Meet the Customer – SQP Engineering

Across Australia’s toughest industries, success depends on suppliers who understand the pressure of keeping operations moving. SQP Engineering was built on that reality, shaping its approach around customers whose livelihoods hinge on precision, reliability, and speed. From oil and gas to mining and manufacturing, SQP has grown by anticipating what clients demand most; solutions that perform under pressure. That focus has transformed a Perth family business into one of the nation’s most forward thinking subcontract manufacturers, blending CNC machining, additive manufacturing, automation, and metrology into a complete package for industries that can’t afford compromise.

Meeting those expectations meant tackling the same pressures their customers faced, rising demand, tighter deadlines, and the need to do more with less. As workloads increased, SQP confronted the universal challenge of machine shops; more jobs but the same number of spindle hours. Adding machines was the obvious fix, but it also meant more operators, higher overheads, and greater complexity. The breakthrough came through a collaboration that spanned continents; Gressel’s advanced workholding and gripper technology from Germany, integration expertise from Automated Solutions Australia in Melbourne, precision components from ISCAR and Schunk, and SQP’s own vision and drive in Perth.  ‘Automation only works when it’s tailored to the customer, ‘says Pat Green, Director of ASA.  ‘Our role was to translate SQP’s vision into a system that delivered productivity gains without adding complexity. ‘Together, this international team created a dual machine cell powered by a FANUC M‑710iD/50M robot, seamlessly tending two Okuma machines and delivering a leap in productivity that quadrupled output. For customers, the payoff was clear, shorter lead times, lower costs, and confidence that every job would be delivered on schedule.

At the heart of the system is the FANUC M‑710iD/50M, a six‑axis workhorse known for reach and precision. Outfitted with Gressel’s innovative gripper system, the robot loads parts, flips them between operations, and reduces manual intervention.  ‘Integrating robotics into a live production environment isn’t about plugging in hardware, ‘Green explains.  ‘It’s about designing a workflow that feels seamless to operators and delivers measurable results. ‘SQP expected to double output; instead, they quadrupled it. One robot, two machines, and a global collaboration delivered a transformation in productivity that reshaped how SQP serves its customers.

But machining was only the beginning. SQP invested in a Mitutoyo CRYSTA Apex V9106 CMM, soon to be paired with a FANUC CRX collaborative robot, the first of its kind in Australia. This setup enables automated, high frequency dimensional reporting, critical for industries where precision is everything.  ‘Customers want proof, not promises, ‘William Sharpe, General Manager of SQP Engineering explains.

‘With Mitutoyo, we can measure everything in one go and give them data they can trust. ‘By combining world class metrology with automation, SQP delivers not just parts, but assurance.

Additive manufacturing adds another layer to the story. With the largest range of Markforged printers in APAC, SQP can 3D‑print fixtures on demand. By pairing additive manufacturing with metrology, turnaround times shrink and error rates fall. Fixtures can be designed, printed, and deployed in hours rather than weeks, giving customers faster delivery and greater flexibility. This integration of additive and metrology is a hallmark of Industry 4.0, digitization, automation, and scalability working together to deliver real world outcomes.

SQP’s journey has been powered by trusted partnerships. ASA provided integration expertise, while Gressel, ISCAR, and Schunk supplied world‑class tooling and workholding. Sharpe emphasises the importance of these relationships; ‘Our integrator relationship with ASA is trusted. They continue to extend and align us with the most quality brands and equipment in the world.  ‘Working with SQP has always been about trust, ‘adds Green.  ‘They’re willing to push boundaries, and we make sure the technology keeps pace with their ambition.‘ It is this network of collaboration, Germany, Melbourne, Perth, and international tooling leaders, that makes SQP’s story not just local, but global.

SQP’s story is more than inspiration, it is proof that embracing automation, metrology, and additive manufacturing delivers measurable outcomes. Quadrupled productivity, world class quality assurance, rapid turnaround, and lower costs are not abstract promises but tangible results. SQP isn’t just keeping pace with global manufacturing trends, they are setting them. And for their customers, that means confidence, speed, and results that speak for themselves. As Sharpe sums it up, ‘We thought we’d double output. We quadrupled it. And we did it by bringing the best of the world together, right here in Perth. ‘