FEA Consultancy in Manchester

Forgepoint provides finite element analysis for mechanical and structural design from Manchester, serving clients across the North West and the rest of the UK. The analysis is carried out by the engineers who design the part, not handed to a separate analyst, so the model reflects how the component will be made and used, and the results feed straight back into the design rather than arriving as a report after the decisions have been taken.

The work covers linear static stress and deflection, fatigue life, thermal and thermal-stress, buckling, natural frequency and vibration, and fluid flow, using SolidWorks Simulation with hand calculations alongside to validate the model. Every analysis comes with a report you can use: pass or fail against your acceptance criteria, the numbers that matter, and what to change if it does not pass.

What's included

• Linear static stress and deflection of brackets, frames, machine bases, lifting equipment and vessel components
• Fatigue assessment for cyclic loading, including stress concentrations at welds, holes and shoulders
• Thermal and thermal-stress analysis of heated and cooled components and pipework
• Buckling and natural frequency checks
• Flow simulation for ducts, manifolds and heat exchanger passages
• Design by analysis support for pressure equipment to ASME VIII Division 2, EN 13445 Annex B and PD 5500
• Independent review of analysis carried out by others, with a written opinion

How it works

1. Send us the model or a sketch, the loads, the constraints and the question you need answered.
2. We agree the analysis type, acceptance criteria and a fixed price or hourly estimate before starting.
3. The model is built and validated against a hand calculation, then run, checked for mesh convergence and reviewed by the engineer.
4. You get a report with plots, a pass/fail statement and design recommendations, and a call to talk it through.

Sectors and standards

Sectors: Process plant and pressure equipment, HVAC and desiccant systems, food and pharmaceutical fabrication, automation and machinery, lifting equipment, ATEX and hazardous-area installations, and general structural steelwork.

Standards we work to: ASME VIII Divisions 1 and 2, EN 13445-3, PD 5500, BS EN 1993 (Eurocode 3), BS EN ISO 13849 and PUWER for machinery, BS 7910 and IIW recommendations for weld fatigue.

Pricing

Defined projects are quoted as a fixed price after we have seen the brief, so you know the cost before work starts. Open-ended or hourly work is charged from £59 per hour, billed monthly or per engagement. Every enquiry starts with a free consultation: call or text, tell us what you are working on, and you get an honest steer with no obligation.

Questions we are asked

When is FEA worth paying for?

When the geometry, loading or material behaviour cannot be captured by a hand calculation: complex castings, multiple simultaneous loads, contact, post-yield behaviour, thermal gradients and fatigue at notches. For a beam or a simply loaded bracket we will tell you a hand calculation is enough, and often do it for you.

How much does an FEA study cost?

A single-part linear static study with a short report typically takes one to two days of engineering time. Fatigue, thermal and non-linear work takes longer. We quote a fixed price for defined scopes; engineering time is charged from £59 per hour.

Do you need SolidWorks files?

SolidWorks is preferred, but STEP, IGES, Parasolid or a dimensioned sketch all work. We can also model the part from scratch.

Can you certify the design?

We provide a signed engineering report and calculation pack. Where third-party certification or a notified body is required, we prepare the documentation to the format they need and support the review.