Many of today’s control and automation systems will utilise several processes such as pneumatics, hydraulics and fluid power or transfer systems.
There are key considerations in outsourcing the manufacture of these types of systems that shouldn’t be overlooked. An outsourcing partner should show exemplary knowledge and skills in areas such as design, use of materials, safety, and quality control measures. Modern complex machines must be designed with automation and control systems in mind, ensuring effective controlling and monitoring during operation.
PP C&A’s service includes the assembly of pneumatic, hydraulic, and fluid systems by connecting components such as cylinders, actuators, and valves using tubing and fittings, as well as assembling any other mechanical or electrical components necessary. Full circuit testing is also included, and other disciplines can be combined for a bespoke solution.
For example, many pneumatic, hydraulic, and fluid systems include mechanical integration which is also a specialist PP C&A engineering and production discipline that can be utilised to provide an optimum solution for customers.
During the manufacture of machines and equipment using pneumatics, hydraulics, and fluid power, PP C&A consider several key factors.
The design of the machine must be accounted for and the specific requirements of the application, such as the types of loads and forces that the machine will be subjected to, as well as the specific requirements of the pneumatics, hydraulics, and fluid power systems. This includes selecting the appropriate components and systems, such as actuators, valves, and air filters, and determining the layout and configuration of the system.
The materials used in the manufacture of the machine must be compatible with the specific requirements of the application, such as the operating temperatures and pressures of the system. As an outsourcing specialist, customers benefit from full supply chain management. This includes purchasing pneumatic components such as cylinders, valves, fittings, and tubing, as well as other necessary hardware and electrical components.
The machine must be designed and manufactured to meet all relevant safety standards, including those related to the handling and use of pressurised fluids and gases.
The quality control of the manufacturing process is important to ensure that the machine is built to the required specifications and that it will perform as intended.
The machine must be designed to be easy to maintain, with easy access to components and systems that require regular maintenance. Once the assembly is complete, the system is thoroughly tested to ensure that it is functioning properly. This includes testing for leaks, checking the performance of the system, and making any necessary adjustments.
The machine must be designed to minimise its environmental impact and comply with the relevant regulations.
The machine must be designed with automation and control systems in mind, to ensure that it can be effectively controlled and monitored during operation.
Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) is a core discipline practiced at PP C&A and can be best understood as a set of guidelines and best practices for designing products in a way that makes them easy and efficient to manufacture and assemble.
The goal of DFMA is to reduce costs, improve quality, and increase efficiency during the manufacturing process.
DFMA can encompass several value add techniques, such as using standardised components, simplifying designs, and minimising the number of parts used.
Essentially, by following DFMA principles, PP C&A can help machine builders and OEMs design systems that are easier to manufacture, assemble, test, and maintain. Cost savings, improved quality, and shorter lead times are renowned key benefits to following these principles.
Minimising the number of parts
Using standardised components
Simplifying designs
Optimising tolerances
Reducing assembly steps
Improving accessibility for testing and repair
Minimising material waste
PP C&A is always inspired by the many benefits of building partnerships as part of a wider strategy to support the trend for outsourced design, engineering and more specialist competencies required by OEMs involved in complex machine building.
Cooperation within a framework of customer specific needs and optimisation of those needs, alongside the ability to adapt and drive innovation is sought after now more than ever.
PP C&A’s technical partnerships with innovative technology suppliers, testing & approval bodies and industry associations facilitates the continuous development of the company, capturing emerging opportunities at speed thanks to an ‘on request’ pool of expert knowledge and know-how to dip into.
If leveraging the benefits of partnerships developed at PP C&A could help on your growth journey, then PP+ may be of interest. PP+ is an expansion of the traditional outsourcing model that considers the customer’s growth objectives and offers a single-source solution to industry-best resources and guidance.
The best of manufacturing, business and academia have come together to bridge the £bn+ commercial valley of death in the UK.
What if by understanding what works across other regions, successful approaches can be combined to build a collaboration blueprint for UK manufacturers to call their own.
In an era where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discourse, the UK manufacturing sector finds itself at a crossroads. To flourish, there is a compelling argument that it must undergo a profound transformation towards sustainability.
There are various types of machines and devices that contribute to the circular economy by enabling resource conservation, waste reduction, recycling, and the reuse of materials. The demand increase in these varieties has been more progressive in recent years.
When adopting new technologies and exploring emerging industries, there is often a disruptive element involved. They can challenge established norms, disrupt traditional industries, and require individuals and organisations to adapt to new ways of doing things.
PP Control & Automation has started working on projects worth more than £2million in the last year alone, projects that are all involved in renewable energy, energy storage and building machines for electrification across a myriad of transport sectors.
Navigating the maze of approvals is one that you really don’t want to be attempting alone. PP+ Growth Module Partner, Product Approvals Ltd is a specialist consultancy and testing solutions company.
The PP+ outsourcing model gives access to several ‘Growth Module Partners’ that sit within the realms of industrial design and offer a luxury of different design disciplines.
Within weeks, KPM is already reaping the rewards of the PP+ ecosystem of specialist Growth Module Partners.
One of the UK’s leading strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialists is aiming to help domestic businesses cross the well-publicised ‘valley of death’.
PP C&A is a proud and long-standing member of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, also known as the MAN Group.
The MAN Group is a network of manufacturing companies designed to share technical excellence in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering processes.
As a customer and partner of PP C&A, access is open to numerous manufacturing disciplines from a single source and a more stable solution for complex, multi-discipline engineering projects.
The MAN Group consists of seven specialist manufacturers, one engineering design agency and the knowledge transfer of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).
Aluminium casting
CNC & conventional machining
Contract electronics manufacturing
Electrical & electronics assemblies
Forging
Metal stamping
Plastic injection moulding
Tube bending & manipulation
A combination of production and engineering capabilities to suit your specific needs can be accommodated to deliver the desired result.
Such a solution can broadly be divided into module build, part machine build or full machine build – – whichever provides the optimum solution for you.
Get a quick glimpse at key capabilities by interacting with the solutions wheel below.
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There should always be a process of consideration when selecting the right outsourcing partner and understanding how that partner delivers against your requirements. That’s why PP C&A introduced the 3D process. It clearly defines the whole journey into three specific stages: Discovery, Decision, Delivery.
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This collection of case studies examines some of the recent strategic outsourcing partnerships delivering against several business pains for machine builders and OEMs. This guide collects case studies published during 2021.
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This guide highlights key technical supplier relationships covering a broad set of categories, from industrial design support and access to academia, and automation and legislation partnerships, to packing and shipping finished goods, all designed to add sought after value to customers.
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The way companies access inventory management is changing rapidly and leading the charge is Solihull-based Inventor-e.
PP Control & Automation and Hedinn are now engaged in their 13th project together and the largest yet, the construction of a new plant for Sildarvinnslan.
Play an interactive video with hotpoints that delve into the story behind the manufacturing partnership with Needham Group and the assembly of its N-Lase range of products.
A strategic manufacturing outsourcing partnership – built on trust, integrity and maximising each other’s production expertise – is celebrating ten years together with the launch of the world’s most productive EDM drilling machine.
This collection of case studies examines some of the recent strategic outsourcing partnerships delivering against several business pains for machine builders and OEMs, and how those partners are benefiting from the PP C&A approach.
Turning to the strategic manufacturing outsourcing expertise of PP Control & Automation could prove to be a pivotal decision for Needham Group as it aims to turn a £30m expansion blueprint into reality.
Inventor-e is accelerating disruption of inventory management with the help of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, a unique collective of sub-contract manufacturers and a world class engineering design consultancy.
A new manufacturing partnership between PP Control & Automation and Jenton Group has created the capacity to build new UV technology in volumes that could help protect us from Covid-19 in indoor spaces.
As the years have gone by, the relationship between the two businesses has become more interlinked, with PP C&A increasingly being asked to be involved in the design stage of new machine builds.
Watch how Ishida realised their growth potential by making outsourcing part of their manufacturing strategy.
Stefano Muraro of Rockwell Automation explores specific evolutions of UL508A standards and the impact on industrial control panels, highlighting innovative, sustainable solutions.
In 2025, UK businesses are poised to undergo significant transformations driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and a heightened focus on sustainability.
In this guest contribution to the ongoing Sustainability in UL Standards campaign, Phil Murby, UK Commercial Manager at Lutze explores a different approach to the construction of a control panel.
At the heart of the green transformation lies a somewhat critical element: skills. Shock of the New reacts to the 2024 Global Green Skills Report.
Tony Hague believes the implications of the Autumn Budget’s NIC hikes will put a burden on a thinning manufacturing resilience after years of global disruptions. But, there is a potential silver-lining.
In this guest contribution to the ongoing Sustainability in UL Standards campaign, Phil Murby’s insights provide practical guidance on aligning control panel wiring practices with sustainability and compliance, offering tangible solutions for both efficiency and environmental stewardship.
As the manufacturing community increasingly leans towards sustainable practices, machine builders and OEMs find themselves at the centre of impact and progress. But there are several caveats to ‘doing the right thing’, that will almost certainly emerge. The implications for standards and certifications like UL508A for one, could be significant.
Malcolm Condon, HR People Partner is a firm believer that, in order for UK manufacturers to remain competitive, they will need to rethink strategies for bridging the talent gap and transforming leadership.
PP Control & Automation is excited to announce its recent membership with Upcell, a network that bridges public institutions, industrials, and universities on a singular platform to transform the future of electric battery technology.
PP Plus and its collective of specialists is heading to Advanced Engineering with the aim of helping more UK manufacturers commercialise emerging technologies.
We believe in meeting you, listening and understanding your needs first and foremost.
If you are considering PP C&A’s pneumatics, hydraulics and fluid system assembly services or you wish to review your outsourcing strategies, we would welcome the opportunity for discussion.
