Peter Smith Appointed CTO of Scintam Engineering
Scintam Engineering has announced the promotion of Peter Smith to the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO), marking a milestone in Peter’s professional journey and the company’s growth trajectory. With a passion for engineering and innovation, Peter’s appointment reflects his long-standing contributions and leadership within the company.
Peter’s move to Scintam happened after completing his PhD at the University of Nottingham, and since, he has been instrumental in the development of Scintam’s cutting-edge EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) systems. His academic foundation and prior collaboration with Rolls-Royce in fixturing design have translated seamlessly into his work at Scintam, where he has evolved to oversee full-scale manufacturing.
Reflecting on his time at the company in an interview, Peter recalls milestones like creating their first functional EDM prototype and delivering the initial systems to clients. “The first time we got an EDM machine to erode some metal away, the first time we had sparks, I’ve still got that in my desk drawer. That was the first ever prototype we made.”
His transition to CTO coincides with significant technological developments, including a newly secured Innovate UK grant. This funding will support FEEAD (FastEDR Expansion: Enhancing Aerospace Asset Dependability), a project focused on furthering Scintam’s EDM technology, with innovations in adaptive fixturing and computer vision. When discussing the biggest opportunities for innovation at Scintam, Peter notes “We’re exploring how we can further augment the automation capabilities of our EDM systems through the introduction of robotic and machine vision technologies, which we think will be really useful to MRO. So that’s a very big innovation that we can make.”
Peter’s leadership style, shaped through hands-on experience and collaborative project work, emphasizes trust in his team’s expertise. “The need to rely on the team's understanding and experience has really hit home. I try not to dictate to them exactly how something is done, because at the end of the day, they’re experts in their fields”, he noted.
Beyond the technology, Peter gets a lot of personal satisfaction from Scintam’s close-knit team culture. “Being in a small team means that we have a lot of control over the product and things like making sure that it's good quality,” he said, highlighting the dynamic, collegiate workplace that fosters innovation.
Looking ahead, Peter emphasised Scintam’s focus on staying aligned with industry trends to remain at the forefront of technological innovation. As sectors like automotive and aerospace evolve, particularly with the transition to electrification, Scintam is keeping a close watch on emerging needs and opportunities. “We’re keeping an eye on the future and whether that’s going to be batteries or something similar,” Peter noted, adding that it remains “an exciting area” for the company to explore.
Peter’s promotion underscores Scintam’s commitment to leadership grounded in technical excellence and collaborative vision. As CTO, he’s set to guide the company through its next chapter of innovation and industrial impact.