Business Details
44 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Precision Engineering Solutions
Established in 1982, our company has evolved from humble beginnings into a trusted provider of precision engineering solutions. Originally founded as Craven Engineering by Brian Craven, a former Newcastle Captain and England Speedway Racer, we transitioned to our current identity under the leadership of Dave Barnes and Andy Davies following Brian's passing in 1993. With over 40 years of combined experience, our team delivers custom machining services using advanced CNC technology and conventional equipment. We specialise in turning, milling, and grinding operations, serving industrial clients across the North West with components in aluminium, steel, and brass. Our investment in modern machinery, including multi-bar feed CNC lathes and high-capacity milling machines, ensures precision and efficiency.We maintain rigorous quality standards while offering competitive pricing for both small batches and large-scale production runs. Our apprenticeship programme reflects our commitment to nurturing skilled engineers for future generations. Located in Ellesmere Port, we provide reliable subcontract machining and one-off design solutions tailored to specific client requirements. Our reputation for quality workmanship and attention to detail has been built through decades of consistent service delivery. We remain dedicated to meeting evolving industry demands while upholding the values established during our founding.
Services
CNC Turning
Milling Services
Surface Grinding
Subcontract Machining
Custom Components
Details
- Year established: 1982
Highlights and features
- We offer over 40 years combined experience in precision engineering
- Our competitive pricing includes both small batch and large-scale production
- We maintain rigorous quality standards with modern CNC and conventional equipment
- Our team delivers custom solutions for aluminium, steel and brass components
- We provide one-off design and subcontract machining services
Services
CNC Turning
Our CNC turning services utilise advanced multi-bar feed lathes for high-precision component manufacturing. We produce runs from 1 to 10,000+ units with capacities up to 65mm bar diameter. Our equipment includes programmable tailstocks and 12-station turrets for complex geometries.
Milling Services
We offer vertical and horizontal milling capabilities with CNC and conventional machines. Our Haas VF4SS machining centre provides 1270mm X-axis travel and 4th-axis contouring. Conventional machines complement our CNC fleet for specialised applications.
Surface Grinding
Our grinding services include surface and shaft grinding with capacities up to 280mm diameter. The Elliott 925 surface grinder handles workpieces up to 635mm longitudinal travel. We maintain tight tolerances for critical engineering applications.
Subcontract Machining
We provide complete subcontract machining solutions for industrial clients. Our capabilities span prototype development to volume production. We support clients with complex components requiring multi-process manufacturing.
Custom Components
We manufacture custom-engineered components for diverse industries. Our expertise covers one-off designs and bespoke production runs. We work with aluminium, steel, and brass materials to meet specific engineering requirements.
People
Dave Barnes
Director
With over 40 years in precision engineering, Dave Barnes co-founded the company after completing his apprenticeship under Brian Craven. He oversees daily operations and maintains technical standards across all machining processes.
Andy Davies
Director
Andy Davies brings 40 years of engineering expertise to his director role. Starting as an apprentice with Craven Engineering, he now manages client relationships and ensures quality compliance across all production workflows.
Questions
What machining services do you offer?
We provide CNC turning, milling, and grinding services for industrial clients. Our capabilities include custom components in aluminium, steel, and brass materials.
Can you handle large production runs?
Yes, our CNC lathes support production runs from 1 to 10,000+ units with automated multi-bar feed systems for efficient volume manufacturing.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve industrial clients across the North West region from our Ellesmere Port facility.
Do you offer subcontract machining?
Yes, we provide complete subcontract machining solutions including prototype development and volume production for engineering firms.
What equipment do you use?
Our equipment includes CNC lathes with capacities up to 65mm bar diameter, Haas machining centres, and surface grinding machines with 635mm travel.
