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All ServicesPrecision Redefined with Photo Metal Etching
PHOTO ETCHING
Achieve accuracy and flexibility in metal component manufacturing with our photo metal etching service. Whether you’re prototyping or producing at scale, we offer cost-effective solutions for the most demanding designs.
With over 55 years of expertise, our advanced techniques ensure efficiency, precision, and consistently high-quality results you can trust.
WHAT IS Photo Etching?
Chemical etching is a precision manufacturing method that uses light to transfer intricate designs onto metal. This process produces burr-free components with exceptionally tight tolerances. Unlike traditional machining, our etching process eliminates mechanical stresses, ensuring your material’s properties remain intact while delivering outstanding quality.
Why Photo Etching Beats the Alternatives
Unlike laser cutting, CNC machining, stamping, or water jetting, photo etching offers unique advantages that ensure exceptional results for manufacturing engineers and product designers alike.
Design Flexibility: Easily create complex, intricate geometries that are challenging for other processes.
Precision and Accuracy: Achieve tight tolerances with burr-free results, perfect for high-spec applications.
Material Integrity: No mechanical stresses, preserving the properties of the material.Cost-Effectiveness: Ideal for both prototypes and large-scale production without expensive tooling and rapid turnaround times.
Industrial Applications of Photo Etching
With its precision and versatility, photo etching is a go-to solution for delivering high-quality, precision-engineered metal components across a range of industries. Here’s how it’s making an impact in today’s manufacturing world:
Aerospace: lightweight, precise parts perfect for flight-critical environments.
Electronics: Etching of ultra-thin components like connectors, shields, and lead frames.
Automotive: Intricate designs for fuel injectors, heat exchanger plates, and exhaust grids.
Medical Devices: Stainless steel components for surgical instruments and implantables.
Energy and Power: Precision meshes and grids for fuel cells and energy storage technology.
Photo etching is a game-changer for designs that demand absolute accuracy.
The benefits of
working with us
We are world leaders in the development of photo etching technology to produce intricately shaped components. We have produced over 70,000 different components over the years and are highly regarded for our chemical etching process. Our engineers offer many services that you can find here, and will offer advice to improve the product and reduce the costs.
24-hour quotation service
Dedicated account managers
Rapid manufacturing service
Cost saving stock of uni-tooling
Etched fold lines for tool-free forming
Full manufacturing service and supply chain management
Access to manufacturing and technical advice and expertise
Quality accredited to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001 and SC21 Bronze
start your production journey today
If you are looking to find a complete service including dedicated engineering to design and implement your solution, get in touch with us. You’ll be given an account manager who is always on hand to advise and take care of everything for you. Call us on 01480 226699 or contact us now to see how we can add an extra dimension to your manufacturing project. Keep up to date by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER
SERVICES we offer
Electronic File Handling
Digital files have now become an essential part of our tooling process – digital tooling gives a huge flexibility of design, while allowing our team to easily review and edit designs.
Dedicated Sheet Metal Engineering
We understand that engineering is an essential part of the production journey. That’s why we have heavily invested in a dedicated secondary engineering unit, with the aim of this is to offer an even greater service and flexibility to our customers.
Export
We understand the importance of reliable, high-quality manufacturing for businesses around the world. With an over 55-year legacy in supplying chemically etched components worldwide, our unique combination of versatility and unparalleled service makes us the ideal choice as your export partner. We believe in the power of international collaboration.
Laser Cutting
Our laser cutting service was created to offer customers precision cutting on materials thicker than 1.5mm whilst maintaining the same standards and quality control as our in-house etching services.
Metal Plating & Finishing
Photofab can offer a class-leading metal plating service, in a huge range of finishes. Metal plating is an important service that allows you to add certain properties, or a decorative finish, to your pieces. With a 24-hour turnaround time, Photofab is the perfect candidate to quickly fulfil the metal plating needs of your application.
Far East Supply Chain
We offer the option of utilising their strong relationship with a quality manufacturing supply chain in the Far East.
Metal Stamping
Metal stamping is best used for high volume applications, as the more volume is produced the better cost effective the initial outlay on the tooling is.
Photo Etching
There is a phrase often associated with our photo etching capabilities, “If you can draw it, we can make it”. With over 55 years experience and a large pool of technical knowledge, we are specialists in photo etching of thin metal parts.
Prototyping to High Volume
We offer our services in every possible volume – we can prototype single pieces and scale all the way up to a high-volume production. We offer this flexibility in a range of our industry leading processes.
Sheet Metal Forming & Tooling Manufacture
Our metal forming and tooling team have built a wealth of experience and expertise to compliment the established etching division and create a full manufacturing service.
To find out how we can help you
Get in touch today
