From Design to Production: MKP Delivers New Press Tooling Suite

Another press tooling suite has recently been successfully signed off at Milton Keynes Pressings, highlighting the value of combining precision presswork with dedicated in-house tooling design and manufacturing expertise.

The latest eight-stage tooling programme has been designed and manufactured entirely in-house by MKP’s sister company, Ryeland Toolmakers. The project demonstrates how close collaboration between tooling specialists and production engineers can help deliver robust, repeatable tooling solutions designed around the specific requirements of series production.

Eight-Stage Tooling Designed for Production Performance

The tooling suite comprises eight stages, including three form and pierce cam stages. These bespoke cam stages were developed to provide the required combination of strength, accuracy and tool life, while ensuring the finished components could consistently achieve the required geometry and quality standards throughout production.

Form and pierce operations can place significant demands on press tooling, particularly where complex component geometries and multiple operations need to be accommodated within a controlled production sequence. Careful consideration during the design and manufacture of the tooling is therefore essential to achieving reliable performance once the tools enter production.

For MKP, the objective is not simply to manufacture a tool that produces an initial good part, but to develop tooling that can deliver consistent results over the life of the programme.

The Advantage of In-House Tool Design and Manufacture

Having access to specialist tooling expertise within the MKP Group provides significant benefits throughout the development and production process.

Ryeland Toolmakers works closely with MKP’s engineering and manufacturing teams, creating a direct link between tooling design, tool manufacture, press setup and series production. This integrated approach allows potential issues to be considered earlier in the process and provides greater control over the finished tooling solution.

It also means that knowledge can be shared directly between the teams responsible for designing and manufacturing the tools and those responsible for using them in production.

For customers, this integrated capability can provide greater confidence in the complete manufacturing process, from initial tooling development through to the delivery of production components.

Designed for Accuracy, Consistency and Tool Life

Tool design has a direct impact on the performance and repeatability of a pressed component. Factors such as material flow, component geometry, forming requirements, piercing operations and access for maintenance all need to be considered when developing a production tool.

The latest tooling suite has been designed with these requirements in mind, with the form and pierce cam stages custom-engineered to provide the required strength and accuracy while supporting long-term tool life.

This focus on durability and repeatability is particularly important for high-volume manufacturing, where tooling performance can have a direct influence on productivity, component quality and overall programme costs.

From Tooling to Finished Components

Once tooling has been completed and signed off, it becomes an integral part of the wider MKP manufacturing process.

MKP combines presswork, tooling, engineering and other manufacturing capabilities to provide a complete solution for customers requiring precision sheet metal components and assemblies. By bringing these capabilities together, the business can support projects from initial engineering and tooling development through to series production and delivery.

The latest tooling programme is another example of how MKP continues to invest in engineering expertise and manufacturing capability, while maintaining a strong focus on quality, consistency and customer requirements.

Integrated Manufacturing Capability

The successful completion of the eight-stage press tooling suite demonstrates the benefits of having specialist tooling expertise available within the wider MKP Group.

Through the combination of Milton Keynes Pressings and Ryeland Toolmakers, customers can access complementary capabilities covering tooling design and manufacture, press tool production, precision metal pressings and series manufacturing.

This integrated approach helps MKP provide a more responsive and controlled manufacturing solution, particularly for customers requiring complex pressed components and dedicated production tooling.

Looking for a manufacturing partner for your next pressed component or tooling project?

Contact Milton Keynes Pressings to discuss your requirements and find out how our integrated tooling and manufacturing capabilities can support your project.