Production Manufacturing

The Company has maintained a policy of continuous investment in advanced manufacturing technology to improve further the quality of the product and to reduce costs by improved efficiency. There has been major investment in manufacturing systems, including CAE, Computerised Process Planning, MRP II and numerous CNC machines.

Production Shop

In the modern 500,000 sq ft production shop there are nineteen CNC machining centres, including ten Makinos (all of which have in-process touch probe gauging) and CNC punching with full 'C' axis control for angular orientation for the punching heads. There are sixteen CNC turning machines, including eight machines with advanced concept turning centres for drilling and milling. Acquisitions of two Makino A55 high speed machining cells with a fully integrated 60 pallet rail car system, represent the very latest in NC machining technology and will allow even greater efficiency in production of detailed machine parts, reducing lead times and eliminating work-in-progress processes. Additional A55 machines are planned.

Process Treatment and Finishing Shop

Martin-Baker has a fully computerised and British Ministry of Defence and U.S. D.O.D. approved Process Treatment and Finishing Shop which can produce the required high quality treatments and finishes to the most stringent Military Standards.

Parachute Packing Department

Parachutes and drogues are pressure packed in the Parachute Packing Department, which operates strict clean room conditions and is equipped with a range of hydraulic presses to support production requirements. Survival kits are packed in a separate dedicated area.

Information Technology Management

Martin-Baker has established a company wide computer based communication infrastructure, which enables the companies’ information systems to be managed in a secure, efficient and effective manner. The information technology department has consolidated towards three main computer systems. SAP for enterprise resource planning, EDS for computer aided engineering and Microsoft for desktop applications.
Local data transfer between these platforms is provided by a high speed, high availability local gigabit Ethernet backbone incorporating the very latest technology, with fast Ethernet to the desk. This infrastructure allows data to be shared seamlessly between the different platforms. Wide area communications are enabled through a secure, fast and efficient leased line, protected by the latest accredited firewall technologies in order to cater for any supply chain and customer relations management requirements. This is secured by the most effective anti-virus and ant-spamming techniques available today. To further enhance Martin Baker Aircraft’s directive for high availability data systems, it has recently invested in a highly resilient, ‘state of the art’ computer room facility, offering a clean, secure and protected environment in which the above business systems are able to operate 24x7, in order to meet with our ever expanding global partnership requirements. The information technology department continues to utilise the latest technology available to support and facilitate the continual business improvement programme within Martin-Baker.