Established in 1984, in Co Sligo in the West of Ireland, Lawrence Engineering Ltd is a family owned and run business specialising in precision engineering and contract manufacturing for global suppliers in the medical device industry.
The business is based on excellent customer service, continuous innovation and investment in their people and equipment.
This philosophy is immediately evident upon a visit to their manufacturing facility in Loughil, Sligo. Purpose-built in 1995, the site has an impressive range of machinery and they have invested in a number of machines from Hurco and Roeders. Both brands are supplied by Hurco Europe Ltd, High Wycombe, the exclusive agents for Roeders high speed machining centres in the UK and Ireland.
Lawrence Engineering's precision engineering site specialises in injection mould tools, extrusion tools, jigs and fixtures and special purpose equipment. At another facility in Colloonery, Sligo, they cover medical component manufacturing in their Class 8 cleanroom. High quality products, turned around in the minimum time-is what their customers expect, and what Lawrance Engineering delivers.
In the Hurco cell, they have a VM10i and a VM20i with capacity for components up to 1 metre by 500mm. These machines are chosen as much for their reliability and ease of programming as they are for their metal cutting capabilities in tool steels.
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In the words of James Lawrence “We try to keep everything in-house. When we consider the next investment, we are looking to increase our capabilities, filling any gaps and aiming to achieve constant improvement".
A prime example of this is the Roeders RXP500DS, high-speed machining centre with linear motors on all axes. This unique bridge-design machine includes every feature necessary to ensure precise accuracy and exceptional high-speed, dynamic motion. The 42,000 RPM spindle enables Lawrence Engineering to machine mould tools directly in hard metal, often with cutters of less than 1mm in diameter, removing the need for time-consuming electrode manufacture, EDM and subsequent hardening. The 5-axis model was selected to minimise the number of machining operations and recently a Roeders proprietary RCS2 automation system was added, meaning that one-off components can be lined up and queued for production 24/7. All of these advances ensure that Lawrence Engineering can deliver the highest quality product, in the shortest possible time. Hand finishing is rarely needed. This is a huge advance compared to the manufacturing processes of the past.
The local area is known for its medical device sector and is the location of several precision mould making businesses. The nearby college (ATU) is the base for training the next generation of toolmakers and engineers. Lawrence Engineering boasts a high staff retention and prides itself in investing in and progressing its people. Making them an attractive place to forge a career.
