CLIENT: University College London (UCL) • SECTOR: Environmental research • SERVICES: Contract manufacturing, CAD design, electro-mechanical assembly, calibration certification
University College London needed precision engineering for research equipment. They needed ten identical Shear Device units that worked as well in the field as in the lab. We took the project from 2D drawings to ten calibrated, field-ready units.
Background
UCL develops technology to tackle ocean plastic waste, as part of its environmental sustainability research. One project is the Shear Device, a centrifuge-type system. It tests active proteins for their ability to break down plastic waste in marine environments.
The challenge
UCL needed 10 precision-built units for field trials. Each device had to match the lab prototype’s performance outside the lab. That called for a manufacturing partner who could take the design from concept to production without losing accuracy. It also called for electro-mechanical expertise, advanced manufacturing and precision engineering skills.
Our support
We worked from UCL’s original 2D drawings through to finished units:
- Converted 2D drawings into 3D CAD data
- Developed the manufacturing procedures for the build
- Delivered calibration certification for each unit
Why precision engineering matters for research equipment
Precision engineering for research equipment works differently to a standard production run. Every unit needs matching tolerances and repeatable accuracy. Inconsistent builds skew results. That’s why calibration sits inside the build process, from the start. Metrology and quality checks throughout make results comparable across different test sites.
The outcome
We manufactured 10 units for field testing. UCL used them to progress trials of the Shear Device in real marine conditions. The project also generated further commercial interest in the technology.
Our team combines electro-mechanical, CAD and manufacturing expertise in-house. Projects like this don’t need multiple external suppliers. That’s the UK precision engineering capability behind builds like the Shear Device. It means consistent quality, and equipment that performs the same way on every field trial.
Need precision engineering for research equipment or test devices for your own trials? Contact our team.
