Professional Polishing Services Ltd

Sourcing the correct finish for the Nuclear Industry

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 14/02/2023

The N5 Nuclear Finish page on our website is one of the most visited so we have added more technical information to make sure it's easy to find the data at that you need.

With more and more investment in clean energy in the UK and the confirmation of Sizewell C Nuclear Plant confirmed November 2022 ensuring that the materials and their surface finish is paramount in the design and construction. Several finishes are available but one of the most popular is the N5 finish due to it's durability in a variety of different applications including glove boxes and tanks.

The N5 finish for the nuclear sector on polished stainless steel refers to a specific type of surface finish with specific properties. Other factors are just as important such as:

Surface cleanliness: The N5 finish has a high degree of surface cleanliness, with minimal surface contaminants, which helps to reduce the risk of corrosion and other forms of surface damage.

Corrosion resistance: The N5 finish has excellent corrosion resistance, making it suitable for use in harsh and corrosive environments, such as those found in the nuclear sector.

Hygienic: The smooth and polished surface of the N5 finish is easy to clean and disinfect, making it suitable for use in the nuclear sector where hygiene is critical.

Non-magnetic: When produced on austenitic stainless steel the N5 finish is non-magnetic, making it suitable for use in environments where magnetic interference could pose a risk to sensitive equipment or processes.

Overall, the N5 finish for the nuclear sector provides a combination of surface roughness, surface cleanliness, corrosion resistance, hygienic surfaces, and non-magnetic properties that make it a suitable material for use in the demanding and safety-critical environment of the nuclear sector.

The surface finish is only one aspect of ensuring that material is produced to the highest quality for this sector. Our experience in working within this sector goes back 30 plus years and we ensure that the handling, storage and testing of the material is done within strict parameters. We have worked extensively with both new build and decommissioned material projects for the UK Nuclear Industry from profiles for glove-boxes to large plates for pressure vessels, tanks, roof petals and other aspects. Other projects for the Nuclear sector have been the polishing of material for the fabrication of tanks in France and other mainland EU facilities.

All documentation and administration controls are clear and transmitted electronically to our clients and their partners ensuring full traceability. On-site inspections are carried out in a friendly and efficient manner by your key account manager and our technical team to give you complete confidence in the end result and the relevant certification and reporting.

Not so much 'Fat Cats' as 'Tired Cats'

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 11/08/2013

In a recent article by The
Manufacturer, it was shown that Manufacturing Business Owners worked 41%
more hours than the average employee.

This owner dedication was praised with the caveat that a
healthy work / life balance should be considered, and a side note that
financial gain was being put ahead of free-time. For many SME owners,
particularly in manufacturing, financial gain is a huge priority to not only
stabilize cash-flow, but also to ensure healthy profits going forward for
onward investment. Those of us who survived the last recession and who are now
experiencing high-growth know exactly how expensive this is.

Returning to profitability after a recession is expensive.
Increasing that profitability (whilst ensuring your staff are rewarded) is
expensive and growing your business is expensive. In an SME the owner-manager
will have final responsibility for all of this and more, and will often
visualize and implement the strategy to achieve these critical success factors.

As the MD of a manufacturing company who has grown year on
year since 2010, with 20% growth achieved in our last financial year, I am all
too aware that the time needs to be put in at the top to ensure this happens.
Complacency is no longer allowed in our business something I admit I was
guilty of in the easy days before the recession wiped 40% off our turnover
overnight and the pain from this is still fresh in my memory. Having come
through this literally by blood, sweat and tears it is unsurprising that I and
others are reluctant to throttle back on the hard work we are putting into our
businesses.

As the pressures of the recession eased this naturally
resulted in growth of the business, which in turn gives the business owner more
to aim for; after all the growth should be sustained and increased going
forward so we have a buffer should the axe fall again.

Of course this hard work is emulated and often surpassed by
loyal members of the team; and they are much more likely to go the extra mile when
they see the boss doing so too. With frequent fat cat articles appearing in
the media, it is refreshing to see the hard work of business owners acknowledged
and long may this continue.

Industrialst chosen for Birmingham Inspiring Women Campaign

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 13/06/2012

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, the Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services Ltd, has taken part in an Inspiring Women campaign with The Pavilions Birmingham to celebrate the success of the region's women.

More information is available on the link below.

http://www.pavilionsshopping.com/fashion-and-beauty.php?story=41

PPS Win Major Hospital Contract

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 19/06/2014

PPS have successfully won a contract to polish hundreds of intricate laser cut profiles for a hospital in London. Each profile has a unique design and is laser cut before polishing. With hundreds of designs PPS will ensure that each panel is clearly identified to ensure that installation runs smoothly.

MD of PPS, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock said "We love getting involved in projects like this. It's an absolute pleasure to be working with such beautiful designs and our operators can be really proud of the part they play in this prestigious project."

PPS offer a dedicated project-management service to ensure that all aspects of large projects are completed smoothly and on time. From intricate panels to balustrades PPS have the experience and systems to manage contracts involving thousands of items with multiple drawings. From the initial schedule to completion PPS are Your Partner in Polishing every step of the way.

http://press.professionalpolishing.co.uk/r/pps-win-major-contract-for-hospital/2189

Midlands firm wins order for Stella McCartney Store

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 19/01/2012

With more clothes retailers closing this week, a Midlands’ manufacturer has received an order to process material for the opening of a new designer shop for Stella McCartney.

Professional Polishing Services Ltd is no stranger to producing finishes for designers such as DKNY and Louis Vuitton and these have traditionally been satin finishes on stainless steel or aluminum. However the finish requested for Stella McCartney’s store is instead a mixture of two finishes applied on brass sheet.

“We love a challenge and producing something that little bit different really gets the whole team involved,” said Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, the Company’s MD.

The operator who will be polishing the first stage of this order is Andy Coleman, shown here chatting with Professor Carl Chinn who visited the factory to present a manufacturing award to Professional Polishing Services Ltd.

Winner - IOD West Midlands Director of the Year

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 16/05/2012

Kirsty Davies Chinnock, the Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services, has been named as an IoD West Midlands Director of the Year.

The Champagne Breakfast Award ceremony was held in the stunning Edgbaston Stadium and attracted over one hundred and sixty leading business names to this prestigious event.

The judging panel were impressed with Kirsty’s passion for the future and her conviction that UK manufacturing and SME’s as a whole are essential to growth within the UK. Kirsty said “I have always believed that manufacturing has an important part to play within the UK and have actively promoted this over the years.” The judges termed her an ‘Ambassador for Manufacturing’ and Kirsty further stressed her support for this sector “I believe a pro-manufacturing strategy needs to be created in line with further encouragement of SME’s. SME’s have a unique perspective when it comes to being a successful business; well-managed, they are the life blood of the UK.”

For Kirsty, SME’s need to be led in such a way that values the contribution of all employees: “On a personal level I want to show that there are many managing directors working for the benefit of the company – and the employees –rather than themselves. We take our responsibility as an employer incredibly seriously and do everything we can to create sustainable employment.”

Kirsty won the West Midlands Family Business Director of the Year Award and goes forward to the National Competition in London in October 2012.

Professional Polishing Services Ltd is Exhibiting at Innovative Hybrid Exhibition: Backing Britain 3.0

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 22/04/2022

Professional Polishing Services Ltd will be exhibiting at Backing Britain 3.0 this month. The brand new innovative exhibition format is set to welcome thousands of visitors to the 3D virtual environment, which will continue to run for the entire year after the event takes place after 26th-28th April. It will also see three in-person events connecting 300+ manufacturers with talks from industry leaders and celebrity guests.

The aim of the Backing Britain Expo from The Made in Group is to connect hundreds of manufacturers across the region in an immersive, interactive, and environmentally friendly way. Over the last 18 months or so, businesses have had to propel themselves into the digital, whether it be working from home or diversifying their business processes. Digital isn't going anywhere, and forward-thinking businesses need to get up to speed now so they aren't left behind in the future. This is why we are excited to be part of Backing Britain 3.0.

The Made in Group is a trade association championing British manufacturing through networking opportunities, online exposure, topical discussions with industry leaders, and recruitment in manufacturing - helping close the UK skills gap.

Backing Britain 3.0 is a virtual exhibition where delegates will be able to visit interactive stands online - viewing company information, chatting live to exhibitors, and immersing themselves in 3D virtual factory tours.

Along with numerous other manufacturing members of the Made in Group, Professional Polishing {{Company Name}} is embracing the change the pandemic has brought. With digital revealing itself to be deeper and more embedded than ever before, the employment of 3D factory tours to sell to the B2B market is set to put businesses ahead.

Stay ahead of the curve with us by visiting our stand from 26th April, register using the link below

g2made.uk/bb3expo

Investment in New Plant

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 18/09/2012

Professional Polishing Services Ltd are pleased to confirm
that they have ordered two new polishing lines, both of which are scheduled to
be fully commissioned and in service by the end of December 2012.

The most anticipated of the two, and the bulk of the new
investment, is an automatic multi-head mirror polishing and coating line. This
gives additional capacity to service the increasing demand for reflective
finishes, particularly the bespoke ‘UltraBright’, which is produced to
consistently high gloss levels. The new mirror polishing line will be the most
sophisticated in the country, formed of integrated pick and place, polishing,
transfer, polythene coating and stacking units. Sheets are picked and
transported between stations by vacuum lift and the polishing process is
carried out on a multi head polishing machine before being transported to an in
line protective coating station. This will be the first mirror polishing line
to incorporate the whole process from start to finish.

The second investment is an additional circle polishing line
to complement the current 2000mm wide machine which consistently works above
capacity.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, the Managing Director of PPS is keen
to be able to optimise lead times on both of these sections to benefit their
customer base and to service new markets.

Continuous investment is nothing new from PPS and with the
two new lines ordered ahead of the company’s thirtieth anniversary in 2013 it
is the biggest single investment made in their history, and has come at a time
to facilitate an ambitious program of growth.

Peter Davies, the Chairman and Founder of Professional
Polishing Services looks back at their investment how the company has become the
acknowledged market leader in mechanical surface finishing;

“PPS started life in the depths of a recession and everyone
took delight in telling me the manufacturing base within the UK would fail
within ten years. Yet since our inception PPS have invested more in new plant
and processes than any of our competitors and despite the doom and gloom we
have again secured traditional funding – proving that there is support for
ambitious SME’s going forward. Committing to our largest capital investment on
the eve of our thirtieth anniversary is something to celebrate and is a huge
achievement for every individual with the Company. ”

Case Study: Polishing is the answer for rectification of stainless steel roof panels

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 26/10/2022

During the cutting process of some 6mm 2B material the material was inadvertently damaged causing indentations to the surface.

As they are being cut to shape and then fabricated into roof panels, having areas where contaminates could potentially sit wasn’t acceptable to the processor or the end client.

Removing the indentations by pre-grinding was proposed but the thickness of the plates had a tight tolerance and so this had to be monitored throughout the process. At 6mm thick they could not go below 5.85mm and also needed to achieve the Roughness Average range of 2B material under EN 10088-2 of 0.1µm > 0.5µm.

Prior to the initial polishing stages we measured the thickness in several areas to ensure we had enough data regarding the material thickness. To do so we used both a traditional vernier and also our ultrasonic vernier which enables readings to be taken across the surface and not just on the edge.

We decided to be cautious on the sample piece rather than being aggressive to remove the surface defects and the equivalent surface stock. We started with a finer initial stage which, whilst it multiple passes and additional time did mean we weren’t removing too much stock from the surface as once we’ve reduced the thickness we can’t put it back on!

The initial two stages removed the majority of the indentations although some edges of the deeper ones remained looking similar to pitt marks in the surface.

At this stage we were quite close to the minimum thickness at 5.90mm and we were concerned if we continued we would fall below the tolerance. However since these remaining defects were isolated it was possible to remove just these with a localised dressing stage.

We were then able to blend this creating a uniform surface and finishing with a final stage whilst remaining with tolerance with the lowest thickness measured at 5.88mm

The RA values recorded were between 0.23µm and 0.36µm so well within the RA range requested.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock said “We were delighted we were able to rectify this material for our customer and their client. We ensured that all measurements were documented and recorded throughout the process so they had full traceability of surface measurement and thickness tolerance. Our senior Plate Operator, Rachpal Singh, has done an exceptional job on this project.’

Bright Polishing Goal Achieved

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 10/10/2013

When PPS were interviewed about their investment in New Plant, Kirsty
Davies-Chinnock said one of her goals was to be able to reduce Bright Polishing
lead-times from two and three weeks, down to two or three days.

With continued investment in efficiencies PPS have hit this target and not only
are able to produce material quickly for their customer base, but have also
been able to pass the efficiency savings along as well in terms of cost.

To see the original video footage about the investment in plant please visit
our YouTube channel here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYgJf_lJgAY

The Future’s Bright for PPS!

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 07/08/2012

New Plant investment for IoD Winning Firm.

Professional Polishing Services Ltd are pleased to announce the investment of nearly a quarter of a million pounds on new capital plant expansion.

Professional Polishing Services Ltd, based in Smethwick in the West Midlands, is the UK’s market leader in mechanical surface finishing. Founded in 1983 they have constantly re-invested in plant and following on from their organic growth since the recession they are keen to facilitate a period of high growth over the next three years.

Managing Director, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock said “This is the first stage in our ambitious growth plan where we hope to bring new technology into the market to service our existing customers, as well as increasing our presence in mainland Europe. It’s gratifying that despite the ‘doom and gloom’ credit lines are available via traditional lenders for SME’s that want to expand.”

PPS are investing in new technology available for Mirror Polishing flat sheets, an area which they are keen to expand based on their heavy order book and the opportunity for new contracts to be won. “We are keen to be involved with Birmingham Gateway,” said Kirsty “But were concerned that the UK didn’t have enough capacity – we are incredibly proud to be investing in this area, which will benefit both home grown projects and also service the world wide users of our finishes.”

Professional Polishing Services Ltd and Kirsty Davies-Chinnock were recently award the Institute of Directors West Midlands Director of the Year in the category of Family Business and are short-listed for the UK finals in London during October.

The Globe at The AT&T Discovery District in Dallas

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 25/03/2022

Every now and then a project comes along that is incredibly special...

During 2019 Craig Barnshaw from Inductaflex visited Professional Polishing Services to talk about having some 316 2B sheets polished to UltraMarine. Whilst the quantity required was quite small, just 250 square meters, the actual project was fascinating and much bigger than the quantity of stainless steel.

Inductaflex was making the largest and most complex bending project in the World. The huge three dimensional formed twisted aluminum profiles, formed on a bespoke machine manufactured by Inductaflex UK, after hundreds of hours of engineering analysis. The final structure would then be clad in the polished stainless steel.

The end result was to be a 30-foot tall interactive sculpture with lights and sound to be installed in the center of the AT&T Discovery District® in Dallas, Texas. Called the Globe, the internal structure is as stunning as the exterior use of UltraMarine finish on the stainless steel. The polished exterior mirror finish beautifully reflects the surrounding buildings. Walking inside the Globe, one is immersed in an interactive light and sound experience, with lights and sound responding to your location and movement as you move within its interior.

Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services Ltd, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock visited the Globe when it was being assembled prior to shipping to Dallas to inspect the polished finish as it was installed onto the frame.

Initially polished in sheet sizes 3000 x 1500 x 6mm and 4000 x 1500 x 6mm the finish itself has a high degree of reflectivity with clean clarity suitable for the impressive design.

The AT&T Discovery District® is a unique redevelopment of AT&T’s global corporate headquarters. It is a new downtown destination where tech, culture and art combine, creating a unique media-rich destination for visitors, employees and the local community.

The Globe itself is 30 feet high, incorporates 300,000 LED lights, twenty speakers, six motion sensors, one of the most innovative bending structures in the world, and 250 square meters of UltraMarine 316 Stainless Steel.

Photo Credit AT&T

PPS Launch Bright Polished Hot Rolled Plate

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 30/10/2015

PPS are pleased to offer their Bright Polished finish on Hot Rolled Plate up to 12mm thick.

With an extensive pre-grinding operation to remove surface scale and defects, followed by a production route that minimises the pre-grinding grain, this finish has a high degree of reflectivity.

Measuring over 600 gloss units the depth and clarity of the finish is similar to that produced on thin gauge 2B material.

This finish is very popular within the Marine Environment as well as being in demand for Architectural applications.

With a surface roughness average of less than 0.1 microns it is suitable for nearly all high-end fabrications.

For more information, and to request your free sample of this finish, contact us on 0121 555 6569 or email the Team Admin@professionalpolishing.co.uk

Architectural Flat Bar Project Won

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 19/04/2017

Here at PPS whilst we are known for polishing flat stainless steel products such as sheet and plate, we are also heavily involved in prestigious architectural projects polishing flat bar and balustrade uprights. The Commercial Team have recently been negotiating the polishing of a 60 tonne order of stainless steel flat bar to be polished to a 1K Finish under EN 10088-2. This fine abrasive finish not only removes any surface scale but also the majority of material defects in the 6 mtr lengths, as well as providing a surface finish suitable to help combat corrosion contamination.

The project itself is an incredibly high end fencing arrangement in Europe and has been designed to offer both strength and stunning good looks!

For more information on how we can help you with your architectural project contact our Commercial Team who will be happy to advise on the right finish for the right environment. Remember, Stainless Steel has a fantastic life-cycle and is heavily recycled so it's an amazing material to work with for architectural applications,

Fighting the 'Doom and Gloom'

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 26/03/2012

Professional Polishing Services Ltd, the UK
market leader in mechanical stainless steel surface finishing is fighting back
against the ‘Doom and Gloom’ and is determined to celebrate manufacturing
success. The company has decided that
ahead of their 30th ‘birthday’ in 2013, this year is the ideal time
to take stock of exactly what their team has achieved and to look forward
towards future planned investment.

“Whilst the UK is not out of the woods yet,
2011 and 2012 show that manufacturing can be profitable and based on this we
are able to re-invest profits in people and plant and look forward.” said Managing
Director, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock. “In
the last six months we have won a Manufacturing Excellence Award, been finalists
for two other manufacturing awards and I am also very pleased to have been
short-listed as an IOD SME Regional Director of the Year.”

Whilst it’s good news now, this hasn’t always
been the case for the Smethwick based company. Following on from the start of
the recession like many other businesses they suffered a considerable drop in
turnover and had to make redundancies. “Fortunately we were able to re-employ
three quarters of the people we did make redundant within nine months.” said
Kirsty, “As you can imagine with a fairly small team this period was very bleak.”

The success the Company has enjoyed since
is down to the loyalty, belief and flexibility of the team as a whole. PPS knew
that to come through this difficult period and to not only survive, but prosper
and grow, effective strategy and communication would be the life-blood of the
business. Additional training was put into place for the management team to
increase their leadership skills, and the commercial team focus on continuous
personal development.

“We are stronger as a team than ever
before.” Kirsty comments, “Whilst I never thought I would say this, the recession
in one way was a good thing; it’s reignited our passion and determination and
removed any complacency.”

During 2012 Professional Polishing Services
Ltd plan to build on their success in 2011 and cement plans for future
investment. They are exploring new markets both within the UK and in mainland
Europe, and have various development projects in the pipeline.

Women With Metal Launched

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 14/06/2023

The Women with Metal Conference

The first UK conference dedicated to women working in the metal industries has been launched by Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, the Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services Ltd.

10th October 2023 at the Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham.

Speakers

The speakers are all exceptional women and will deliver presentations on leadership, finance, personal branding in the workplace, the roadmap for women in manufacturing, the power of your network and supporting menopause in the workplace.

Charlotte Horobin Regional Director – Midlands & East of England, Make UK

Charlotte will be exploring the road-map of women in the metals industry and manufacturing and how we can increase the gender balance.

Kelly Ellis, The Mortgage Mom

Kelly will be talking all things money and how to be financially protected, both for you and your family.

Stephanie Snade, Psynergie Consulting

Clarify your leadership style no matter what stage of your career.

Denise Morris, CEO and Founder of TAG Network Midlands

Unleash the power of your network with Denise's help and advice.

Justice Williams MBE

Discover how personal branding in the workplace can enhance your career.

Liz Burley, Burley Law

Menopause will effect all women, how can this be navigated in the workplace?

Morag Hale, Head of HR, Amari Metals

Talking about banter in the workplace

Tickets are available

PPS Collaborate with Standing Tall

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 03/03/2022

We are thrilled to work with Standing Tall in matching people experiencing homelessness with stable jobs in responsible businesses.

Kirsty explains her reasons in the below video for collaborating with Standing Tall to employ someone experiencing homelessness.

‘Why wouldn’t we want to look at helping someone who found themselves struggling to help them get back on their feet?’ asks Kirsty Davies-Chinnock from Professional Polishing Services.

‘Working with Standing Tall is going to benefit you as a company. You’ll be fulfilling your CSR, your moral, and your humanitarian reasons for getting involved.’

‘Who wouldn’t want to help make the world a better place for a single person who’s going to become a respected colleague and a great team member?’

80% of the people Standing Tall help are still off the streets and in the same job one year later.

A Hat Trick of Award Nominations!

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 24/02/2012

Professional Polishing Services Ltd, the UK’s market leader in stainless steel surface finishing, are finalists in not one, but two, regional business awards and their Managing Director, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock has also been nominated for the regional IOD SME Director of the Year.

They have been chosen as finalists in the categories – Manufacturing Champion and Green Business in the Express and Star Business of the Year Awards.
In the category of Manufacturing Champion it was the passion exhibited by their MD, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock that impressed the judges. “Manufacturing is not a dirty word!” said Kirsty “And UK Manufacturing is proving to be the bright light in a fog of financial doom and gloom.”

PPS are also finalists in the category for Green Business and explained that manufacturing can be Green and that it brings practical and financial benefits for the Company. From investing in energy efficient compressor systems with the help of the Carbon Trust, to re-cycling everything from notepaper to strapping, the company take their green credentials very seriously.

Kirsty was the recipient of the Attwood Award in 2009 for services to manufacturing.

Professional Polishing shine with Investment in Business Award

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 26/10/2012

Professional Polishing Services have won a Made in Midlands award in the 'Investment in Business category'.

The company ordered two new polishing lines this year and announced a new capital plant expansion, representing a £250,000 investment into the business which will come into operation before the end of the year.

One of the new machines is a highly anticipated multi-head mirror polishing and coating line, which will be the most sophisticated machine of its kind in the UK. It will not only will it increase their capacity to service reflective finishings jobs, but also high gloss, 'UltraBright' services. The second investment is an additional circle polishing line to complement the current 2000mm wide machine which consistently works above capacity.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, who collected the award, said “This is the first stage in our ambitious growth plan where we hope to bring new technology into the market to service our existing customers, as well as increasing our presence in mainland Europe.”

New Chair of the BSSA announced

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 01/10/2021

Professional Polishing Services are delighted to announce that our Managing Director, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, is now the new Chair of the British Stainless Steel Association.

As revealed during September’s excellent BBSA Annual Conference & Dinner, Kirsty will take over from David Cass, the Managing Director of Anopol, becoming the 2nd female Chair in the BSSA’s 20+ year history.

Kirsty said “I am incredibly proud to follow in David’s footsteps and am looking forward to continuing the promotion of stainless steel as a sustainable material for so many different sectors”

The BSSA aims to promote and develop the use of Stainless Steels across the UK and Ireland in a range of sectors, including construction, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, as well as offering training, technical advice and education in all aspects of using stainless steels.

The BSSA Annual Conference & Dinner, which returned for the first time since 2019 to give its members the chance to mingle, network and listen to five fascinating talks, also saw Darren Moult Sr of Stainless Steel Services become the new Vice-Chair from now.

To find out more about the BSSA and the services they provide, click here.

The Launch of Allied Women in Engineering

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 03/03/2022

This International Woman’s Day on the 8th March our Managing Director, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, is a guest speaker at the Launch of Allied Women in Engineering.

Allied Women in Engineering initiative, dedicated to helping the people within the most crucial sectors of engineering, manufacturing and construction to thrive personally and professionally, whilst giving strategic guidance and overall support to business leaders to create inclusive "people strategies" which BOTH work together to create more confident, happier individuals who can feedback innovations and improvements, and overall, opportunities for future leaders and talented engineers to progress within the business, making a difference - so everyone gets to fulfil their potential. The individual thrives and the business thrives.

This is the first event dedicated to this mission so we'll be starting by getting to know each other, bringing together those who see value in this journey - from CEOs and managers, to engineers many years into their careers, to engineers just getting started, the networking will be valuable and diverse!

With the IWD theme of 2022 being "Break the Bias", we have experts in inclusive leadership coming to help you have the impact you desire in your career and lend strategies to achieve our goal of more inclusive workplaces which you can feedback. Our main priority with this event is to equip you with the tools and confidence to use what you learn at this event within your own work environment - otherwise nothing will ever change! Plus we have industry leaders coming to share their stories, personal experiences and inspire us all that whilst the journey to greater diversity and inclusion may not be always be easy, it's certainly worth doing.

Formed and launched by Bethan Jepson from Allied Global Engineering who are also Made in the Midlands members the initiative shows how by working togther real change can be achieved.

Polished Stainless Steel in the Wine Industry

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 22/03/2023

Traditionally wine has been fermented and stored in oak barrels for hundreds of years but more recently stainless steel tanks have become more popular for winemakers.

Stainless steel is now often selected as the material for the wine production equipment because of its excellent corrosion resistant properties, durability and ease-of-cleaning. When the wine is fermenting the stainless steel tanks don’t impart additional flavours to the wine, meaning that more of the original palates from the grape are imparted.

Another benefit is the longevity of the stainless steel tanks compared to the traditional oak barrels. Oak will last around 3-5 years and will then need to be replaced. The deterioration of the oak due to the acidity of the wine is also an issue when it comes to regulating the oxidization of the wine.

But stainless steel is involved much earlier in the wine process with the stainless steel secateurs cutting the grapes from the vines when done by hand or by using specialist harvesting equipment which shakes the vices and causes the grapes to be collected and transported and this threshing equipment is made from 304 stainless steel.

There are several stages in the wine making process from pressing, to maceration and of course the process will vary for red and white wines. For those that know their grapes, for red wine the juice (or ‘must’) is macerated with all aspects of the grape such as skin and pulp. For white wine however the grapes pass through stainless steel rollers where the juice is extracted, leaving behind the skin and the seeds and the uncrushed pulp.

Staying with white wines, the fermentation of the sugars from the grapes and the addition of yeasts creates the ethanol. In large stainless steel vats the fermentation of white wines needs to be regulated and depending on the desired outcome will take hours or days. The fermentation produces acids and these acids - tartaric, acetic, tannic, malic and citric - are not corrosive to stainless steel at the concentrations found in wines. But sulphur dioxide can be an issue and choosing between 304 or 316 stainless steel is an important consideration and often composite tanks are designed.

Residue from the yeasts and acids will sink to the bottom of the tank during fermentation and ease of cleaning of the tanks is a consideration when choosing stainless steel and its hygienic properties is one reason that stainless steel has proved so popular. Both white wine and red wine create different residual properties in the tanks and a simple rule of thumb is that 304L is suitable for most red wine fermentation tanks and 316L is mor suited for white wines.

316L has molybdenum which increases corrosion resistance particularly against sulphur which is added in some white wines which then creates sulfur dioxide as a byproduct.

Identifying which tank is 304L and which is 316L is often done by manufacturing the tanks from differently polished finishes – typically a circle polish or a smooth 2K finish both of which are suitable and which ensure that the white wine isn’t fermented in a tank made from 304L.

The internal surface of the tank should also have a suitable finish for the fermentation process that is hygienic and doesn’t trap the deposits. A mill finish such as 2B is suitable but the roughness average of this is generally around 0.8µm whereas a polished finish is between 0.05µm and 0.4µm if you choose either a Bright / Mirror Finish or a 2K smooth grained finish. It is important to note that if you use a grained finish then this should be vertical and not horizontal.

Stainless steel tanks don’t add tannins or other flavours from the oak barrels to the wine and this can be both a positive or a negative depending on whether you prefer your wine tannin rich or otherwise. But stainless steel is a huge part of the wine industry from collection of the grapes, to pressing, fermenting and bottling and is very likely to increase.

Whether you prefer red or white, chances are that next glass of wine you drink will have travelled extensively though stainless steel processes.

I’ll definitely drink to that!

Additional Sheet Line investment

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 14/09/2021

Professional Polishing are pleased to announce investment in an additional Dull and Satin sheet polishing line.

This comes just two years after investing in new pick and place systems, new extraction equipment and two new Autopullit bright polishing machines which were only operational for six months before Covid struck.

"Anyone in the world can touch up to 30 things we have polished every day" explains Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, Managing Director of PPS, "Like everyone else there has been some tough times over the last eighteen months but we are seeing exceptional demand and we need to put in place the technology to increase capacity."

PPS offer a bespoke stainless steel and non-ferrous polishing service that spans a client base that spans the world, with its efforts seen as far afield as Hong Kong and Australia. The Company's reputation for quality - all processes are governed by ISO 9001 2015 - and its commitment to fast lead times has seen it grow sales by £500,000 in the last twelve months. Its strategy focuses on combining investment in the best equipment and the best people with the desire to tap into knowledge of local Universities, taking on two interns from WMG to improve manufacturing efficiencies and process flow.

Kirsty continued "The latest investment will give us capacity to take on new work and deliver faster lead times, yet it isn't the end of our spending. I've already got my eye on two more machines which would be UK firsts for the polishing sector."

Women With Metal Launched

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 14/06/2023

The Women with Metal Conference

The first UK conference dedicated to women working in the metal industries has been launched by Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, the Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services Ltd.

10th October 2023 at the Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham.

Speakers

Charlotte Horobin Regional Director – Midlands & East of England, Make UK

Charlotte will be exploring the road-map of women in the metals industry and manufacturing and how we can increase the gender balance.

Kelly Ellis, The Mortgage Mom

Kelly will be talking all things money and how to be financially protected, both for you and your family.

Stephanie Snade, Psynergie Consulting

Clarify your leadership style no matter what stage of your career.

Denise Morris, CEO and Founder of TAG Network Midlands

Unleash the power of your network with Denise's help and advice.

Justice Williams MBE

Discover how personal branding in the workplace can enhance your career.

Liz Burley, Burley Law

Menopause will effect all women, how can this be navigated in the workplace?

Morag Hale, Head of HR, Amari Metals

Talking about banter in the workplace

Tickets are available

Manufacturing Excellence Award for Professional Polishing Services Ltd

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 14/12/2011

Manufacturing Excellence Award for Professional Polishing Services Ltd. - Awarded by The Express and Star in association with the Manufacturing Advisory Service –WM.

Formed in 1983 by Peter and Pauline Davies, PPS had a small 3,500 sq ft unit in Nechells with one Johannsen plate polisher and some smaller machines.

Following on from organic expansion the Company became the acknowledge market leader in sub contract mechanical polishing of stainless steel and occupies 40,000 sq ft with a huge variety of production lines and finishes.

In 2008 to celebrate the Company’s 25th anniversary Peter became semi-retired and stepped down as MD to make way for the General Manager and Director, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, to take up the position of Managing Director. Excellent timing from his point of view as the recession swiftly followed.

Now in 2011 the Company is again re-investing in production lines and has an extensive capital expansion plan for 2012 to bring new technology to the UK and mainland Europe.

PPS are keen to push boundaries and offer more value added service to their customers and in August 2011 launched their first three professional videos showing several mechanical polishing processes. These videos fill a gap in the market and provide specialised information to their customer base so an understanding of the process is easily available.

Investment also continues in people with two apprentices currently employed by the Company as well as Industry courses freely available to the commercial team to expand on their product knowledge.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock has expanded further on the Company’s CSR with charitable donations and support for events such as the Gateley Five for Fifty Run in September where 5 members of PPS (including Kirsty) ran 5K each to raise money for The Foundation for Conductive Education.

With PPS looking forward to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2013 they have ambitious plans for new finishes, technology and development which continually building on their proud history of excellent customer service.

In 2009 Kirsty was pleased to receive the Attwood Award for her services to Industry. Currently the market leader in stainless steel sub contract mechanical polishing. Continuous re-investment has built an impressive portfolio of production lines. Additional Cap-Ex plans for 2012 for bringing new technology to the UK and Mainland Europe.

Professional Polishing Services on the search for their next apprentice

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 31/01/2012

Midlands leading surface finish company, Professional Polishing Services Ltd are keen to expand their apprentices. PPS have a long history of employing apprentices and many stay with the company to become Senior Operators including Darren Icke, who started with the firm in 1994 and who has been a senior operator for many years. The Company has been involved in many prestigious projects over its twenty-eight year history including The Tree of Remembrance which is a fantastic sculpture in Manchester.

The firm currently has two apprentices based at their Smethwick Operation; Dan Hunt who is studying for his NVQ in Warehousing with SEMTA and Kirsty Wilkinson who is studying her NVQ with Sandwell College in Business Administration. Additional training is also encouraged in-house and Kirsty is currently studying for a technical qualification in stainless steel through ISSF and Dan has competed his full training on processing flat bar.

The Company sees apprentices as an invaluable resource. MD, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock says "There is a lot of negative press where young people are concerned and we are keen to show the positive side. The young people we interact with show themselves to be hard working and ambitious; they are looking for long term careers and we are proud to support them in their endeavors."

PPS have found that the renewed interest by the media in manufacturing has given young people an option that was previously often discounted as a career choice. "Our team are highly trained and we support them in life-long learning. External certification is encouraged in areas such as Fork Lift Truck Licensing, First Aid and industry based qualifications as well as NVQ's in leadership and management. Every new skill our new apprentices learn increases their confidence and knowledge base which is in turn applied to the business - it's a win-win."

An exciting prospect for 2012 is the 'Metals Industry Apprentice of the Year' competition which is sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers. PPS are entering both their current apprentices, Dan and Kirsty, and are excited about their prospects.

Stainless Steel in the Built Environment

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 26/07/2022

Our latest e-brochure is now available featuring two case studies of stainless steel in the built environment.

Download it here

Focusing on Hotel La Tour in Miltn Keynes and the AT&T Downtown Discovery Globe

PPS MD crowned The Birmingham Business Woman of the Year

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 02/12/2015

The Prestigious black tie event which took place on Friday 27th of November at the Edgbaston Stadium left audiences full to the brim with appreciation for Birmingham, as the citys people came together in full force to join finalists, sponsors, ambassadors and judges in a night of levity and entertainment.

The Birmingham Awards is the first of its kind to encompass a plethora of different categories celebrating everything from the best bars, restaurant and club to small businesses, the best individual business man and woman of the year, best independent retailer and best blogger, to name a few.

Here at PPS we were very excited for the night as not only were we finalists for Business of the Year but our MD, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, was also a finalist for Businesswoman of the Year.

We are delighted to announce that Kirsty was victorious and was named Businesswoman of the Year.

Images from the event are available here.

The full list of winners of the Birmingham Awards 2015 include:

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Sabai Sabai (Thai Restaurant)

BAR/PUB OF THE YEAR The Bubble Lounge (Hotel du Vin)

RETAILER OF THE YEAR Selfridges

ART & CULTURE AWARD Eloquent Praise (Dance Academy)

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Spearhead Compliance Training

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SimkissGuy Recruitment

BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR Peter Murtha (Co-Founder Mr McQueen & Optima)

BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR Kirsty Davies-Chinnock (Managing Director Professional Polishing Services Ltd)

COMMUNITY INITIATIVE/CHARITY/VOLUNTEER Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer

SPORTING INITIATIVE Dwarf Sports Association UK

YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR Joshua Williams (Model)

VENUE OF THE YEAR Hyatt Regency

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Evolve (Helping Children)

BLOG/BLOGGER OF THE YEAR Full to the Brum (Laura Creaven)

CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION Isa Mutlib

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Sir Herbert Douglas Ellis

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Loki Wine

EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Grand Central

BRUMMIE OF THE YEAR Jasper Carrott

Image courtesy of Jas Sansi

New Carbon Footprint Calculator adds up for Professional Polishing Services

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 15/11/2022

New Carbon Footprint Calculator adds up for Professional Polishing Services

A new carbon footprint calculator for metal polishing has been created thanks to an exciting tie-up between industry and academia.

Professional Polishing Services has tapped into funding and advice from the University of Birmingham’s ATETA programme to develop a digital process that will help it identify thousands of pounds of savings on energy costs.

The project has involved mapping out the manufacturing flow and installing high-end data logging sensors in key places to monitor real-time power consumption of industrial equipment.

Several variables, including type of material and speed of job, are factored into the equation to provide robust calculations that work out PPS’ carbon footprint and identify where savings can be made.

The West Bromwich-based company is not looking to keep this IP to itself, instead it is planning to roll-out the calculator to the rest of the finishing sector in a bid to help industry move towards Net-Zero.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, Managing Director of Professional Polishing Services, commented: “Our bespoke stainless steel and non-ferrous polishing services are energy intensive, so it made perfect sense for us to look at how we could monitor costs – especially with prices going through the roof.

“As a SME, it’s sometimes difficult to make the time or spare the money for non-core activities. That’s why tapping into the ATETA programme and all the academic expertise that came with it was a no-brainer and has resulted in such impressive progress.”

She continued: “We now have a carbon calculator that can instantly work out the footprint of each of the jobs we put on our lines, and this is fantastic information to have. It gives our production team the opportunity to look at how we save energy, making us more competitive in the process.

“The next step will be to roll this out to the rest of our sector and we’re already talking to the University and our competitors to see exactly how we do this.”

Professional Polishing Services works with a client base that spans the world, with its efforts seen as far afield as Hong Kong and Australia.

The company’s reputation for quality – all processes are governed by ISO 9001:2015 – and its commitment to fast lead times has seen it grow sales by £500,000 since Covid-19, taking it to £2m by the financial year-end.

Its strategy focuses on combining investment in the best equipment and the best people with a desire to tap into the knowledge of local Universities, already taking on two interns from WMG to improve manufacturing efficiencies and process flow.

“Although there are many companies conducting carbon accounting projects, the service provided is usually high-level information and delivers an understanding of what the firm’s legal requirements are…the ATETA project is much more than that,” added Sureena Sohal, Project Manager at the University of Birmingham.

“The carbon footprint calculator is for specific industries/processes and takes a much deeper dive into the data and, importantly, how manufacturers can offset some of the findings. It’s a very powerful weapon in the fight against emissions.”

Kirsty concluded: “It has been a very strong twelve months for PPS and we’re really benefitting from the investment in the additional polishing line. If we can manage our energy costs going forward, whilst moving towards Net Zero, then we’ll be in a good position to attract new opportunities.”

About ATETA

ATETA is an SME engagement programme designed to provide support to help businesses identify opportunities for clean energy innovation.
Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) this programme led by the Birmingham Energy Institute has already helped 260 businesses across the Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire, Greater Birmingham & Solihull and Worcestershire.
Companies gain access to the University of Birmingham’s world-leading expertise and facilities to test ideas, solve innovation challenges, create new business opportunities and ultimately increase productivity.

By Russ Cockburn, Cucumber PR

New Investment at PPS

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 24/04/2017

Professional Polishing Services are currently installing an additional 1600mm wide Dull & Satin Polishing line to add to their Stainless Steel Sheet Polishing plant. With extensive investment over the last four years this is now the fourth new line to be added, all with the Company's usual ethos of re-investing profits to create jobs and expand capacity.

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, Managing Director, says "We are constantly looking on how we can improve our service to customers. The best way we can serve them is to produce their material quicker, giving them an edge in winning time sensitive orders with complete confidence that we can deliver."

PPS are set to achieve another record year and they are currently looking at investing further during their financial year 2017-2018 where they have ambitious growth forecasts of 20%

Professional Polishing Services Re-joins MIM

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 13/10/2021

UK leading stainless steel polishing firm Professional Polishing Services (PPS) has recently re-joined Made in the Midlands. The Birmingham based company joined the group to be part of an organisation that continuously flies the flag for British manufacturing, especially during the pandemic.

Professional Polishing Services Ltd is the UK Market Leader in polishing stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper and bronze. The firm prides themselves on the fact that they have capabilities of polishing sheet, plate, coil, flat bar, sections, profiles, balustrades, laser cut panels, square and rectangular tube to a variety of finishes. Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, Managing Director of PPS, said:

“We mainly polish free issue material for stakeholders in the architectural and food and drink industries. We’ve rejoined Made in the Midlands because we understand the integral part manufacturing makes in our everyday lives. For example, there is very little you can do without polished stainless steel. The average person will come into contact with one of our finishes at least 30 times a day.”

PPS was a founding member of Made in the Midlands, however left the group to make major investments within the company. This saw the company spend a third of their turnover in one year on new machinery. However they have decided to rejoin the group as they fully believed in MIM’s mission throughout the pandemic - branding manufacturers as heroes for their efforts throughout the pandemic. Kirsty continued:

“We believe MIM flew the flag for manufacturing, especially during the pandemic when major news outlets were slating those who went to work such as manufacturers. MIM was promoting manufacturing as essential in a respectful way, developing online networking opportunities and hosting insightful webinars for the sector to get involved with.”

PPS is keen to network with like minded manufacturers who work in the same industry sector as they do. They especially look forward to being part of the networking events, such as the famous Backing Britain Breakfast mornings to learn best practice on energy usage as the world looks to manufacturing to accelerate its journey to net-zero. Kirsty concluded:

“The new hybrid format of working from home and in the office and attending meetings online and in-person isn't going anywhere and I believe MIM has been tending to this new format very well. We look forward to hearing about how other manufacturers have diversified during the pandemic and of course attending in person events to build lasting connections with fellow UK manufacturers.”

Find out more about PPS by heading to their website http://www.professionalpolishing.co.uk/

Professional Polishing Services Presented With Manufacturing Hero Award

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 08/02/2022

Professional Polishing Services is excited to announce that we have been named 'Manufacturing Hero' by the distinguished Made in Group.

The Manufacturing Heroes recognition is a campaign set up by Made in Group, to celebrate manufacturers within the membership group who have demonstrated strength in a time of crisis.

Trade associated Made in Group began this to highlight the achievements of UK manufacturers who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, which was started with those who participated in the UK Ventilator Challenge to help save lives. Made in Group have voiced their view that government procurement for the NHS had failed over a preference to source from overseas suppliers and overlooked the quality manufacturing talent domestically.

Ultimately, all ‘Manufacturing Heroes’ will be presented with a specially commissioned badge manufactured in the world-renowned Midlands Jewellery Qtr by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, a company based in Birmingham and who were granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. Many of these recognition ceremonies have taken place in 2021, with Made in Group planning to continue the recognition ceremony into 2022 with more companies to be announced in the near future.

To find out more about the 70+ companies who have already received this recognition, please read this article: https://madeingroup.madeinthemidlands.com/news/70-uk-manufacturers-recognised-as-heroes-with-more-to-be-announced-in-2022

British Stainless Steel Association and Unipart Rail Collaboration Virtual Event with Professional Polishing Svs Ltd

Professional Polishing Services Ltd — 03/02/2022

Kirsty Davies-Chinnock is one of the speakers at a collaborative online event on Thursday 10th February working with Unipart Rail, The British Stainless Steel Association, BCRRE (Birmingham Centre for Railway reserach and Education) and the Business Engagement Team at the University of Birmingham.

Designed for those within the metals and materials industry, the one hour event features information on pathways to sustainability within manufacturing and how to access Grants for growth to support this.

The event is free to attend to all manufacturers and suitable for both commercial and technical individuals who have an intereste in supply chin and / or diversification.

Click here to Register