Lincoln-based manufacturing firm Micrometric state they are continuing to lead the way in micro laser manufacturing and multi-process services during its 40th year of business.
With this special anniversary, Micrometric is reflecting on the changes the company has faced and the evolution of services it provides in a range of sectors including medical, aerospace and automotive. Founded by Maurice Gates and Neil Main, Micrometric began by cutting sheet metal using innovative CO2 lasers in January 1983 and had a turnover of only £50 in its first month – but this soon started growing.
Neil Main, Managing Director of Micrometric, remembers contracts that changed the services provided by Micrometric: “We were asked by the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell if we could make radiation sensors for detecting alpha radiation. They needed small rectangles cutting and each to have a letter and number and error code that was different on each. At that time our competitors were not able to do this, so we rose to the challenge and successfully output the parts using the large CO2 laser (DE) and BBC Micro.”
By 1990, Micrometric Techniques was a precision laser processor, and several industries were asking the team to make parts: electronics, gas turbines, food manufacturers, and medical. Most of the medical items were for instrumentation but Micrometric was asked to make one part for a prostate cancer remover.
In 1994 the company moved into a new purpose-built factory on Doddington Road, Lincoln, allowing further expansion. With more space the company invested in new hi-tech lasers including its first Bystronic which was fast, flexible and precise.
After Neil purchased Micrometric in 2004, he faced a great challenge: the biggest customer which accounted for around 25% of turnover in Micrometric’s portfolio bought its own laser. The company’s revenue declined, and it resulted in redundancies.
Recovery took a while before the company was able to invest in new equipment. However, technological advances meant that the new lasers when purchased were state of the art and Micrometric was able to produce better quality components more quickly with a higher-skilled workforce.
Over the past five years, Micrometric has enjoyed strong growth to meet the demand for precision components, including the Coherent Starcut tube cutting machine which produces exclusive medical instruments with extremely high precision, and a new Lasercube machine which delivers on quality, precision, speed and efficiency. It is these developments that will allow the team to continue producing high-quality precision components for a multitude of industries including the medical sector.
When looking into the future Neil is positive: “Most things develop out of a need, and we have seen so much change in just the last three years, but customers are still asking for new parts and processes. We are always looking for new ways of expanding our services so there is huge potential for growth in the medical, aerospace and automotive industries.”
Micrometric are AS9100 accredited and are members of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA), The Manufacturers’ Organisation (MAKE UK), Association of Industrial Laser Users (AILU), The Welding Institute (TWI) and Motorsport Industry Association (MIA).
