We design, fabricate, paint and erect structural steelwork for the construction industry. We cherish our flexibility, specialising in both primary and secondary steelwork.

In fact, over two thirds of our projects are design and build, and we have an impressive presence of experienced structural engineers, most of whom are Graduates or Chartered. Our design resource utilises the latest and most effective steelwork design software packages including:

• Tekla Structural Designer
• Tekla Portal Frame Designer
• Tekla TEDDS
• S-Frame 3-D analysis
• IDEA Statica Connection
• Tekla Connection Designer
• MasterSeries MasterKey : Connections

Designs incorporate the latest amendments to BS EN 1993 or BS5950.

We have consistently striven to maintain our position as the leading exponent in 3-D modelling - as employed by the structural steelwork industry.

Our drawing office has, since the mid-1980s led the industry forward in 3-D modelling. Our experience and in house expertise from operating in a fully integrated CAD CAM environment for over thirty five is unparalleled.

We can receive directly 3-D models from many software systems packages that are widely used throughout the industry, for example Tekla and Revit.

Detail models are combined into a single high integrity-working model of the whole structure. All issues to production are from the working model and are passed seamlessly through to production control where items are automatically rated and routed to the correct CNC machine.

Materials are procured via EDI links and schedules drawn up in conjunction with our customers delivery requirements.

High speed plotting and copying, using the latest Canon equipment, is employed to reduce bottlenecks and delays. All incoming drawings not received electronically are scanned and made available through our intranet to all parties involved in the project.

Our production facility consists of the latest in Hi-Tech CNC equipment. Production per man-hour is among the highest in the industry for comparable structures.

Our main production facilities:-

• The Cut Shack - our Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Control Centre with the latest high speed CNC band saws and drills
• The Production Facility - all steel is moved through the manufacturing process by moving conveyor systems
• The Paint Shop - offering a full shot blast capability and a variety of surface finishes including paint, intumescent fire protection and galvanising.
• The Secondary Steelwork and Small Buildings Workshop - offering CE Marked Secondary steelwork

• Maximum lift: 30 tonnes
• Number of cranes: 32
• CNC 2.5m wide 6 wheel Shot blast plant: to SA 2.5 standard
• The latest high speed CNC plasma drill burn machining centre, CNC plasma punch burn drill, and CNC Rsa Flat punch and crop.
• Peddinghaus FPB plate-processing centre
• Tube Profiler
• CNC Plasma plate cutting punch machines
• Camber Beams – machine
• Two submerged arc welding machines

Caunton Engineering maintains its own most modern Painting Facility, contiguous to its fabrication facilities. The building, as shown in the photograph, also includes workshop and office space totalling 37,052 square feet (3,442 square metres), with a 25 metre long loading dock at the north end. The workshop is 7.5 metres in height with an uninterrupted roof span of 30 metres and is serviced by three electric overhead cranes.

The company offers a full shot blast capability and a variety of surface finishes including paint, intumescent fire protection and galvanising. Current production is 40,000 tonnes per year.

Caunton's standard, and typical, specification is - Structural Steelwork to be shot-blasted to SA 2½ standard prior to fabrication and after fabrication painted with one coat of high build two pack epoxy zinc phosphate primer to 75 microns nominal D.F.T. before despatch.

Our site department directly employs our steel erectors, who have been fully trained in both steel erection and health-and-safety best practice. All steel erectors and management hold the necessary documentation to satisfy the current stringent MCG requirements. The site department comprises eight site managers and a full time site engineer. All site managers have SMSTS accreditation.

Our site teams are reinforced by a fleet of most modern vehicles, fully equipped with the necessary tools for the trade. These have, via the company extranet, direct web links into the main company functions of design, drawing office and fabrication. This allows immediate recognition of any site problem and offers the means of accelerating speedy rectification. All company vehicles are fitted with the latest satellite location system enabling us to manage our fleet to its full potential. The company also retains four site modification vehicles.

By directly employing our own erection teams we can ensure the reliability and skills of this vital service within our business.

The ultra-modern Academy facilities provide a model production line aided to simulate and map the processes of an actual working production line and industrial environment.

Renovation provided the state-of-the-art welding training facility with eight new mig-welding plants and plasma cutting units, improved extraction units and extensive measuring equipment such as digital callipers and micrometers, tap & die sets and oxy-propane burning equipment.

In a recent development training with new robotic welding equipment which aims to enhance the ability to produce welds of the required quality consistently, with an eye on the future.

Training too with the utilisation of ultra-modern welding torches which have a built-in extraction mechanism. This helps to ensure the health and wellbeing of the users and other employees and the wider environment

The production line not only benefits the Caunton Apprentices, it is also used in the deliverance of work experience for 14-16 year olds from a number of local schools, which to date has proved highly successful.

During the training process health and safety is constantly re-enforced within the controlled environment to fully prepare the apprentices for working production lines.

From being almost 40 years ago one of the earliest adopters of computer aided 3D modelling for structural steelwork framed buildings in the UK, to the fully integrated design, estimating, project management, detailing and manufacturing systems we employ today, Caunton have always been at the forefront of developing and integrating new technologies into our working practices and processes.

Projects and enquiries, along with other aspects of business management, are accomplished using the very successful business wide “Workspace” ERP system

Estimates start with the preparation of 3D models for the project, from which work content and quantities are used to prepare cost proposals. These 3D models are consequently developed and detailed to drive our procurement systems and CNC manufacturing plant, including robotic welding facilities.

Information from the 3D model and our ERP system is made available to the client, professional team and other partners in the Caunton supply chain using many and varied project portals and information sharing systems.