A substantial proportion of our work is undertaken on a project basis for customers. This may lead to full scale or limited production, or consist of a feasibility study. Much of this work is confidential so cannot be publicised, but the knowledge gained adds to our expertise and is therefore valuable to all clients. Checkmate Flexible Engineering’s special projects have ranged from water proofing for military equipment through to submarine fuel tanks, explosives moulds and the design of hover barge skirt systems. Clients include the MOD, Government Research Establishments, major shipping companies, offshore, chemical, aerospace, construction, naval architects and the automotive industries. We can discuss, in confidence, any customer project. Our experience is also used to clarify requirements, a vital aspect of the project management service we offer.

An example of a development project undertaken for the British Ministry of Defence is the Checkmate Flexible Engineering’s 105 mm Light Gun waterproof bag. This is now successfully in service with the Royal Marines. The special waterproof fabrication was designed by Avon Fabrications for use by Royal Marine Artillery during beach landing operations. The 105 mm light gun is a key equipment in UK rapid reaction forces and must be protected, together with its modern electronics, during beach landings and re-embarkation on landing craft. Checkmate Flexible Engineering has successfully developed this product to meet exacting military operational requirements for water ingress, durability, climatic conditions and time to fit and remove by the gun crew.

Another recent project has been the development of a high pressure joint able to withstand external pressure and flexing. This necessitated the design of a pressure vessel test rig operating at 10 bar which can externally pressurise these 90 cm diameter by 80 cm long joints and also subject them to thousands of pressure cycles to simulate an operational life of 10 years.