Vacuum chambers & gas management

When integrated into machinery, a vacuum chamber can be used to create a low-pressure environment that allows gases to be manipulated in ways that would not be possible at atmospheric pressure.

For example, in semiconductor manufacturing where PP Control & Automation hold decades of vital machine and system build experience, a vacuum chamber is used to deposit thin films of material onto a substrate.

Gas management in vacuum chambers is essential to control the pressure, composition, and temperature of the gas inside. This is achieved using gas handling systems, such as mass flow controllers, which can accurately control the flow rate of gases into and out of the chamber. Additionally, gas analysers and leak detection systems are used to monitor the composition and pressure of the gas inside the chamber, ensuring that the conditions are as desired.

Also typical in industrial sectors such as medical and life sciences or aerospace and solar cell production, vacuum chambers and gas management systems are often used and integrated into complex machine builds. These high technology fields can benefit from valuable experience and competence in sourcing and assembling of vacuum chambers and associated gas management systems through a well-devised outsourcing strategy with PP C&A.

PP C&A can assemble and test vacuum chambers and gas management in-line with customer specific needs, including services such as helium leak testing.

Through a combination of key technology partners, PP C&A can give customers access to several disciplines that are deemed critical to achieving optimum vacuum chamber and gas management system performance and safety. For example, design requirements and material selection, alongside other manufacturing competencies such as fabrication and the processes of casting, forging, or stamped metal parts can be sought.


Assembly

Components are assembled into the final build, which could include installing vacuum pumps, valves, gas handling systems, and other components that make up the complete system.


Quality & testing

Before the vacuum chamber and/or an associated gas management system is shipped to the customer, it is thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets the specifications and performs as expected. This typically includes vacuum and leak testing, as well as testing of the gas handling systems and other components.


Outsourcing vacuum chamber & gas management system build

Ensure your chosen partner is competent in several different considerations and is aware of the critical aspects of your particular system assembly or build.


Vacuum performance

Vacuum chambers must be able to maintain a high level of vacuum and withstand high temperatures. An outsourcing partner should show the competencies required to ensure vacuum pumps, valves, and other components assembled are of the highest quality and any build is able to maintain the vacuum level over time.


Materials and components

Materials must be compatible with the process and the substances that are going to be in contact with the chamber and quality of chosen components is key. An outsourcing partner must display the ability to inherit, manage, and improve the associated supply chain and ensure material and component selection is in-line with system specific requirements.


Leak rate

The vacuum chamber must have a low leak rate to maintain the vacuum for the desired process. The chosen manufacturer and outsourcing partner should be able to provide leak rate specifications and undergo stringent testing processes in-line with any customer specific needs.


Gas management

The gas management system must be able to accurately control the flow rate, pressure, and composition of gases within the chamber. The manufacturer and outsourcing partner should be able to provide the specifications of the gas handling system, such as the flow rate range, control accuracy and control resolution.


Customisation

The manufacturer and outsourcing partner should be a source for continued build quality and performance improvements and show the flexibility to adjust to design changes or customisations to the system. The partner should also be competent in recommending improvements that make the manufacture more efficient through DFMA and engineering processes.


Quality control

Your chosen manufacturing partner should have a robust quality control program in place to ensure that vacuum chamber and gas management systems meet the required specifications and perform as expected.

Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFMA)

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


Key networks
& partners

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.

A blueprint for collaboration

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.

Is future-proofing UK manufacturing dependent on going green?

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.

The machines of the circular economy

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.

Shock of the new: The tension between innovation and resistance to change

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.

£Multi-Million green opportunity for PP C&A as machine builders and ‘early disruptors’ target Net Zero gains

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.

PP+ navigates the approvals maze and helps bring new products to new territories

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.

PP+ acts as single access to every engineering design discipline imaginable

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.

The PP+ ecosystem responds at speed to the wishes of KPM

Within weeks, KPM is already reaping the rewards of the PP+ ecosystem of specialist Growth Module Partners.

PP Control & Automation launches PP+ to help bridge ‘valley of death’

One of the UK’s leading strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialists is aiming to help domestic businesses cross the well-publicised ‘valley of death’.

Disruption or Defence – A Strategic Choice

It’s important to understand the nuances of disruption if you’re to go on making the right strategic choices, and of course, making your mark with your product or innovation.

Vacuum chambers & gas management » MAN Logo » PP Control & Automation

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).

MAN Group engineering disciplines

Aluminium casting

CNC & conventional machining

Contract electronics manufacturing

Electrical & electronics assemblies

Forging

Metal stamping

Plastic injection moulding

Tube bending & manipulation


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Engineering & Production capabilities

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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Strategic outsourcing case studies

Inventor-e iVendScale+

The way companies access inventory management is changing rapidly and leading the charge is Solihull-based Inventor-e.

Hedinn

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.

Needham Group (Interactive Case Study)

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.

Winbro Group Technologies

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.

Collected customer case studies (2021)

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.

Needham Group

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 iVendScale/iBinScale

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.

Jenton Group

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.

Mazak UK

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.

Ishida (Video Case Study)

Watch how Ishida realised their growth potential by making outsourcing part of their manufacturing strategy.

Designing for modular control & automation systems

Modular design in the context of electrical control & automation breaks down complex systems into modular components, with the ambition of improving manufacturing efficiency and facilitating easier assembly and maintenance.

Four awards for Tony Hague in recognition of over 20 years of leadership

At the Business Desk West Midlands Leadership Awards, CEO Tony Hague collected two awards, and the fourth individual accolade since collecting the EMA Industry Leader of the Year award in September.

Inside Sustainability feature

The latest issue of Inside Sustainability includes an 8-page feature on PP Control & Automation (PP C&A), with CEO Tony Hague interviewed on the virtues of ESG.

PP C&A boss named CEO of the year

PP Control & Automation’s Tony Hague was named as CEO of the Year at the Business Desk West Midlands Awards last night.

Richard Spears on networking & collaboration: Protolabs InspirON Exchange Podcast

PP Control & Automation Marketing Manager, Richard Spears joins Brandauer CEO, Rowan Crozier MBE with InspirOn Exchange Podcast host Alex Edwards, to discuss the role of networking and collaboration in industry.

Leveraging outsourcing partnerships to accelerate portfolio growth: A strategic play for private equity firms

When it comes to applying close attention to growth, private equity firms continuously seek innovative strategies to maximise returns within their investment portfolios.

Innovation Britain on GB News

During February, GB News’ Britain’s Newsroom programme has been promoting success stories and opinions from the UK manufacturing community.

Investment in automation and people puts PP C&A on course for £40m sales

PP Control & Automation has set its sights on breaking the £40m sales revenue barrier in 2024 after having seen sales rise from £24m to £36m over the last twelve months.

REWIND23: What a difference a year makes!

The REWIND23 campaign is our unique way of collecting the stories, themes, and moments that made our year.

Tony Hague’s Autumn Statement verdict

Tony Hague gives his verdict on chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement.

PP C&A’s core services

Making outsourcing easy

We believe in meeting you, listening and understanding your needs first and foremost.

If you are considering PP C&A’s vacuum chamber & gas management assembly services or you wish to review your outsourcing strategies, we would welcome the opportunity for discussion.







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