Metal Profiling and Cutting for Military and Defence
Military and defence components must meet exact specifications, with high accuracy and consistency required throughout the process. At Charles Day Steels, we provide professional precision metal profiling and cutting for manufacturers and businesses supplying varied defence sectors and specialist applications.
We process a wide range of metal components, from detailed profiles and tubular parts to larger plates and heavy structural sections. Our capabilities support individual components, prototypes and repeat production, allowing our experienced team to accommodate different project requirements while maintaining consistent standards across each finished part.
With waterjet cutting, advanced laser profiling, bevel cutting and weld preparation among our services, we can produce components ready for manufacture while maintaining the accuracy and flexibility expected within complex engineering supply chains.
We understand that a manufacturing partner should involve more than just technical capability. This is why we hold Cyber Essentials Accreditation, Make UK Defence membership and JOSCAR registration, demonstrating our understanding of the requirements associated with military and defence manufacturing.
Military & Defence Metal Cutting Around Your Requirements
We understand that each project centred around military and defence has its own manufacturing requirements. At Charles Day Steels, we can process a wide range of materials, including carbon and mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, brass, bronze and titanium.
Our laser cutting capabilities include sheet sizes up to 6510mm x 2600mm, with profiling available on materials up to 50mm thick, depending on the material type. Our powerful 20kW fibre laser provides advanced capabilities for demanding and higher strength materials, while our six-axis tube laser technology can profile round and square tube and structural sections with ease, incorporating features such as holes, slots, and countersinks.
For components requiring up to 45° bevels or weld preparation, bevel laser cutting can incorporate these features directly within the profiling process. This can help reduce additional machining and preparation, while producing components ready for assembly.
Compliance and Traceability for Military and Defence
The Charles Day Quality Promise.
Charles Day Steels maintains Cyber Essentials Accreditation, providing an important foundation for cyber security when working within the defence sector, ensuring important information and data stay protected.
We are also members of Make UK Defence, showcasing our knowledge of the specific requirements needed across dynamic military and defence projects. Our JOSCAR registration further supports our position within the industry, allowing procurement teams in aerospace, defence, security and space sectors to confidently audit a business before reaching out.
Alongside our credentials, our manufacturing processes are focused on delivering high quality through ISO 19001 and CE Marking certifications, alongside our ISO 14001 accreditation for our environmental initiatives. Our team always strive to offer defence manufacturers technical capability, versatility, and full awareness of quality controls throughout the entire process.
Advantages of Laser Cutting for Military and Defence
Laser cutting offers several benefits and advantages for military and defence applications. Some of which include:
Quality Assurance
Our controlled cutting and profiling processes operate in line with ISO 19001 and BS EN 1090-1 up to EXC4, providing documentation as required. As a Cyber Essentials Accredited, Make UK Defence member and JOSCAR registered business, we provide customers with the confidence that we’ll meet the stringent requirements within the military and defence sector.
Production Flexibility
From one-off components and prototypes through to repeat production, our profiling capabilities can accommodate varying requirements. This allows us to profile large sheets, long parts, tubular materials and complex geometries across small-scale or large production runs, all under one roof.
Complex Cutting in a Single Process
Six-axis laser technology allows us to produce complex profiles while incorporating bevels and weld preparations directly into components. Combined with our ability to process larger and higher-strength materials, this provides a flexible solution for components where simpler profiles may not be sufficient.
Armour & Wear Resistant Materials
Our processing capabilities allow us to process Hardox steel and other wear-resistant materials into complex shapes and components, helping manufacturers produce parts that can withstand abrasion, impact and demanding conditions.
Material Integrity
Our range of laser and waterjet technologies allows cutting methods to be selected based on the material, thickness, geometry and finished component requirements. If avoiding heat input is important, waterjet cutting provides a cold-cutting alternative that eliminates heat affected zones (HAZ).
Minimised Costs
We operate on a 24/7 basis, guaranteeing short lead times across all projects. With the use of prototyping, automation, nesting techniques and advanced technology, we can also minimise material wastage and additional machining to help lower costs.
Laser Cutting Applications for Military and Defence
Our laser profiling services support a range of military and defence industry requirements, some of which include:
Armoured and protected vehicle components
Armour and protection systems
Defence equipment and enclosures
Structural and chassis components
Weapons-system support components
Communications and electronic equipment housings
Naval and marine defence equipment
Ground support equipment
Specialist defence machinery
Infrastructure and support systems
Fabrication and assembly components requiring bevels or weld preparation
Waterjet Cutting for Military and Defence
Waterjet cutting offers an excellent alternative to laser cutting where heat input needs to be minimised, or when profiling thicker, higher-tensile materials.
Using a high-pressure waterjet and abrasive medium, the process can produce accurate profiles without introducing a heat-affected zone (HAZ), offering protection from potential warping and distortion. This is particularly suited for materials such as Hardox steel and other wear-resistant materials where maintaining edge quality and accuracy is important. Waterjet cutting is a highly effective accompaniment to laser profiling, processing sizes up to 9m x 4m, and materials 230mm thick.
