YLF – precision fabrication at its best!

THERE can’t be anything worse as a consumer than to shell out for an item only to have it repeatedly failing due to one small (or large) part of it.

Whether you complain to the manufacturer and seek to replace the failing part or discard the item and forget about it, one thing’s for certain, you are highly unlikely to buy the same item – or even the same brand – again!

Result: one disgruntled customer + one company reputation for reliability in shreds = lost business.

As a manufacturer of parts that go to make up a wide range of products across multiple sectors, Yorkshire Laser and Fabrication (YLF) knows only too well the importance of components that are fit for purpose and don’t let the side down. Here are a few steps towards ensuring a quality end product that we’ve learned along the way…

• Accurate drawings: Take the guesswork out of going from art to part by using CAD! Computer Aided Design – to give it its full name – allows design teams to control the quality of the finished product. At YLF our team of CAD experts uses industry standard manufacturing design software SOLIDWORKS to create detailed engineering level drawings of how the part looks and should be constructed including key information like dimensions, materials and fasteners. With CAD, it is easy to pinpoint and correct errors before even prototypes are made thus saving time and money. And when combined with CAM – Computer Aided Manufacturing – CAD minimises errors, speeds up turn around and ensures consistency on repeat orders time and time again.
• The right materials: With so many metals on the market, not to mention the multiple variants they come in, it’s easy to get confused. The type, quality and cleanliness of the metal used has substantial impact on the quality and reliability of your part. With nearly 30 years’ experience of working with sheet metal, we at YLF are well placed to advise you on the best material for your product. We take pride in everything we make and while we would never advocate cutting corners, similarly we will not push a higher grade material on you if it’s not necessary.
• The right equipment: Sometimes metal needs to be bent to create the right shape. Or it may simply need a hole punching through it in a particular place. Other times, especially when a more intricate shape is required, only a fine level of cutting detail will do. Whatever is required to produce the shapes and marking needed for your part, we have the equipment to do it. The last 18 months have seen us invest more than £2 million into the latest sheet metal fabrication equipment including an Amada ATC automated press brake, a 6Kw Amada Ensis AJ laser cutter and an EML-AJ combination laser and punch machine. This new technology not only makes us more efficient and productive but increases our capability in terms of the thickness of materials and high quality finishes while the automated features mean production can continue beyond normal working hours. It also reduces margin for error and ensures consistent accuracy.
• Attention to detail: no job is too small or too large for us here at YLF so whether we are talking a chassis for model engineering or a 250cm x 250cm intricately cut Islamic geometric patterned security screen everything we make gets the same level of care and attention. When making a part to fit in a certain slot and fulfil a specific function, precision is key and we make sure we hit the mark.

Exceptional quality, exceptional service and exceptional value is something of a mantra at YLF. If you want confidence that the parts you order will fit the spot and never give your customers cause for complaint, talk to us on 01924 220236 or click here to get in touch.