Nottingham, U. K.-based engineering firm Scintam is bringing its FastEDR technology to DPRTE 2026 in Farnborough, offering live demonstrations of a machine that’s modernizng how engineering teams deal with one of the most persistent challenges in maintenance: the safe removal of seized fasteners.
Powered by electrical discharge machining technology, FastEDR removes seized fasteners without heat, force or chemicals. CEO Duncan Kerr and CTO Pete Woodsmith will run the demonstrations and will be available to answer questions.
The Problem
Seized fasteners are a constant — and costly — challenge across defence platforms. Current removal methods, such as hand-drilling and pneumatic tools, are unpredictable, risk damaging high-value components, and can lead to extended downtime — grounding assets that are needed in service.
The Solution
FastEDR is portable, non-destructive, and works in situ, delivering consistent processing times regardless of fastener condition.
Traditional removal methods also pose a direct risk to the technicians that carry them out, exposing them to vibration, repetitive strain, swarf hazards, and long-term conditions such as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), commonly known as white finger.
Steven Maclaren, a former Royal Navy aircraft engineer with 22 years’ service across rotary-wing platforms and now a Board Advisor at Scintam, has experienced these risks first-hand.
“Twelve-hour shifts holding pneumatic drills at awkward angles, with continuous vibration and cold air exposure — over time, these conditions can lead to lasting injury,” says Maclaren. FastEDR, Maclaren notes, “significantly reduces that exposure and improves efficiency while protecting the next generation of maintainers.”
At the Stand
Visitors can watch live demonstrations of seized screws being removed using the FastEDR machine, and speak directly with Duncan Kerr and Pete Woodsmith about specific maintenance challenges.
“The feedback we’ve had is that the live demonstrations are far more impactful than a video – people are struck by how easy and simple it is,” says Kerr. “But we also want to listen and learn about the problems people are dealing with and where we can help.”
Vision and Ambition
Scintam is a small business with big ambitions. “In the next few years, I see hundreds of FastEDR machines all around the world,” says Kerr, “in both commercial and defense applications.” The company is also looking to partner with prime contractors and defense organizations to develop tailored solutions for their specific maintenance challenges.