🎧 Subcontractor’s success balloons with Ceratizit

The modern history of Ritchie Engineering Solutions began with J.A Ritchie in 1986, an engineer with a successful career in the design and manufacture of gas turbine jet engines. This engineering passion led the business to involvement in a host of pioneering projects from world record-breaking aviation attempts to the design and production of Victorian steam machinery. As the business has evolved, so has its plant list – but one thing that has remained a constant over the last 15 years of evolution is its relationship with cutting tool manufacturer Ceratizit. 

Now run by J.A Ritchie’s two sons, Alasdair and Duncan, the family has subsequently continued to run and develop the business with the same passion for engineering. Nowadays, the Manningtree-based company operates in a host of sectors that range from autosport and automotive to aerospace and other markets that demand high-end manufacturing capability. To manufacture high-quality components competitively, the company has invested in 3, 4 and 5-axis machining with technology from Bridgeport, Kitamura, HAAS, Mazak and Matsuura that is supported by CAM software from OPEN MIND and Renishaw probing for everything from job setting, in-process and post-process inspection.

Taking a look at the company, Duncan Ritchie from Ritchie Engineering Solutions says: “The business started with our father who initially designed and made steam engines in a shed that he built at the bottom of the garden. From there, he got involved in Richard Branson’s transatlantic hot air balloon crossing in the late 1980s, working on the thermodynamics of the burner design and the pressurisation of the capsule. We then started to commercially offer the hot air balloon manifold that burns propane – and to this day if you see the burner unit above the pilot’s head, that is where it all started for us.”

More recently, the Essex company has been involved in machining parts for automotive OEMs, motorsport rally clients, Norton motorcycles, aerospace OEMs, lighting companies and many more. Discussing how the company evolved to its current position, Duncan says: “Down the years there has been a lot of hard work and sleepless nights, but in practical terms, you progress and build on your quality and make quality your selling point. A key part of this is your relationship not only with your customers but also with your suppliers. That would be everything from your material supplier, tooling and suppliers of the machine tools, but significantly it’s going to be the cutting tool suppliers. We have been very lucky and fortuitous to have a fantastic supplier in Ceratizit and a support network via Adam Cross from Ceratizit.”

Looking at the 15-year relationship with Ceratizit, Duncan adds: “Back then we were in little more than a shed in a country lane that would put many suppliers off, but Adam turned up and he saw us for who we were. He absolutely assisted in supporting us with the right tools for the right job and he has continued to do so throughout our journey.”

The subcontract manufacturing company has a complete armoury of Ceratizit products and the Ceratizit vending solution, alluding to this, Duncan continues: “The vending solution is twofold effective. It’s fantastic that we can have the bread-and-butter tooling such as the inserts and regular end mills. This means we can program complex components with the knowledge that we have spare cutting tool products immediately available. We have a small workshop where space is at a premium and we don’t have the financial capacity to necessarily stock everything, so having the vending machine stocked up and ready to go is fantastic.”

Looking to the future and the ongoing relationship with Ceratizit that is so critical to the company’s success, Duncan concludes: “The relationship with Ceratizit will definitely continue for the next 15 years and beyond. It is nice to show the journey of where we have been and how we started, but it’s more important to look at the focus of where we are going. We are working towards various accreditations to have a trusted tool supplier like Ceratizit is an essential part of that jigsaw. They can help us to make our growth journey happen. It is a team effort that involves our personnel and our suppliers – and Ceratizit is a major one of those elements on our team.”