Blog

Satellites, and all components that are destined for space travel, experience a unique set of conditions that necessitate careful design and manufacture.

You place a lot of trust in your suppliers, and usually there is a lot riding on everything going as expected. Here's our spooky take on breakdowns that can happen in that relationship.

We are over the moon to have been awarded the Business Growth Award 2022 at the Central South Business Awards. The award recognises outstanding vision and leadership through significant and sustained growth.

As consumers, we've been conditioned to expect free delivery as standard (thanks Amazon!) and as a result, we often find it hard to accept delivery charges from smaller companies. But do you really want a poorly-paid courier to throw your machined parts on your doorstep? Probably not. So what do you get for your delivery charge?

If you outsource CNC machining, you are probably seeing component prices rise. For buyers that are focussed on getting best value for money, an environment where prices are rocketing can make your job very hard indeed. 

2021 has marked a year of change at Penta. From new employees to new locations, our focus for the year has been the same as ever – providing an exemplary service for customers.

Engineering raw material prices have rocketed and it’s causing chaos.

Uncertainty over availability means it’s difficult to get quotes for materials, and difficult to get quotes for manufacturing. The timeframe in which a quote remains valid is shortening significantly. We’re feeling the effects, and we know our customers are too.

It can be a tricky balancing act to specify components in industries where there is a need for volume but also for safety, competition is high, or the market is commoditised. Designers and product development teams facing these challenges understand that precision machining tolerances must be detailed. And the datum must be precise. If they get any of this wrong, they risk compromising the product’s fit, form and function.

You love the brushed aluminium finish on your top-of-the-range designer laptop. And you want the same finish for the high-end medical device you’re specifying.

But this may not be as easy as you think. The aluminium grade you want may not be readily available. Or the finishing may require special techniques.