ActOn Finishing Installs Vibratory Finishing System for Rolls-Royce Bristol

Sid Gulati, operations director at ActOn Finishing, with one of the firm’s vibratory finishing systems.

UK-based ActOn Finishing has installed a vibratory finishing system at Rolls-Royce Bristol to improve its cleaning process and increase productivity. The new system is said to enable the engine manufacturer to process three times more volume in a shorter time frame.

ActOn was contacted by the manufacturer to look at improving cleaning during its shelling process, which leaves a buildup of ceramic slurry on the equipment used. ActOn carried out live trials at its facility and found that the vibratory finishing machine was the right solution to clean parts quickly and consistently.

The machine, designed and manufactured by ActOn Finishing, has now been installed at Rolls-Royce Bristol, reducing the process time from 60 minutes to 10 minutes and enabling the firm to clean three times more equipment at once. The finishing machine has also reduced the firm’s water consumption while still achieving a cleaner finish.

Sid Gulati, operations director at ActOn Finishing, says that his firm has had a long-standing relationship with Rolls-Royce, having done subcontract polishing for the company for a number of years. “They contacted us about a problem that they were having with their cleaning processes, and although this kind of application was new to us, we were able to conduct trials and find a solution for the client.”

Henry Illsley, shell process engineer at Rolls-Royce Bristol, said: “ActOn were quick to develop a solution for the shell cleaning system. The machine has improved our throughput significantly and we are pleased with the quality of machine that they have manufactured and installed.”