Mechanical Engineering Services

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Mechanical Engineering Services for Industrial and OEM Manufacturers: Design, Specification, and Problem-Solving

Most engineering problems that land on AOP’s desk are not new problems. A pneumatic system that is cycling faster than the seals can handle. A fluid handling assembly that works in testing but fails in the field because the cleaning chemistry was not part of the original specification. A design that is technically correct on paper but requires a component that does not exist in the configuration specified.

These are the kinds of problems that benefit from engineers who have been working in industrial automation and fluid power for decades, who know which components perform reliably under which conditions, and who can identify a specification issue before it becomes a production failure.

AOP Technologies offers mechanical engineering services to OEM manufacturers and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Our engineers bring application knowledge built over more than 60 years across pneumatics, fluid power, liquid handling, seals, and electro-pneumatic controls. We work with customers across the full project lifecycle: from concept and component selection through design refinement, prototype, testing, and production.

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What We Work On

Mechanical Design and Development

We take projects from concept to production, including complete design work for customers without in-house engineering resources and design support for customers whose engineering teams need additional capacity or application-specific expertise. Our experience in pneumatic and fluid power systems means we are not starting from general principles — we are working from more than six decades of application history in the specific product categories your design depends on.

Pneumatic and Fluid Handling System Design

Pneumatic circuit design, component selection, and system integration for automation and industrial applications. Fluid handling system design for media transfer, dosing, and process applications. We specify components from the manufacturers we represent — and in cases where the right component is not in our catalog, we tell you that.

Electro-Pneumatic Controls

Design and specification for systems that integrate pneumatic actuation with electronic control. Motion sequencing, solenoid valve selection, sensor integration, and control panel design for automation applications.

Component Selection and Specification

Selecting the right component for an application requires more than matching a catalog specification to a design requirement. Material compatibility, pressure ratings, cycle life, environmental rating, and regulatory compliance all interact with operating conditions in ways that catalog data alone does not fully capture. We work through those requirements with customers and document the selection rationale when the application requires it.

Sealing System Design

Seal selection and system design for pneumatic, fluid power, and process applications. Material selection across elastomers, PTFE, and composite compounds for applications involving specific chemistry, temperature ranges, and pressure cycles. Dimensional compliance to ISO 3601-2 gland standards for applications where housing geometry affects seal performance.

Performance Verification and Testing

Testing and validation for assemblies and systems to customer-defined performance requirements. First article inspection, functional testing, and documentation for regulated applications. For customers whose quality system requires test data before production release, we produce and retain the records.

Materials Selection

Material selection guidance for components, housings, and assemblies where operating conditions — chemistry, temperature, pressure, or regulatory requirements — constrain the options. We work across metals, engineering plastics, and elastomers, with on-site machining capability available for prototype and production parts. See [Machining Services] for the full list of materials and tolerances.

How Engagements Work

Each project is assigned both a Territory Manager, who handles the commercial aspects, and a dedicated technical contact from our engineering team who serves as your direct point of contact throughout the engagement. For most projects, you are working directly with the engineer doing the work, not through a project coordinator.

Quoting timelines are straightforward: simple quotes take one to two business days; more complex solutions requiring design review take three to five days; highly customized or multi-phase projects may require five to seven days to scope accurately.

Production volumes range from prototype quantities through low-to-medium volume production runs of dozens to thousands of units. We offer flexible scheduling including regular production runs, just-in-time delivery, and blanket order programs.

Existing AOP customers contact their Territory Manager, who coordinates with the engineering team. New customers complete the Product Development Inquiry form on our website. We respond to initial inquiries within one business day.

Quality and Credentials

Our mechanical engineering services operate under AOP’s ISO 9001:2015 quality management system. Design reviews, first article inspections, and testing protocols are documented procedures, not ad hoc practices. All processes are audited annually, internally and by an accredited third-party auditor.

For customers in regulated industries who require supplier qualification documentation, our certification package is available on request.

What This Is Not

AOP Technologies is not a general-purpose engineering consultancy. Our expertise is specific: pneumatics, fluid power, liquid handling, sealing systems, electro-pneumatic controls, and the contract manufacturing that produces the assemblies these systems require. If your project falls within those boundaries, we are a strong technical resource. If it falls outside them, we will tell you that at the start rather than after we have taken your time.

We also do not separate engineering support from the rest of what we do. For customers who are evaluating AOP as a component supplier or contract manufacturer, engineering consultation is part of the relationship. If a specification question comes up during a sourcing conversation, our engineers work through it. That is how we have operated since 1963, and it reflects our actual working principle: if we can help you be successful, we will be successful.

What to Expect When Working With AOP’s Engineering Team

Overview

You’ll find that collaborating with AOP Technologies’ engineering team is seamless and productive. Our processes are tailored to meet our customers’ needs, providing technical expertise while ensuring an efficient experience from start to finish. Clarity, precision, and efficiency are essential components of successful collaboration – that’s why we prioritize these qualities in everything we do.

Below, we address common questions about working with our engineering team, from initial contact to project completion, providing transparency into our process and partnership approach.

Initial Engagement

No. While detailed specifications help expedite the process, our engineering team is adept at working with various levels of design completion. We can assist whether you have a fully specified design ready for manufacturing or a conceptual requirement needing development.

Yes. We routinely sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) before discussing proprietary designs or applications. We can use your company’s standard NDA or provide our template if you prefer.

Engineering Capabilities & Approach

Design revisions follow a structured process:

  1. Changes are documented in our system
  2. Engineering evaluates the impact on performance, cost, and timeline
  3. You receive documentation of proposed changes for approval
  4. Once approved, revisions are incorporated into the project documentation
  5. Depending on the stage, samples or prototypes may be produced for validation
  6. Follow-up reports such as FAIRs and FMEAs may be generated

Our engineering team utilizes industry-standard design tools, including SolidWorks and MasterCAM. We can accept most file formats. We can work with your existing design files or create new designs based on your specifications.

Quality, Testing and Validation

All test results are formally documented according to our ISO procedures. You receive test reports that include:

  • Test parameters and acceptance criteria
  • Measurement results with appropriate precision
  • Pass/fail determination
  • Calibration references for test equipment
  • Technician identification and date

Yes. We understand the documentation needs of medical device manufacturers and provide comprehensive documentation packages that support your regulatory submissions, including material certifications, process validations, environmental declarations, and test results.

Project Management and Communication

Our approach to technical challenges is proactive and transparent:

  1. We identify potential issues early through risk assessments in our engineering review process
  2. Potential risks are a specific focus of the project manager
  3. When challenges arise, we immediately notify you
  4. Our engineering team develops multiple solution options
  5. We present these options with recommendations for your decision
  6. Implementation proceeds only after your approval
After-Sales Support

Our engineering support continues beyond delivery, including:

  • Technical assistance with implementation
  • Troubleshooting help if issues arise
  • Technical documentation for future reference
  • Comprehensive support for product revisions or modifications

Design modifications follow a streamlined version of our initial engagement process:

  1. Submit modification requirements to your territory manager or project manager
  2. Engineering review and feasibility assessment
  3. Quotation for the modification
  4. Implementation upon approval
  5. Verification and documentation update

Yes, we provide repair services for assemblies we’ve manufactured, including:

  • Diagnosis of issues
  • Repair estimate
  • Replacement of damaged components
  • Re-testing to ensure proper function
  • Return shipping

Ready to Start

Engineering problems identified during design cost less to solve than engineering problems identified during production. We work with customers at the front end of projects specifically because the cost of getting the specification right is significantly lower than the cost of redesigning around a failure.

If you have a design that needs engineering support, a recurring failure you have not been able to resolve, or a new application that requires pneumatic, fluid power, or liquid handling system design, contact our team at automation@aoptech.com or call 253-735-5449, or complete the Product Development Inquiry form on our website. We are based in Auburn, WA.

[Contact AOP Technologies] | [Complete the Product Development Inquiry Form] | [View Contract Manufacturing] | [View Machining Services]