Electrox Raptor Is a Winner For GPR Motorsport
For suspension specialists GPR Motorsport, speed and accuracy isn’t just important to the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) teams they supply, but to its entire manufacturing process.
The Buckinghamshire-based company has invested in an Electrox Raptor fibre laser with D-Box Workstation to ensure that its marking system is fast and efficient and remains legible even in the most testing conditions.
Founded in 1999, the company is a tier-one supplier of suspension units to four BTCC teams, including Frank Wrathall’s Dynojet Toyota Avensis and Rob Austin, driver of a Rob Austin Racing Audi A4, who are currently lying 11th and 14th in the championship respectively.
To keep costs down, BTCC specifies that parts, including the suspension units must be controlled, meaning the teams cannot replace or alter them in any way. It is therefore essential that the suspension units are clearly marked so they can be identified quickly and easily by race scrutineering; the checks before and after a race to confirm that parts are correct and vehicles are safe.
When specifying the laser, Gary Blackham, partner of GPR Motorsport explains the company wanted a solution that was extremely accurate, fast and efficient. And with the Electrox Raptor and D-Box Workstation that’s exactly what they got. The Raptor features an EF Technology diode pumped fibre laser and is specifically designed for the high speed marking of metal and plastic. It can permanently mark 1,000 characters per second with an accuracy of 5 microns.
Gary said: “Prior to getting the Electrox Raptor, all our marking was done by mechanical engraving. This was a slow and laborious process that required a considerable amount of stopping and starting.
“Not only is the Raptor considerably quicker at marking, once you’ve programmed in the batch numbers, you just reload the machine and start marking; it automatically starts at the correct batch and serial number, so you don’t have to set it manually. It saves a huge amount of time, which of course, adds to our bottom line.”
It is also important that the marks produced are of high quality and offer good legibility, not just at the time of marking, but in the most challenging of conditions, because in BTCC, legibility can be tested to the extreme.
“The BTCC Drivers are at the top of their game,” explained Gary. “They race to the limit and this means that from time to time they crash. Our suspension units are designed to last a season, so if it’s a small spill, the car is mended and the parts reused. But after a big crash, we’ll get the suspension unit back to see how it performed under intense stress. It’s essential that we can read the markings so we can trace back how each part was manufactured and analyse its performance throughout its lifetime.”
With laser marking, this is achieved using an intense beam of light, which permanently changes the colour of the surface of the material, in this case metal. The D-Box Workstation is Windows compatible and can be programmed via a computer, thus offering exceptional control, flexibility and accuracy. As a result, the laser can be used to mark barcodes, two dimensional codes such as Data Matrix, date coding and automatic serialisation as used by GPR Motorsport.
Like all of Electrox’s products, the Raptor and D-Box are designed with the user in mind and are extremely easy to use with the minimum of training. The workstation is manufactured from welded steel and features a lift-up door, laser safe viewing window and fume extraction port ensuring the whole marking process is safe. What’s more, there are no inks, acids, or solvents to handle and store, and because there’s no tooling to wear out or consumables to replace, operating costs are low.
GPR Motorsport has reported that the laser marking system had proved so effective that the company is not just using it for the BTCC suspension units but on parts manufactured for retail too. Gary said: “Part marking is essential in the automotive industry as it ensures accurate product control. I’d definitely recommend the Electrox Raptor to anyone looking for a fast, efficient and cost effective solution.”
Electrox was founded 30 years ago and is part of the world-renowned 600 Group
Electrox lasers offer a wide range of applications including ablation and coating removal such as for automotive displays, coding for traceability and identification, authentication and labelling and for decorative design and personalisation.
For further information, contact
Peter Ramsden, Sales Director, Electrox
+44 (0) 1462 472 400
Prepared by Helen Eyley, on behalf of 600 Group
+44 (0) 1332 222900 x 222
Notes to Editors:
The 600 Group
Machine Tools (39% of sales) - the business has a strong reputation in the market for metal turning machines. Products range from small conventional machines for education markets, CNC workshop machines and CNC production machines. The European manufacturing footprint is supported by selected outsourcing partners and machines are marketed through the Group’s wholly owned international sales organisation.
Precision Engineered Components (26% of sales)- machine spares are distributed to customers globally to help maintain the installed base of group machines which number in excess of 100,000. Additionally work holding products and taper roller bearings are sold via specialist distributors to OEMs including other machine builders.
Laser Marking (14% of sales) - laser marking is a technologically superior alternative to inkjet marking. It requires no consumables and can operate on a continuous high speed basis when integrated into customers’ production lines. The business has its own technology and proprietary software. Customer applications are diverse and range from telecommunications to pharmaceuticals. The requirement for increased product and component traceability is one of the market drivers.
Mechanical Handling and Waste Management (27% of sales) - the business sells equipment into Sub Saharan African markets from its three locations in South Africa. Improvements to municipal infrastructures, mineral extraction and electrification are significant drivers for this business. Distribution of world class brands is supported by wholly owned workshop and factory facilities.