Global TCT introduces radical castings production process. An exclusive interview with Kevin Smith Global TCT.

1. Global TCT introduces
radical castings
production process
The East of England offers: An exclusive interview with
G Dynamic aerospace and
automotive clusters;
Kevin Smith Global TCT
G Access to leading-edge, globally
valued research;
G A strong skills base and pool of
experienced staff;
Developing a radical process for producing castings faster than
G Potential for strong market growth; ever before and without the need for traditional tooling is putting
G Advanced infrastructure, with a well Essex-based company Global TCT ahead in its field – worldwide.
established supply chain;
G A lower-cost base for European
operations within easy reach of the Technical Director of Global TCT Kevin Smith explains how its
Continent, London and rest of the UK.
innovative tool-less manufacture has the potential to help
customers across a number of sectors, including automotive
and aerospace.
‘Our unique new casting process has been developed to make
castings faster than ever before, manufacturing physical metal
properties to production intent standards,’ he explains. ‘Tool-less
casting removes the need for traditional tooling and allows us to
produce in-house, from prototype through to production in any
cast material.
Business support funded by the
East of England Development Agency
East of England International delivers UK Trade & Investment services to regional
businesses seeking to trade internationally. We also provide free and confidential advice
to overseas-owned companies looking to establish a presence or expand in the UK.

2. Global TCT introduces radical
castings production process
An exclusive interview with
Kevin Smith Global TCT
‘This new technologically advanced process – which means aerospace. The region offers excellent resources for taking
we can deliver parts in as little as ten days – can be used our business forward such as R&D centres of excellence at
for a development component, a prototype or to supply parts the universities and through technical consultancy firms and
whilst production tooling is being completed. With our rapid there is also a well-defined and established supply chain which
manufacturing techniques and equipment, we have reduced has given us access to our customer base of end users.
lead-times from weeks to just days.
‘Tool-less manufacture also results in significant cost savings
‘Working with East of England International
and greater flexibility in terms of design. It means that hard
tooling can be built with 100% confidence, it’s quicker than (EEI) has enabled us to exhibit at the
Finite Element Analysis and the project cost and design-to- Farnborough International Airshow, taking
market lead-times are substantially reduced.
a ‘pod’ on the East of England stand. Attending
‘The process brings together the four key requirements of this high-profile aerospace event allows us to
the components development process. Near nett shape is promote our services to our target audience
vital because it reduces the cost and time of machining.
Production intent standard material means that the components very cost effectively and highlights our
we produce can be put through full testing procedures prior contribution to the range of benefits on offer
to committing funds for hard tooling manufacture. Flexibility
enables an infinite number of design changes with no tooling
to companies looking to locate in the region.’
modification and speed means the whole process can be
reduced to days enabling a far superior optimised design.
‘Manufacturing direct from CAD files using in-house developed
rapid manufacturing techniques, the tool-less process produces
KEY FACTS
castings with characteristics within three per cent of pressure
diecast parts even on wall thicknesses of under 1mm, enabling
Global TCT has developed a unique process for tool-less
their use in all build phases of a project. This also means that
manufacture, with the potential to help customers across
the process can be used to produce short-run production parts
a number of sectors including automotive and aerospace.
while the production tooling is being manufactured. Lead times
from CAD files to finished casting supply are just ten days for a
This radical process delivers the following benefits:
typical high-integrity simple geometry component, and only 20
days for more complex parts such as cylinder heads or other G In-house manufacture from prototype through to
internal closed cavity components. production in any cast material, removing the need for
traditional tooling;
‘The process brings considerable benefits to all cast G Speed of manufacture means that parts can be delivered
processes as it means we can offer our customers the ability in as little as ten days;
to test production intent castings prior to tooling, ensuring the G Greater flexibility and significant cost-savings in terms
tooling of a component is ‘right first time’. We have a proven of project cost and design to market lead-times.
track record working with foundries to reduce their development
cost and time, as well as direct to customers ranging from Global TCT benefits from its location in the East of England
small manufacturers to some of the world’s leading OEMs. in a number of ways: access to potential markets for
tool-less manufacture across a number of sectors, proximity
‘Our location in the East of England delivers a number of direct to R&D centres of excellence and the ability to tap into a
and significant benefits. It will allow us to tap into the market well-defined and established supply chain with a customer
potential of many different sectors for which our process could base of end users.
be useful including the two we currently serve: automotive and
For expert help contact:
East of England International
2 Quayside Cambridge CB5 8AB
United Kingdom East of England International gives free and
T: +44 (0)1223 450 450 confidential help to overseas-owned companies
E: info@eeia.com setting up or expanding in the UK.
08/70 Copyright March 2009