Forward Composites awards AIC maintenance contract

AIC Group today announced that it had been awarded the maintenance contract for Forward Composite’s two autoclaves and three ovens. The contract runs for one year during which two maintenance programmes and two system accuracy tests will be completed. AIC Group is pleased to be working with Forward Composites a fresh, dynamic company that manufacture products from complex composite materials for the Aerospace, Defence, Oil & Gas, Motor Sport and Automotive Markets. Fully certified to AS-9100 rev C, Forward Composites offer a complete end to end service from CAD Design, Engineering analysis, through to in-house tooling manufacture, a full range of composite production techniques and in-house paint facilities – they also have ambitious plans for future growth. AIC’s Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) increases the reliability of equipment, reduces down time and interruptions to production. It maximises asset utilisation whilst contributing operational cost savings by ensuring optimal energy efficiencies. PPM contributes by extending the life expectancy of capital plant and importantly ensures its safe condition, eliminating risks which can occur as a result of the deterioration or failure of the equipment. It will minimise costly down-time and decrease waste due to breakdown mid-cure. Some breakdowns can put plant out of action for weeks, if not months, when key components fail. In addition to this PPM can prevent loss of valuable components which have to be scrapped if a cure is halted due to a breakdown mid cure. PPM by AIC’s multidisciplinary team of engineers can detect and correct developing failures before they occur and before they develop into major defects with costly repairs. Each service gives a systematic inspection of the equipment and a detailed report on its condition with recommendations to ensure equipment reliability by replacing worn components before they fail. AIC provides a one-stop shop, covering a wide range of ancillary components such as compressors, vacuum pumps, heat and cooling systems. It also manufactures the world’s leading composite processing controls and software. Neil Burton, Forward Composites’ Manufacturing Manager, said: “We need to be able to rely on our autoclave and ovens every time we need to use them. AIC will help to ensure that they are effective and efficient, and that we can deliver for our customers time and time again.” Nigel Clifford, AIC’s Head of Sales, said: “AIC has over 40 years’ experience ensuring our clients get the most from their autoclaves, ovens and other process equipment. We are pleased to be working with Forward Composites and to have the capability to support them as their business grows.”