided to separate out that side of the business and set up RP Mouldings. New premises of 1600 sq ft were acquired to accommodate the moulding operations and a General manager employed oversee the company. 2 brand new Borsche moulding machines were purchased (320 & 150 Ton) and this was quickly followed by 60 Ton machine and new staff to operate them.

Now we’re in 2015 and the company is growing and developing every day with increased demand. We recently moved to a new facility in Kingswinford that’s 3 times larger than our previous premises. We’ve bought 3 new CNC machining centres, and 2 new injection moulding machines and now have a total of 37 employees!

Here’s hoping the next 10 years are just as successful.

Same Company. Different Name.

RP Tooling Announces Name Change to RP Technologies

The manufacturer of injection moulded components and prototypes , RP Tooling Limited announced today it has a new company name – RP Technologies Limited. The change more accurately reflects the scope of the company’s offerings. RP Tooling’s name change is part of a re-branding initiative to better align the company’s name with its future strategy. The company have taken the opportunity to give their brand a fresh and energetic new look and have launched a new website, along with other marketing material including a 12 page brochure.

Director Darren Withers says, “We’re still the same great organisation with the same services. Our new name will reflect our firm commitment to offering innovative solutions that go well beyond our current offering. The name change signifies the company vision moving forwards”.

In the past couple of years RP has gone through some exciting changes and organisational developments. Earlier this year the company moved to larger premises and invested in new machinery to increase capacity along with employing 10 new members of staff.

The manufacturer of injection moulded components and prototypes , RP Tooling Limited announced today it has a new company name – RP Technologies Limited. The change more accurately reflects the scope of the company’s offerings. RP Tooling’s name change is part of a re-branding initiative to better align the company’s name with its future strategy. The company have taken the opportunity to give their brand a fresh and energetic new look and have launched a new website, along with other marketing material including a 12 page brochure.

Director Darren Withers says, “We’re still the same great organisation with the same services. Our new name will reflect our firm commitment to offering innovative solutions that go well beyond our current offering. The name change signifies the company vision moving forwards”.

In the past couple of years RP has gone through some exciting changes and organisational developments. Earlier this year the company moved to larger premises and invested in new machinery to increase capacity along with employing 10 new members of staff.

RP On The Move

RP Tooling Expand to Larger Premises

A leading manufacturer of injection moulded components and prototypes is planning to expand after moving to larger premises.

RP Tooling Limited has recently moved to a larger manufacturing facility on Pensnett Trading Estate, one of the largest secure industrial estates in Europe which is home to almost 200 companies.

The company’s new 24,000 sq. ft (2,230 sq. m) home has plentiful room for their development plans, and is perfectly situated within the West Midlands with great access to the M6, M5 and Birmingham airport.

RP Tooling’s General Manager Mr. Paul Roe says that the impressive move is a key point to the company’s expansion: “It’s great to be in larger premises with the room to expand further. We’ve taken on 10 new members of staff within the last few months; it’s a really exciting time for us here at RP.”

The company’s new facility in Kingswinford is more than three times the size of its previous premises in Halesowen, increasing production capacity by 25% with the view to investing in more new machinery in the near future.

A leading manufacturer of injection moulded components and prototypes is planning to expand after moving to larger premises.

RP Tooling Limited has recently moved to a larger manufacturing facility on Pensnett Trading Estate, one of the largest secure industrial estates in Europe which is home to almost 200 companies.

The company’s new 24,000 sq. ft (2,230 sq. m) home has plentiful room for their development plans, and is perfectly situated within the West Midlands with great access to the M6, M5 and Birmingham airport.

RP Tooling’s General Manager Mr. Paul Roe says that the impressive move is a key point to the company’s expansion: “It’s great to be in larger premises with the room to expand further. We’ve taken on 10 new members of staff within the last few months; it’s a really exciting time for us here at RP.”

The company’s new facility in Kingswinford is more than three times the size of its previous premises in Halesowen, increasing production capacity by 25% with the view to investing in more new machinery in the near future.

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