End of an Era

Hi-Tech Chassis Manufacturing Process for Caterham

Caterham Cars have entered into an agreement with existing supplier, Caged, to provide the company with a next generation hi-tech chassis manufacturing process for the legendary Seven sportscar.

From March 2006, Caged will manufacture all the current Seven chassis variants from their UK based Wiltshire facility. They will undertake the metric based development and build program using the latest CAD design technology, state of the art computer controlled tube and sheet laser cutters and robotic welding cells.

Caged predict delivering chassis of unparalleled accuracy and at a level of quality that the Caterham brand demands. The firm has been responsible for manufacturing the Seven’s F.I.A. approved roll cages and road-going rollover bars since 2002.

Announcing the partnership, Caterham Cars Managing Director, Ansar Ali, explained: "We’re an engineering-led business, and the partnership with Caged yet again signals how committed we are to evolving, and moving the Seven forward."

He added: "Caged have made a major capital investment in order to provide us and our customers with a chassis that enhances the high quality character of the current design. Importantly, working with Caged also means we’re confident that we have a supply partner that offers us the flexibility a business such as ours requires.

Current chassis builder, Arch Motors, will continue to support Caterham's healthy aftermarket and motorsport car park for the existing chassis. More than 11,500 Sevens have been built since 1973, with an estimated 90 percent still in existence.

The new agreement further strengthens Caterham's commitment to a British supply chain wherever possible. "It is so easy to look abroad. However, the soul of this business is about engineering excellence – British engineering excellence – and the pedigree of manufacturing skill on our doorstep. The partnership with Caged is an exciting one for our customers and the business going forward.

"Britain remains extremely competitive as a technology biased manufacturing base and the corner stone of our new contract with Caged is an investment in excess of £500,000 in modern day engineering technology.".