Changing up BMW

WIS Group

WIS Group has enjoyed a close working relationship with Bombardier in Northern Ireland for many years, providing a wide range of services and projects.

These include instrumentation calibration services, paint booths, automated chemical treatment lines and bespoke automated machinery such as hot drape formers, hot ply debulkers, reticulators, vacuum drop test systems and resin transfer injection and moulding systems.

Our close collaboration with Bombardier on projects which are often very technically challenging, has produced innovative machines and systems to help them manufacture aircraft parts of the highest quality and we are proud to be associated with them as a key supplier.

and innovation requires strong collaboration across its value chain. As a result, it works with high-performing suppliers to build rewarding partnerships based on trust, respect and recognition, and has created the Bombardier Achieving Supplier Excellence (BASE) recognition programme, which acknowledges suppliers that support its strategy of delivering high levels of customer experience through superior performance.

“Our suppliers focus on delivering superior engineering, quality and supply chain excellence. They are driven to be the best in their field. Their rigour allows us to concentrate on what we do best – designing and manufacturing leading-edge aircraft at optimal life-cycle cost, while providing an amazing customer experience.

“Our suppliers add real value to our aircraft solutions and our customers’ services. Together, we share a commitment to excellence and innovation, and focus on surpassing our customers’ expectations.”

Growing the sector

At the Paris Air Show in June 2013, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, announced that it had placed new business worth more than £25 million with Northern Ireland suppliers in the last few months alone.

The new business comprised work on the CSeries and other programmes, and includes component supply and provision of production-related equipment and services. Suppliers included the likes of JW Kane, Moyola Precision Engineering, Maydown Precision Engineering, Dontaur Engineering, Vulcanium Metals, Williams Industrial Services, Datum Design, H&J Martin, UPVC of Belfast and Nulife of Dunmurry.

Speaking at the Paris Air Show, Michael Ryan said: “We are delighted that many local companies continue to benefit from Bombardier’s investment in Northern Ireland, including from our investment in the CSeries aircraft programme.

“Northern Ireland has a solid aerospace cluster and we believe this can be developed further by companies taking advantage of opportunities now being made available through the recently launched joint industry and government Aerospace Industrial Strategy. The strategy will enable companies to develop the new technologies, manufacturing processes and skills necessary for them to compete and win more new business, helping to grow the local aerospace sector.” n

NULIFE ENGINEERING LTD

Unit 101, City Business Park, e Cutts Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 9HU Tel: +44 (0)28 9062 3196 | Fax: +44 (0)28 9060 2884 | Email: info@nulifeengineering.com

SPECIAL PURPOSE MILD STEEL, STAINLESS STEEL AND ALUMINIUM FABRICATIONS. PRECISION HIGH DEFINITION CNC PLASMA CUTTING, NC GUILLOTINE AND PRESS WORK. Proud supplier to Bombardier Aerospace Belfast.

CHANGING UP

BMW is arguably the most successful luxury performance car manufacturer in the world and is changing up a gear with the launch of a host of new high-tech models. Philip Yorke reports on the increasing pace being set by this iconic global brand and takes a closer look at its futuristic and energy-efficient technology.

BMW rules supreme in the luxury performance car market. Its domination of this automotive sector is the result of its constant commitment to product excellence and the company’s continuous investment in new technologies. Very much customer focussed, BMW is able to tailor the needs of its clients to each individual order placed, to provide a unique combination of customised performance and energy efficiency.

BMW has enjoyed it highest number of vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2014 ever, with sales 11.2 per cent up on the same period last year. In fact, sales of all BMW models have seen a sharp increase during the first quarter of 2104. For example, the BMW X Series continues to see strong growth with sales of the BMX1 growing by 11.8 per cent in the first quarter with over 55,000 units sold and the BMW X3 seeing a similar rise. The new BMW X5 also showed strong sales rising by 20.8 per cent in the first four months with almost 43,000 vehicles delivered. Sales of the new BMW i3 reached over 1000 vehicles in the first quarter and this number is set to rise significantly in the second quarter of 2014 when the BMW i3 model becomes available in the USA, the biggest market for electric and hybrid cars.

Major on-going investments

To underscore its investment in new technology, BMW has made one of the world’s biggest investments in a new plant in the USA. This is being constructed in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where BMW has announced a €1 billion investment in a state-of-the-art facility that will increase its manufacturing capacity by a massive 50 per cent. When complete, it will be the company’s flagship plant and the biggest BMW passenger car factory in the world.

The automaker has also said that it plans to employ a further 800 skilled staff at its Spartanburg factory, thus increasing the workforce there by 10 per cent. The plant already makes BMW’s luxury crossover SUV X series including the X3, X5 and X6 models and is set to start production soon on its shortly-to-beunveiled X4 model. In addition, the company plans to introduce its all new, and much larger, X7 model in the near future which will also be produced at the Spartanburg plant.

Efficient dynamics driving growth

With a diverse product portfolio covering 35 models that range in price from around €20,000 to more than €100,000, BMW has more to offer its customers than anyone else in its automotive sector. These products range from its BMW 1 series and 3 door sports coupe, to its best-selling 3 series, and other models such as its 4 series and 5 series saloons. The current BMW portfolio extends further, up to its top-of-the-range 7 series and sleek 6 series coupes and convertibles. The fast growing SUV market is also served with its X1, X3, X4, X5 and X6 luxury models.

In addition, increasing demand is also being seen for BMW’s optimal performance