DUDLEY ASSOCIATES LTD
Specialist Prototype and
Pre-Production Tooling Services. Dudley Associates specialise in the rapid manufacture of high-grade aluminium injection mould tooling for prototype, pre-production, or low volume production use and the moulding and inspection of associated plastic components on very short lead times. COMPANY PROFILE The Company was created in 1995 as a 'one-stop-shop' to specifically operate in the niche area of rapid high grade aluminium tool manufacture, quality inspection and low volume injection moulding.
Our Clients are companies requiring high tolerance technical mouldings on very small lead-times typically for development or pre-production purposes, and who may require from 1 to 50,000 parts from such tooling to support their project following approval stage. As well as the supply of components for development use we find that the tool life of up to 50,000 shots can also match the life of certain Client product in many cases. As such they use our services for aluminium prototype tooling that will actually serve as production tooling but at greatly reduced cost and lead-times. Unlike many other
alternative prototype tooling techniques, the components produced
from our tooling are moulded in production engineering
thermoplastics, to very high tolerances, and are indistinguishable
from parts produced from steel production tooling. Prototype and Development - Components for environmental and functionality testing in production materials and which are more representative than parts made by other prototyping processes. Low volume production parts - Where conventional tool costs cannot be justified aluminium tooling can be capable of supporting production volumes of anything up to 50,000 parts. Fast entry to market place - We can help you reduce the highly critical lead-time between design concept and the reality of components reaching market or approval. Lower Costs - Typically traditional steel tools are 50% more expensive than our equivalent aluminium tooling and lead times are longer. DESIGN Dudley Associates continues to invest in the latest and most advanced hardware and software on the market to guarantee rapid processing and modelling of Client data. Native CAD Data can
be received from all major design platforms such as Catia,
Solidworks, SDRC Ideas, Autocad, STL, VDA, ProEngineer, Step and
Unigraphics. Native CAD files
are received, virus checked, 3D CADCAM translated, and DNC linked
directly into our high end multi-head CNC machines for rapid
response and manufacture. Any issues with data are immediately
discussed with the Client on receipt and in a pro-active manner to
ensure lead-times are minimised. Client confidentiality is maintained and all drawings are issue controlled. Off site backups are taken to ensure complete protection. EXPORT Dudley Associates supply first and second tier Clients in the USA, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Holland and Germany. Our reputation for on time delivery, technical ability and commitment guarantees that oversees contracts are properly serviced and development issues resolved quickly and in a proactive manner. Components can be priority shipped direct to Clients' own Customer validation departments along with supporting quality documentation. Our approach to tool
manufacture and in-house moulding and inspection facilities in
ensures a more responsive, cost effective, and controllable route
for Purchasing Departments worldwide. Dudley Associates are accredited to ISO9001:2000. In addition we operate the PlasWare Manufacturing System (www.plasware.co.uk) and material batch traceability and AQP is as standard. ISO9000 system requirements are further enhanced by AQP and Control Plans where requested and components are supplied with Certificates of Conformity and full ISIR or PPAP/PSW or PIST/PISC documentation. The Company procedures incorporate aspects of both QS9000 and VDA standards to allow First Tier direct sourcing. IN-HOUSE INSPECTION FACILITIES Issue controlled Patrol Records and Works Instruction Sheets are standard and boundary samples and 'first off' and 'last off' samples are retained. Dudley
Associates are Approved Suppliers to first and second tier automotive and
electronics Clients and receive regular Supplier Audit and Supplier Rating
Reports. |
3 Elizabethan Way
Lutterworth
Leicestershire
LE27 4ND
Tel: +44 (0)1455 558825
Fax: +44 (0)1455 558780
Website: www.dudleyassociates.com
Email: sales@dudleyassociates.com
Contact: Lucy Glover (Sales Manager)
Industry News From DUDLEY ASSOCIATES LTD
Prototype and Pre-Production Tooling - Dudley Associates
Products/Services :
- Aluminium Injection Mould Tooling
- Design and Development
- Plastic Injection Moulded Components
- Plastics
- Prototype Tooling
- Rapid Tooling
- Technical Moulding