Rapid Tooling
What is special about Omega-Plastics
Omega-Plastics UK came into being in 1998 as a joint-venture between the Express Engineering Company of Gateshead and Omega-Plastics of Detroit. The US based Omega-Plastics was already famous for its unique brand of rapid tooling. American Master-Mouldmaker Don Verrier came to the UK and breathed life into this trail blazing rapid tooling Company. All of our current Master plastic injection mouldmakers studied in the USA, or the UK under Don.
The Master Plastic Injection Mouldmaker is Key
The one essential thing that made Omega-Plastics so special was its unique approach to rapid tooling. The original and highly successful concept was to have a small number of highly skilled Master Plastic Injection Mouldmakers that would control their own tooling project from design modifications; mould design; CADCAM; toolmaking; fitting; polishing; and finally through to proofing. Our unique approach is highly effective.
Each Master-Mouldmaker has his own fully equipped 'bay' including telephone; CAD station; CNC milling machine; wire EDM; solid-sink EDM; and Bridgeport. Each Master Mouldmaker is completely responsible for his own work, and there is zero 'over-the-wall' activity. Typically we arm a Master Mouldmaker with around GBP 200,000 of equipment. Lines of communication are accurate and efficient thereby engendering a right first time, on time, culture.
Efficient Rapid Tooling Centre
The management team of the new Omega-Plastics UK is committed to maintaining these priceless values and has vowed to keep the number of employees at 20 in any one rapid tooling centre. Rather than grow numbers, we will seek to invest heavily in all resources that make our Master Mouldmakers as productive as it is possible to be. We consider this to be our greatest challenge in the years to come.
Low-Volume Plastic Injection Moulding Specialists
The only key difference between the early Omega-Plastics and the New Omega is that we have transformed into a low-volume production plastic injection moulding company. As product lifecycles have reduced, and European manufacturers have become more niche, our low-cost rapid tooling has become ideal for companies that don't need the high-volume production moulds.
An Open Invitation to All
As skills are being eroded generally in Europe, we are very proud of what we are doing at Omega-Plastics; I would like to offer an open invitation to all lovers of Engineering and Toolmaking to visit Omega-Plastics, whether customer, engineer, retiree, academic, student, or competitor – all are welcome. Just call Dave Crone 07921474273 to arrange a visit.