Summary:
The UK company is a long-established manufacturer of high quality knives and knife sharpening steels, for professional use.
The company is looking for an experienced partner to apply diamond particles (25-30 microns) onto its sharpening steel rods, under a subcontracting agreement.
Description:
The UK company was established in 1872 as a manufacturer of knife sharpening steels and is now one of the largest producers of these products in Europe. Having acquired a number of other cutlery and knife manufacturing businesses over the years, the company also supplies a wide range of knives, including various products for professional kitchen use as well as yachting and pocket knives.
The company’s sharpening steels are produced by craftsmen, using only the finest quality materials. They are made from the best high carbon chrome vanadium steel, which is fully hardened to well in excess of knife blade hardnesses. The company prides itself on its quality, operating a 100% batch inspection process and each steel is checked at every stage of production.
One of the best-selling steels in its range is the diamond sharpening steel. This not only has the same fully hardened, high carbon chrome vanadium blades as its conventional steels, but is also further enhanced by a surface which is embedded with diamonds. This gives the steels a highly durable sharpening surface which will not be damaged during use. Independent tests have demonstrated that the company’s diamond steel far outperforms others on the market.
Due to the impending closure of the current provider following retirement of its owner, the company is looking for a new subcontract partner which is able to apply the diamond particles by electro-plating. The company would also consider the use of other more modern, cleaner technologies, as long as the finished products are at least as good as the current version.
In return for the supply of reliable, high quality services by the partner, the UK company would be able to offer regular and hopefully growing business.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
Subcontracting partners should be manufacturers and must have expertise in the application of diamond particles to steel surfaces, either via electro-plating or another methodology that produces the same (or better) results. It would be an advantage if the company works to the ISO 9000 quality standard.
The partners would be expected to quote for the work initially outlined by the UK company, who would then free issue them with the sharpening steel rods for the application of the diamond coating. The products would be returned to the UK for fitting of the handles to complete the finished product.
The UK company would then look to set up a schedule of work, to cover its requirements for a 6-12 month period.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought:
The subcontractor must be able to apply diamond particles, of some 25-30 microns, onto the sharpening steel rods provided by the UK company. To date, application has been carried out by electro-plating, where the particles are held in a solution of nickel which is agitated, so that the diamonds fall onto the rods which have an electric current passed through them. The diamonds adhere to the rods and then the nickel builds up around them, to hold them in place on the steel surface. A final coating of hard chrome is added, for both appearance and rust resistance.
As electro-plating is a rather old-fashioned and costly method of applying the diamond particles, the UK company would be interested to hear from potential partners who could offer a cleaner, more modern way of making the diamond particles adhere to the steel surface. However, assurance would be required that the quality of the final products would be at least as good as the current version.
Stage of Development:
Already on the market
External code:
BRUK20180917002
