- Photofab


Empowering Aerospace and Space Innovation with our Chemical Etching Expertise

We have a long-standing history of meeting the needs of respected companies in the aerospace and space industries. Our expertise lies in the precise chemical etching process, which we use to create essential components for aerospace and space exploration projects.

In these industries, reliability and performance are crucial. That’s why the chemical etching process stands out as a superior choice. Our skilled material handling team ensures that each component meets rigorous quality standards. We pay close attention to detail, ensuring that materials are traceable and conform to precise grades and specifications. This results in flawless parts that are free from stress, burrs, or distortion – essential qualities for the demanding aerospace and space environments.

The Evolution of the Space Industry

The space industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by increased investment from governments, private entities, and international collaborations. This surge in interest is primarily directed towards advancements in launch systems, satellite technology, and commercial spaceflight services. Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are at the forefront, pioneering suborbital flights, orbital tourism, and lunar exploration.

We understand the importance of our role in supporting this evolving industry. Our expertise in chemical etching allows us to efficiently manufacture components vital for spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, and other space applications. Whether it’s producing intricate parts with precision or ensuring materials meet the rigorous standards of space environments, our commitment to quality remains steadfast.

As investment in space technology continues to rise, we are dedicated to driving innovation, facilitating space exploration, and creating opportunities for commercial activities beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Trusted to Deliver Excellence

In aerospace and space industries, reliability is paramount. We prioritise excellence through meticulous attention to detail, ensuring full traceability, documented process control, timely deliveries, and consistent quality. Chemical etching is integral to our process, offering cost-effectiveness and precision in handling complex geometries with minimal burrs and distortions.

Our expertise extends to various metals, including steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper alloys, and nickel alloys. Our portfolio features a diverse range of components, from actuators to terminals, all crafted with precision to meet the rigorous standards of the aerospace and space sectors.

Committed to Continuous Innovation

Chemical etching isn’t just about precision; it’s about consistency. With five multi-chamber etching machines, we provide efficient and accurate etching services for various metals. Our experienced production team ensures that we meet the rigorous demands of critical industries effortlessly.

In a constantly changing landscape, staying proactive is essential. We prioritise continuous improvement. Whether it’s adjusting to new regulations or pushing the boundaries of innovation, we are committed to excellence. Let’s collaborate to find solutions that cater to your evolving needs in these dynamic sectors.

The Advantages of Chemical Etching for Aerospace and Space

  • Burr-free and stress-free manufacturing
  • Strong, lightweight components manufactured.
  • Exceptional temperature and corrosion resistance
  • Intricate and complex geometries
  • Micro scales of components available
  • Flexibility and customisation
  • From single-piece prototypes to high-volume production
  • Fully traceability
  • Cost-effective tooling and manufacturing processes
  • Rapid turnaround times, as fast as 24 hours
  • Accredited with ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and SC21 certifications.
  • Over five decades of unwavering commitment to the aerospace and space sectors

Why you should choose us…

We prioritise meeting the exacting demands of the aerospace and space industries, offering tailored solutions to address their unique challenges. Our focus on precision and accuracy guarantees that each component we produce adheres to the highest quality standards.

Whether it’s crafting intricate parts with complex geometries or providing material flexibility for diverse applications, our capabilities are vast. In an industry where every component is critical to mission success, we are proud to be a trusted partner committed to excellence. With our expertise in chemical etching and unwavering focus on quality, we are positioned to drive innovation and progress in aerospace and space manufacturing.

For more information, you can follow us on LinkedIn by clicking here.

- Photofab

To find out how we can help you

Get in touch today





    Upload Limit: 2mb. File Types: dwg, dxf, IGES, STP, pdf, eps, cdr, ai, jpeg, png.

    Privacy Statement

    We take privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide news, products and services that may be of interest. If you consent to us contacting you for this purpose please tick below:

    Take a look at other

    NEWS from Photofab


    - Photofab

    Prototyping Forming: On form to shape an outstanding service

    With decades of experience in the production of tooling for sheet metal forming, which has been instrumental in supporting our globally renowned chemical etching capabilities, Photofab are already well established in the industry for quality hard tooling. Recognising the significance of this process in the manufacturing journey, we made substantial investments in a specialised secondary unit.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Craig’s taste of victory with the Easter egg hunt

    The winner of our Easter Egg Hunt, Craig Price, had an unexpected but delightful face-off with his colleague Adam.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Experience Fast and Efficient Turnaround

    With our unwavering commitment to quality, precision, and quick turnaround times, we are the go-to choice for all your chemical etching needs.

    Find out more
    Apprenticeships

    Embracing Apprenticeships in engineering

    At Photofab, we’ve enjoyed a long history of apprenticeships and developed some incredible successes including our very own Managing Director Neil Shorten and Operations Director Paul Rea.

    Find out more
    Photofab promotions

    employees leading by example

    At Photofab, our most valued assets are our dedicated employees. We are thrilled to announce several recent promotions to Team Leader for members of the Photofab team

    Find out more
    Account Management Teams

    The outstanding value of a dedicated Account Manager

    The importance of Account Managers in a business is unprecedented. These people in particular play a crucial role at Photofab, serving as the primary point of contact for customers, building strong business relationships with them to form a trusting bond.

    Find out more
    Photofab family fun day

    Family Fun Day ensures smiles all-round

    The Photofab team was proud to host a Family Fun Day on Saturday 23rd September, which included activities for people of all ages, including games, music, and food and drink. The event was also an opportunity for Photofab to raise money for 3 Pillars Trust, a charity that feeds and provides clothes and bedding to over 60 people each night.

    Find out more
    Chemical etching for medical components

    Delivering precision etching for leading medical component manufacturers

    The medical sector is constantly evolving. Getting essential medical components to market quickly and reliably is critical. That’s why leading medical device companies partner with Photofab for high-precision etched parts.

    Find out more
    Photofab_social-cards_Electronics feature image

    chemical etching powering the electronics sector

    Chemical etching carries the unique advantages of leaving the internal structure of the metal unchanged. Neither does it affect the properties of the metal with regard to hardness, grain structure, or ductility of the metal. This is critical for electronic components to ensure accuracy and consistency of the original specifications.

    Find out more
    Driving Renewables Forward with Chemical Etching

    Driving Renewables Forward with Chemical Etching

    Chemical etching is the ideal manufacturing process for renewable energy applications. The etching process yields components with remarkable accuracy and consistency thanks to Photofab’s state-of-the-art process and expert staff.

    Find out more
    Etching partner

    Why choose a full-service chemical etching partner?

    Chemical metal etching is a highly accurate machining process for producing precision metal components with incredibly tight tolerances. Chemical etching is sometimes known as photo chemical milling, photo chemical etching…

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Flexible Prototyping

    Prototyping is a necessary stage in manufacturing to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective production run. Our customers prefer to use our prototyping service as it’s hassle-free, fast, and highly cost-effective, thanks to our digital tooling and innovations in automation.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Introducing Our New Website

    Photofab is delighted to unveil our new website, built from the ground up to wow our customers and to showcase our knowledge of metal etching services.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Turning up the volume on chemical etching

    Photofab’s chemical etching process allows for cost-effective, precision manufacturing of complex designs with tight tolerances.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Why you should choose Photofab for chemical etching

    Photofab’s chemical etching process allows for cost-effective, precision manufacturing of complex designs with tight tolerances.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Supporting our employees during mental health awareness week

    We understand that mental health is a critical aspect of healthcare and support our workers as much as we can, treating it in the same way we would for physical health.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Protecting your electronics with EMI and RFI shielding

    Choosing chemical etching for the manufacture of EMI and RFI shielding components offer a multitude of advantages.

    Find out more
    - Photofab

    Photofab Odd Sock Day

    Photofab is a proud to support local charitable causes and were just recently delighted to support World Down Syndrome Day.

    Find out more
    Photofab chemical etching

    Shims and Spacers

    Photofab commonly manufactures metal shims and spacers from as thin as 0.01mm up to 1.2mm. These are produced to a very high tolerance and can be available in a wide selection of metals, including popular materials such as mild steel, carbon steel and stainless steel. You can trust Photofab’s experts to deliver outstanding service and quality, no matter the product or process.

    Find out more
    Photofab chemical etching

    Expect more from your metal fabrication partner

    Whilst Photofab continues to be renowned as world leaders in chemical etching, our offering has expanded to encapsulate the whole process from start to finish.

    Find out more
    Neil shorten in front of union flag

    Neil Shorten looks back on 2022 at Photofab

    Neil Shorten, Managing Director at Photofab reflects on the year and looks ahead to 2023. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

    Find out more
    Photofab chemical etching union flag

    Time to reshore your manufacturing supply chain

    Our country has faced many challenges in recent times causing a crippling domino effect of disruptions in the supply chain, forcing longer lead-times and reduced profit margins. Reshoring manufacturing services in Britain can help alleviate many of these issues.

    Find out more
    Photofab Volume Automation chemical etching

    Photofab automates faster lead-times

    Building on our 50 years’ experience and continuous investment in people and processes, we have evolved our high-volume chemical etching services to deliver industry leading standards in both quality and lead-times.

    Find out more
    Photofab Etching versus Laser Cutting

    Chemical etching vs laser cutting, which one works best?

    This is a question we’re often asked as both methods offer cost-effective, precision cutting and engraving of sheet metal

    Find out more
    Forming and hard tooling

    On form to shape a new service

    Proven to be an essential part of the production journey, Photofab have heavily invested in a dedicated secondary unit, the aim of this is to offer an even greater service and flexibility to our customers.

    Find out more