Aluminium Pressings & Stampings
Frank Dudley Ltd specialise in a range of materials and processes including: Aluminium Pressings and Stampings. With key OEM’s such as, Jaguar Land Rover and Ford investing in new equipment to process aluminium faster and safer than ever before; FDL have also invested.
Our Progression and Single action pressing and stamping lines, are equipped with modern systems to protect the materials from possible damage and any potential cross contamination.
You may be asking yourself what are the advantages of using aluminium? So we have compiled a list below, of some of the major benefits FDL and other key manufacturers in the automotive industry see in aluminium
Aluminium is lightweight and stable
The density of aluminium is around 2.6 to 2.8 g per cm³, this is approximately 1/3 of the density of steel; hence the reason why aluminium is classed as a “light metal”. Also in spite of its low weight, aluminium is still extremely strong.
Aluminium is completely recyclable
Products that Frank Dudley Ltd manufacture are always: environmentally friendly, long lasting and durable. When it comes to recycling aluminium, unlike the producing of the material where the process is energy intensive – only 5% of that energy is required to recycle the product. Recycled products are also the equal of primary products in every way, unlike many other materials.
Aluminium is extremely versatile in ways you can manufacture it
All standard processing methods, including but not limited to that can be used are;
- Pressing
- Welding
- Forming
- Assembling
- Studding
Our 600T Progression Press currently blanks aluminium for a wide range of uses, some will surprise you. Frank Dudley use this to their advantage; we manufacture innovative and long lasting products from aluminium for a wide range of applications and market sectors.
Aluminium is impact resistant and extremely strong
Although aluminium will dent on impact, this doesn’t cause structural stresses like steel, due to deformation. A key property of modern day aluminium.
To understand more how Frank Dudley can assist you in manufacturing aluminium products, you can either visit our Capabilties page or call a member of our team today on 0121 452 8500
Engineering Apprenticeships
Our people here at FDL are the key to our success and our ongoing investment in engineering apprenticeships are just the tip of the iceberg.
We believe at FDL, that once you have completed your engineering apprenticeship, you can progress into any role within the company. Take Alex as an example – he started out wanting to work in maintenance however; after a 4 year apprenticeship, a little persuasion into planning, he has progressed and is now our Production Manager.
Undertaking an apprenticeship here at FDL, is something to be proud of. Our apprentices learn the skills to move into various roles and sectors. For the business, apprenticeships deliver motivated employees, which in turn means our customers retention is high. We enjoy a profile in the industry that matters, because our workforce matters. For the first time FDL are looking at expanding our program to University courses.
Frank Dudley’s engineering apprenticeships offer an incredible tool to help individuals achieve their personal and career goals. They then help our business create the skilled workforce needed to stay ahead of our competitors, local and internationally.
As said by our chairlady and original apprentice, Jill Dudley-Toole – “To get a feel for Frank Dudley, to understand Frank Dudley, you must work from the shop floor up” and without this mentality, the service we offer would not be the first class service we are known for today
Meet Alex, one of our many apprentices who have progressed through our business who as mentioned before, is now our Production Manager, proving apprenticeships aren’t just for engineers:
Meet Dan – Dan’s father started with FDL in 1987 and now his son has decided to follow in his footsteps. When tool making wasn’t the right career choice for Dan we re-assessed and retrained him to become one of our power press setters. Watch his story below: