SERVICES
Our engineering, design and project management services are available from concept stage through to verified solution, and every stage in-between; with specialist experience in test and development, we're a well-equipped partner for a range of client needs.
Mechanical Design Solutions
The Blackfish team core skill is mechanical systems design and we make great use of our impressive experience.
The team is considered in high regard when it comes to creating complex CAD models and assemblies - this is what we excel at, and creating a working model followed on by detailed manufacturing and engineering drawings is something we thrive on. We believe that the best drawings are completed by the designer so that the entire design intent can be perfectly communicated to the manufacturer/fabricator.
Our core tool is CAD, using Autodesk Inventor, but we are just as happy using hand calculations, complex spreadsheets, and of course no creative designer worth their salt can do without a whiteboard.
Analysis and simulation
FE is available to all nowadays, but that doesn't mean it is straightforward to get the right result. We have a huge amount of experience of assessing structures for multiple load cases, including ultimate, accidental, normal operation as well as transport and lifting. Our experience covers linear and non-linear analysis for a variety of engineering materials (steel, alloy, plastic, rubber) and fatigue assessment of structures.
We understand complex structures that include detailed bearing modelling techniques, large structures with multiple submodelling techniques, and topology optimisation.
We also have our in-house hydrostatic analysis tool, and through our network of trusted contacts we can provide naval architecture, moorings analysis, CFD and much more.
Turnkey Projects
We excel at making a vision a reality. If you have an idea of something that needs to be tested, demonstrated or proven, talk to us to find out how we can make that happen. Our experience incudes structures, actuators, mechanisms, electrical and hydraulic load application, control and sensing, data logging and reporting.
The Blackfish team have provided numerous turnkey projects as shown in our Case Studies, and we are very comfortable managing a local supply chain to manufacture, assemble and test some of the rigs and prototypes that we have designed.
Our approved supply chain incudes laser profile cutting, bending, general fabrication and machining (steel as well as wood and plastic), painting, assembly, 3D printing, electrical and control.
Professional Support for Innovators
Innovation is on our DNA - helping teams develop a new technology, improve an existing design, or solve a complex engineering problem. Let us help you get to the solution you need more quickly.
Blackfish can help in many ways. This might include risks and requirements workshop, creating a technology development roadmap, producing a coherent plan for validation and verification.
Or we might help you develop a concept to a specific problem that you have.
Or take a concept that you have created and develop it into a realisable solution.
Or due diligence of your work to provide confidence that what you have done is correct.
All of these activities are completed with you at the heart of what we do.
Engineering Project Management
Many of our team are APMP qualified, and as such we are very capable of managing engineering projects on behalf of our clients. With a track record of product development, we totally understand the process of taking a concept through to a manufactured prototype and beyond, and how best to react to the challenges along the way. We have been instrumental in progressing many projects up the TRL scale and have a good understanding of how to effectively manage risk to provide the best chance of product success.
Assembly and Test - Planning and Support
At Blackfish, we are not consultants that just sit behind a desk. We have real world practical experience gained from varied and frequent site work, which is vital to understanding how work sites really function and therefore how best to achieve the best results whilst being safe. We are ale to prepare all required site documentation in advance including Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Inspection and Test plans, inspection procedures, lift plans, assembly storyboards, engineering change control and non-conformance control.
To date, we have managed a number of site work activities. The most important aspect when managing site work is the safety of our workers and the safety of others. We have a clean H&SE record, and strive to always improve our internal processes to keep our track record in this field. Our existing clients know how important this is to us, which we believe is one of the reason they keep coming back to us.
If you need any assembly and test support, please get in touch.
Due diligence
Having confidence in your technology is essential and Blackfish can help to provide that confidence.
Senior members of our team have often carried out due diligence services to clients. This can range from high level red-flag assessments to in-depth engineering calculations or even FEA to verify elements of the design or areas that need more attention and investigation. We have carried out a number of work packages that involve due diligence for a numerous clients across a broad range of sectors.