More than 25 years ago CMA Moldform started to produce high quality scale models in a very small facility in Birmingham, something which continues to this day.
The scale model department grew and still produces high definition resin, metal and rubber parts for aircraft, trains, cars, tractors, ships and figures in a range of sizes from “T” scale up to ¼ scale.
The firm also produces castings for the games industry, including Hawk Wargames and military models. These fine quality parts are shipped to customers all over the world.
The skills required for the manufacture of collectable resin models which also includes high precision silicone moulds, metal casting and production of rubber components, opened up other industrial markets including automotive, medical, aerospace and electronics to name just a few.
Initially, the form of rapid prototypes were produced mainly from two-part polyurethane and epoxy resins, and have now, over the years, been jointly developed to replicate many forms of injection moulding grades such as ABS.
Components can be chromed, sprayed, silver or gold plated and metallised to supply the customer’s exact type of finish.
Now based at Spitfire Park in Birmingham with over 45,000 square feet of Production Space with a growing workforce, CMA also has two other departments – rapid prototypes/low volume production and specialised artwork
Today, CMA is using numerous two-part resin grades including high impact resistant, flexible, rigid, high temperature resistant and self-coloured materials to replicate subsequent injection moulded parts for high volume production.
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By using highly developed processes which include reactive injection moulding (RIM), vacuum & pressure casting, rotocasting and centrifugal methods, it offers a service second to none for either rapidly supplied prototypes or increasingly, low volume production runs.
Castings range from just a few grams up to many kilos and from very small dimensional parts up to some that are over 2½ metres in length. Typical mouldings include automotive parts such as dashboards, sills, wheel arches, door liners, bumpers, spoilers, clear or coloured lenses and door mirrors.
For other markets, products include display screen surrounds, flexible hoses, iPad supports, protective covers, production jigs, medical containers and marine assemblies.
Another area of expertise for CMA is their skilful ability to reverse engineer components, typically automotive components no longer available or non-stocked spare parts.
Also, in recent years, numerous mouldings and castings for classic, vintage and collectors vehicles where parts are unobtainable. Production of parts for the automotive after-market is also increasing and has led to a full production team and increased workshop space to accommodate for this important area of growth.
Another area of substantial growth being the supply of component parts for World Rally Championship team entrants and other motor sport cars and motorbikes.
Whether we start with an original component (“master”) or a CAD file, we can mould and produce accurate parts to suit the volumes and technical specifications required, whether it is 1 off or 1001 off. Facilities include sculpting, 3D scanning to CAD, SLA, SLS and CNC machining, mould-making, assemblies, spraying and shipping to any world-wide destination.
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With an extensive range of dispensing equipment, large pressure vessels (up to 1.2 tonnes), vacuum tanks with capacity up to 3 tonnes a multi-centrifugal processing area with 12 machines and one of the largest computer controlled rotocast machines, CMA’s capabilities are almost endless.
Apart from industrial applications, CMA also has a very specialist ART department. Producing an extremely wide range of sculptures, trophies, encapsulated effects, interior designs including lighting, coffee/dining/bedside tables, exterior signage, bollards, statues, public commissions and numerous bespoke limited edition designs.
In addition, CMA supplies other market areas such as exhibition displays, films, television and theatres, point-of-sale items, promotional gifts and many diverse special effects.
Over the years, CMA has jointly developed many grades of materials which allows the casting of very large designs.
A recent “Crystal Clear” resin casting weighing over 2,400kgs was poured in one continuous operation. At over 3 metres high the statue was for a private commission and was installed in the open on an Indian granite plinth.
An example of a typical point-of-sale is a large number of stag’s heads cast in high gloss “crystal clear” resin for Glenfiddich gondala displays which are situated in many airport terminal locations around the world.
The success of CMA Moldform is reliant on an extremely skilled workforce. The mould-makers are the very best and coupled with the firm's own sculptors, CAD programmers and production expertise, there is very little that CMA cannot produce, whether it’s a one-off, a limited edition or a production run.
In the past, CMA has supplied special effects for many events including the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, concerts, as well as product launches and advertising campaigns.
The firm works with design teams, architects, corporate bodies, government departments, individual artists and film costume designers producing high quality products which meet their exacting requirements.
The Prometheus optically clear helmets are a perfect example of CMA’s ability to produce both rigid and “breakaway” versions.
Managing director Peter Turnock said: “We continue to grow successfully due to our unique range of skills and specialised processing equipment in many challenging situations as well as developing new materials to satisfy the ever increasing diversity of customers and applications.”
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