Army Technology Excellence Awards 2024: Perfect Bore Manufacturing

Perfect Bore Manufacturing has won two awards in the 2024 Army Technology Excellence Awards, in the Business Expansion and Product Launches categories.

The Army Technology Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the Defence industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognise the people and companies that are driving change in the industry.

Perfect Bore Manufacturing clinched the Business Expansion award for its remarkable financial growth and strategic facility expansion, enhancing its barrel manufacturing capacity. It secured the Product Launches award for revitalising UK mortar system capabilities with their successful development and testing of advanced barrel technologies, reinforcing the British Army’s operational strength.

Will Laughton, Director of Perfect Bore Manufacturing (PBM), discusses how strategic expansions, innovative mortar systems, and key collaborations are transforming the UK defence sector, securing the British Army's edge and PBM's leadership in precision engineering. PBM won two awards at this year’s Army Technology Excellence Awards for Business Expansion and Product Launches.

Will Laughton: The Awards are a true reflection of our strategy to grow around our core deciplines and contribute to the soverign manufacturing that the country is in need of.

Will Laughton: A reason, a plan, an action and a sign off. Our company, established in 1988, has been through some major highs and major lows. From 2019, the second generation of this family business stepped in with a fresh set of eyes and new ideas. The growth contribution was down to the ever changing world and the opportunity to understand the UK’s needs. Perfect Bore, the company now operated by brothers, seized the opportuninty to grow and plan for the business’s prosperous future.

Will Laughton: The expansion of our operational facilties will significantly boost our production capacity, enabling us to increase manufacturing from approximately 1,000 barrels a year up to about 4,000 barrels a year, with potential for further growth if needed.

Will Laughton: ​​​​​​​Among the business owners we identified the gap as a strategic investment opportunity. After a gentle 18-month study, we seized the moment to act. There have been many challenges along the way. Picking up the correct certification, sorting out the hardware, machinery, and security. The most difficult was manufacturing and proofing a barrel, stating the fact that we have acutally made and proofed a weapon as opposed to saying that we could manufacture and proof it.

Will Laughton: Our new mortar systems include the successful manufacturing and test-firing of a 60mm system made from a material that is easily procured within the UK. The same approach will be applied to the production of the 120mm system demonstrated at DVD 2024. These innovations significantly reduce the procurement time by at least 50%, providing the likes of the British Army with a fast, precise, and reliable solution sourced domestically. Additionally, they enhance the Army’s operational capabilities by offering a comprehensive range of mortar systems, ensuring access to high-quality, UK-produced equipment that meets the demands of modern warfare.

Will Laughton: We plan to maintain our leadership position by continuously innovating and expanding our product offerings, particularly in the area of medium to large barrel manufacturing. By advancing barrel manufacturing technology and aligning with the evolving needs of the defence industry, we aim to remain at the forefront of technological advancements and sustain our competitive edge.

Will Laughton: We are actively engaged in developing medium to large barrel projects, which are set to redefine the standards of barrel manufacturing. These projects not only expand our product line, but also push the boundaries of technological capabilities, positioning us as a key player in the defence industry and enhancing the UK's defence infrastructure.

Will Laughton: Perfect Bore sets itself apart by revitalising UK mortar system capabilities and successfully manufacturing advanced barrel technologies. Our ability to onshore UK barrel manufacturing and provide a comprehensive suite of mortar systems for the British Army distinguishes us from competitors, reinforcing our reputation as a leader in precision engineering.

Will Laughton: We operate a world-class facility spreading across multiple sites. Within our organisation, we have some of the UK’s top anaylists and quality specilsits ensuring compliance with industry standards and maintaining exceptional quality.

Furthermore, our solution's flexible deployment options, including tactical, vehicular, stationary, and backpack configurations, allow it to adapt to various operational scenarios and integrate with diverse existing security setups. This versatility ensures that EnforceAir2 can enhance existing defense systems across different sectors and environments, providing a comprehensive counter-drone solution that fills critical gaps in airspace security.

Will Laughton: Collaborations with industry giants and primary contractors allow us to integrate cutting-edge technologies into our products and align our innovation efforts with industry leaders. These partnerships enhance our strategic direction by ensuring we remain competitive and at the forefront of technological advancements, ultimately benefiting our clients and the defence sector.

Will Laughton: The British Army's consolidation efforts to streamline vehicle types present opportunities for us to align our product development with the Army's strategic goals. By focusing on providing versatile and compatible firing systems, we can support the Army's objectives and strengthen our position in the defence sector, ensuring our products meet future operational demands.

Perfect Bore is a premier provider of precision engineering services. They pride themselves on being the UK’s solution to long diameter to length or complex bore detail components. Having over three decades of experience in manufacturing precision tubular components, they are well equipped to deliver the future projects in hand.

Their expertise extends to working with high-temperature corrosion-resistant alloys such as Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, and stainless steels, meeting the stringent requirements of major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and sub-tier companies.

Perfect Bore is a key supplier to the aerospace and defence sectors, with its bore solutions present in components used by leading manufacturers like Airbus, BAe, Goodrich Actuation Systems, Boeing, Moog, and Rolls Royce in projects such as the B787 Dreamliner, A400M, and A350. The company is committed to quality and on-time delivery, adhering to ‘just-in-time’ schedules and lean manufacturing initiatives to provide cost-effective solutions. 

Perfect Bore maintains a fully accredited integrated management system compliant with AS9100:D/ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2023, and is the NDA’s Supply Chain Charter for Nuclear Decommissioning Sites.