Global testing and certification group Exova has received UKAS accreditation for its Grainger & Worrall (GW) on-site testing laboratory. The facility is now accredited to ISO 17025 as a recognized and independently audited laboratory.
The dedicated mechanical test lab, based at GW’s manufacturing plant in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, UK, conducts mechanical tensile testing on ferrous and non-ferrous cast materials and components. The accreditation comes following a rigorous evaluation including interviews, inspections and reviews of all procedures.
As well as a 100KN load capacity dual column frame for conducting tensile testing, the laboratory houses a dedicated machining section, housing CNC lathes and milling machines for the preparation of tensile specimens from separately cast and in-cast parts.
Meanwhile, GW has established a state-of-the-art, US$6.3m (£5m) machining facility, which will be operational in early 2017. The facility will centralize the company’s machining operations and shorten the engine development process.
It will provide a temperature controlled environment in which parts can be machined to the highest output quality. It will also help to deliver production-capable parts at prototype level, thus reducing lead times.
The 33,000ft² will house seven vertical, two five-axis and six horizontal machining centers, alongside five CMM measuring machines.
December 9, 2016
