25 Years of Excellence
For over two decades, Qualitetch have excelled in the creation of customer specific manufacturing solutions. This has been achieved through effective development and utilisation of our expanding range of manufacturing and technical capabilities.
1990
Set up and establishment of the Qualitetch Components Ltd business
1991
Further establishment and growth
Qualitetch took the team to Disneyworld Florida for Christmas as the turnover target was reached. Also Solidworks software installed
1992
Premises purchased outright
1993
Turnover reaches £0.5M
1994
First exhibition trade show and first ISO 9001 accreditation attained and the sudden death of Managing Director Bob Rathbone
1995
Company restructured with new Managing Director - Barry Dupee and Sales Manager Alexander Craig
1996
Expansion of component forming capacity and new network computer system installed
1997
Qualiform set up as a post operations cell with tool making capabilities
1998
Wire erosion facility incorporated within the tool room and pro engineer software installed. We also achieved the investors in people standard
2000
Factory extended to house the environmental control plant & volume etch line facility
2001
New automated stripping line installed and open plan offices built for sales, finance, quality and engineering departments
2002
Design for manufacture service launched and won an award from the Evening Telegraph for training
2003
Redthorn MRP system introduced to give real time reporting to production
2004
Qualitetch joined PCMI. Purchase of high precision spot welder. Introduction of lead free solder policy. Manufactured and commissioned the first universal form tool.
2005
Became ROHS compliant. Purchase of new multi chamber Chemcut etching machine to increase manufacturing capacity. Form in place gasket capability service introduced
2006
Lean manufacturing plans introduced for production. 5s program introduced. Alexander Craig becomes Managing Director
2007
Following installation of our new effluent water treatment plant, we achieved a 2/3's saving on ppm emmissions.
Re-shuffle and strengthening of the strategic management team. Two new Chemcut etching lines installed. Introduction of kan ban feed to line service. New precision toggle presses introduced
two key staff members completed post apprentiship training and achieved HNC's in mechanical engineering
2008
Two new apprentices taken on. Restructuring of the quality management system to consolidate all achieved ISO standards 9001 & 14001
Alexander Craig completes management buy out of Qualitetch. New lamination equipment installed
2009
Sales & finance move into newly refurbished offices. New interactive website launched
www.qualitetch.co.uk 2010
Refurbishment completed within our tool-room and forming cells. New maintenance technician employed to cope with rising demand.
New ISO 9001:2008 standard achieved. New apprentice taken on. A further production engineer employed to help with major demand rises through 2010
2011
New operations manager joins the team. New branding framework completed and new Qualitetch logo branding launched
New metal cleaning line installed. further sales engineer employed. New buyer joins the team
5 year strategy completed with MAS. upgrading of effluent water treatment plant to cope with greater capacity.
New etching line installed to cope with demand capacity. Refurbishment of dispatch area completed to improve our lean manufacturing process flow route
2012
New printing and laminating area built complete using lean principles. New developing production line installed to double our capacity through manufacturing process.
2013
FREE photo tooling introduced to invest in our customers growth. Southern Manufacturing exhibition attended in Farnborough.
2014
Upgrades completed for improvement to the facility infrastructure including metal stores, etch-room and general work flow routes
£300k investment started to re-equip the plant. New Quality staff employed to cope with growth.
2015
New Etching line installed to cope with increased manufacturing needs. New fully automated cleaning line installed to ensure consistency through the photo etching process
New automated optical inspection equipment installed to include a bed profile size of 500mm x 400mm
2016
June 2016 Qualitetch achieves AS9100C aerospace standard
2017
investment into new CMM inspection equipment.
Further investment into new EDM wire erosion equipment to increase capacity for both tool-making and bespoke customer parts.
2 new sales engineers employed due to significant turnover growth increase
2018
ISO 14001 environmental standard audit completed and renewed once again
End of financial year Feb 2018 completed, and it has been our most successful year ever with over 30% turnover growth. A big well done to all our team and obviously a huge thank you to all our customers.
AS9100 Rev D aerospace standard achieved
2019
ISO 14001 environmental standard completed
AS9100 Rev D & ISO 9001 audits completed and newly certified
New investments in large width laminator & large bed printer to enable us to offer larger panel etching of 800mm x 610mm