Yorkshire Profiles provides laser cutting, folding and fabrication services for companies operating within the UK military, defence and security supply chain.
Due to the confidential nature of work within this sector, we are not able to discuss individual customers, programmes or specific projects. We are accustomed to working under non-disclosure agreements and understand the importance of protecting commercially sensitive and restricted project information.
However, the military and defence sector makes extensive use of precision sheet metal components across vehicles, communications equipment, machinery, support systems, enclosures, test equipment and infrastructure.
We can manufacture components from customer-supplied drawings and specifications for both prototype development and repeat production.
Typical non-sensitive component types can include:
- Equipment mounting brackets
- Support brackets
- Reinforcement plates
- Base plates
- Adapter plates
- Spacer plates
- Gussets
- Cleats
- Mounting tabs
- Structural connection plates
- Equipment frames
- Equipment support plates
- Chassis panels
- Vehicle brackets
- Vehicle mounting plates
- Equipment mounting rails
- Battery trays
- Battery retaining brackets
- Electrical equipment brackets
- Electronics mounting plates
- Control panel components
- Control box enclosures
- Electrical enclosures
- Equipment cabinets
- Communications equipment enclosures
- Radio equipment brackets
- Antenna mounting plates
- Mast equipment brackets
- Cable management brackets
- Cable trays
- Cable entry plates
- Cable gland plates
- Rack mounting panels
- Equipment rack components
- Server rack components
- 19-inch rack panels
- Rack shelves
- Rack mounting ears
- Blanking plates
- Electronics chassis
- Instrument panels
- Display mounting plates
- Monitor brackets
- Control console panels
- HMI mounting plates
- Switch panels
- Operator panels
- Sensor mounting brackets
- Camera mounting brackets
- Surveillance equipment brackets
- Infra-red equipment mounts
- Radar equipment brackets
- Remote monitoring equipment brackets
- Telemetry equipment enclosures
- GPS equipment brackets
- Navigation equipment mounting plates
- Test equipment enclosures
- Test rig components
- Test rig base plates
- Calibration fixture components
- Laboratory equipment brackets
- Development equipment panels
- Prototype equipment housings
- Instrumentation brackets
- Data acquisition equipment enclosures
- Machine panels
- Machine guards
- Protective covers
- Equipment covers
- Access panels
- Inspection panels
- Maintenance panels
- Removable covers
- Ventilation panels
- Cooling grilles
- Fan mounting plates
- Heat shields
- Thermal protection panels
- Splash guards
- Debris guards
- Protective screens
- Protective equipment housings
- Transport equipment brackets
- Storage system components
- Equipment storage racks
- Tool storage components
- Vehicle storage systems
- Drawer system components
- Equipment trays
- Transport trays
- Handling frames
- Equipment trolley components
- Castor mounting plates
- Workshop equipment brackets
- Maintenance equipment panels
- Mobile workshop components
- Field equipment enclosures
- Portable equipment cases
- Ruggedised equipment housings
- Flight case components
- Transport case reinforcement plates
- Case mounting trays
- Case internal partitions
- Vehicle interior panels
- Vehicle equipment brackets
- Vehicle racking components
- Vehicle electronics mounting plates
- Vehicle communication equipment brackets
- Control unit mounting brackets
- Equipment console panels
- Seat mounting plates
- Interior equipment support brackets
- Access step components
- Platform components
- Ladder brackets
- Handrail brackets
- Walkway components
- Service platform components
- Equipment access panels
- Maintenance platform brackets
- Generator enclosure panels
- Power equipment brackets
- Inverter mounting plates
- Power distribution panels
- Power supply brackets
- Transformer mounting plates
- UPS mounting plates
- Battery cabinet components
- Energy storage brackets
- Cooling equipment brackets
- Radiator mounting plates
- Fan housings
- Filter mounting panels
- Pump mounting plates
- Pump brackets
- Motor mounting plates
- Gearbox mounting plates
- Bearing plates
- Hydraulic equipment brackets
- Hydraulic cylinder brackets
- Hydraulic valve mounting plates
- Hose support brackets
- Pipe support brackets
- Pneumatic equipment brackets
- Actuator mounting plates
- Process equipment panels
- Fuel system brackets
- Tank support plates
- Tank mounting brackets
- Protective tank guards
- Equipment skid components
- Skid base plates
- Machine base plates
- Equipment levelling plates
- Floor mounting plates
- Anchor plates
- Installation templates
- Drilling templates
- Assembly fixtures
- Welding fixture components
- Jig plates
- Inspection fixture components
- Manufacturing tooling plates
- Prototype brackets
- Development components
- Pre-production components
- Low-volume production parts
- Repeat production components
- Replacement panels
- Replacement brackets
- Obsolete equipment components
- Repair plates
- Retrofit components
- Upgrade brackets
- Conversion plates
- Interface plates
- Custom equipment adapters
Defence Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Components
Military and specialist vehicles can contain large numbers of sheet metal components used for mounting, protecting and organising equipment.
These may include:
- Equipment brackets
- Interior panels
- Electronics mounting plates
- Battery trays
- Storage systems
- Cable management components
- Access panels
- Protective covers
- Communication equipment brackets
- Instrument panels
- Equipment trays
- Support frames
Laser cutting allows mounting holes, slots, cut-outs and locating features to be incorporated directly into each component, helping simplify final vehicle assembly.
Where required, parts can also be folded or fabricated into more complex assemblies.
Communications and Electronics Enclosures
Defence and security systems frequently depend on sensitive electronic and communications equipment.
Sheet metal can be used to manufacture:
- Electronics housings
- Communications cabinets
- Rack panels
- Control enclosures
- Equipment trays
- Cable entry plates
- Ventilation panels
- Internal partitions
- Equipment mounting plates
- Protective covers
Enclosures can be manufactured around the customer’s equipment layout, allowing openings for connectors, controls, ventilation and cable routing to be incorporated directly into the design.
Equipment Racks and Control Systems
Communications, monitoring and control systems commonly use rack-mounted equipment.
We can manufacture components including:
- 19-inch rack panels
- Rack shelves
- Rack brackets
- Rack mounting ears
- Blanking plates
- Connector panels
- Control panels
- Equipment chassis
- Cable management panels
- Equipment mounting trays
These can form part of fixed installations, vehicles, mobile control systems or portable equipment.
Surveillance, Monitoring and Sensor Equipment
Laser cut brackets and housings can be used to support a wide variety of monitoring and sensing systems.
Potential component types include:
- Camera mounting brackets
- Sensor brackets
- Equipment plates
- Mast brackets
- Pole mounting plates
- Protective housings
- Electronics enclosures
- Cable support components
- Equipment frames
Where exact alignment is important, laser cutting provides repeatable positioning of mounting holes and reference features.
Test, Development and Prototype Equipment
Defence engineering frequently involves research, product development, trials and equipment testing.
Laser cutting is particularly useful during development because components can be produced without dedicated profile tooling.
This allows engineers to manufacture:
- Prototype brackets
- Test rig plates
- Instrument mounts
- Fixture components
- Equipment panels
- Sensor brackets
- Test enclosures
- Development frames
If a design changes, the component can often be revised simply by updating the CAD drawing and manufacturing a new version.
Once the design is established, the same digital manufacturing data can then support repeat production.
Maintenance, Repair and Obsolescence
Long equipment service lives can create challenges when original components are no longer readily available.
Where suitable design information is available, we can manufacture replacement components such as:
- Brackets
- Panels
- Covers
- Mounting plates
- Adapter plates
- Repair sections
- Equipment trays
- Enclosure panels
This can support maintenance, refurbishment and equipment life-extension projects without requiring the replacement of an otherwise serviceable assembly.
Materials for Defence and Security Applications
Equipment used within defence, security and specialist engineering applications may operate in demanding environments.
Depending on the customer’s specification, we can source and process a wide range of sheet and plate materials including:
- Mild steel
- Structural steel grades
- High-strength steels
- Galvanised steel
- Zintec
- Stainless steel
- Aluminium
Material selection may be influenced by factors such as:
- Strength
- Weight
- Corrosion resistance
- Temperature
- Outdoor exposure
- Vibration
- Chemical exposure
- Surface treatment requirements
- Subsequent welding or machining
Where specialist grades are required, material should be specified by the customer or responsible design authority.
Laser Cutting and Additional Processes
Depending on the component and project requirements, our manufacturing services can include:
- CNC laser cutting
- CNC press brake folding
- Drilling
- Tapping
- Countersinking
- Deburring
- Welding and fabrication
- Powder coating
- Surface finishing
- Prototype manufacture
- Repeat batch production
This allows components to progress from a flat CAD profile through to a more complete fabricated item where required.
Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Confidentiality is particularly important within defence engineering.
Yorkshire Profiles is accustomed to working with customer drawings, designs and project information that cannot be disclosed outside the approved supply chain.
We are therefore happy to review and sign appropriate non-disclosure agreements before receiving confidential project information.
Customer drawings and specifications remain confidential, and we do not publish details of defence projects, customers or applications without explicit permission.
From Prototype Development to Repeat Production
Defence-related manufacturing requirements can range from a single development component through to repeat batches of established production parts.
Laser cutting is well suited to both.
Prototype components can be manufactured without dedicated cutting tooling, while approved designs can subsequently be reproduced consistently in larger quantities.
Whether your requirement involves:
- Specialist vehicles
- Communications equipment
- Electronics
- Control systems
- Test equipment
- Monitoring equipment
- Maintenance and repair
- Support equipment
- Industrial machinery
- Prototype development
Yorkshire Profiles can manufacture sheet metal components to your supplied drawings and specifications.
Due to the confidential nature of this sector, we do not publish examples of individual defence projects.
To discuss a requirement in confidence, call Yorkshire Profiles on 01904 737095.
