The Qualitetch company ethos, ‘pressing is not the only solution’ has allowed continuous investment resulting in planned growth. This enables us to provide our customers with a rapid and controlled manufacturing solution.

Company Time Line

1990 - Qualitetch incorporated and established at current site March, Cambs. Bob Rathbone MD. Linda Rathbone Financial Director & Barry Dupee Production Director.

1991 - Establishment and growth.

1992 - Premises purchased outright.

1993 - Turnover reached 0.5 million.

1994 - Quality manager recruited & ISO9002 accreditation gained.
1994 - Exhibited at manufacturing week.
1994 - Sudden death of Bob Rathbone

1995 - Company restructured with Barry Dupee as MD. A production and sales manager recruited onto the management team plus additional manufacturing and support staff recruited.
1995 - Strategic and operational empowerment programme initiated
1995 - Bespoke material stores constructed

1996 - Expansion of forming capacity
1996 - Network computer system installed

1997 -Qualiform set up as post etch operations department with tool making capability

1998 - Wire erosion facility incorporated into tool room
1998 - Pro engineer software installed
1998 - Investors in people status awarded

1999 - Qualitetch took Qualiteam to Disneyland Florida for Christmas as turnover target reached.
1999 - Solidworks software installed

2000 - Factory extended to house the environmental control plant & volume etch line facility.
2000 - Complete replacement of all batch etching machines
2000 - ISO14001 environmental accreditation awarded
2000 - Installation of full email network capabilities via isdn

2001 - Supplied components to Beagle 2 space project
2001 - New automated stripping line installed
2001 - Open plan office suite constructed to house sales, finance, quality and engineering.

2002 - ISO 9001 – 2000 awarded
2002 - Evening Telegraph awards for training and environment
2002 - Design for manufacture service launched

2003 - Cellular re-flow assembly line installed and commissioned.
2003 - Redthorne ERP real time manufacturing software installed
2003 - Benchmark company for IIP beacon expansion project.
2003 - Multi-user Broadband capability for real time transfer of data files on line 24/7

2004- Qualitetch joined PCMI
2004- Purchase of high precision spot welder
2004- Adopted a lead free policy company wide
2004- Manufactured and commissioned the first Universal Form Tool

2005- Expanded 3D modelling capability by ongoing staff training
2005- Adopted necessary measures to become RoHS compliant
2005- Purchase of new multi-chamber Chemcut etching machine to increase manufacturing capacity
2005- Added ‘Form in Place Gasket’ capability to manufacturing service
2005- Two key members of staff attended Cranfield and successfully completed international accredited PCMI course

2006- Structured plan for flow process improvements implemented
2006- Qualitetch introduce cell centric training for all employees
2006- Lean manufacturing floorplan agreed and implementation started
2006- Introduction of 5s programme implemented
2006- Alexander Craig becomes the new Managing Director
2006- Barry Dupee becomes the new Chairman

2007- Re-shuffle and strengthening of the strategic team
2007- 2 new Chemcut etching units installed
2007- Introduction of dedicated Kan Ban feed to line service
2007- Form room re-equipped with new precision presses
2007- Following installation of our water treatment plant a 2/3rd's saving on emissions ppm has been achieved.
2007- 2 key staff members have completed post apprenticeship training, and achieved HNC's in mechanical engineering.

2008- Restructuring of quality management system to consolidate all standards including 9001-2000,14001 & 18001 into one quality manual
2008- New lamination equipment installed
2008- Qualitetch to employee 2 new apprentices during the summer to continue our commitment to training
2008- Alexander Craig completes buy out of Qualitetch Components Ltd, seeing the departure of Barry Dupee & Linda Rathbone as directors.

Current Developments

Design and manufacture automated metal cleaning line to increase product yield.

Ongoing research into alternative post process cleaning and polishing techniques.