Superboat launch for Johnson & Allen’s new premises

04/06/2013

Speed was very much the order of the day on 11 May, when Sheffield-based Johnson & Allen NDT unveiled its new 15,000 square-foot facility in Cross Smithfield – an expansion rather than a relocation for the firm – a mere stone’s throw from its long-established Neocol Works. The occasion was marked by the presence of the 350 mph jet-propelled superboat Quicksilver, which Johnson & Allen has been keenly supporting.

Seventy-five years in the business is an occasion worth marking, and the new Engineering Division building with its sleek, silver occupant made it a day to remember.

Quicksilver project founder, Nigel Macknight, was on hand and gave a multimedia presentation on his team’s progress towards regaining the World Water Speed Record for Britain, which was lost after Donald Campbell’s accident with Bluebird in 1967. Australia is the current speed-record holder, at 317.60 mph.

Johnson & Allen’s Managing Director, Jon Johnson, thanked visitors for attending the launch (many of whom were from the MG Owners’ Club and others who have been involved with record breaking in the past, such as members of the Thrust SSC team).

This proved especially significant when Nigel announced that Jon – a speed-record enthusiast for many years – was joining the Quicksilver team to help in NDT consultations on the project.

Johnson & Allen now has a bespoke fabrication department for its MPI bench units and dye penetrant process line.

“The idea of the second factory is to create the space to enable us to expand the consumable production as well as the fabrication… but we must let the dust settle first regarding the move before we turn our attention next year to upgrading our consumables facility at Neocol Works.”

Jon Johnson, having been Managing Director for the last 25 years, would like to thank past and present customers of Johnson & Allen, which is celebrating its 75th year.

“It is hard keeping pace with manufacturing and NDT equipment technologies these days, but we try to develop two or three new items each year. The last couple of years has seen the JAY-PAC portable AC yoke, the Digi-gauss magnetometer and the IEV inking out UV lights performing well in the market place. It seems to get harder year upon year, with competition at an unprecedented level.”

Johnson and Allen has always supported the BINDT exhibitions as well as the NDT Roadshows, organisations of which are seen as essential to inform customers about products as well as to receive feedback.

“I am sure customers will appreciate our new facilities, where at long last we have the space to improve our service. We have a bespoke production facility with new offices, workshop, UKAS calibration and meeting room – it only took 75 years!”

www.johnsonandallen.co.uk

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