Facilities

Click a subject to view our extensive facilities:

CAD
Tool Manufacturing
Press Facility
Laser
Hand Finishing
Quality
Logistics

CAD

Premier CAD Facilities The Premier Group acquired its first system in 1995. With the purchase of Catia we have steadily increased the capacity of the office and we have acquired different CAD systems as our clients have moved with technology. We have installed high speed ISDN and ADSL links which allow us to communicate with our clients and engineering centres in minutes.

Our system is operated by a team experienced in pattern making, toolmaking, press formability and panel finishing operations.

Systems:

Catia 4.2.4 & V5
Ideas
NCG
Autoform 3.2 (Press Analysis System)
Mechanical Desktop 2004
We currently have 12 CAD seats

Please contact us at cad@premiersheetmetal.com for further information on data transferring to us.

Tooling Manufacture

Premier Tooling Manufacture The Premier Group has a large selection of CNC machines that provide a range of high speed 3 axis steel cutting machines for small to large press tools. We operate a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which gives us the flexibility to support to our client during each phase of the program.

We manufacture all poly patterns on site at Premier and cast all tools at Coupe Foundry in Manchester.

1 off Anayak (Bed Size 3200 x 1500 x 1260)
1 off Correa (Bed Size 2500 x 1000 x 1000)
5 off CME (Bed Size 2000 x 1000 x 1000)
1 off Bridgeport (Bed Size 550 x 400 x 400)
2 off Lilian (Bed Size 850 x 300 x 300)
1 off Acra (Bed Size 850 x 300 x 300)

Press Facility

Large Press Shop

Premier Press Facility The Premier Group has the largest press operation in the UK dedicated to production of prototype parts. We have the flexibility to carry out draw tool trials for stamping engineering teams prior to commitment to production toolmakers through to producing up to 500 shells per day to support BIW assembly lines.

Albany 500 tonne hydraulic (Bed Size 3500 x 2500 x 1320)
Fritz Muller 680 tonne hydraulic (Bed Size 2500 x 2000 x 1500)
Fritz Muller 320 tonne hydraulic (Bed Size 2000 x 2000 x 850)
Bradley & Turton 400 tonne hydraulic (Bed Size 2000 x 1500 x 860)
Henry Berry 300 tonne hydraulic (Bed Size 1000 x 1000 x 1000)
Rhodes & Gill 125 hydraulic (Bed Size 800 x 800 x 660)
Raskin 180 tonne mechanical (Bed Size 1000 x 1000 x ???)
John Shaw & Sons 5000 tonne Rubber Press (Twin Bed Size 1800 x 1200)

Laser

Premier Laser Cutting The Premier Group has been using 5 axis laser cutting for over 10 years and now houses the UK's largest facility. This has been enhanced by using 100% 'off-line' programming generated by Catia and producing a fixturing methodology that incorporates the master hole locators for the individual panels,

Plant List:

5 Axis Prima Optimo (Bed Size 4700 x 2500)
5 Axis Prima Rapido (Bed Size 3440 x 1750)
2 Axis (Bed Size 2500 x 2500)

Hand Finishing

Premier Hand Finishing The Premier Group started life by producing a 3 car special range for Motor Panels in 1993 by using the traditional hand forming skills on its sheet metal workers. To this day it has maintained that skill base for many 1-off show car and early test parts and has granted many apprenticeships to school leavers to ensure that the trade lives on.

We currently have a 32-strong team who work from the flat or from pre-formed rubber pressings that require finishing.

Quality

Premier Quality The Premier Group has built its reputation on the quality of the product and service we provide to our clients. Our 'right first time' approach has led many to believe that Premier is the benchmark for the industry in prototype manufacture.