BEST PRACTICES FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS
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today
EUROPE
128 May
MANUFACTURING A clear and present
focus
An inspection and maintenance strategy should be designed to avoid downtime and ensure the smooth operation of a plant whilst minimising costs and utilising the latest technology
Also in this issue:
Manufacturing performance Distribution Dealing with returns MACH 2016 review Focus on pharmaceuticals
Email management Supply chain Circular economy Predictions Automobile manufacturing
Editor’s Comment
Chairman Andrew Schofield
Studio Assistant Barnaby Schofield Staff Writers Jo Cooper Andrew Dann Ben Clark Production Manager Fleur Daniels Production studio@schofieldpublishing.co.uk Advertising Administrator Tracy Chynoweth studio@schofieldpublishing.co.uk
Operations Director Philip Monument Editorial Researchers Mark Cowles Tarj D’Silva Jeff Goldenberg Laura Thompson Advertising Sales Joe Woolsgrove - Sales Director Mark Cawston Tim Eakins Andy Ellis Darren Jolliffe Jonas Junca Dave King Elliott Scales Theresa McDonald Subscriptions ikidd@schofieldpublishing.co.uk
Super
service
D
id you go to MACH? I wasn’t able to attend this year but from reading early reports the show was a spectacular success, and I am keen to hear from attendees on what you saw, what you liked and what really stuck out for you? I think one of the most important things that I take away from exhibitions when I visit is the people I meet and the impact they make on me. Am I anticipating great customer service from them? Are they going to deliver on their promises? I think the reason that customer service is on my mind while writing this is because I recently had to have a tyre repaired on my car and I don’t think I could have had better treatment from start to finish. It struck a chord with me that good service really resonates with clients, well past the original transaction. It really sets one company apart from another and I would return to that supplier without hesitation. Is this an area you are focusing on?
libbie@schofieldpublishing.co.uk
MANUFACTURING BEST PRACTICES FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS
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Art Editor/Design David Howard
Spring 2016
Editor Libbie Hammond
A clear and present
focus
Schofield Publishing
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An inspection and maintenance strategy should be designed to avoid downtime and ensure the smooth operation of a plant whilst minimising costs and utilising the latest technology
Also in this issue:
Manufacturing performance Distribution Dealing with returns MACH 2016 review Focus on pharmacauticals
Email management Supply chain Circular economy Predictions Automobile manufacturing
www.manufacturing-today-europe.com ©2016 Schofield Publishing Ltd Please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and adver tisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effor t is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the proper ty of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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Features
24 Road to the future
4 News
Updates and announcements from the manufacturing arena
16 From here to efficiency 6 ZBB or not ZBB? 6 ZBB or not ZBB?
Zero-based budgeting: now a long-term management technique for success in the digital age
8 A clear and present focus A clear inspection and maintenance strategy should be designed to avoid downtime and ensure the smooth operation of a plant
While visibility brings a number of benefits on its own, it can also serve as the catalyst for supply chain execution convergence
18 The real benefits
A case study that highlights the benefits of an ERP system and continually exploiting the benefits of the technology
18 The real benefits
10 Dealing with returns
The automotive manufacturing market, where consistent supply chains need to also meet ever-stricter environmental regulations, is outsourcing logistics to specialist partners
Given the massive competition that every manufacturer is facing, finding a way to streamline the supply chain and deliver a competitive edge is vital
14 MACH 2016: A review
20 Closing the loop
The recent Circular Economy package of measures announced by the EU could signal a fundamental shift in the way products can be manufactured, transforming the way the economy works
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It is down to businesses to prioritise and promote developments, remain optimistic and march confidently forward into the future
24 Road to the future
Vehicle manufacturers have to understand new disruptive technology trends and ensure they can respond if they’re going to remain competitive
28 A changing world
To succeed in emerging markets, pharmaceutical companies need to become more agile and change the business models that have made them into what they are today
28 A changing world
12 The intelligence to deliver
Although the numbers are still being counted for MACH 2016, the event proved incredibly popular for those in the industry
22 A positive outlook?
CONTENTS
Profiles 32 JDR Cable Systems Ltd
40 Jaguar Land Rover
136 R. Stahl
37 MNB Precision Ltd
139 Kreber BV
40 Jaguar Land Rover
142 Sapin
44 Hunwick Engineering Ltd
145 Ruwel International
47 Scherdel GmbH
150 Grundfos Manufacturing
50 Brompton Bicycle Ltd
153 Capital Coated Steel
52 Schulthess Maschinen
157 Baxi
54 Tex Plastics Ltd
161 Iggesund Paperboard
57 Tvilum
164 Slaney Precision Limited
60 Cheesman Products (Automotive) Ltd
167 VCST Industrial Products
63 Thurne-Middleby Ltd 67 HTH Kokkener 70 Wax Lyrical 74 Neumeister Hydraulik 76 CG Drives & Automation 78 Senoplast 80 ATAG Cable Solutions 82 Morris Line Engineering 84 Chargepoint Technology 86 Tronrud Engineering AS
88 Orbit One AB 90 KMP PrintTechnik AG 92 Brafe Engineering 94 Carrs of Sheffield 97 Bearward Engineering 99 Mettler-Toledo Safeline 102 IPG Photonics UK 104 GOSH Copenhagen 107 Alsico NV 110 Fanuc UK
170 Mornos 173 ABT Products 176 Applied Component Technology (ACT) 180 Lambert Engineering 184 Todd & Duncan 187 Amcanu 190 Lawrence David 193 Swift Group 196 Jacob Pipework Systems 202 United Cast Bar Limited
114 Diamond Box 116 What More UK Ltd 120 BAE Systems 124 Ransomes Jacobsen 127 ERG (Air Pollution Control) Ltd 130 Andritz 133 Speedboard Assembly Services 32 JDR Cable Systems
67 HTH Kokkener www.manufacturing-today-europe.com 3
News in brief Prestigious award
Tetra Pak’s packaging material factory in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia, has received the world’s top award for manufacturing excellence. Presented by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance, the World Class Total Production Maintenance Award recognises facilities that have achieved outstanding levels of production reliability and efficiency.
Data exchange provider
Prodrive Ltd has chosen Majenta Solutions’ MX as its data exchange platform. After exploring the market for a data exchange provider that would meet their needs, Prodrive has taken out Majenta’s MX 100 plan. This is Majenta’s best-value package, which will provide up to 100 users with the facility to send and receive an unlimited number of files in a highly secure environment.
Uphill battle
In a new report EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has warned that manufacturers’ plans to drive productivity improvements and to capitalise on Industry 4.0 (the digital industrial revolution) could be derailed because the UK is struggling to provide the right quantity and quality of skills to meet the sector’s needs. The report cautions that the challenges of finding, funding, retaining and retraining skilled workers are all likely to increase from 2016 onwards and that many employers’ proactive plans may be pared back as they feel the bite of the additional costs imposed through Government policy.
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Powering the potential
Bosch is fuelling the imagination of young, women engineers with the launch of a campaign aimed at bringing the Internet of Things (IoT) to life. The #BetweenUsWeCan campaign, which supports efforts to improve gender diversity within engineering, will include an online competition that seeks out the best new applications of the IoT. Three winners will get the chance to pay a two-day visit to Bosch’s state-of-theart Renningen and Reutlingen research and development facilities near Stuttgart, in Germany. This is where IoT technologies are being developed and brought to life for Bosch. The winners will also receive a year’s mentoring from Bosch engineers. Interested participants should visit http://www.bosch.co.uk/betweenuswecan. Dr Steffen Hoffmann, President of Bosch in the UK, says: “The UK is facing a critical shortage of new engineers entering the workforce and the problem is made worse by the lack of women entering the profession. Women have the ambition to solve problems and change the world, and the talent to deliver it. Our competition aims to shine a light on their imagination and their skills. “Bosch wants to fuel the imaginations of the brightest young women engineers by asking them to think how the IoT might transform our lives.” To enter the competition, entrants aged between 18 and 25 will need to describe an innovation that, by harnessing the universal connectivity of the IoT, would make the world a better place.
MANUFACTURING NEWS
Boosting productivity A leading German manufacturer of radio systems for the home automation market is using the ProgWorx device programming system from Adaptsys to speed the production programming of boards destined for use in RF transmitters for door opening systems. Using the ProgWorx system, ELDAT has increased the throughput of boards from 1000 pieces per shift using manual programming to 34,000 per shift. ELDAT also cites other benefits in terms of worker satisfaction and the provision of production data for traceability purposes. The size and complexity of the boards presented a considerable challenge for ELDAT’s production team. The boards containing the radio transceiver are mounted onto panels, each containing 60 boards and measuring 212.904 x 282.194 mm, while the devices being programmed included a mix of SiLab C8051F901 and Microchip PIC10F202 microcontrollers. Initially, the devices were programmed manually, a process that was extremely timeconsuming and led ELDAT into looking at alternative solutions. “One option we looked at was a fully automated production line,” says Roland Mante, ELDAT’s Production Manager, “but this would not only have been very expensive but also would result in low levels of job satisfaction for the workforce.” ELDAT also looked at the possibility of getting the chips pre-programmed by an outside supplier, but potential logistical problems and the resulting delays ruled out this option. Having decided to introduce automated programming into the existing production setup at Zeesen near Berlin in Germany, ELDAT then investigated possible suppliers, and chose Adaptsys following a demonstration at a trade show and follow-up meetings. “What we were looking for was not just a programming system but a complete solution in the context of our overall production environment,” says Roland Mante, “and Adaptsys was the only supplier that could provide this integrated approach through a single contact point.” Adaptsys has worked closely with ELDAT on issues like communication and hardware/ software integration to ensure the correct functioning of the system, and is now confident of the benefits that the Adaptsys system is providing. ProgWorx is a software suite designed to improve the efficiency and traceability of device programming in electronics manufacturing applications. The software integrates with a range of different programmers, allowing companies to select the programming technology best suited to their needs.
44
Investment in Malaysia
Speciality packaging manufacturer, Parkside, is to invest significantly in its Malaysian operations to ensure its growing customer base in the Asia region can access the same high quality innovation and service as in Europe. A new slitter and full plate making technology is to be installed enabling the site in Kuala Lumpur to be self-sufficient from receipt of design through to end product shipment. In addition, a ten colour flexographic press will be transferred there from Parkside’s UK site. Commenting on the investment, John Taylor, general manager at Parkside Asia, said: “The print and packaging industry in Asia is beginning to accept and recognise the cost and efficiency advantages that flexographic printing can bring to their operations. “This investment will enable us to offer our international customers the high level of service they are used to from our UK operations and for Asia to build on this strength with local manufacturing, service and support.”
Multi-million pound facility
Voith Industrial Services’ new multi-million pounds wheel and tyre assembly plant in Coventry – the most technically advanced in the UK – is now taking shape before opening later in the year. The first 90-metre long assembly line has been installed and is currently undergoing extensive commissioning. The new track, which has 11 fully automated workstations, will be programmed to assemble every single possible combination of over 700 wheel and tyre derivatives with capacity for more. The installation of the first track – the second will be de-commissioned, relocated, and recommissioned from July – follows the first phase, which was to relocate the sequencing and transport operations. The state-of-the-art plant in Torrington Avenue is being developed to meet the growing demand from premium and luxury car brands, such as Jaguar and Land Rover, as well as from other automotive manufacturers including Vauxhall.
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Rather than just whittling away at costs piecemeal and tackling overhead, they use ZBB to focus resources on core goals, shifting funds from products or programs that aren’t productive to those activities that will drive growth
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Manufacturing performance
ZBB or not ZBB
Kris Timmermans takes a look at zero-based budgeting: now a long-term management technique for success in the digital age
T
oday, companies are rapidly adopting Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) as a management technique to help them achieve and sustain strategic cost reduction as they seek to redefine how they compete and grow. ZBB is relevant for businesses for a number of reasons. First, the economy remains volatile, and in times of volatility, profitable companies with a strong competitive edge are best positioned to innovate, grow and beat the competition. ZBB also helps companies identify wasteful spending, redundant processes, bureaucracy and unproductive products and services that are not generating an adequate return. They are surgically removed via ZBB, and strategically redeployed to fuel innovation and growth. In today’s era of digital disruption, many use those funds to invest in new technologies and capabilities to help them out-compete traditional and non-traditional, digitally enabled competitors. Companies that adopt ZBB are now investing in the management technique for the long haul. They look for sustainable ways to fuel their growth, change spending behaviours and negotiate better pricing based on an enterprisewide view of spending. Rather than just whittling away at costs piecemeal and tackling overhead, they use ZBB to focus resources on core goals, shifting funds from products or programs that aren’t productive to those activities that will drive growth. While there may be differences from industry to industry, our experience suggests that a company may identify as much as a third of costs to reallocate as they work their way through the ZBB process the first time. Take, for example, global consumer goods company Mondelez International. Using ZBB, it has freed up capacity to fuel growth. The company was able to save $350 million in selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses in fiscal year 2014, and projected three-year savings of $1.1 billion. It now aims to increase operating margins from 12 per cent in 2013 to 14-16 per cent by 2016. It enjoyed three
consecutive quarters of adjusted margin expansion through the third quarter of 2014, with adjusted operating income (OI) margin up 140 basis points to 13.6 per cent in the third quarter. These improved margins are helping Mondelez step up investment in production facilities, especially in emerging markets. In 2014, it announced new plants in Bahrain and India, and an expansion of factories in Turkey and Hungary, as well as Ireland, the UK and the United States. In the process, ZBB transforms what may have been a culture of spend to one of accountability and stewardship. Cost management becomes a continuous process, as it fosters teamwork around budgetary goals. People are held accountable for categories of spend, and they are encouraged to treat the company’s money like their own. As such, they question the value of each expense. Useful in both profitable and difficult economic times, ZBB drives behavioural change at all levels of an organisation, leading employees to regularly question the need to spend. Achieving that result requires a deliberate approach that incorporates a massive change management effort. Employee communication that explains the need for the new approach to spending is paramount. ZBB is not an easy process. It requires a focused effort and ambition. Well worth the effort, this management technique can transform companies and create a structure for sustainable, strategic cost management that frees up funds to invest in innovation as companies redefine how they compete and achieve sustainable growth in today’s digital world. v
Kris Timmermans Kris Timmermans is senior managing director of Accenture Strategy, Operations. He works with companies to adopt ZBB and helps them to build operations strategies and digital supply networks to increase efficiency and profitability. For more information visit: www.accenture.com
Understanding the Frequently Misunderstood: Zero-Based Budgeting Increasingly, it seems that zero-based budgeting is a tack that companies are reportedly taking to cut costs. Oftentimes, this approach is confused with the one-off practice of decades past. Naturally, sceptics who haven’t been able to leave the legacy behind are smirking at this point. They recall the pain of deep indiscriminate cost cuts. And, they recall that the cuts didn’t stick once the good times were rolling again. But, that is not the way of the modern zero-based budgeting, and that is not what companies today are buying into. So what is it? Zero-based budgeting is a strategic approach to identify the costs that aren’t producing the desired return. Zero-basing a cost base is a form of should-cost modelling as it builds a budget based on what the cost should be on the back of detailed analytics. It also identifies the duplicative costs that do nothing to help an organisation achieve its objectives today and in the future on the back of a digital revolution that has dramatically changed the way business is done. And, it changes the lines of demarcation between competitive industry sets. To make this approach work, an organisation begins with a clean sheet, and they build the budget from the ground up, justifying each and every expense. Is it a necessary expense? Does the return justify the cost? Is it possible to lower the cost for the same result all the while respecting strict policies and meeting top-down budget targets? This very detailed approach allows for useful internal and external benchmarking, comparing the cost of a process, operation or item with other organisations to identify reasonable targets as set by cost owners. It’s also a transparent and open way of creating a budget that generates insight for management into the organisation’s consumption of resources. This continuous process year-on-year helps an organisation actively manage its costs. The budget is reviewed for unnecessary costs; those that balloon up are reined back in and funds are redirected into areas where investment is needed to execute on the business strategy to realise future growth.
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A clear and present
focus
Will Russell examines some of the key features of an effective inspection and maintenance strategy, and explains some of the advantages to be gained from renting specialist equipment
Maintenance is a vitally important component of risk reduction and is most effective when predictive maintenance is employed in conjunction with an effective test and monitoring regime
T
here can be nothing more frustrating than a vital piece of equipment failing to perform when it is needed most. Not only can this result in infuriating delays and unforeseen expenses, but it can also affect production performance, let down customers and damage a company’s reputation. Maintenance is a vitally important component of risk reduction and is most effective when predictive maintenance is employed in conjunction with an effective test and monitoring regime. However, in order for this monitoring to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to utilise high quality test equipment that is itself well maintained and calibrated. These instruments should be able to perform the latest tests, employing the latest technologies and running the latest software.
Choosing a maintenance strategy Regular inspection and maintenance does not necessarily guarantee successful avoidance of downtime. It is important that the correct inspection strategy is adopted and that the quality of the inspection work is sufficient to enable proactive maintenance. Monitoring regimes that are either reactive or preventative are more likely to fail. Where it is assumed that equipment will reach a ‘wear out’ date, preventative maintenance may seek to postpone this, often as part of a conservative maintenance schedule. This timebased approach can be expensive in comparison with a functional and condition-based strategy. Reactive maintenance is very much a ‘fail and fix it’ approach, that is inherently expensive, due to high repair costs and the resulting costs of downtime. Best practice when maintaining equipment requires a predictive and proactive strategy, which not only monitors actual equipment condition, but also investigates any drop in performance and corrects
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Maintenance
this at source. This may mean that organisational procedures may need to be changed. For example, if a specific component is found to perform poorly, re-design or the identification of an alternative source may be necessary. Swiftly and expertly responding to equipment condition ensures flawless operation, prolongs equipment functionality and improves economic performance.
Instrument strategy An efficacious and dynamic maintenance strategy is clearly a major contributor to the reduction of risk and therefore to a company’s success, but there are a number of questions to be considered: l Is the inspection regime designed to identify flaws before they are able to affect performance? l Is an appropriate level of technical expertise available to set up and run the latest inspection instrumentation?
l Is
the inspection equipment well maintained, calibrated and ready for deployment? l How often is the inspection equipment required? If the test and inspection equipment is not in frequent use, it often makes sense to rent specific instruments as and when they are required. Rented instruments are also employed when specific technology is required or when an urgent replacement to an in-house instrument is necessary. However, there are numerous other advantages to be gained from instrument hire.
The benefits of renting specialist equipment The financial advantages of renting are well known; equipment purchase can involve a significant capital cost, particularly for the most advanced inspection instruments, so renting provides an
opportunity to only incur operational costs when the technology is required. However, a major advantage of renting is that it provides continual access to the latest equipment. In contrast instrument purchase locks the technology at that moment in time and precludes access to subsequent developments. Ashtead Technology therefore works closely with leading manufacturers to ensure that its fleet of rental instruments offers the latest, most advanced technology. Often this new equipment is easier to use, faster, with improved reporting and a higher probability of flaw detection. Similarly, the breadth of Ashtead’s rental fleet means that customers can select the instrument that is best for their specific job. Rented instruments are delivered at exactly the time and location at which they are required, tested, calibrated and ready for work, so there are no issues with instrument maintenance and storage. Clearly there are myriad advantages to renting over purchasing specialist equipment, but perhaps the most important is the transferral of responsibility for the product’s condition. Renting equipment from a specialist supplier means that not only are instruments cared for by a team of qualified, skilled engineers that have been trained on these specific instruments, but also that expert technical support, advice and guidance are provided. Instruments are constantly evolving, so their maintenance is often best provided by those with specialist training and experience. Typical test and inspection equipment includes non-destructive testing instruments, visual inspection kit including videoprobes, borescopes and robotic crawler cameras and environmental monitoring equipment such as dust, vapour, and toxic gas detectors, and water quality monitors. In summary, a clear inspection and maintenance strategy should be designed to avoid downtime and ensure the smooth operation of a plant whilst minimising costs and utilising the latest technology to ensure that problems are identified before they are able to affect production. Ashtead Technology’s business is founded in the belief that instrument rental provides an opportunity to achieve this. v
Will Russell Will Russell is Senior Technician at Ashtead Technology, which provides fully integrated equipment solutions including rental equipment, equipment sales, calibration, repair and maintenance, offshore personnel, custom engineered solutions, cable moulding and asset management. Serving the subsea and onshore environmental monitoring and inspection sectors, Ashtead Technology provides global reach and local service from its facilities in Aberdeen, London, Houston and Singapore and via agents in Norway, Australia and the UAE. www.ashtead-technology.com
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Return to
sender
Why reverse logistics is vital to industrial supply chains David Williams
Darren Cater
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W
hile the challenge of product recalls is a major headache for many automotive retail brands, reverse logistics is becoming increasingly common further up the manufacturing supply chain. Most consumers will know only too well the frustration of having to organise the return of unwanted products to the retailer. This challenge is magnified tenfold within the industrial arena, where complex, established supply chains designed to flow from A to B suddenly need to go in the opposite direction. Once businesses are faced with more complex logistics challenges, they often outsource this vital element of their operation to a third party, which has proven ability in delivering supply chain solutions. A typical example of this model can be seen in the automotive manufacturing market, where consistent supply chains need to also meet ever-stricter environmental regulations. One of the key players in the field of automotive supply chain solutions is Rhenus Logistics UK. Based in the centre of the UK, in Cannock, the business’s Automotive Competence Centre (ACC) acts as a distribution hub for many top automotive brands, with manufacturing plants both in the UK and across continental Europe. David Williams, managing director of Rhenus Logistics UK, explains the scale of the challenge facing vehicle makers: “Major automotive manufacturers – typically with between 20 and 30 plants located across several countries – are faced with a major logistical challenge when it comes to the collection and delivery of line-side parts and the management of the significant amount of packaging used to protect high value items in transit. “Global OE manufacturers have many competing key performance indicators to meet. The three main ones are the consistent delivery of parts to its network of assembly plants, evidence of supply chain innovation and strong cost control at every level of the logistics operation. Underpinning all of
Logistics
this is the adherence to stringent packaging waste regulations, which are central to all global car manufacturers’ environmental and CSR agendas.” A good example of an OEM that has outsourced its parts collection and line-side delivery operation is the Daimler group, which saw the collection of waste packaging as key. Known primarily for its Mercedes and Smart brands, Daimler appointed Rhenus Logistics UK on a five-year contract renewal basis to fulfil this element of its operation. The partnership services 67 collection points across the UK and Ireland, delivering automotive parts to 40 production destinations across Germany. Daimler has worked with Rhenus UK since October 2010, which sees the freight forwarder providing a total logistics solution including full reverse delivery for OE manufacturers across the UK and Ireland. Taking a partnership approach to logistics is important in this niche market, so an understanding of the unique challenges of
the automotive sector is maintained. Rhenus therefore tailors its service accordingly by creating a short supply chain and using its secure network of facilities and trusted personnel to deliver results. Rhenus manages the logistics service for Daimler from its ACC. Head of the ACC, Darren Cater said: “This allows us to use our team of experienced automotive logistics specialists to ensure all elements of the supply chain run efficiently. We use three facilities in Bradford, Basildon and Dublin to service the North, South and Ireland. All goods are then trunked to Cannock and transported via a complete roundtrip service using our dedicated fleet of 20 truck trailers to Germany. Plus, all packaging is then redelivered to suppliers for re-use, saving both time and money.” v
Most consumers will know only too well the frustration of having to organise the return of unwanted products to the retailer. This challenge is magnified tenfold within the industrial arena, where complex, established supply chains designed to flow from A to B suddenly need to go in the opposite direction
Rhenus Logistics UK is based in Manchester, with an additional 12 facilities in the UK and Ireland. www.uk.rhenus.com
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The intelligence to
deliver Streamlining your supply chain systems for a competitive edge. By Harry Mowat
If it takes multiple phone calls to check these things, and if the information that is being checked isn’t up to date or accurate, then the consequences can be disastrous for you and your customer
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I
n today’s internet driven global economy, supply chains are becoming increasingly complex. According to consultancy McKinsey, the internet driven global economy is fuelling this complexity and making the entire supply chain much more fragmented. The implications for a manufacturer that has lost track of its supply chain can be disastrous; if you can’t fulfil an order, or even accurately estimate timeframes for delivery, you will find your reputation hit and lose out to bids from rivals that have better controls in place. What’s more, manufacturing competition is fiercer than ever, with technological advances like 3D printing making it easier for manufacturers to develop new products and services and challenge industry incumbents. One major source of the difficulties for manufacturers in this context, lies in the way supply chain systems feed into the systems and processes of the wider business. If you’re a sales leader in a business meeting with an important customer, you need to know the capabilities for fulfilment, capacity and inventory in your manufacturing facilities, warehouses and beyond. If you don’t, you risk the orders you’re promising not being delivered. If it takes multiple phone calls to check these things, and if the information that is being checked isn’t up to date or accurate, then the consequences can be disastrous for you and your customer. This lack of visibility and collaboration is a major issue for many emerging manufacturing firms and
Distribution
Predictability Another great challenge in customer service excellence for manufacturers lies in anticipating fulfilment needs, but this is a far more complex task than simply knowing what’s in the warehouse. Anticipating customer needs and order patterns requires knowledge of activity outside the warehouse including predicting purchasing and future order patterns to avoid out-of-stock disasters. In a more complex ecosystem it can make the difference between accurately spinning up additional suppliers seasonally to meet commitments, or missing the boat. Without real-time production, ordering and sales updates from your business system, it’s difficult to achieve any real improvement in customer service. When standalone Warehouse Management or Inventory System projects are put together, the difficulty comes from linking these critical interfaces not just to each other but back to the core business system and associated analytics. For many such projects, this is often a point of pain, if not outright failure – with an integrated system it is simply business-as-usual functionality.
Taking an operational intelligence approach
singularly holds many back from achieving the growth they need to survive. It’s not just sales that needs to tap into your manufacturing and supply chain systems but customer service, finance, management and depending on the nature of your business, potentially a number of others. It’s all very well to produce goods but if management can’t analyse the data it needs to provide adequate resources, if finance isn’t accurately invoicing what’s delivered and customer services are kept in the dark as to order status then nobody is able to really do their job. For a manufacturer to continue to deliver a compelling and competitive customer experience in a more complex supply chain context, a few key things are needed.
While manufacturers may have access to the data they need for visibility and predictability, for the most part the data does nothing but sit there. Even with an integrated system tracking inventory data in real time, someone will still have to run a query to check stock levels or to notice you’re running low on a certain component Assuming that you do have an integrated system with real-time access to all the accurate data you need, the next step is implementing automation that delivers that information to the right people at the right time as well as triggering key actions and alerts. This ‘operational intelligence’ (OI) can create a huge competitive edge for manufacturers, who are able to deliver a level of service that really sets them apart from their competition. The ways that an OI approach can help the manufacturing supply chain process are as varied as individual companies, but a couple of examples can put OI in context: Automotive parts manufacturer: For high volume manufacturers, speed and accuracy is vital when picking and shipping parts from the warehouse. With OI, as soon as a pre-set threshold is reached, fast-moving stock lines are instantly reordered ensuring you never run out. Every step, from placing an order with the supplier,
Assuming that you do have an integrated system with real-time access to all the accurate data you need, the next step is implementing automation that delivers that information to the right people at the right time as well as triggering key actions and alerts to arranging delivery and payment all happens, instantly, without a single key stroke being required. This then allows stock to be picked as orders come in from the sales team, and ensures the entire sales team can see accurate stock levels. Clothing manufacturer: Often facing massive orders, responding to an unexpected increase in capacity is vital. With access to data on the machines creating the clothes, operational intelligence would send an accurate delivery time to customer services and automatically let the supervisor know if any overtime was required, which staff were available to do it and recalculate the profit margin on the job accordingly. Food manufacturer: One of the biggest challenges for large scale food manufacturers is coping with fluctuations in wholesale food prices, often from several suppliers in multiple currencies. Intelligent use of pricing and delivery data allows the manufacturer to automatically update price fluctuations and be able to accurately manage both margins and risk accordingly.
Transforming the manufacturing process Given the massive competition that every manufacturer is facing, finding a way to streamline the supply chain and deliver a competitive edge is vital. Manufacturers need to take a long hard look at their systems and examine the cost of ‘business as usual’ if they don’t have an operational intelligence capability, supported by strong collaboration, visibility and predictability from the data they hold, then they may not be prepared for the next wave of competition. v
Harry Mowat Harry Mowat is UK MD of Greentree, a creator of business software. The business grew out of CBA, accounting software that served thousands of businesses worldwide for more than a quarter of a century. Since 1984, Greentree has functioned with one purpose: to make the best business tools, so its clients can work better and be world-beaters. For more information, please visit www.greentree.com
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Engineering
greatness
After promising to be bigger and better than its predecessor in 2014, the sold-out MACH 2016 delivered with interesting talks, bold innovations and the most up-to-date developments from the manufacturing sector
We are delighted to welcome one of British sport’s true greats Sir Chris Hoy to open MACH 2016. Sir Chris and the British Cycling team are a prime example of the synergy that can be achieved when top athletes and engineers work together, we are truly honoured to have him opening MACH 2016
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reated by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), a UK based trade association that deals specifically with engineered based manufacturing, MACH is a biennial showcase for advances in the manufacturing industry that brings together the very best innovations and latest developments under one roof. Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 11-15 April, there were high expectations that the exhibition would be more successful than MACH 2014, which had more than 600 companies exhibiting and over 6500 tonnes of live working machinery on display; the major event attracted 23,352 visitors across a diverse range of sectors within the UK manufacturing sector and has more than £173 million attributed to it. Although the numbers are still being counted for MACH 2016, the event proved incredibly popular for those in the industry thanks to new developments such as new zones, more innovative technologies and a vibrant seminar programme. Furthermore, the five day celebration of UK manufacturing was officially opened by British Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy MBE at the opening ceremony in hall five. Putting the wheels in motion for the event at 10:00 am on Monday April 11, the 11 times world champion and six time Olympic gold medalist has a keen interest in manufacturing, even producing his own range of bikes, for which he played an integral role in the development and prototyping. In advance of the opening ceremony, MTA CEO James Selka said: “We are delighted to welcome one of British sport’s true greats Sir Chris Hoy to open MACH 2016. Sir Chris and the British Cycling team are a prime example of the synergy that can be achieved when top athletes and engineers work together, we are truly honoured to have him opening MACH 2016.” Viewed as the place to get business done, the UK’s premier manufacturing technologies event had fully sold out stands in hall five and had limited spaces left in hall four by December 2015. Within these halls were specific areas for guests, such as the UK manufacturing zone in hall five, which was full
MACH 2016
of blue chip companies representing the best from the automotive, aerospace, nuclear, power, medical and tier one supply chain sector.s. With a reputation as the ideal platform for UK based supply chain manufacturers to showcase their products and capabilities, the UK manufacturing zone offered an opportunity to network with potential customers and generate new sales leads. Other areas included measurement and inspection, a 3D printing and additive manufacturing zone; an engineering and laser zone, grinding and abrasives, surface finishing and component cleaning and a software and design zone. With more than 25,000 sq m of exhibition space allocated at the event, amounting to more than 600 exhibitors, MTA made the decision to extend MACH 2016’s packed seminar to two theatres. Seminar theatre one’s diary of events started with the aforementioned opening with special guest Chris Hoy, before moving onto a talk from Sven Renschler, CEO of Rentschler
Reven GmbH about industrial air cleaning. The following day included insightful events such as a training academy from Jeff Hart, Training Manager of Mills CNC and a discussion on prototyping techniques by Damian Hennesey, Commercial Director of Protolabs. Day three at the seminar theatre focused on 3D printing and additive manufacturing in the morning, while the afternoon was dominated by a fascinating talk from Michael Mychajiuk, Supply Chain Manager at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). Michael delivered a passionate, informative and interactive talk on both the UK automotive industry and the future of JLR. With growth in the automotive industry expected to be in the region of eight per cent for 2016, JLR is leading the way, with revenue shooting up to £21.9 billion in 2014/15. However, further growth in an industry ripe with opportunities is naturally on the company’s mind and it has a number of ongoing partnerships in place that highlight its ambition and vision for the future. In addition to sharing this information, Michael also discussed the transformation of JLR over the last few years and how the company harnessed its supply chain to support growth. Another notable talk on day three of the event came from three different speakers from Dortmund University: Mike Wilson, General Industry Sales Manager at ABB Robotics, Alan Norbury, Central Technology Officer at Siemens PLC, and Boris Otto, Director of the Department of Information Management & Engineering at Fraunhofer IML. These speakers discussed Industry 4.0, otherwise known as the fourth industrial revolution and the industry of things,
which is a process of connecting machinery, controllers and other systems and subsystems that were previously standalone units. Because of the benefits of these new automation options, this was an event that certainly drew a large crowd! In fact, Industry 4.0 was something of a key topic at MACH 2016, with Paul Hingley, CMR Business Manager at Siemens PLC also discussing big data and how to turn 4.0 into a reality in his presentation on 12th April. With basic automation a part of Siemen’s Amberg plant since 1989, the manufacturing giant was naturally attracted to the benefits of Industry 4.0, making Paul’s talk a key event for those interested in learning more about this major development in the manufacturing world. Successful in its goal of providing a platform for companies to meet customers face-to-face and seek out state-of-the-art products and equipment, MACH 2016 was the ideal base for those seeking ways to increase productivity, boost efficiency and enhance innovation. Furthermore, MACH 2016 provided opportunities to network with likeminded organisations and gain valuable information in an open environment that has its fingers on the pulse when it comes to manufacturing trends and developments. With the MTA consistently committed to delivering a high quality, relevant and insightful showcase for the industry, by the industry, MACH 2016 has proven itself not only as a major milestone for MACH in its own right, but also a vital stepping stone for the ongoing integrity and success of the exhibition for years to come. v
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From here to
efficiency Supply chain companies need to open their eyes to visibility says Sian Hopwood
There is a growing perception that information about a product’s location, its status and its date of delivery should all be readily available and at the customer’s fingertips
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n the digital age customers have come to expect an extremely high level of service from supply chain executors. There is a growing perception that information about a product’s location, its status and its date of delivery should all be readily available and at the customer’s fingertips. As a result, companies that are unable to provide near-real-time updates on request, are at risk of falling behind competitors and losing customer confidence. In an effort to address this, achieving better visibility into the supply chain has been a priority for many companies in recent years, as they look to improve customer experience, cut costs and streamline processes. Despite this, there is still a lot of work to be done if industry is to take full advantage of this strategy. A recent survey of 537 companies worldwide found that 72 per cent do not have full visibility of their supply chain. The survey, part of the Business Continuity Institute’s annual Supply Chain Resilience Report, covered businesses in 14 industries across 67 countries. It also found that 74 per cent of the companies experienced at least one supply chain disruption over the previous 12 months – and that 24 per cent of respondents estimated that disruptions cost their business €250,000 or more. Strangely, 35 per cent of those surveyed said they don’t even bother to report disruptions or other incidents affecting their supply chains. “Supply chain visibility remains one of the biggest challenges to resilience,” the report states. “The data shows the complex nature of supply chains, with many organisations relying on a growing number of key suppliers. Disruptions continue to occur at lower levels, which may induce severe knock-on effects to organisations at the end of the supply chains. It is therefore important for organisations to focus on reporting disruption firm-wide and increase supplier visibility.” The findings are somewhat surprising. People involved in supply chain planning and execution have long recognised the many benefits of visibility: better insight into how your supply chain is performing
IT
As partner-to-partner sharing increases, with transparent processes ensuring that all parties have access to the information they need, businesses will be able to drive efficiency and results across the whole supply chain
to overcoming silo thinking about supply chains within an organisation.” While visibility brings a number of benefits on its own, it can also serve as the catalyst for supply chain execution convergence. Supply chain execution convergence is a two-stage process in which a business eliminates that ‘silo thinking’ to get its various supply chain operations – procurement, shipping, warehousing, transportation – fully synchronised and in tune with one another. Once that’s achieved, the business then extends that deep interconnectedness even further to outside suppliers, vendors and other entities in the supply chain ecosystem. As partner-to-partner sharing increases, with transparent processes ensuring that all parties have access to the information they need, businesses will be able to drive efficiency and results across the whole supply chain. Only when enterprises begin to pick up on this will we see surveys of this sort generating more positive results. v
from end to end, the vision needed to anticipate and prevent problems, and the ability to quickly respond to any issues that do arise.
Seeing clearly with technology The key to realising those benefits is technology. Put simply, relying on manual processes in your supply chain – spreadsheets, telephones, calculators, fax machines – just doesn’t cut it anymore. Not only are they time-consuming and inefficient, these methods bring with them a much higher chance of communication breakdown – lost letters, missed calls and poor filing can all lead to a costly loss of productivity. Technology brings not only efficiency and the ability to capture, report and act on important benchmarking data, but also connectivity. With cloud-based solutions, businesses have real-time access to information throughout the logistics ecosystem – which they can also share across the organisation, with outside partners or even with customers.
Obstacles in our way Despite all this, we’re not seeing as widespread a take-up as the benefits might suggest. One possible reason for this is cost – or at least the perception of cost. For a long time, powerful supply chain solutions were pricey and only available to the largest enterprises. But cloud computing has changed that, eliminating the high upfront costs that used to come with on-premise logistics solutions. The cloud delivers affordable, subscription-based solutions, plug-and-play deployment and a fast ROI – all while giving organisations anytime, anyplace, anywhere access to data. In short, the cloud has made it possible for business of all sizes to tap into technology that can streamline their supply chains and boost visibility. “Through our work with customers in this area, we have found that increasing visibility along supply chains and resilience are major sources of competitive advantage,” said Nick Wildgoose, global supply chain product leader at Zurich Insurance. “Top management leadership is the key
Sian Hopwood Sian Hopwood is senior vice president B2B operations at Kewill. Kewill is a global leader in multimodal transportation management and supply chain execution solutions. Its software platform enables companies to lower costs, gain control over logistics network volatility and achieve greater visibility and agility. www.kewill.com
www.manufacturing-today-europe.com 17
The real
benefits
The first ever customer of a business solutions provider over 30 years old is still reporting savings of up to £20,000 a year after investing in scalable technology, which has contributed to its overall business growth
We generate over 12,000 invoices each year, which are sent to various areas of the UK by post. By emailing these to customers instead of putting time and resource into printing, packaging and posting, we are saving around £500 a month on postage costs alone
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awson Fuses, which specialises in the design, development and manufacture of HRC low voltage fuses, is still reporting significant cost savings as a result of an advanced Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implemented by K3 Syspro over 27 years ago. The company, which is a power user of SYSPRO ERP, operates a full suite of modules including manufacturing and accounting applications, and has continually grown its system with the help of K3 Syspro over the past few decades. A recent investment in K3 Syspro’s email automation system, AutoMail, which integrates with the company’s SYSPRO application has enhanced the company’s ERP investment further, and is resulting in cost savings of up to £20,000 a year. Ken Jordan, from Lawson Fuses explains: “We have long been a user of K3 Syspro’s software and recently upgraded our business critical systems to SYSPRO 6.1 in 2012.This gave us the ability to automate our invoicing and sales processes, which were previously quite labour intensive. “We generate over 12,000 invoices each year, which are sent to various areas of the UK by post. By emailing these to customers instead of putting time and resource into printing, packaging and posting, we are saving around £500 a month on postage costs alone. Instead of having to manually file and issue monthly statements, we have switched our payment terms to enable our customers to pay us directly by bank transfer, which is calculated and carried over by Automail, to each individual invoice. We have worked out that this is saving us a further £2500 a year on additional expenses.” AutoMail uses a simple text script or PDF report to send emails with sophisticated PDF attachments to every customer in Lawson Fuses’ database, enabling rapid deployment of email facilities for SYSPRO. It comprises a report service, which monitors a directory for PDF reports, such as file invoices generated by Crystal Reports, and passes this report using defined job separator pages. This splits the report into
Email management individual PDF documents to be emailed using the information in the job separator. For Lawson Fuses, this enables the company to email the individual invoices contained in the file to the relevant customer, significantly speeding up and streamlining the company’s invoicing processes. This is not only helping Lawson Fuses to save considerable time and money, but the transfer to AutoMail has also been embraced by the company’s customers, who have long sought this sort of automated payment system. Ken Jordan reveals: “We previously ran our invoicing processes on a dot matrix platform using printed stationery methods. What we found after a number of years, was that 94 per cent of our customers kept coming back to us and requesting the same invoice information electronically, so that they could file it electronically within their own business systems, so AutoMail has provided benefits to our customers as well as to ourselves.” After utilising AutoMail to streamline its invoicing processes, Lawson Fuses began to explore other ways the system could cut further costs and make additional efficiencies throughout the business. Due to its flexibility and seamless integration capabilities, AutoMail is a resource that can be used in multiple areas of a business together with the functionality of SYSPRO ERP. It has the potential to enable companies that have typically high print, postage and stationary costs, to make significant savings in money, time, and efficiency, not to mention providing significant environmental benefits as well. Ken Jordan explains how he began to utilise AutoMail for other areas of the business. “After we had used AutoMail to streamline our invoicing processes for a year, I began to see its potential and started trialling it in other areas of the business. We had a small price increase recently and normally we would either re-run our existing product brochures with updated information, or create a new price list. “Instead of putting a lot of time into money into creating, publishing, printing and distributing a new eight-page price list for customers, we designed the price list using AutoMail. We were then able to just mail this out directly to over 2000 customers. If you calculate that these would have cost approximately £1.50 to print and post per document that is a cost saving of £3000.” And it’s not just cost savings that AutoMail delivers to users. It also has the capability to clean customer data. Lawson Fuses has thousands of customers all over the country who have purchased from the company at various different times since its conception in 1938. However, only a portion of these customers are considered active and placing regular orders with the
For a business as old as ours, it is important that you retain strong relationships with all of your customers and AutoMail has enabled us to really develop customer relations with some of our oldest customers, who had previously lapsed their spending with us company. The rest are lapsed and present rich sales opportunities for the company. Utilising Crystal Reports, the team at Lawson Fuses were able to analyse all customer data and then AutoMail a standard letter to all lapsed customers, letting them know of any current special offers or new products added to the company’s product catalogue. By entering a date in the system, the company identified all customers that had not placed an order prior to that particular date and then AutoMailed them in order to keep the customer relationship strong. This has led to an upturn in lapsed customers returning to the company. Ken Jordan explains: “We spent a lot of time collating all of the email addresses for our customers and then doing very little with the data. For a business as old as ours, it is important that you retain strong relationships with all of your customers and AutoMail has enabled us to really develop customer relations with some of our oldest customers, who had previously lapsed their spending with us. Recent innovations have included using Automail to facilitate a customer satisfaction survey.” The benefits that Lawson Fuses is experiencing from AutoMail are clear, but 27 years is a long time to have a relationship with a company and
a lot can happen in that period. When Lawson Fuses originally purchased its business critical application from K3 Syspro, the company was a smaller entity than it is today when it was trading as McGuffie Brunton; only becoming K3 Syspro following a period of acquisition in 2007. The risk with any acquisition as a company grows, is that the customer service clients received when it was a smaller firm would be compromised but for Lawson Fuses it was the opposite that happened. “We were apprehensive when we heard that McGuffie Brunton was being acquired by K3 Business Technology as you would if any of your suppliers underwent an acquisition and rapidly grew. But we needn’t have been. McGuffie Brunton took all their existing staff with them to K3 Syspro, so all the relationships we had built with them remained in place. The customer service we receive from them has not been affected and even though I rarely have to call the helpdesk because AutoMail and SYSPRO are so intuitive, when we do, we always get a friendly voice at the end of the phone and our account manager is always available when we need her.” The long relationship between Lawson Fuses and K3 Syspro continues to flourish and is a shining example for other UK businesses. The company recently migrated its business systems away from the XP operating system earlier this year and once again, K3 Syspro was on hand to assist with the move. Ken Lawson concludes: “I remember that K3 Syspro was so useful during our XP migration that I even sent their helpdesk a complimentary email to thank them for their support. What is really great for us is the fact that not only do K3 Syspro applications help us to reduce costs as a business but they are always available to provide us with technical support and updates which has invaluable to us over a number of years.” v
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Closing the
loop
The EU’s new Circular Economy Package is a welcome initiative that focuses the spotlight on the importance of remanufactured power and distribution equipment, says Nick Bull
Refurbishing or remanufacturing parts or the products themselves, and the re-use and redistribution of refurbished products, is critical in minimising the need for completely new components and units to be manufactured
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he recent package of measures announced by the EU* will undoubtedly stimulate moves towards a circular economy, boosting competitiveness, nurturing sustainable growth and creating jobs. But it has to be seen as much more than that. It signals a fundamental shift in the way products can be manufactured, transforming the way the economy works within a framework that can deliver real change and business opportunity. And as a remanufacturer of end of life products this has to be welcomed – our remanufactured power distribution equipment provides a quick, cost effective, high performance and environmentally friendly solution that meets the best practice of a circular economy that reshapes markets and improves competitiveness. Transformers and their associated switchgear are an integral part of an electrical power network. Industrial transformers ensure that power is delivered to site at the required voltage, and industrial switchgear ensures the safe operation and maintenance of transformers and other electrical equipment. Remanufacturing these units offers a cost effective means to complement the supply of brand new power distribution equipment. Traditional business practices can lead to the over use of natural resources and energy and also produces large amounts of waste, potentially causing severe environmental impact. The Circular Economy concept offers the opportunity for businesses to mitigate the impact of their activities by adopting a more strategic and thoughtful approach to the use of materials, energy and labour. According to the Ellen MacArthur foundation, the Circular Economy is ‘One that is restorative by design, and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value, at all times’.
Circular Economy
Temporary leasing can be advantageous for customers requiring short-term transformer equipment for extra power requirements, in emergencies or due to budget restrictions, as no large upfront investment is needed and can be paid for over the hire period
Recycling of materials is of course not a new concept. However, the Circular Economy process covers the whole length of the supply chain, from initial design to the product end life, ensuring the maximum value of a product is derived by retaining as much of the embedded materials, labour and energy invested in the original product. Refurbishing or remanufacturing parts or the products themselves, and the re-use and redistribution of refurbished products, is critical in minimising the need for completely new components and units to be manufactured; with the attendant heavy demand for materials, labour and energy. The evidence to support the circular remanufacturing process is strong. The All-party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG) recently produced two reports estimating that remanufacturing typically uses 85 per cent less energy than manufacturing, and is currently worth £2.4 billion to the UK economy, with the potential to increase to £5.6 billion and the creation of thousands of skilled jobs. The remanufacturing of transformers and industrial power distribution equipment is commercially and technically feasible when the product meets three conditions. Firstly, when the product has a high embedded value, through the materials and/or labour used in the original construction. Secondly, when the product has a slow technological evolution rate and is not subject
to legislative restrictions or can be upgraded to overcome these. Thirdly, when the product design allows for re-constructability, including disassembly, overhaul, re-assembly and testing. Slaters have remanufactured power distribution equipment for more than 70 years – returning end of service transformers and switchgear to their original performance. Today, we have developed a business model offering customers, new or remanufactured equipment either on a permanent sale or temporary leasing basis. Slaters can also remanufacture customer equipment using our in-house stock of power distribution spares – one of the largest in the UK. Temporary leasing can be advantageous for customers requiring short-term transformer equipment for extra power requirements, in emergencies or due to budget restrictions, as no large upfront investment is needed and can be paid for over the hire period. Whilst newly manufactured transformers tend to be more expensive than remanufactured units, they are produced in accordance with the recent EU Ecodesign directive which requires new transformers placed on the market (after 1st July 2015) to meet strict energy efficiency requirements. It must be stressed that remanufactured units are not subject to the Ecodesign directive, allowing us to reuse and remanufacture transformer units and components whilst being fully compliant with EU legislation.
There are challenges to remanufacturing power distribution equipment. Some customers may be unfamiliar with purchasing equipment that is not new, or perceive remanufactured units to be ‘second hand’ and therefore ‘second rate’. However, they come with many advantages. Remanufactured units can be installed on a likefor-like basis or configured to specific orders and customer requirements. They can also be supplied with shorter lead times, are typically 35-40 per cent cheaper than a new unit, and are offered complete with an extended warranty to that of a brand new equivalent. Offering new or remanufactured transformers and switchgear means that we can be flexible to our customers’ requirements, as well as upholding our business philosophy of trying to be ethical wherever possible by mitigating waste and reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. v * http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm
Nick Bull Nick Bull works at Slaters Electricals. Slaters Electricals in conjunction with the Centre for Remanufacturing & Reuse (CRR) has produced a white paper on the circular economy. For a copy of the paper please visit http://slaters-electricals. com/news/power-distribution-equipment-in-thecircular-economy-whitepaper/ For more information visit: www.slaters-electricals.com
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A positive
outlook?
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015 was a turbulent year for the manufacturing sector. Not long ago, EEF, the manufacturers’ association, revised down its 2015 forecast from 0.7 per cent growth to -0.1 per cent shrinkage by the end of the year and noted that output balance was now at its lowest level since Q3 2009. Similarly, commenting on the global manufacturing sector, the J.P.Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI, compiled by Markit, stated that: “the headline PMI remained relatively lacklustre” continuing the “subdued run of data for the global manufacturing sector through 2015.” The recent abolition of the Business Growth Service (BGS), which houses the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), has also been a blow to many who were looking to the Government for support in these troubled times. Further research from EEF shows that there has been a decline in spending on employment and investment, falling by -7 per cent and -3 per cent respectively. So if businesses cannot support themselves and the government won’t either, can any of us help but wonder what the next few years will hold for the 6000 or so British manufacturing businesses? As we continue into the New Year it is important that those working in the manufacturing sector are not disheartened, but continue to develop and innovate in order to combat uncertainty.
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Technology, skills and servitisation – can these lead to a brighter future for manufacturing?
Let’s talk tech It will come as no surprise that the evolution of technology is a key consideration to any industry, but for manufacturing it is more pressing than ever. The manufacturing industry has generally been seen as slow when it comes to embracing new technology, and with spending on innovation reducing, this could suggest that the amount of money manufacturers are willing to spend on digital will decline as a result. However, in a recent report produced by Salmon, a global digital commerce consultancy, entitled ‘British Business in a Digital Age’, this assumption was disputed. The report claimed that 97 per cent of manufacturers already have an individual or team responsible for their digital commerce channels, with a further 90 per cent using technology to improve their customer service, boosting sales by up to 17 per cent. In terms of future uptake, 45 per cent of manufacturers expect that their digital channels will represent between 10-20 per cent of their revenue in the next five years. This kind of projection would only come about if those at the top had already forecasted for investment into their tech teams, which is promising. Commenting on the report, Martin Girdlestone, Head of Consultancy at Salmon, stated that: “In 2016, manufacturers will gain a greater
understanding of why digital is now such an important part of their business.” Zoe Brimelow, Brand Director of Duo UK, concurs: “Embracing digital and smart connected products is central for manufacturers to become more agile and responsive.” A report published from the Government Office for Science in 2013 stated that the Internet of Things would be key for UK manufacturers over the next few decades “as virtually everything is expected to be connected via central networks and the Internet.” This not only applies to customer service, but it also relates to how software and automation will revolutionise production.
The robot revolution There has been a lot of hype surrounding robotics and automation and, as we move forward, this is showing no signs of abating. Statistics from the Annual Manufacturing Report stated that 83 per cent of companies implemented some form of automation in their production in the past five years and 60 per cent claimed that the effect on working conditions and job satisfaction is one of improvement. Neil Gallant, Managing Director at Neutronic Technologies, had this to say: “In my opinion the future of manufacturing is going to continue moving towards increased use of automation and robotics removing the requirement for human interaction in the manufacturing processes. As
Predictions for 2016
robotic automation becomes more commonplace the capital costs of implementation should be driven down, which will allow access for smaller companies to implement fully automated production lines.” This is not to say that engineers and a skilled workforce will no longer be required, it is just that their skill set will need to change. This can already be seen in the UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ High Level STEM Skills Requirements in the UK Labour Market Report which states that IT professionals and IT technicians are projected to see the most significant recruitment need, above that of engineers. Having said that, production managers and directors in manufacturing came second in terms of labour market need. This demonstrates that a top down re-evaluation of how the manufacturing industry is run is being called for and in order for this to occur a continuous stream of skilled workers must be present.
Closing the skills gap As the skills gap in the UK widens, nurturing staff and training new recruits will be vital for future profitability. Recent research from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills for the Business Growth Service found that 71 per cent of SME Manufacturers are planning on increasing investment in workforce skills between June 2015 and June 2016 believing it will increase their productivity more than investment in new capital equipment or computer software would. While this suggests we should remain positive about the future of the manufacturing workforce, it is key that STEM skills continue to be taught and championed in order to ensure there is a ready stock of new recruits coming into the industry. The aforementioned UK Commission for Employment and Skills found that 43 per cent of vacancies for professionals working in science, research, engineering and technology are hard to fill due to skills shortages. This is almost twice the average for other occupations, and for manufacturing specifically, the biggest challenge will be the need to upgrade innovation capacity in order to compete globally.
So what can manufacturers do to help remedy this? Employing apprentices is the obvious place to start. By investing in young talent, manufacturers are paving the way for future success. Despite much debate regarding proposed Government levies and costs surrounding training, policy makers are working towards making apprenticeships pay for those businesses willing to take part.
2016 will see the Apprenticeship Levy proposals finalised and early adopters may well be rewarded as parliament try to do all they can to encourage employer investment, keeping ‘undiscovered’ talent in the UK.
Should we stay or should we go? There has been a concerted effort from the Government to keep manufacturing in the UK more generally, not just the workers. In 2013 a report was released by the Government Office for Science which stated rather proudly that ‘UK Manufacturing in 2050 will look very different from today, and will be virtually unrecognisable from that of 30 years ago’. This may be the case, but not necessarily in the way that was expected. Martin Davidian, Managing Director Sales UK North and Ireland at FedEx Express, has commented on the rise of Micro-Nationals noting that small self-starting companies in the UK are leading the way when it comes to expanding internationally; “Small businesses are spreading out production to create products at a lower cost. Manufacturing products across different borders or having different components of the business based overseas, [means that] these companies are small yet wield international influence.” He continued: “While micro-multinationals have all the traditional benefits of being small and nimble, they have additional benefits of operating and marketing their products and services in multiple global markets.”
Does the future of UK Manufacturing therefore lie in the creation of global hubs? A report by Pinsent Masons entitled ‘The UK in 2030: Key Trends for Manufacturing’ confirmed that most British manufacturers have part of their supply chain overseas and 20 per cent have half of their suppliers outside of the UK. However, this does not suggest curtains for the UK by any means. Despite revising down estimates in Q4 2015, EEF reported that 2016 will see 0.8 per cent growth in the Manufacturing and Construction sectors, suggesting a bounce-back in fortunes. The motor sector and food industry in particular will represent the UK well moving forward, as the ‘Made in Britain’ tag regains its reputation of quality, heritage and professionalism. Furthermore, the UK’s economy remains the strongest of the G7 nations, with 60 per cent of respondents expecting international trade to be very important to their future growth. Such confidence in international growth surely suggests that the future is looking brighter than many
forecasts have hinted, and this does not mean production is expected to be outsourced.
The rise of servitisation One of the key future trends that will be helping to keep manufacturing on UK shores is the rise of servitisation. This newest buzzword in the industry is the idea of offering services around the product, therefore adding real long-term value alongside the goods themselves. Offering support services can result in insight that will make companies far more competitive and aware of their customers’ wants and needs. For example, being able to predict repair times and being aware of when items will need replacing is golden information for any sales team and if your business provides repairs and replacements then it is a win-win for both the customer and the business. Dave Hart, Vice President of Customer Transformation for field service management specialist ServiceMax, explains: “The reality today is that everyone is now chasing the same part of the value chain. This is because they [manufacturers] recognise that the real value lies in offering services around a product just as much as the product itself.” The next five years then are set to be one of great change for the manufacturing sector and one cannot help but be excited despite the recent gloomy forecasts. Longer term, the next few years are predicted to be brighter ones, but it is down to the businesses themselves to prioritise and promote developments, remain optimistic and march confidently forward into the future. v
Neutronic Technologies Neutronic Technologies Ltd has been established for 15 years providing electric motors, pumps, gearboxes, variable speed drives and industrial automation to the UK’s manufacturing industries. It has vast experience across a varied number of industries such as aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, brewing, textiles and chemicals. For further information visit: www.neutronic.org
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Road to the
future
Bart Simpson takes a look at how automotive manufacturing challenges can be changed into opportunities
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he Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders recently announced that car manufacturing in the UK is at its highest level for a decade. What’s more, a new report forecasted that the UK’s automotive sector is heading towards record vehicle production in 2020, which will surpass the previous 1970s levels. The latest figures from the Automotive Council also show similar levels of growth for the UK automotive parts sector, with the volume of parts sourced from UK suppliers increasing by 32 per cent from 2011 to 2015. At the same time, global car buying figures are at their highest ever level, with China continuing its position as the largest light vehicle market in the world. However, with these fantastic growth figures there remain a number of areas car manufacturers and designers need to keep an eye on. That is because consumers’ expectations of cars, and how they’re used, are changing rapidly. The car is less of a status symbol than it once was; with many younger people simply see them as a way to get them from A to B. At the same time, there is a growing overlap between automobiles and consumer technologies. Cars are becoming smarter, more connected and easier to use. People are also expecting them to be much more environmentally friendly. They also want these new features now, and aren’t willing to wait for manufacturers to catch up. All of these factors are transforming what is expected by consumers of the cars they buy.
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Automobile Manufacturing
The challenge manufacturers and designers are facing at the moment is whether they have the expertise and tools in place to respond to these changes. However, as with any problem, this presents the automotive industry with substantial opportunities to take advantage of some of the latest trends.
Time-to-market One of the key drivers for design and manufacturing in the automotive sector is time to market. Consumers can be fickle, and new trends can spring up very quickly. The difficulty that automotive manufacturers can face is responding to these trends quickly enough so that consumers still want a new vehicle when it is released. Given the complexity of the automotive supply chain, it means that the initial designs have to be created as quickly as possible. This, in turn, means having the right digital tools available at the design stage to allow designers to create new ideas and turn them into high quality renders. From here,
it is then possible to get feedback from both customers that might want to buy the car and from suppliers that need to make the parts before anything has been physically created. This is where there is a lot of opportunity for manufacturers to speed up the whole development processes by taking advantage of the latest design, prototyping and manufacturing software.
Design as a differentiator The next area where there is a challenge facing the automotive sector is ensuring the vehicles they’re producing are able to stand out and provide unique appeal to their audience. Producing something distinctive is vital in a very competitive marketplace, especially with many models sharing common components and subsystems. This is where the physical aspect of the design process comes into its own, with the most successful design teams demonstrating how clay models are still important in understanding how a vehicle would look in the real world.
However, the challenge is incorporating the physical clay models back into the digital design workflow once the designers have made tweaks to the model. 3D scanning tools can play a really important role here, by creating a truly joined up design process. However, the opportunity now exists for automotive manufacturers take this one step further and create a true feedback loop, so that multiple clay model iterations can be fed back into the design process to create a truly unique vehicle.
Future vehicles While the majority of cars on our roads are fundamentally similar to those of 50 years ago, by the 2020s we may see a complete transformation in what we think of as a ‘car’. Google’s prototype driverless car is a long way from anything modern drivers are used to. There’s no steering wheel for a start, and no control pedals. While Google’s car is obviously radically different to what we know at the moment, even electric vehicles are
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Automobile Manufacturing
transforming the fundamentals of what we expect. For example, true electric vehicles have no need for a traditional drive train, meaning no need for the transmission tunnel. This frees up a lot of space within the car. Equally, with the vehicle’s dashboard controls becoming increasingly controlled by software, all you need is one touch screen panel, rather than multiple buttons across the dashboard. For automobile manufacturers, this is an opportunity to think beyond the traditional layout. However, this can only be achieved with a design and manufacturing process that can simulate the combination of software and mechanical components cars will incorporate in the future.
New materials One of the biggest trends vehicle manufacturers now need to consider is that of fuel efficiency and limiting the impact of automobiles on the environment. While fuel prices may be at the lowest they’ve been for a number of years,
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consumers still want to get the most out of their cars. A key part of this is making designs that are more efficient, using both lighter materials and more efficient designs. This is where the design and manufacturing processes have to work hand in hand. New cars have to be created with new materials in mind. Alongside this, the designs need to reflect the manufacturing tooling available. If you want to use aluminium, or lightweight composites in your new car, this must be reflected throughout the design and manufacturing workflow. There has to be real integration in the software behind the design and manufacturing workflow. Of course, when this is done effectively then manufacturers can benefit from faster time to market with vehicles that meet customer needs. It’s clear that we’re seeing an exciting time in the automotive industry. As with many other sectors at the moment, established ways of doing things are falling by the wayside. The automotive
industry is going to be no different. Vehicle manufacturers will have to understand these trends and ensure they can respond if they’re going to remain competitive. The only way to achieve this is by not blindly sticking with existing processes, workflows and technology. As the industry is being disrupted by new technology, so too do automotive manufacturers need to embrace this disruption if they’re to continue to thrive.
Bart Simpson Bart Simpson is Business Development Lead at Delcam, part of Autodesk. Delcam holds a central role in UK manufacturing, one that it has developed since the 60s. Headquartered in Birmingham, Delcam’s range of design, manufacturing and inspection software provides automated CADCAM solutions for a variety of industries, ranging from aerospace and automotive to toys and sports equipment. www.delcam.co.uk
A changing
world
Jonathan Wilkins discusses the latest trends and challenges in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in the context of emerging Asian markets
Drug research and development is moving faster than ever before and pharmaceutical manufacturing is incorporating increasing levels of industrial automation
O
n the morning of September 28, 1928, serendipity struck when Sir Alexander Fleming discovered he had accidentally left the lid off a petri dish that contained Staphylococcus. The good doctor concluded the bluish mould growing inside the dish was inhibiting the bacteria’s growth and so, penicillin was discovered. Or so the story goes. Today’s pharmaceutical landscape is very different from Fleming’s world and although accidental discoveries still take place, the approach to new drug development is much more complex. Global industry trends have brought on significant changes in the way pharmaceutical companies operate. Business models have to be adapted continuously to respond to shifting healthcare patterns and increasing regulatory compliance requirements. Drug research and development is moving faster than ever before and pharmaceutical manufacturing is incorporating increasing levels of industrial automation.
The big picture The pharmaceutical industry is at a critical junction. The global population is increasing rapidly; average life expectancy is growing every decade and the middle class is becoming a more prominent population sector in emerging markets. The demand for healthcare services is amplifying every day. In this sea of opportunities, it’s only the most agile pharmaceutical companies that will survive and grow. One thing pharma knows better than any other industry is that behind every opportunity lies a hidden threat. Increasingly strict regulatory compliance along with product security and complex supply chains are the main concerns of companies when it comes to cost management. According to the latest UPS study of the pharmaceutical supply chain, companies are trying different approaches to reduce their manufacturing and delivery costs. The results show that 66 per cent of respondents said they have been increasing technology investments with the aim of making research and development (R&D), manufacturing and testing more cost-efficient and flexible in the long run.
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Focus on Pharmaceuticals pharmerging markets have more potential than others and classifications differ. According to the IMS Health report, the only tier one market is China, expected to account for nearly half of pharmerging market growth. The tier two countries, as you might expect, are Brazil, India and Russia, while tier three unites countries with a wide array of income levels and healthcare sophistication, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. A different classification featured in PWC’s Pharma emerging markets 2.0 report uses a different system to describe this dynamic, yet highly diverse group of countries. Tier one comprises of the BRICMT group, meaning Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico and Turkey – countries that are now comparable in size to mature Western counterparts. Second tier markets include economies from Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, like Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. Finally, the third group is made up of African markets, which are highly populous, but still have relatively small market sizes. Regardless of which classification you prefer, several common traits can be identified between most of these markets. For one thing, the balance between the young and old population is shifting. If in 2010, only ten per cent of the global population was aged 60 or over, by 2050, the number is expected to grow to 21 per cent. Fifty-eight per cent of people aged 60 or over have at least one chronic condition, which means they require some form of healthcare or medication. Rising income levels in these countries are also likely to result in a shift towards lifestyle diseases, with different cardiovascular and respiratory diseases potentially on the rise. According to Frost and Sullivan, the estimated number of diabetics in India will grow to 70 million, with China not far behind, with a total of 50 million. Finally, growing public and private investments in healthcare and pharmaceutical are likely to drive the market even further. Similar to the US and Western Europe, the integration of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, patient monitoring and healthcare IT is likely to result in minimal risk, low cost and safer healthcare. Although the road is long and difficult, changing business models have already started to take shape. Two of the most obvious trends in pharmerging markets, particularly the Asian ones, are increased investment in research and development, as well as improved manufacturing standards. The aim is to reduce the time dedicated to clinical trials and ultimately move towards justin-time (JIT) manufacturing and flexible production facilities, like the ones used by the automotive industry.
If in 2010, only ten per cent of the global population was aged 60 or over, by 2050, the number is expected to grow to 21 per cent. Three thirds of people aged 60 or over have at least one chronic condition, which means they require some form of healthcare or medication
Pharmerging markets In the last few decades, emerging markets have been regarded as the promised land of the pharmaceutical industry, with their total value expected to amount to a third of the global pharmaceutical market by the end of this decade. In 2013, IMS Health identified 21 geographic regions it considered essential for the growth of pharmaceuticals. These countries were given the slightly awkward name ‘pharmerging markets’. The classification was based on per capita GDP, combined with market data forecasts from IMS Market Prognosis. The conclusion was that between 2012 and 2017, pharmerging markets would have growth rates far higher than mature markets. In fact, they were predicted to grow from a fourth of the global pharma market in 2012 to a third by 2017. The main drivers of industry growth for this period of time were government and private healthcare investment, as well as the increasing burden of chronic diseases in pharmerging markets. As is always the case in industry, some
Automation and control Industrial automation and control systems integrate IT technology with mechanical systems. One of the biggest advantages of industrial automation is that it helps standardise products, while reducing waste, saving energy and continuously monitoring production efficiency and product quality. For these reasons and others, industrial automation solutions are crucial for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly when it comes to the manufacturing and packaging stages. North America is currently leading the industrial automation revolution in pharma, but Asia is expected to see high growth rates in the next five years. In fact, China and India are predicted to become the fastest automation and control system markets in the pharma and biotech industry, despite challenges like an insufficiently skilled workforce and increasingly uncompromising industry standards.
Chinese champion Although it’s hardly an emerging market any longer, China is definitely worth mentioning when discussing opportunities and challenges for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Just as a visit to any Chinese city will leave you astonished at the scale and development of modern China, its remote rural areas will impress by how well it has conserved a way of life that is irrevocably lost to the modern world. Similar, if less poetic, contradictions can be identified in China’s pharmaceutical industry. To deal with the largest elderly population in the world, China’s out-of-pocket and private insurance healthcare payments have been rising steadily in the last decade. Government healthcare payments are also on the rise. After the United States, China ranks second for the number of FDA-registered drug establishments and sixth among the largest providers of drugs and antibiotics to the US. Large international players are already present in China and have seen increasing competition from local companies. To address the growing pressure, many Western pharma companies have upgraded
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Focus on Pharmaceuticals south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. India currently imports 70 per cent of its medical devices, but with government initiatives like Make in India, chances are domestic industry will start accounting for more of the market, in both the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.
Indonesian investment
their production sites. Pfizer, for example, recently announced that a $90m facility would be built at its Suzhou site, to address a growing demand for dietary supplements and multivitamins in the first stage, with the option of expanding to other production ranges in the future. The new facility is also expected to feature a state-of-the-art R&D lab. This is by no means a solitary example. The biggest industry names including Roche, Bayer, Merck KGaA, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi all have projects underway to try and reach the growing - and aging - middle-class population of China. But it’s not all milk and honey when it comes to the Chinese pharmaceutical market. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a huge problem in any emerging market and China is no exception. In fact, counterfeit pharmaceuticals originating in China are often so expertly copied that only a lab analysis could distinguish between real and fake. Because of its copycat culture, China often faces questions even when it comes to the quality of genuine pharmaceutical products. This is still an opportunity for Western companies who are either exporting to China or have a joint-venture set up with domestic manufacturers. Despite intense cost pressures, branded generics marketed in China by Western producers are still in high demand because they’re typically associated with uniform specifications, rigorous testing and stable formulas. However, this demand is starting to fade. Pharma innovation in China has traditionally been slowed down by lack of expertise, a
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shortage of manufacturing facilities and even a slow review process by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). Perhaps China’s great potential lies somewhere between innovation and duplication. One thing is certain: with the number of R&D and production facilities on the rise, China is more than just a vast market opportunity; it’s an agile and fierce competitor.
Indian innovation The situation is similar in the Indian subcontinent, with the pharmaceutical industry witnessing healthy foreign direct investment and joint ventures. Branded generics dominate, representing up to 80 per cent of the pharma retail market. What is currently missing in the Indian pharmaceutical landscape is an increase in R&D budgets. According to a recent statement from the Health and Family Welfare minister, Indian pharma manufacturers are spending less than two per cent of the total turnover on R&D. New opportunities, like patented products, consumer healthcare, biologics and vaccines also appear to be emerging in India. Rising affordability and public health budget increases will be the primary drivers for these opportunities. For the time being, multinational companies are the ones making meaningful investments in the pharmaceutical sector. However, this year, the Indian medical sector has seen a new drive, with the announcement of India’s first medical device industrial park in Gujarat and discussions underway for a second park in the
In January 2014, the Indonesian government launched an ambitious new scheme aimed at establishing a compulsory national health insurance system that would make healthcare available to all by 2019. Criticised by many as an overly ambitious plan, the JKN scheme has proven popular with the wider population and independent surveys have shown a relatively high level of customer satisfaction. The introduction of this scheme is symptomatic of an expanding market that has seen recent investments in the pharmaceutical sector. A report compiled by CPhI South East Asia found that Indonesian pharmaceutical manufacturers are operating at capacity and don’t yet have the ability to expand quickly. This represents an opportunity to get a foothold in the market for Western companies. To succeed in emerging markets, pharmaceutical companies need to become more agile and change the business models that have made them into what they are today. Whether it’s adapting to local demands, understanding the culture or adapting the production process to make it more flexible and efficient, a paradigm shift is clearly under way in the pharmaceutical sector. After all, the industry needs to evolve and look to the future. There is no way of going back to the good old days of Doctor Fleming’s accidental discoveries. v
Jonathan Wilkins Jonathan Wilkins is marketing director of industrial automation parts supplier European Automation. European Automation stocks and sells new, used, refurbished and obsolete industrial automation spares. Its global network of preferred partner warehouses, and wholly owned distribution centres, enables it to offer a unique service within the automation industry, spanning the entire globe. It provides worldwide express delivery on all products meaning it can supply any part, to any destination, at very short notice. www.euautomation.com
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JDR Cable Systems Ltd
Building
connections As a major investment programme comes to fruition, JDR is ready to take on new markets and new opportunities across the world’s offshore industry
T
he JDR name first emerged back in the 1990s after the merger of UK-based Jacques Cable Systems and Dutch De Regt Special Cable, but the combined experience in the design and manufacture of subsea umbilicals and power cables spans three-quarters of a century. In 2007, the company was acquired by Vision Capital, Goldman Sachs and Management from Bridgepoint Capital, enabling the commencement of a ÂŁ30 million investment programme in 2009 to develop a new state-of-the-art facility in Hartlepool. Following the sale of its Marine Cables division in 2011 and the subsequent financial injection, the past five years have been marked by significant growth. Today, JDR specialises in the design and manufacture of subsea production umbilicals, power cables and IWOCS (Intervention Workover Control Systems) and is making strong progress across the offshore renewables and oil and gas markets around the world. Close
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collaborative relationships with both its customers and supply chain have marked the company out in the market and have resulted in an unrivalled responsiveness. “We have developed an ability to respond quickly and are very agile to the changing market needs and conditions. Because of this we have seen a number of successes,” says Richard Turner, Chief Operating Officer at JDR. “With our focus on technology, our customers are recognising our breadth and depth of knowledge for offshore energy projects.”
Balmoral Offshore Engineering
We have listened to our customers, including JDR Cable Systems, and acted upon this feedback to innovate subsea buoyancy, insulation and elastomer products for more than 35 years. Our hugely experienced engineering team works closely with clients to provide optimum value-added solutions for their projects. Many of our SURF-related products have been approved by Bureau Veritas (BV) in line with American Petroleum Institute specification (API 17L) including distributed and umbilical buoyancy, associated clamping systems and ancillary products such as bend stiffeners and restrictors.
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JDR Cable Systems Ltd
The Hotchkiss Group of Companies
The Hotchkiss Group of Companies, John D. Hotchkiss Ltd and Westwell Developments Ltd, provide a complete engineering service through a unique combination of workshop-based heavy engineering machining and in-situ services. Drawing from over 78 years’ experience and utilising up to date technology, their highly skilled and experienced staff pride themselves on their innovative problemsolving capabilities. Over the past ten years, John D. Hotchkiss Ltd have worked with JDR Cable Systems Ltd on a number of different projects, both workshop based and in-situ, providing their bespoke 3D 2016 Inventor design, manufacture, installation and maintenance services. One of the largest projects undertaken with JDR Cables involved the design, manufacture and installation of a 35 metre diameter main carousel production machine for the sub sea cable market. The Hotchkiss Group of Companies have a proven track record of meeting individual customers’ needs, within both budget and deadline, and thrive on new and exciting projects.
It is from this sturdy foundation of agility that the company has experienced remarkable levels of growth over recent years. In 2015 alone JDR saw a 30 per cent increase in performance levels and a similar trend is expected in 2016. “Our ability to supply leading products to both the oil and gas and renewable energy markets has been key to this success,” Richard continues. “We have seen growing demand for wind farm projects and have secured a large number of projects within Europe. At the same time we continue to lead the market for IWOCS umbilicals and are growing our presence in the umbilical market through expansion into steel tube applications.” A number of important contracts have been central to achieving this level of growth, including two recent framework agreements signed with DONG Energy and Atlantis Resources for offshore renewables projects. “These are both examples of how we are entering into collaborations with customers to help develop technologies, optimise solutions and reduce costs together for the offshore energy industry,” notes Richard. The North Sea market has shown particularly positive signs for JDR over recent months as well, with a number of projects delivered to leading energy companies. Richard also highlights the delivery of thermoplastic and steel tube umbilicals to the North Sea and African regions, pointing out a noticeable rise in demand for such systems as customers look to be supported with new technologies. “This has
been one of the main drivers of our ongoing investment,” he says. In 2015 the company commenced the second stage of investment, with a programme to build brand new facilities in Hartlepool. The plant is due for completion later in 2016 and will be absolutely key to the future delivery of new technologies and contracts, plus the required capacity growth. “The expansion includes a facility that will house a large capacity Helical Assembly Machine for the manufacture of umbilical cables,” Richard continues to outline. “We see the market moving into harsher environments and this investment will enable us to efficiently manufacture long length, high pressure, deep water umbilicals. The machine itself has a capacity of 320Te total functional components, through 16 20-tonne reels. The investment also includes the installation of new large capacity carousels and handling equipment.” Further international expansion has also been high on the agenda of JDR over recent months. In Brazil for example, the company recently became a qualified supplier to Petrobras’ oil and gas projects in the region, and in Nigeria it has led the introduction of local development through the training of Nigerian nationals in the manufacture, testing and installation of subsea production umbilicals. “We have a number of service centres around the world providing local solutions to key markets and customers, so the project in Nigeria is key to helping to develop our presence
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JDR Cable Systems Ltd uniquely positioned to provide solutions given its knowledge and experience of subsea cables for both oil and gas and renewable energy power delivery. “We can provide a wide range of products and services for this market and believe that this could be a growth area moving forward,” he says. In terms of the future more generally, gearing up to become fully operational within its new facility will be a strong focus over the coming 12 months. “The next year will be about continuing to deliver our current projects whilst completing the investment programme,” Richard concludes. “We have already secured work for our new machine and will be building on this through continued customer collaboration, so the future is looking good.”
‘
The next year will be about continuing to deliver our current projects whilst completing the investment programme
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in West Africa,” Richard explains. “The advantage of growing this international network is key to closely monitoring and taking advantage of any growth opportunities in the future.” JDR already sees a number of these new opportunities opening up within the offshore market as it looks forward. One amongst these is the market’s move towards subsea electrification, for which Richard notes the company is
JDR Cable Systems Ltd Services: A world-leading supplier of subsea production umbilicals, power cables and IWOCS for global oil, gas and renewable energy markets www.jdrglobal.com
MNB Precision Ltd
Will to
succeed MNB’s ability to react and diversify quickly has seen it weather a number of storms throughout its history but it today looks stronger than ever as its portfolio continues to expand
M
NB Precision began life in 1980 in a Midland’s garage, and quickly became a small family enterprise carrying out general engineering work. Over the years the company grew into larger facilities in Coventry and started to take on significant work for customers up and down the UK. However, following the collapse of TransTec at the start of the new millennium, MNB lost one of its biggest customers and subsequently fell into administration. “At that point my father decided that we had to stick to our core strength of general engineering but had to fight to diversify into the oil and gas market in order to survive,” explains current MD, Luke Benton – the family’s thirdgeneration to run the company alongside brother Elliot. “From this decision we started then to grow from strength to strength. We came out of administration and we began to invest in more and more machinery that could deal with the demands of the oil and gas industry.” What followed was a period of significant success, seeing levels of organic growth rising around 20 per cent year on year up to £8.5 million before the economic downturn. However, whilst taking a knock during the recession the strength of the oil and gas industry meant that by the close of FY2014, MNB had once again grown to £10.5 million in sales. At this point, the company was specialising in manufacturing high complexity, high value metal products from exotic materials for a buoyant industry. Based in its existing three-tiered, 17,000 square foot manufacturing facility, the logistics to produce products up to 11 metres in length was becoming a challenge and in 2014 the company, under the
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‘
We take on a range of components from sizes that you can hold in your hand to eight tonne units, so we always try and work with the designers to come up with better solutions, to be more cost effective and more efficient
new management of Luke and Elliot, decided to move into a more suitable site. “Between December 2014 and March 2015, it was a real slog to transform a derelict building, riddled with asbestos, into what is now a worldclass 35,000 square foot manufacturing facility with all our capabilities under one roof,” Luke says. “We’ve now got a purpose built inspection area, state-of-the-art offices, a clean reception area and a boardroom that over looks our entire production site.” Of course, in the background to all of this the
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oil and gas industry started to slide into its widely publicised crash and the oil price plummeted. Initially, much of the market felt that this was a blip and that it would quickly right itself. “This was the general consensus amongst our customers and we waited for it to happen. Obviously it didn’t and we suddenly found ourselves having to manage the company in way that we had never had to in the past with austerity measures,” summarises Luke. “We had put a lot of the cash into the building and we were suddenly in an industry that was on its knees, so we had to work really hard throughout the summer.” Coming out stronger than ever, MNB
MNB Precision Ltd
successfully used the time to consolidate its current activities and innovate to improve efficiencies throughout its working practices. “We are now in a position where we are diversifying,” he continues. “Throughout the last year we have been able to shift our focus from the oil and gas market to a number of different sectors and our order book is now the most diverse it has ever been. We are now heavily involved in the automation and defence industries, as well as taking advantage of opportunities in the medical and nuclear industries. The wider renewables sector is another one that we see could be positive for us over the coming months.” Luke praises the team at MNB for being able to achieve this: “Their adaptability and agility to take on new challenges has been essential,” he says. “Ninety per cent of what comes through the door at the moment is work that they’ve never manufactured before and sometimes the components have never been manufactured at all before. They are truly world-class in the way that can take this in their stride.” It’s a strength that follows the servitisation programme being implemented within the business, which sees MNB working much closer to its customers and adding value to any work they carry out. “We take on a range of components from sizes that you can hold in your hand to eight tonne units, so we always try and work with the designers to come up with better solutions, to be more cost effective and more efficient,” notes Luke. “It’s this ability to add value that allows us to grow in a diverse market.” Of course, the major challenge facing the
business at present is establishing its reputation within its new sectors. Whilst its position in the oil and gas field was well known, making sure it can achieve this brand awareness elsewhere is critical and will be greatly supported by significant projects already taken on. “In the nuclear industry we have already started work on class-two parts and we have completed some rolling stock equipment within the rail industry,” Luke adds. “We’re also on a flight path to enter the aerospace industry and by September 2016 we hope to be certified to AS9100 to support this.” This ability to diversify is by far MNB’s biggest opportunity to maintain success despite its core market falling from beneath its feet, and the company is very much aware of this. With new facilities and a growing reputation slowly snowballing in new businesses, the future for the Coventry based company looks bright. Luke predicts that with its current activities and the hope that the oil and gas industry will eventually pick itself up, MNB could be turning over £20 million by 2020. Ensuring it continues delivering the quality of product and service it has become renowned for, and furthering the professional development of its team is sure to give it the best chance of doing so.
MNB Precision Ltd Products: Specialist in high quality precision machining
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Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar,s first SUV - the F-PACE
A giant leap As a figurehead for British engineering and a leading player in the global automotive industry, Jaguar Land Rover continues to invest heavily into its UK facilities in line with record levels of growth
B
ack in 2008, under the ownership of US automotive giant Ford, the Jaguar and Land Rover brands were ailing. Amidst uncertainty for the manufacturers’ futures, the Indian industrial group Tata took over the recently merged company and set about restabilising the iconic brands, both of which held a long history of heritage and loyal following, but were falling short of delivering in a premium segment dominated by German competitors. What followed was a period of growth that represents one of the biggest success stories in recent automotive history. In the last five years the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) range has undergone a major overhaul that has seen employment levels double, turnover treble, and global sales jump to over half a million units in 2016 following six years of consecutive growth. In 2015 it was announced that 50 product actions would be carried out in the five years to 2020, with 12 already implemented in 2015.
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Recent introductions to the Jaguar range include the F-TYPE sports car, the all-new XE – a mid-range executive saloon – an updated XF model, and Jaguar’s first SUV the F-PACE, which began production earlier this year and sees the brand break into an increasingly competitive SUV market. In 2015 it also announced its intention to compete in the all-electric FIA Formula E championship indicating its long-term commitment to develop MHEV (mild-hybrid), BEV (battery electric), and PHEV (plug-in hybrid) technologies for future road applications. Regarding Land Rover, whilst January 2016 saw the final Defender, a true British icon, roll off the production line, the Range Rover Evoque and, most recently, Discovery Sport have been welcome additions to the already wide-reaching and well-regarded portfolio. Helping to facilitate this growth, JLR has invested heavily over the past years into expanding and developing its manufacturing
capabilities. Sitting on a 300-acre site and often referred to as ‘the home of Land Rover’, manufacturing at the company’s Solihull site began back in 1948. Over this time, millions of Land Rover Defenders and Discovery’s, Range Rover’s and Ranger Rover Sport’s have been built, and in 2015 it became a ‘dual branded site’ beginning the production of the XE. “In the last five years, we have invested over £1.5 billion at the plant,” explains Nigel Blenkinsop, Operations Director at the facility. “More than a third of this investment was committed to create a state-of-the-art ‘factory within a factory’ to house the XE. This original investment was designed to take into account future vehicles, demonstrating the flexibility and versatility of the vehicle platform. As we are a global premium automotive manufacturer, we have to future proof any investment. As such, we have since begun production of the F-PACE SUV at Solihull. “This facility, which operates on a three-shift, 24-hour production schedule to meet global demand, includes one of the largest aluminium body shops in the world and a final assembly hall capable of building both Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles. The combined space is equivalent to 22 football pitches and has resulted in the creation of over 3000 jobs plus many more in
Jaguar F-TYPE SVR
the supply chain. Thanks to the expansion, our production volumes at Solihull have trebled and we have doubled our workforce to over 10,700 employees in the last five years. This increase in output has contributed to JLR becoming the largest automotive manufacturer in the UK, something we’re very proud of.” Another part of this recent investment programme at Solihull surrounded the improved production of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models, including a new aluminium body shop, which employs the latest low-energy aluminium body construction technologies. Put in place in 2012, the £370 million injection helped to create an additional 2000 jobs.
In addition to the Solihull site, JLR also operates two other advanced vehiclemanufacturing sites in the UK in Castle Bromwich and Halewood. In October 2014, a fourth advanced facility joined the group in the form the brand-new, state-ofthe-art Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC) in Wolverhampton. “The EMC represents a £1 billion investment into a brand new, world class manufacturing environment,” says Trevor Leeks, the EMC’s Operations Director. “This facility is home to JLR’s two-litre, four-cylinder, Diesel Ingenium engine, the first engine to be designed, engineered and manufactured by the company in a generation. Ideally located
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Range Rover Evoque Convertible
between the three vehicle manufacturing sites, the EMC supplies engines to be used in the Jaguar XE, XF and F-PACE, and Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque models.” The first stage of the build constitutes a £500 million investment into a 98,000 square metre facility that includes a machining hall, complete with three separate lines for cylinder block, cylinder head and crank components and173 different machines, as well as a fully operational diesel assembly hall comprising 17 zones. The second stage of development, which is
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currently under construction, brings the facility up to a combined 185,000 square metres. “At present the EMC employs about 950 people, but once at full capacity this will peak at about 1400,” Trevor continues. “The facility is also rated BREEAM Excellent and benefits from an innovative Environmental Management System. Its rooftop array of 21,000 photovoltaic solar panels, for instance, is one of the largest in the UK and has the capability to generate up to 30 per cent of the facility’s energy demands – enough to power 1600 homes.” As with the Solihull developments, the EMC has been designed to be a fully flexible and
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar XE
scalable environment to support the company’s ambitious global growth strategy. Of which, the Ingenium Engine family, which, according to JLR, will deliver a class leading balance of performance, refinement and economy, is a big part. Mirroring this design for flexibility, the engines themselves follow a modular production technique making the platform configurable to the challenging needs of this premium automotive sector. Employment remains a key focus of every JLR site, and initiatives in place across both the EMC and Solihull plants perfectly demonstrate this. With employment levels growing all the time, JLR commits to giving its staff the best working opportunities and in Solihull all hourly employees undertake a structured training programme with a view to achieving an NVQ II qualification in Business Improvement Techniques. The plant has also recruited over 80 ex-military personnel – over 50 per cent of these in the past year – as part of JLR’s participation in the Armed Forces corporate
Diesel Ingenium Engine assembly
covenant to support the reintegration of military force personnel into successful civilian careers. “Back in the days of recession in 2008, the future of our manufacturing facilities looked uncertain,” says Nigel. However, there is no doubt that JLR has experienced a comeback of unprecedented proportion over recent years, not only as a player on the global automotive playing field, but also as a flag bearer for British engineering and the UK’s manufacturing industry. Across the UK and Europe, hundreds of suppliers have benefitted from the company’s growth and thousands of additional jobs have been created in the supply chain. It’s a position that, held responsibly, puts JLR in good stead as it continues to grow its product range and take on major competitors in markets around the world – ensuring it has world-class engineering facilities will be crucial to doing this. “Over the past decade, the Solihull plant has undergone a dramatic transformation and
is now a world-class manufacturing facility, producing more vehicles than ever before with a workforce that has doubled,” he continues. “As to what the future holds, I can only say more exciting vehicles! I am certain that Solihull will remain at the forefront of premium automotive manufacturing.” Trevor echoes the sentiment, concluding: “The expansion of the EMC supports JLR’s long-term growth strategy. Its development enables the company to take charge of its own destiny, react more quickly and be fully flexible in its desire to meet customer requirements for high quality engines.”
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Hunwick Engineering Ltd
Transportation
station
Specialists in the design and manufacture of top-selling car transporters, the innovative Hunwick Engineering Ltd is enjoying a full order book as demand for its high quality products continues to grow
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ounded in 1992 in 300 acres of disused WWII airfield in Gosfield, Essex, Hunwick Engineering Ltd operates under its trading name of Transporters as a manufacturer of car and van transporters solely for the UK transportation market. As a family-owned company that is part of the Park Hall Group of companies, which are run by the Ripper family, Hunwick Engineering benefits from advantageous buying ability. Additionally, the company has developed a close working relationship with its sister company, Transporter Sales & Hire Ltd, which also provides Transporter vehicles into the same market, albeit as rental and lease packages. “Since 1992, when we had a staff of just three, the business has grown significantly and now employs 150 full time staff and services more than 90 per cent of the market for car transporters in the UK,” says Mark Knowles, Managing Director at Hunwick Engineering Ltd, who goes on to explain the competitive strengths of the business: “At Transporter we pride ourselves on our focus to attention across all of our products; this ethos has continued when it comes to satisfying the demands of our customers. Furthermore, nearly all of the vehicles that we manufacture are bespoke to UK customers, while our competitors focus on a more generic approach when it comes to delivering products to the UK market.” Proud to offer a highly robust product that stands the tests of times while also ensuring optimum reliability, Hunwick Engineering has developed a strong reputation in the market over the years as a company that doesn’t let its customers down. Able to maintain its leading position in the market through innovation, ongoing product development and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and aftersales care, the company is also competitive when it comes to cost, quality, flexibility and service. Furthermore, the company prides itself on its green credentials and has its factory run on a 50 acre solar farm, which delivers clean renewable electricity from 44976 individual solar panels that provide up
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At Transporter we pride ourselves on our focus to attention across all of our products; this ethos has continued when it comes to satisfying the demands of our customers
to 11.47 MWp per annum; this saves 165,000 tonnes of CO2 over a 25 year lifetime. Hunwick Engineering complements this incredible energy efficiency by harvesting rainwater for reuse in the factory ablutions and has also made a progressive change to LED lighting, not only in its building but also in its products. On top of this, the company also has interceptors for contaminates installed in
the drainage system and a new bulk paint delivery system that reduces CO2 by mixing the paint at the gun on application. Aligned with these strengths is the company’s technical expertise when it comes to the design and manufacture of products for the transportation of motor vehicles. These specialist management skills ensure products by Hoynor,
Charles Roberts, Kassbohrer and Marshall Car Transporters can be serviced and maintained to exceptional standards. Moreover, the workshop manufacturing and service facility complements the management segment of the business thanks to a state-of-the-art facility equipped with 3D fully integrated CAD draughting systems that are interfaced with a superior desk top publishing
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Hunwick Engineering Ltd
system. The company’s parts department, meanwhile, houses a broad range of spare parts for the above organisation’s Transport and Transporter trailers; it also has a number of service and repair centres across the UK. This way of working has resulted in a loyal customer base that knows should they need a transporter, repairs and maintenance, refurbishment, refining or spare parts or accessories, Hunwick Engineering is readily available to meet these requirements to the highest of standards. Committed to developing a partnership with each customer and the car manufacturers, Hunwick Engineering is able to listen to its customers’ unique requirements and then deliver a solution that specifically meet their needs. “Transporter offers a bespoke build for every customer,” confirms Mark. “This way of working means we are able to offer different deck surfaces depending on the vehicles that will be carried. For example, we can offer additional components on our vehicle builds that will assist with the loading of different vehicles on the deck surfaces.” Models that are presently available to customers include the Evo 8, which has additional innovations on its popular Evo range and boasts capacity for up to 12 cars; the 5 car, which has capacity for five, six or seven cars, the salvage vehicle that is designed to successfully undertake all salvage operations, and the voyager semi-trailer, which can carry seven large estate cars or six Land Rover Discovery’s. However, as a company that doesn’t rest on its laurels, Hunwick Engineering will soon be adding to its portfolio with the EVO 8 car transporter, which is currently in production, as Mark highlights: “The Evo 8 is our core 11 carrier product that has evolved since it was first introduced in the early 2000’s. Cars have changed significantly in that time and each EVO model has evolved to ensure that we are meeting the loading requirements of modern day cars and commercial vehicles. The EVO 8 is the latest vehicle in this evolutionary process.” Presently enjoying approximately 90 per cent of the UK 11 car carrier market, Hunwick Engineering is in an enviable position moving forward. However,
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in our infrastructure with the goal of speeding up production times and reducing lead times. It is also key to our success that we strive to develop our products in line with our customers’ requirements to maintain our market share.” With a full order book for 2016 and the launch of a new product coming up, the company will continue to build on its existing values through investment as a way to remain at the forefront of car transporter market. “Our core focus over the next 12 months is to design, test and introduce our next generation 11 car carrier, which we are expecting to be complete by the final quarter of 2016. Meanwhile, our medium to long-term vision is to not only ensure we maintain our market share in the 11 car carrier market but also look to add additional services to our portfolio to increase our service proposition to our customer base,” concludes Mark. this demand has led to the challenge of meeting the increased demand for its products, as Mark notes: “Over the last years, customers have been increasing their fleets and also undertaking considerable fleet replacement programmes, which means demand has been extremely high for our products. The challenge for Transporter in the future is to ensure that we continue to invest
Hunwick Engineering Ltd Services: Design and manufacture car transporters www.hunwick-transporter.com
Scherdel GmbH
Entrepreneurial
expansion With over 125 years of manufacturing tradition, Scherdel GmbH represents a market leader in the fields of metal forming; assembly and joining technology; mechanical engineering; and tool and surface technology in both standard and bespoke modes
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igmund Scherdel founded Sigmund Scherdel GmbH during 1889 and the company today continues to operate as a fully family owned business with a strong presence in 29 locations across 11 countries around the world. From its global headquarters in Marktredwitz, Germany the company manages more than 4800 employees worldwide and operates a global network of 39 manufacturing plants as well as a system of service and sales centres throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia. During its history Scherdel has established a presence within several international market sectors, including the automotive, electronic vehicle, healthcare, electronics and machine tool construction industries. In 2015 for example, the company experienced a turnover of circa €630 million of which €100 million was generated by tool, machine and system construction, while €55 million was invested back into the business. “Between 2014 and 2015 Scherdel achieved growth of around five per cent and the trend within the automotive industry continues to look good. The growth of the business could be even stronger for 2016 and past three months in particular have been very positive,” reflects Managing Director, Marcus Bach. “Our core business is within the automotive market, however we are currently actively working to expand in the medical and electro mobility (E-mobility) sectors. These are the youngest branches of the Scherdel Group, but they are developing well and it is our focus for the future to continue to develop these areas while continuing to serve our traditional markets.”
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While Scherdel continues to develop its presence within the E-mobility and medical markets, the automotive sector continues to represent an important contributor to the success of the business. Within the automotive sector Scherdel has proven expertise in vehicle drive systems, body, brake and chassis applications and vehicle interiors. With a proven history of industry experience, the company has established a broad client base throughout the automotive sector around the world, meaning that while business is slow in one region the company can
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compensate through sales in other areas. As such, Scherdel continues to work to ensure that it is able to increase its presence across the globe so that is can remain close to its clients. “Scherdel products are present in nearly every car on the market and main clients are well-known OEMs, but also major tier one and tier two suppliers,” Marcus Bach observes. “Therefore, we can count almost the entire automotive supply chain as our customers.” Scherdel was previously featured in Manufacturing Today Europe during August 2015, during which time the company had recently opened an additional manufacturing plant in Mexico to support its existing operations. As Scherdel continues to focus on expanding its operations across its chosen markets, the company has remained committed to further investment into its manufacturing capability to ensure that it can meet the requirements of an evolving market. Situated in Silao de la Victoria – a city state of Guanajuato, the investment in the new facility was valued at some €8.84 million ($10 million). The new plant covers an area of almost 30,000 square-metres and presently
Scherdel GmbH
features around 9500 square-metres of administration, production and storage space. However, due to the expansive nature of the new location, Scherdel is capable of flexibly increasing its capacity to meet new and emerging customer demands. In addition to the new facility and associated equipment roughly 100 new members of staff were added to the company’s existing workforce, further enhancing the manufacturing capacity of Scherdel. Since 2015 the additional Mexico plant has proven to be a huge success for Scherdel and the company has capitalised on this momentum by investing in a new plant within China. “We were already present in Mexico, but the plant there had become too small so we took the decision to built a new plant to incorporate more space for products,” Marcus Bach elaborates. “The motivation for us was the opportunity of offering
valve springs to our clients in the Americas, European and Asian market. We have now also begun construction of our second plant in China. The building and roof are currently in place and it is intended that the required machines will transferred to the site during June 2016 with the first production samples to begin immediately.” Further to the foundation of new manufacturing plants, Scherdel has also invested into the research of new production technologies across the business, including ultrasonic welding, laser welding, ultrasonic soldering and new plastic moulding techniques. Scherdel also operates seven development and design units across the company that help it to implement new technologies as well as to assist clients in finding the best solution for their requirements, which can be in a standard or bespoke design. Throughout its business, Scherdel relies on maximising synergies between its various units and treating individual employees as entrepreneurs in her or his field. The continued development of its staff remains a further core aim of the company and Scherdel currently employs around 296 apprentices globally. “It is our aim to continue to develop the Scherdel Group across the automotive sector as well as the medical and E-mobility markets. This way the company will be less reliant on a single market segment, which will increase the stability of our business,” Marcus Bach concludes. “One of the most important considerations for the future will be to employ the right people. We believe in working with the right employees who are motivated and free to think innovatively within the business. The most important element of Scherdel will always be the people running and working within the company. Every employee acts as an ‘entrepreneur’ at his workplace.”
Scherdel GmbH Services: Metal forming; assembly and joining technology; mechanical engineering; and tool and surface technology
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Brompton Bicycle Ltd
Selfdriven First designed and built by Andrew Ritchie at his flat in South Kensington during 1975, Brompton Bicycle Ltd folding bikes are today still produced in London for customers globally
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uring the course of over four decades in operation, Brompton Bicycle Ltd has grown from a low volume, ad-hoc producer of the innovative Brompton folding bike to the UK’s largest bicycle manufacturer.The Brompton was conceived by Andrew Ritchie as a product that would increase the rider’s sense of independence and freedom while commuting through London’s busy city centre. It was designed in 1975 and quickly caught the imagination of the capital’s inhabitants, with ad-hoc production beginning in 1981 leading to the award of the coveted Best Product Award at the Cyclex event held at Olympia, London during 1987. By 1988 production was moved to the company’s first full-time manufacturing facility, set in railway arches in Brentford, West London. Over the following years Brompton Bicycle has grown into the UK’s leading bicycle producer, crafting over 45,000 bikes at its current manufacturing facility in Greenford, London each year.Throughout its 40-year history the Brompton design has developed into a global
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phenomenon, reaching as far afield as the South Pole when a Brompton was ridden in the isolated region during 2003! Returning to rather less inhospitable environments, Brompton bikes have become a trusted commuting partner across 45 countries through a network of over 1450 official Brompton dealers around the world.The Brompton design has proven to be such a global success that during 1995, Brompton Bicycle received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. Brompton Bicycle’s journey continued to build momentum during 2011 with the opening of the first Brompton Junction store in Kobe, Japan and the establishment of the first Brompton Bike Hire station in Guildford. In 2013 the company opened its sixth dedicated store in Covent Garden, London and by September 2015 Brompton Junction numbered ten branches, following the opening of the company’s Tokyo store. All Brompton Bicycle stores and its associated dealers have at least one demonstration model in stock that assist clients in choosing from an extensive range of accessories and colour options.
The Brompton design was conceived to produce the perfect bicycle to complement busy city life. Brompton bikes fold down to a portable, practicable size that can be carried onto other forms of public transport including buses, taxies and rail services. Once folded the bikes are also small enough to be taken inside homes, offices and bars for example, meaning that they are significantly less likely to be stolen. When it comes to mobility, in its ride position the Brompton’s performance and ability are more than a match for conventional bicycles. Its small wheel design results in rapid acceleration from red lights and increased manoeuvrability through busy streets. Additionally, Brompton bikes are also tough and able to withstand everything a busy city can throw at them. Manufactured utilising a high-quality steel frame, efficient and puncture resistant tyres, as well as hand-crafted build quality has established Brompton as a regular transport solution in cities all over the world. Each Brompton bike is configured to the individual customer’s requirements and can include a variety of options ranging from handlebar and gearing solutions, through to luggage and colour options. Handlebars are available in four configurations that each offer different ride positions suited to various styles of riding. Each handlebar offers different appeal, ensuring that the bike will give a superb comfortable riding position. Options include the classic M Type handlebar shape that provides a good all-round position and the H Type design, which is suitable for riders that prefer a more upright riding position. For a sportier ride the S Type handlebar offers a dynamic solution, while the P Type offers the flexibility of several grip positions. The comfort and dexterity of the design of the Brompton bike is further developed by a choice of four basic gearing-options.These can be further enhanced by a series of adjustments, so that the gearing can be tailored to suit both the rider and specific terrain. Gearing configurations include a onespeed option that is both light and simple for flat city riding, while a two-speed variation includes one gear that is suitable for hills and setting off and a second gear for cruising. A three-speed option provides a robust gear hub, which represents the perfect solution for everyday cycling, while the Brompton sixspeed gear system represents an all round solution. The six-speed gear system is the perfect choice for riders that wish to take longer journeys or tackle challenging inclines. Throughout 2016 Brompton Bicycle has continued its journey without showing any signs of losing momentum. On 10th March for example, the company opened its second flagship Junction store in Germany.The new outlet is located in Wörthstraße,
Munich, which has the perfect infrastructure for cycling and its perfectly positioned in the heart of the city. Brompton Chief Financial Officer, Lorne Vary attended the opening ceremony where a number of journalists, influential citizens of the city and customers also celebrated the opening. During the same year Brompton also released limited edition Nickel and Stardust editions of its unique and hugely popular folding bike, further demonstrating the company’s passion for innovation and quality that will continue to steer Brompton in the right direction for years to come.
Brompton Bicycle Ltd Services: Leading manufacture of unique Brompton folding bicycles www.brompton.co.uk
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Schulthess Maschinen AG
Clean
cycles
With award-winning products under its belt, Schulthess continues to develop class leading, quality products for the European laundry sector
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chulthess Maschinen AG’s history reaches as far back as 1845 and in the time since it has established itself as a true leader in the design and manufacture of laundry appliances in Europe. The company began producing washing machines in 1904 and in 1951 it became the first in Europe to bring to market a domestic offering. Based in Wolfhausen, near Zurich, Schulthess prides itself on living up to the quality expectations of being a Swiss manufacturer, bringing together state-ofthe-art machinery with expert manual processes to deliver market leading industrial and domestic washing machine and dryer products. “The company’s long history is a real strength of ours,” explains Nicole Gillhausen, Head of Marketing at Schulthess. “Over this time our competences have developed towards us becoming a leader in the sector and our products have become known for reliability, long and durable lifecycles, ease of use and top build quality. It creates a great platform upon which we have developed a solid reputation in a whole range of
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markets outside of household applications from hospitality and healthcare to sport and building trades.” Innovation has been a part of Schulthess throughout its history and has manifested itself in everything from efficiency, reliability and quality, to design. With three core ranges, the company has developed an offering for numerous domestic and industrial applications up to 30 kg, and supports this with 72 profiClean programmes. Working closely with its customers, a whole host of settings and washing cycles have been determined to perfectly suit the diverse requirements in the market. For the healthcare market for instance, a special disinfection programme has been developed. Demonstrating an ability to lower energy and water consumption, this setting has also been appropriately certified to operate effectively within the sector. Its professional range, topLine is designed with quick and dynamic operation in mind and includes 50 programmes providing a diverse operational range for professional washing of
smaller volumes. The mid-range proLine comes in offerings from 8 to 16 kg and combines 70 individual programmes with power and efficiency as the defining features. WMI, the third and final offering, is undoubtedly the workhorse of Schulthess’ line up. Designed with constant and demanding operation as a priority, the WMI range has 94 individual programmes, plus an additional 76 freely programmable spaces for optimal and customisable performance. “Many of these professional machines are running all the time so efficient and reliable operation is absolutely essential,” notes Nicole. The years of hard work and innovation into the design and functionality of its products recently culminated in a highly coveted design commendation, as Schulthess’ domestic Spirit brand was given the Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ design award in the household category. Independent jurors judged products individually according to various assessment criteria such as level of innovation, ergonomics, product silhouette, symbolic and emotional value, quality
awareness and ecology. “This is very special for us,” expresses Nicole. “Schulthess is delighted to have received this award and proud that its washing machines and dryers are so compelling, from functionality through to design. Making life that little bit easier – and brighter.” Strong design and innovative performance is one thing, but to achieve the high levels of quality it has become known for Schulthess operates a very sturdy manufacturing programme based on the just-in-time principle. “What is ordered yesterday is produced today and delivered tomorrow,” Nicole highlights. “All production takes place in Switzerland and combines stateof-the-art technology with the experience and engineering know-how of highly-skilled manual labour, and uses only the highest quality components.” Constant investment into a cutting edge facility has defined the company’s production performance and centres on this professional balance of automated robotics and manual enhancement. The use of advanced technologies means that the factory is able to make efficient use of space with large and complex procedures
taking up a smaller footprint, whilst rigorous component installation and inspection processes are carried out by a trained hand. Benefits in precision and quality assurance have been the result of years of technological innovation, such as a special powder coating solutions that achieves significant savings in chemicals, water and energy, and a superior rounded rank which guarantees operational durability and lower resistance for energy improvements. As the level of customisation increases within the industrial lines, as too does the amount of expert manual labour required. When it comes to competitiveness the laundry sector in Europe is a fast moving and challenging environment. Schulthess is currently a market leader in Switzerland and holds a strong market share across the rest of the continent, but Nicole points out that in order to maintain this it is critical that the company can continue innovating with
improvements to efficiency and ease of use. A strong Swiss Franc and tumultuous geopolitical situations in certain markets is also making export conditions tough, so becoming more economical is a major focus for the company over the coming months. The standing it gains from winning the Red Dot award will go a long way to maintaining such a reputation within the sector, but as Nicole makes clear, Schulthess is not one to rest on its laurels and taking full advantage of this will be top priority. Ultimately, the same committed approach to quality product and a customer focused development programme that has defined Schulthess’ history will continue to be prevalent in the company’s outlook as it moves forward.
Schulthess Maschinen AG Products: Manufactures specialist professional and household laundry facilities www.schulthess.ch
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Tex Plastics Ltd
Perfectly
formed Tex Plastics has the solutions for clients looking for a plastic injection moulding supplier that actively seeks out ways to reduce costs and increase products’ performance
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It was decided that Tex Plastics needed to focus on different processes in addition to our moulding operations to offer a much more niche service. As a result, we can offer a single point of contact from which to deliver services that cannot realistically be provided from overseas
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ith roots dating back to 1976 when the company was founded as AK Precision Mouldings, Tex Plastics Ltd today operates as a member of TEX Holdings PLC from two sites, located within Derby and Barnstaple. From these dedicated facilities, both Tex Plastics Barnstaple, and Tex Plastics Derby, have developed a proven reputation for manufacture using plastic injection moulding for OEMs throughout the UK. Throughout its history Tex Plastics has been typified by its astute financial decision-making and financial processes, which takes a long-term view of the business as well as the wider market. The long-term commitment of Tex Plastics and its team has led to the development of a common internal management process referred to as FOCUS, which allows the company to ensure that its clients receive the best and most effective solution for their requirements. This
is further reinforced by established overseas alliances with preferred partners within the UK, China and Europe for both new tooling and injection moulding solutions to suit each client’s needs. Each of the production facilities belonging to Tex Plastics has developed into specific niche markets, within which they have established key industry knowledge and expertise. Furthermore, the production facilities and quality assurance classifications across the business are focused on the individual requirements that are specific to each of the industry sectors currently served by the company. By offering a broad base of production and post manufacture solutions, Tex Plastics has proven itself as a robust business that is able to deliver a competitive technical package of services to counteract cheap manufactured products exported from China into the UK. “With the rise of the Chinese economy, manufacturers within the region could produce high volumes of
product at low cost. Even with the subsequent transport costs factored in, this meant Chinese firms were much more competitively priced than most UK companies,” says Manufacturing Director, Guy Sentance. “With this in mind it was decided that Tex Plastics needed to focus on different processes in addition to our moulding operations to offer a much more niche service. As a result, we can offer a single point of contact from which to deliver services that cannot realistically be provided from overseas. Additional services such as finishing and assembly can be completed with very short lead times, meaning that the customer can expect their order in as little as seven days in some cases. Customer service is very important across the business and this has allowed us to maintain an edge in terms of competitiveness.” Tex Plastics works with clients at every stage of production from design to moulding, to ensure innovative component development that adds real value to the resulting product range. Through
implementing design rationalisation, assessment and 360˚ review processes at the start of all new component production, the company is able to deliver a more robust and ‘fit for purpose’ product, which is manufactured with minimal waste in the most efficient way. This fundamental element of the Tex Plastics management process is key to minimising lead times and reducing all elements of risk before going into production. By undertaking detailed performance and mould flow analysis, it is possible to accurately predict how any given material will behave in its given application. This is in turn an essential part of the material selection tool design process. The comprehensive package of design and prototyping services provided by Tex Plastics comprises concept design, re-engineering of designs, prototyping, mould flow projections, material selection and specification, stereolithographic (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) models, and vacuum castings. In terms of manufacture, Tex Plastics employs injection moulding to deliver a broad base of solutions ranging from multi-shot moulding of tight tolerance parts to friction welding of metal replacement tanks and containers. The company has comprehensive facilities at both its Barnstaple and Derby sites that enable it to carry out minor modification or refurbishment of mould tools. A substantial investment programme across the business means that Tex Plastics employs the very latest manufacturing processes, which mitigate waste and maximise component quality
and consistency. This is matched with the highest standards and ability in technical tooling and mould flow design, with an added comprehensive understanding of the latest polymer technology. As a result Tex Plastics has continued to grow as a market leader, selling products into the UK and generating healthy returns for the company’s shareholders. “During 2015 we turned over £22 million across the business and although we had a period of very little core investment into the business between 2008 and 2009, we have had a large focus on automation to enable the company to reduce our direct labour spend over the past three to four years,” Guy elaborates. “We have also instigated a lean manufacturing philosophy and looked at the way the business runs to streamline the company to allow us to generate positive returns. I think our shareholders would agree that these have been more than acceptable over the past few years.” In 2015 Tex Plastics further strengthened its position within the market through significant investment into both its Derby and Barnstaple facilities. This has allowed the company to increase its presence within a number industry sectors including the provision of medical products, which is currently an area of particular growth for the business. “As a division we reinvested £900,000 back into the business last year including a customer driven cleanroom at our Barnstaple plant, while also making our biggest purchase ever of around £475,000 in a 1300-tonne machine. This has opened up our moulding capacity at
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Tex Plastics Ltd
our Derby site,” Guy expands. “In addition to this purchase, we have also invested a further £150,000 on two replacement machines at Derby and this programme of investment and modernisation is being replicated at Barnstaple.” The investment into its new cleanroom allows Tex Plastics to meet the customer driven requirement that clean air is supplied at the critical point of production and reduces contamination by significantly limiting the areas of machinery that are exposed to the external environment during tooling changes. This limits downtime for cleaning, reduces risk of contamination and increases productivity for the Barnstaple plant in the production of medical and related components. The cleanroom is
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now fully operational, complimenting an already comprehensive ‘concept to completion’ project solution for all conventional, white room and cleanroom thermoplastic requirements. With the recent investment into the business and the resulting increase in its manufacturing, Tex Plastics will seek to consolidate its position, while strengthening its relationship with both new and existing clients, as Guy concludes: “With the introduction of the living wage there is a need to make sure that cost bases are as low as possible moving forward and we also have a focused strategy in winning new clients. We win a lot of business organically through next generation projects with our current customers, which is testimony to our levels of overall performance and we of course need this to continue, but it is equally important to generate new interest from the market to further expand our customer base.”
Tex Plastics Ltd Services: Plastic injection moulding for UK OEMs www.tex-plastics.co.uk
Tvilum
Flat pack to the
future
In the manufacture of flat pack furniture, Tvilum is one of the world’s biggest players, and it is planning a new facility in Poland in order to deliver even more efficiencies to customers
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company based in a little village called Faarvang in western Denmark, Tvilum is one of the world’s leading manufacturing companies of ready to assemble furniture. Its roots can be traced back to 1922, but the business as it stands in 2016 is the result of a number of several strategic mergers and acquisitions. For example, in 1997 Tvilum and Scanbirk merged under the name Tvilum-Scanbirk and for many years the company was family owned. In the year 2000 Tvilum-Scanbirk (and later Tvilum the company changed its name in 2011) became a part of the American Masco Corporation, and finally, in 2013 Tvilum was bought by American Revolution Capital Group, a private equity fund, which holds an extensive experience in acquiring and developing companies across multiple sectors. Every year, Tvilum manufactures and sends eight million pieces of furniture around the world - the kind of furniture that clients would find in flat packed cardboard boxes and have to assemble with screws, dowels and glue on the floor in their homes. These products, which range from desks to wardrobes to children’s furniture, are sold in stores around the world as well as purchased by dealers via its e-shop. Indeed, e-commerce is a focus area for Tvilum, and it is making a major effort to develop and keep up-to-date in this area. Therefore it has established an e-commerce department, which is responsible for maintaining and extending the service towards a growing group of dealers, who are looking for Tvilum furniture for sale on the internet. This works in addition to its network of local salespeople and agents across Europe, Scandinavia and the US.
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Tvilum
The logistical challenges of delivering to a global customer base are addressed by strategically located warehouses – Tvilum’s are based in Denmark, the UK, and the US. In the US it has a sales office in Chicago and distribution centres in South Boston and LA from which it supplies its American customers. The advantage of having a local warehouse in the US is that its dealers do not have to worry about customs, and can expect quick delivery on items in strong demand. The organisation can also offer dealers the option of purchasing entire container loads from Denmark through its distribution centre in the US. This is an advantage for large furniture businesses or online businesses, which are trading large volumes. In addition, with its primary warehouse centrally located in Denmark, the company can quickly deliver products to all the European countries by truck. To all other markets it generally ships full containers from Denmark by sea. Finally, the warehouse in Great Britain maintains an inventory for a selection of products that are very popular in the British markets, plus Tvilum also ships many products to Great Britain from its main warehouse in Denmark. As a result of the high turnover of products it deals with - Tvilum loads around 1250 boxes containing furniture every hour, 24-hours a day – the company has accrued extensive experience with handling whole pallets and individual items – and in the US it repacks so the packaging fulfils ISTA3 requirements, which make it very durable. Tvilum offers various repacking solutions in order to give dealers and e-dealers good service and the opportunity to deliver directly to end customers. For example, it offers to package furniture items with extra heavy-duty corners and protective film, so they can be safely delivered by freight to end customers. It can also affix individual and customer specific labels to the packaging if desired.
All of this huge range of products is currently manufactured at three different sites in central Jutland where the consumption of particleboard equals 23 km every day. However, never content to rest on its laurels, Tvilum continues to expand its coverage, with a new production facility in Poland being announced as recently as January 2016. This new investment decision was made after a very successful 2015, which included a growth strategy going into several emerging markets globally, and a more regionalised manufacturing approach. “This establishment will bring us closer to our customers in Europe, where more than 60 per cent of our products are sold,” commented Andrew Long, CEO of Tvilum. “In addition to this, our largest supplier of raw material, Kronospan, is located close to our factory in Poland. These two factors will together reduce our logistics costs considerably and are important for Tvilum.” Andrew continued: “A large part of the cost of our products is made up of particleboard, and part of that price is generated by logistics costs, therefore, we must increase our competitiveness by establishing production closer to the raw materials. At the same time, we will be able to offer FSC-certified products out of Poland, which is also an important competitive resource for us and of high value to our customers. “The establishment in Poland is an ambitious investment. But it is necessary for us to meet our goal of regaining our position as the world’s leading manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture. Production facilities in Poland will make Tvilum a more sustainable, financially strong and profitable business. Therefore, both Tvilum, our customers and suppliers will benefit from our establishment in Poland.” Tvilum plans to establish approximately 80 jobs in Szczecinek in Western Poland. Andrew emphasises that Tvilum’s Danish production and warehouse facilities still have their full justification. He concluded: “We have excellent skills among our Danish employees, and they help develop Tvilum every day. Supply, demand and market conditions will dictate the long-term plans for our Danish facilities, however, we fully expect to maintain operations in Denmark in the years to come. We see this expansion as part of being extremely proactive and investing in our future growth.”
Tvilum Products: Manufacturer of flat pack furniture
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Cheesman Products (Automotive) Ltd
A stainless
record
With a history dating back over more than four decades, Cheesman Products (Automotive) Ltd. represents one of Europe’s most experienced exhaust system manufacturers
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ince John Cheesman and his wife Mary founded the company in 1973, Cheesman has earned an admirable reputation in the design and fabrication of stainless steel products, specialising in tube bending and the production of exhaust systems. John’s extensive industry experience was a major factor in Cheesman becoming well known throughout the market. While John and Mary took semi-retirement in 2002, Cheesman is still owned and managed by the Cheesman family and continues the tradition of fabricating high quality stainless steel tubular products. “Cheesman produces original equipment parts for low volume vehicle manufacturers. This can range from sports cars and mobility vehicles through to road sweepers and military vehicles. We have supplied some of our customers since the mid-1970s and continue to do so,” elaborates Managing Director, Paul Cheesman. “We see ourselves as a dependable and approachable company and can offer extensive manufacturing
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experience, exemplary customer service and on-time delivery records that speak for themselves. Our attention to detail in the manufacture of parts and our ability to listen to our customers’ requirements are key factors in how we operate.”
By working in close collaboration with clients, Cheesman is able to design and manufacture a portfolio of products that typically comprises exhaust systems including front pipes, silencers, tailpipes, water pipes, air cleaner pipes and an extensive variety of welded assemblies. The initial
development of products can be undertaken using the intended vehicle to ensure simplicity of design, functionality and best fit, before the creation of a ‘master pattern’ from which all subsequent parts can be derived. As an alternative to using the vehicle, existing parts or engineering drawings can also be used to create the master pattern. The company’s in-house coordinate measuring machine (CMM) capability is finally employed for checking the accuracy of dimensions of parts. Cheesman is an expert in delivering parts that fit the unique needs of its clients within the automotive market. Batch quantities manufactured by the company are typically of between ten and 500 units, depending on the product, but quantities as low as five off can be catered for if required. These products are predominantly manufactured in 304 stainless steel, but can also be fabricated in 409 stainless or mild steel should the client have a particular need. Its depth of knowledge in exhaust manufacture, ensures that Cheesman can offer optimum design solutions that make practical, economic and aesthetic sense. The company’s dedication to delivering high-quality and on-time product solutions has enabled it to develop on-going customer relationships that, in some cases, have lasted for as long as 40 years. “In 2015 Cheesman
delivered 98.1 per cent of its products on time despite moving premises and the machines being ‘down’ for the period of one month. Factoring out the move we would have delivered 99.83 per cent on time,” Paul reveals. “We strongly believe that any customer who uses us as a supplier deserves to receive their products on the date that they requested and that those products both fit the vehicle and perform as intended. This is especially important when supplying direct to a vehicle production line as we do by means of our Kanban delivery service. With a long history of content customers and minimal returns or rejects our products and designs have shown themselves to be truly impressive.” The company’s move to new premises has given it the opportunity to further expand its manufacturing capacity to meet the technically demanding requirements of its clients. The business, based in Woking until April 2015, started with a single manually operated hydraulic mandrel tube bending machine with a capacity of ø1.1/2” x 20 swg, which is still owned by the company today for posterity. Currently Cheesman operates from a 17,000 sq ft, specially refurbished facility, located in Ash Vale, on the Surrey/Hampshire border. Over the years the company has continued to invest in machinery and equipment
‘‘
We strongly believe that any customer who uses us as a supplier deserves to receive their products on the date that they requested and that those products both fit the vehicle and perform as intended
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Cheesman Products (Automotive) Ltd
and now has a range of CNC tube bending machines with the ability to bend up to ø4”. This investment has increased not only the company’s manufacturing capacity, but also the demand for increased workspace within the business, resulting in the move to its current location. With the company’s move successfully completed, Cheesman will seek to continue to expand its service to clients old and new. “During our time in Woking we initially increased the size of our premises by adding mezzanine flooring. Later we took on an
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additional unit to the two that we already occupied. We were overdue a move to larger premises but finding somewhere that met our requirements proved difficult. However we now have an enhanced layout of machines and space in which to better organise our production runs. We are looking to make use of our improved facilities by expanding our customer base with the view to forging more long-standing client relationships with companies in a variety of market sectors,” Paul concludes. “I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution made by our staff, some of whom have been with us from the mid 1970s. Our team takes pride in their work and the products they make by following the Cheesman philosophy of keeping the customer happy at all times!”
Cheesman Products (Automotive) Ltd Products: Original equipment parts for low volume vehicle manufacturers www.cheesmanproducts.co.uk
Thurne-Middleby Ltd.
A cut
above With over 45 years of industry experience, Thurne-Middleby Ltd has a proven international reputation in delivering high quality, precision-engineered slicing systems for bacon, cooked meats and cheese applications
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IBS 4600 vision technology
ince its formation as Thurne Engineering in 1967, the Thurne brand has developed a reputation as a leading name in the provision of high speed slicing equipment, through a succession of ‘industry first’ slicing machines that pioneer vision, scanning and computer technologies that benefit small family firms and large multi-site corporations alike. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Thurne Engineering joined forces with AEW Engineering and Delford to form AEW Delford Systems. AEW had previously excelled in the manufacture of high-speed bandsaws as well as automatic portion control slicers and saws, while Delford had earned a worldwide reputation for its pioneering labelling and dynamic weighing technology. During 2006 the business became part of the Marel group as part of the company’s expansion in food processing equipment. During the close of the first quarter of 2015, the Middleby Corporation acquired the assets of the Marel high-speed slicing business unit. The roots of the Middleby Corporation date back to when the company was founded a bakery supplier in 1888. In 2014 Fortune Magazine named the Middleby Corporation as its fastest growing company, while today the business continues as a leading provider of commercial cooking equipment, industrial processing equipment and residential appliances. As part of the purchase, Middleby took the decision to rebrand the unit under its original trademark of Thurne while continuing in the manufacture of the company’s broad line of high-speed slicers and integrated slicing systems. The slicing technology developed by Thurne includes market leading, automated
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Thurne-Middleby Ltd.
Thurne IBS4600 the world’s first high speed four blade slicer
Knecht Maschinenbau GmbH A 950 Grinding Machine for Slicer Knives from KNECHT The A 950 sharpens sickle knives of all brands up to 900mm (35 inches) and circular knives up to 700mm (27 inches). The machine works with driven grinding tools. As a result, the slicer knives are ground with precisely defined edges. The grinding pressure is applied pneumatically. The material removal on the cutting tool can be exactly regulated. The grinding angle is adjusted electrically with utmost precision. The reproduction accuracy is 0.1 degree. The heart of the A 950 is the cam. It is individually customised for any slicer knife. The cam ensures that the knife retains its exact original shape over its entire service life. The A 950 is easy to use. An individual grinding program, consisting of the number of grinding cycles and the selected grinding angle, can be saved for each slicer knife. When the program is called up, the machine automatically adjusts to these settings.
bacon, deli-meat and cheese slicing equipment that delivers clients unique solutions that reduce labour, increase production throughput and reduced food costs while assuring quality and precise portion control. “Both Thurne and AEW began as Norwichbased engineering companies involved in producing process equipment for the food industry, with Thurne operating as a leader in technology for high-speed slicing,” elaborates President at Thurne-Middleby Ltd, Peter Jongen. “Thurne was the first company to develop the ‘vision system’ with an aim to improve the accuracy of individual slices for deli products. Thurne is currently solely focused on concentrating on slicing technology, with its biggest market currently in the field of bacon slicers in the United States. The company also continues to have a strong presence in the UK and has always remained an innovator in food slicing solutions.” Thurne is presently highly active within the US, where its products are currently employed by nearly all of the country’s large bacon processers. As part of the company’s on-going growth strategy for 2016 and beyond, Thurne is keen to expand its presence within the UK and Europe and will be attending the IFFA in Frankfurt exhibition for the meat industry during May 2016. The show will give the company the opportunity to both meet with current and potential future clients, as well as to demonstrate the technologies available to clients. “IFFA is one of the world’s largest exhibitions in the meat industry, where
food processing companies and manufacturers are all present,” Peter says. “We will be in attendance and plan on displaying our IBS4600 precooked bacon slicer, which is a four-blade slicing machine. The machine itself was developed around eight years ago and we have an install base of 25 units at present, so it is not a new machine in that respect. Within Europe however, the IBS4600 is a relatively new development and a unique slicing technology, meaning that there is no competing machine on the market.” The IBS4600 is essentially four slicers in one, featuring four independent feeds, four independent blades and four independent cameras, which are combined with Thurne vision technology. As the world’s first slicer to have four independent feeds, the IBS4600 represents a bacon processing revolution that is becoming increasingly known the world over. Each of the unit’s independent feeds is equipped with its own vision system that gives weight control of individual slices, regardless of belly size. High yields with low giveaway are the norm thanks to the precision and control that delivers constant weight portions with remarkable consistency, while end user and consumer appeal is enhanced because the end product has a uniform appearance, texture and quality and can be sorted into fixed weight and count packs. Through the invigorated marketing of its new and existing machines, Thurne is already expanding is presence within the UK market. During February 2016 for example, the company launched its IBS1000 Bacon Slicer with great
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Thurne-Middleby Ltd.
Thurne IBS1000 bacon slicer
success. “We launched the IBS1000 early in 2016, specifically for the UK food industry. We have sold more than half a dozen of the machines already and expect more sales to follow as there is great interest in the machine,” Peter reveals. “The IBS is very efficient and therefore increased volume and yield. It is capable of high blade speeds and throughput to match production needs, while ensuring consistent slice thickness and integrity. The machine also has a small, space saving footprint and can produce a variety of retail and food service pack formats.” While the largest market for Thurne is presently within the bacon-slicing sector, the company continues to manufacture slicing solutions for the deli and cheese markets, where it began in slicers several decades ago. These include machines for slicing beef loins, cheeses and so on. Across all of its targeted market sectors, Thurne offers comprehensive aftercare solutions, which allow clients to order with full peace of mind and form a core pillar of the company’s continued growth strategy. “We offer service level agreements in various grades, including taking full ownership of the machines. We carry out inspections regularly and deliver spare parts from Norwich to Europe and also have a service office based in Chicago to service North America. Thurne also has field engineers living in the US and the UK to ensure that we are always close to our customers,” Peter concludes. “I think that presently we are doing very well and we are keen to continue to grow within the UK, because although the US is a highly successful market for us, we want to expand the success in the UK and Europe. Our membership of Middleby is a great strength for us in this respect, as it is a strong company in food processing with various other companies within the group. This allows us to make use of its vertically integrated systems to strengthen our market leading position.”
Thurne-Middleby Ltd. Products: Precision-engineered slicing systems for bacon, cooked meats and cheese applications
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HTH Kokkener
Endless opportunities Operating under the Nobia umbrella, HTH Kokkener is one of the Nordic region’s most prominent kitchen brands and offers more than 700 different products and designs to a wide range of customers
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elebrating its 50th anniversary this year, HTH Kokkener (HTH) was founded by Hans Henning and Tonny Hahr, two carpenters who saw an opportunity in the market for kitchen manufacturing and obtained a loan of 10,000 DKK to launch the firm in 1966. In 1983 the company was acquired by Swedish Match and went on to become the largest Nordic producer of kitchens just two years later in 1985 with the sale of 990,000 cabinets. Following this acquisition, Swedish Match was acquired by STORA, a development that became the catalyst for further mergers within STORA with other complementary organisations such as Danica and Uno Form. With production moved to Bjerringbro in 1994, Industri Kapital took over STORA in 1996 and changed its name to Nobia; this development was followed by ISO-certification in 1997, health and safety certification in 2002 and environmental certification in 2003. The company was elected as the 20th best place to work in Denmark in 2004. In 2005 HTH hit a major milestone, with production exceeding one million cabinets, this was followed by strategic expansion in 2006 and the launching of its basic (DIY) option in Norway in 2008. Today operating as part of the largest kitchen producer in Northern Europe, HTH believes the kitchen is the most important room in a person’s life; it is not only where food is cooked and eaten, but where families gather, where friends meet, where children play computer games or parents use it as a hobby room. With endless opportunities on what a kitchen can be used for, the company firmly believes in its slogan of ‘We can always do better’ and, as such, consistently
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Blum
Blum has a comprehensive understanding of quality that does not only apply to products; it also extends to its services and cooperation with partners. “Everyone who uses our products should benefit from them – no matter whether manufacturers, retailers, fitters or kitchen users.” But that’s not all. Blum also has exacting demands in terms of quality. That’s why the company has added convenient services to its innovative product range and why it attaches great importance to long-term business relations. As a logical extension to this, Blum has developed tools, jigs, assembly aids, e-services, flexible assembly and cabinet construction software, logistics and purchasing software and much more besides. Blum wants to support its customers with the procurement, processing and marketing of its products.
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seeks to improve the quality and complexity of its product portfolio. Having always tried to develop new kitchen designs, for example through combining monotone laminates with real wood, HTH has launched Athena Light Ash Laminate for 2016 as a way to highlight subtle colours with a streak of something natural. Edged with solid wood in white paneled ash, the door of Athena Light Ash Laminate is made of one cm board coated with 0.6 mm high-pressure laminate in eight striking colours. This option can also easily be combined
with Athena Light Ash Veneer, another new product to be introduced in 2016 that features veneer fronts with horizontal grain, edged with solid wood edging in painted white ash; the door is comprised of 1.9 cm board and is coated with 0.6 mm veneer. A mainstay of Nordic furniture, HTH’s new ash products are certain to generate attention from its Nordic customer base. Another recent innovative development is the company’s Décor Smooth White, a good choice for those seeking to replace their kitchen, bathroom, closet or home at a competitive cost without sacrificing on quality. Made of 1.6 cm board and coated with 120-g eggshell melamine, Décor Smooth White is finished with a 1.3 mm thick synthethic edge. Should customers choose Décor Plain White, they also have the option of having the cabinets assembled and delivered for no additional charge. In line with this commitment to quality, the company has first-class ingredients for creating the perfect kitchen; this includes safe indoor climate characteristics from the Danish Indoor Climate label, which guarantees all materials have been tested for gas and odour release and have no negative impact on indoor climate, health and well-being. The Danish Technological Institute has also tested selected kitchen units to ensure these
HTH Kokkener
units comply with the strength and durability requirements in ISO 7170, 1993, level two, within the home and office furniture category. Additionally, all tropical wood worktops are FSC certified to ensure they come from responsible forestry and controlled sources. Adhering to the vision of its parent company, ‘To become the leading and most profitable kitchen supplier, who inspires to and realises kitchen dreams through a world class customer experience’, HTH maintains its focus on delivering complex solutions and impeccable customer
service to consumers and professional customers no matter how challenging the project, as Kristian Snoghoej, Production Director at HTH Kokkener comments: “We are a solid brand that is known for its reliability, which is why customers tend to return to us. We also have a long warranty period, which means customers who came to us a decade after buying a kitchen can return for spare parts and so on; this is particularly important for large companies or institutions such as hospitals.” He continues: “Complementing our reliability is our sales academy, which educates on our brand and service but also ensures customers are provided with the right information. There are 342 decisions to make when you buy a new kitchen and we need to guide customers through these; there is a lot of choice, but our complexity is what makes us successful. We have a wide spectrum of cost levels, for example, from big spend options with high levels of quality to DIY flat packs.” Once customers have made their decision, HTH continues this commitment to delivering optimum quality service with its one time delivery, as Kristian notes: “Once the equipment has been assembled, we do our best to make a one time delivery, which means when you buy a kitchen, sink, lamp, bar stools and so on, we provide all of this in one delivery thanks to our own trucks and drivers.” Although HTH appears to be going from strength-to-strength, the company is continuing with its commitment of continuous improvement alongside other business segments within the Nobia group to ensure it retains its leading reputation in a competitive market, as Kristian concludes: “We are looking into lean manufacturing and enhancing efficiency. One way we aim to achieve this is through visiting each factory within Nobia to learn from each others cultures or morals and find ways for these to benefit us. It is our goal to get our factories operating more closely, while also ensuring they remain unique. “By continuing to deliver exceptional quality products at the right price at the right time we will remain strong in the market, however, we also need to boost efficiency and lower costs in areas such as production. Key to making these improvement goals a reality is an investment in new technologies and a focus on the cost of failure; these will be our areas of focus over the next 12 months.”
HTH Kokkener Products: Kitchen brand
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Wax Lyrical
An enthusiastic
approach
Home fragrancing company Wax Lyrical is continuing to enjoy the sweet smell of success thanks to a focus on lean manufacturing and ongoing investment in both machinery and employees
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riginally established by the Williams family in 1980 when they saw potential in the home fragrancing market while working as hotelier and restaurateurs, Wax Lyrical has changed hands and faced financial difficulties over the years before it was acquired and rebranded by Mike Armstead in 2006. Renamed Wax Lyrical in 2010, the company has become a true success story for British manufacturing following a strategic decision to manufacture 95 per cent of its products in-house. Indeed, it is in the scenic Lake District that Wax Lyrical’s team of 130 skilled and dedicated employees strive to produce and market more than 15 million high quality products to its global customer base through independent control over issues such as flexibility and quality. “We supply to 42 countries and 35 per cent of our sales come from exports,” confirms Joanne Barber, Managing Director at Wax Lyrical. Perfecting its innovative and unique products
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in Ulverston, Cumbria, the company collaborates with the best fragrance houses in Europe to ensure customers receive true to life fragrances that come from the purest and finest ingredients. Offering customers a range of candles, reed diffusers, room mists, scented sachets and refresher oils from its own Wax Lyrical collections, the company’s products all emphasise its commitment to the best ingredients and materials, stunning designs and bold fragrances. Furthermore, the company has partnered with five prestigious brands, the Royal Horticultural Society, Jelly Belly, Fired Earth, Julie Dodsworth and Churchill China (UK) Limited Hidden World; by manufacturing these products under license, the company has further strengthened its appeal to a broad range of consumer groups. Although Wax Lyrical has significantly improved its services and the level of quality of its products since 2006, the company refuses to become complacent and has instead continued to invest in both machinery and its employees since last
appearing in Manufacturing Today Europe in March 2015. “Historically our manufacturing was in different locations, however in June 2015 we completed the relocation of our manufacturing operations into one hall. Following this development, we began to look into lean manufacturing training, which covers lean manufacturing simulation and the TIM WOOD (transport, inventory, movement, waiting and delays, over production, over processing and defects) seven wastes in manufacturing; we have also focused on some 5S (sort, straighten, shine, standardise and sustain) exercises. These exercises have really helped to improve the mindset of our employees with regards to manufacturing,” explains Joanne. On top of this, the company has also enjoyed a positive seven months of passing accreditations and assessments. As the first home fragrance factory to be awarded the British Retail Consortium (BRC) quality approval in 2009, Wax Lyrical has continued to earn this approval every year, with 2015 being no different. “We are proud to be awarded the BRC quality approval
for the seventh year running; additionally, we have been successfully accredited for the SEMTA 4 Pillar audit, which covers labour, health and safety, environment and business practices and were awarded a bronze accreditation for being Investors in People,” enthuses Joanne. Indeed, alongside these improvements in production, the company is also proud to offer opportunities for development to its employees; a strength that was recently highlighted by the BBC during the pre-election in early 2015. “As part of the pre-election BBC Breakfast was visiting UK manufacturing companies and we were delighted to welcome them on site. The production people interviewed some of our employees, most notably an employee who has been with us for 30 years and was being trained on a new piece of kit at the time. They also interviewed a member of staff who came into the company on a temp contract five years ago before moving into production and progressing into a laboratory where he is now doing further training,” says Joanne. “Furthermore, following our relocation and
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Wax Lyrical
Continental Bottle Company Ltd
Continental Bottle Company’s (CBC) vision is to provide their customers with the highest level of customer service and be recognised in the home fragrance, perfume, and cosmetics market as the first choice for the supply of candle glass, glass bottles and quality closures. CBC strives to create new products and ranges to enhance the ever changing requirements of the industry. Its mission is to be the first choice for glassware, delivering products of outstanding quality and great service through its commitment, hard work and dedication to meet their customers’ requirements. CBC serves both large and small companies nationally and internationally, and the company attributes its success to the fact that it offers a wide range of exceedingly flexible services. Its full decoration service includes screen-printing, frosting, spraying, hot foil stamping, sublimation and metallisation. This can be supplied on bottles or glasses for wax fill. Future investment in new innovative projects and designs ensures that CBC remains at the forefront of the industry. CBC has a wealth of experience and design know-how contributing to quality and excellence in all parts of the design process. CBC is here as your first choice on custom projects to complement your packaging requirements.
lean manufacturing training we have been looking into cross-skilling and up-skilling our labour force, a strategic decision that has been made easier by the fact everyone is now in one area. We definitely believe in investing in our people and growing our own, which in turn helps Wax Lyrical to produce high quality products. About 40 per cent of our staff have been with us for more than ten years, so this is clearly an ethos that truly works for both us and our employees,” she adds. Alongside investing in its people, Wax Lyrical has further strengthened its focus on efficiency with investments in machinery that enhances how the company wicks as well as the cooling process. “We have changed some of our automatic wicking operations, which has enabled us to improve production rates and the quality of the product. This is the same with the cooling process; these investments have not only enhanced quality but also increased capacity during production. We are very much focused on driving efficiencies in manufacturing to ensure we remain competitive and this trend is certain to continue during the first quarter of 2016. For example, during this time period we have set out automation plans for tealight packing and have some new labelers that will be brought into production; these will allow us to label more efficiently and give us versatility on shapes and sizes that will enable us to put more labels into a product,” explains Joanne. With preparations set for the first quarter of 2016, Wax Lyrical’s attentions are now turning to the festive season, with a number of products developed and launched this year. “We have launched our first candle advent calendar as well as gift sets for the 12 days of Christmas,” highlights Joanne. “These have been well-received by the market and were developed from the principles we have learnt from lean manufacturing,
such as how we approach packing gift sets in our factory and so on, so it was a very exciting launch that has been received positively.” As the home fragrance market continues to grow, Wax Lyrical has enhanced its production capabilities and developed its product range to ensure it is ready for the influx of demand. “Having completed this part of our investment programme, we are continuing with our strategic vision of being a one-stop-shop for home fragrance. We expect a five per cent increase in growth in comparison to last year due to market developments, however, as a UK manufacturer we are able to respond quickly to these changes and work quickly in servicing our customers needs,” concludes Joanne.
Wax Lyrical Products/Services:
Luxury scented candles, reed diffusers and private label collections www.wax-lyrical.com
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Neumeister Hydraulik
Always on the
move A focus on product development and customer needs helps Neumeister Hydraulik to maintain a leading market position
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tarting out as a small-scale agricultural machinery and equipment producer and supplier in 1922, Neumeister Hydraulik has evolved over the following years into the successful company we see today - driven by the growing demand for hydraulic components. One of the major milestones of Neumeister Hydraulik’s history took place in 1993 when it moved into its modern production and administrative building. This step put the business into a much better position to meet customers’ needs and take production to the next level. Thanks to this strategy, today the company employs 265 people and operates a cutting edge facility of 16,700 sqm for planning, construction and production, where its staff achieve high performance every day. This reliable team works to create a product portfolio that ranges from pressure cylinders to single and double-acting cylinders to hydraulic aggregates, alongside the necessary ancillary equipment, such as control, distributing and pressure valves. The latest machinery is employed in the production centre in order to assist the business achieve its ambitious goals, and this includes technology such as fully automatic welding robots with computer-controlled NC turning lathes. However, working alongside this state-of-theart equipment are a lot of manual processes in the final assembly stage, which are required in order to meet Neumeister’s demand for flawless products. The skilled craftsmen undertaking these shop floor activities are supported by specially trained designers working on the latest CAD workstations, which enable them to assess how
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the developed cylinders will stand the test of time in daily use later on. Indeed, all company departments work together closely on the manufacture of Neumeister’s product families. This gives customers the security of getting important components for their products from one partner, which has a feel for the finished product and, thus, understands the requirements of the individual application. Clients also benefit from Neumeister’s dedication to new product development – its motto of ‘always on the move’ continually encourages the organisation to create new product innovations that offer clients something extra in functionality and safety. Impressive examples of these include the ‘HySafe’ nonreturn valve and the patented ‘HyBlock’ hydraulic cylinder-locking device. The range from Neumeister is very extensive – it includes: • Double-acting cylinders • Single-acting cylinders • Telescopic cylinders (single and double acting) • Support cylinders (1 and 2-stage) • Special cylinders • Flow dividers • Valves • Roof lifting plants • Hydraulic displacement control • Swap body systems • Various hydraulic controls for concrete and machine building • Hydraulic Power Packs for direct and rotating current
One of the sectors that frequently returns to Neumeister Hydraulik is the heavy-duty vehicle industry, which requires optimised special solutions. From the development phase to the finished product, the company develops and produces hydraulic cylinders with all associated components, such as power packs and controls for heavy-duty vehicles. Its products are used in modular transporters, tippers, truck-mounted cranes, slag transporters, aircraft tugs, tunnel boring equipment and other commercial vehicles. Safety, reliability and functionality are a matter of course for products made by Neumeister. In addition to mobile users, there is a range of products designed for stationary use, in complex and technically demanding applications. There are no ‘ready-made’ solutions, but rather Neumeister develops products in close co-operation with customers, which are specially optimised for each process. The acquired know-how is then used to complete and supplement other product groups. This approach means that Neumeister is constantly opening up new circles of customers across Europe, and special solutions for industrial
applications are an impressive testament to Neumeister’s know-how. Neumeister hydraulic cylinders guarantee the functionality of weir drives and hydraulic screen cleaning machines in hydropower plants, while its highly resilient hydraulic cylinders withstand extremely heavy loads in the production of finished concrete parts. One particularly pertinent example of Neumeister Hydraulik’s solution expertise is the hydraulic control of the football field in the Arena Auf Schalke. Its bespoke cylinders move the 12,500-tonne and 80 x 120 m2 concrete bed into the stadium in four hours and back out again as needed. In tandem with its cylinder production, Neumeister manufactures hydro and compact power packs tailored to customer wishes and adapted to the technical requirements of the individual applications. The modular system and its comprehensive storage range guarantee short delivery times – even for individual fabrications. It also produces individual electro-control units, consoles and electrical components for the hydro power packs, which brings clients the advantage
of ready-to-use and tested complete systems. The achievements of Neumeister Hydraulik are a testament to its dedication to both innovation and tradition, and its ability to draw on many years of experience and resulting extensive knowledge base. This engine of new developments continually powers the company to achieve its best performance, whether that is in the development of new cylinders or the further development of existing products. Its overall focus on outstanding quality, absolute reliability and the highest customer satisfaction has brought it many successes so far, and with a continuing strategy on optimising processes and becoming leaner, the future can only hold even more impressive achievements for this dedicated manufacturer.
Neumeister Hydraulik Products: Produces and supplies hydraulic cylinders and aggregates www.neumeisterhydraulik.de
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CG Drives & Automation
Smart solutions A $2 billion engineering conglomerate, global leading corporation CG boasts a diverse portfolio of high quality products, solutions and services
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pioneer in the management and application of electrical energy for nearly 80 years, CG has developed a unique portfolio and unrivalled reputation since its formation in India in 1937. Proud to provide end-to-end solutions that help customers use electrical power in an effective manner, the organisation has helped increase industrial productivity and sustainability for its customers over the years. As part of the $4 billion Avantha Group, previously Thapar Group, an Indian industrial conglomerate under the helm of chairman Mr Gautam Thapar, CG’s significant success stems from the core values of its parent company: performance excellence, leading edge knowledge, nurturing growth, a focus on customers and intellectual honesty. Also key to CG’s strong reputation and ongoing success is its range of products, which includes transformers, network protection & control gear, project engineering, circuit breakers,
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consumer appliances and turnkey solutions. As its broad product portfolio has increasingly grown in line with market trends and customer demand, CG made the strategic decision to ensure structure within its range of equipment through three separate SBUs: power systems, industrial systems and consumer products. Despite growth being steady, the company chose to embark on an ambitious globalisation strategy in 2005 through organic and inorganic growth; this decision not only resulted in leading international firms such as Sonomatra, PTS and MSE coming under its corporate umbrella, but also led to CG now having manufacturing bases in locations such as Belgium, Canada, Hungary, Ireland, France, the UK, Indonesia and the US; it also has more than 20 manufacturing locations in India. To ensure a united global focus and customer confidence in receiving ‘One World Quality’ products and solutions wherever they are required, CG has invested in personnel and
equipment so all of its facilities operate with the same focus on quality and safety. This well-structured business model means CG is able to consistently provide its customers with technologically driven value-added-solutions that are of optimum quality. Today employing more than 8000 employees across the globe, CG has a worldwide marketing network of more than 150 representatives, which ensures its entire range of products, solutions and services are easily available to new and returning customers. However, to remain competitive, CG continues to aggressively invest in R&D, product certifications, product quality and the enhancement of productivity and operational excellence. Since previously being featured in Manufacturing Today Europe in 2015 this focus has continued, with the company enjoying another successful year; this is particularly true when it comes to the drives business, which has grown thanks to product developments and
the launch of the Emotron FlowDrive, a new product specialised in wastewater that optimises energy use, minimises the need for maintenance and enables real time process monitoring. Designed for use in the most common pumping scenarios (one to two pumps of any brand) in the wastewater management industry, the heart of FlowDrive is automatic reservoir level control. User friendly and reliable, FlowDrive delivers optimal price/performance ratio, which is backed by rapid delivery from its factory in Sweden as well as a local 24/7 service. Originally available in IP54 and IP20, within the 0.75-160 kW range, the new drive concept is fully tested and proven and offers numerous benefits to customers that include yet are not limited to: a design that stems from the company’s long history of well proven products, energy savings thanks to automotive optimal pump speed control, built-in functions that minimise maintenance needs; absence of a PLC/pump controller that reduces cost and effort that is involved in programming and a complete solution that is simple to install and
use. Furthermore, the drive operates in lean mode to establish the most efficient operating parameters for the best efficiency point (BEP) algorithm. By running the pump over a range of frequencies and measuring the volumes pumped, the drive defines the most energy efficient pumping frequency and calibrates functions accordingly. In addition to FlowDrive, CG has also launched new products such as drives for lifting cranes and a new ventilation range while also seeking out new contracts such as its $35 million order from PT PLN (Persero), the state-owned electricity company in Indonesia, in 2016. The scope of the project involves the manufacture and installation of 28 power transformers, ranging from 83.3 MVA to 167 MVA and rated voltage 500 kV/150 kV. These power transformers will be installed across PT PLN’s transmission network, which is spread across multiple substations and power plants in the Java, Sumatra and Kalmantan provinces of Indonesia. Following a highly competitive tendering process, CG was awarded the contract due
to its successful track record with PT PLN, as well as its world-recognised technical expertise in the manufacture and supply of high voltage transformers. On top of this project, the company is also supporting the expansion of the Dominican Republic’s transmission network by equipping three substations with ZIV protection, control, communication and automation systems and is exploring the potential for delivering solar PV systems to India. Proud to continue its long legacy, CG remains at the forefront of innovative, technologically driven, high quality solutions and is fast emerging as a first choice supplier of smart electrical, industrial and consumer products all over the world.
CG Drives & Automation Products: Power systems, industrial systems and consumer products www.cgglobal.com
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Senoplast
Five star
plastics
Above: Production line Below: Headquarters of Senoplast
Senoplast is an established technology leader in the highly complex production process of co-extrusion and a specialist in producing high-grade plastic sheets and films for a range of applications
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ith a history dating as far back as the beginning of the 20th century, when the Klepsch family ran a steel, iron and bronze foundry, Senoplast was founded by 18-year-old Wilhelm Klepsch in 1956. Thanks to the vision of its founder who came up with an idea to collect old plastic materials and use them again, the company has developed from its early days as a simple production operation into a global player in the area of co-extruded sheets and films for thermo-forming into a wide variety of applications. Throughout this period of growth, key to the company’s success was its commitment to regional responsibility, the use of environmentally friendly materials and technologies as well as the delivery of reliable, innovative and high quality products, all of which further enabled its sustained success in a competitive market. Today operating as part of the Klepsch Group, the Austria headquartered company has been
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producing for the NAFTA area from its base in Mexico since 2000. In 2006 Senco (Europe) was founded, a new production site in Piesendorf created to produce for the automotive industry and Senosan GmbH, a producer of high-grade, co-extruded and scratch resistant plastic films for the furniture industry was established in 2011. “Senoplast manufactures high value plastic sheets and films for the most varied areas of application, such as automotive, sanitary, furniture, refrigeration, roof boxes and travel cases. Since our foundation we have established ourselves as a technology leader in numerous patent applications. We aim to be the coextrusion specialists with the best surface quality in our market. My father was one of the first to start using co-extrusion as a way to combine the properties of different polymers into one sheet; something he did at the beginning of our industrious history,” begins Günter Klepsch, CEO at Senoplast. He continues: “We have since continued
Left: Panels made from senosan® Below: Thermoformed senosan® sheet
on this road and rely on the most modern co-extrusion production lines, which are all technically adapted by our own machine building company to ensure our high standards are fulfilled. Some examples of our expertise in extrusion and product design include our ability to alter materials so they match stringent norms in the car industry where impact strength is the highest priority; we have also modified materials to improve heat resistance by a number of degrees or developed UV protection for fire retardant material. Customising for our customers is an ongoing process for us.” With more than 50,000 tonnes of the company’s senosan® products delivered from its headquarters in Piesendorf, Austria, and subsidiary in Queretaro, Mexico, to countries across the world, Günter says Senoplast uses its flexibility and innovation to meet the needs of its broad customer base: “To meet the requirements of our customers we manufacture sheets and films in various dimensions, levels of thickness, surface structure and colours. Furthermore, our products boast superior surface quality and brilliant colour, while the mechanical and chemical properties of our products of course meet the highest demands for quality.” Recent product launches for Senoplast include a new embossing 022HT, which is available in ABS, TPU and PMMA surfaces as well as different colours and a maximum width of 1.650 mm; thickness options range from 2.00 to 6.00 mm. A new ongoing project has been launched together with the Green Hospital®, the socalled Room 2525®: an innovative trendsetting programme aimed to build new patient rooms in hospitals. Senoplast supplies high quality senosan® materials for furniture surfaces. “Our strength is clearly our ability to innovate,” he adds. “Key to our innovative development is the fact we have our own research and development department, which assists in creating products to fit the needs
Günter Klepsch CEO, Senoplast
of our clients. We can also rely on our quality leadership and strong reputation in the market; a difficult position to maintain over the years, however the low turnover of employees means we can maintain our in-house knowledge at the required level. We also regularly invest in inhouse training for our personnel.” Alongside this investment in its employees, the ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 certified company has also invested five million euros into its specialised extrusion lines and production environment to achieve Class A surfaces. “Refined surfaces need a dust-free environment in production, which is also a reason for this high level of investment; once completed, we will be able to supply the increasing demand for these types of products,” explains Günter. “On top of this, we have just invested in SAP as our ERP system for the Klepsch Group of companies; this will involve a lot of work over the next 12 to 18 months, but we are convinced this will improve our internal processes and enable a flowing co-operation between our companies across the globe.”
As the company continues with its commitment to ongoing improvement in all areas of operation, the future of Senoplast looks bright as these enhancements enable it to remain at the forefront as a pioneer of high quality and innovative plastic solutions. With 95 per cent of its products exported across the globe, the company has its sights set on further growth in key strategic areas, as Günter concludes: “For the next three to five years we will stay on our expansion route and aim to increase our North American business as well as our European market. We also hope to have implemented our Asia strategy during this time frame too.”
Senoplast Services: High value plastic sheets and films www.senoplast.com
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ATAG Cable Solutions
Dramatic
growth
By investing in its people and focusing on quality, ATAG Cable Solutions has overcome a challenging market to achieve massive growth both in the UK and abroad
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ounty Durham cable manufacturer ATAG Cable Solutions boasts a wealth of experience in the design, manufacture and supply of a broad range of high quality and high performance cables and assemblies for all types of industries. With all cables manufactured in the UK, the company uses high quality materials in a range of colours, sizes and finishes to meet the specific requirements of each customer. Standard and custom designed cable available from the company include bespoke cables, defense standard cables, solar PV cables, cathodic protection cables, curly cords and equipment wires as well as audio cables, tinsel wires, flame retardant and fire integrity cables, antimicrobial cable and low smoke halogen zero cables. Additionally, cable preparation available at ATAG Cable Solutions includes rewinding, twisting, braiding and hanking, and the company also boasts a full in-house design team and bespoke sensor and assembly solutions.
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Although established in 2012, ATAG Cable Solutions has a wealth of experience and its history stems back to 2004 when Managing Director, Andy Graham launched his first company Cable Xtruders. After initial success the company was noticed by Clynder Cables and its wider group and acquired the company from Andy in 2009. Andy went on to be the Operations Director for Clynder Cables (North East) and using his expertise, Andy played a key role in boosting the company’s turnover from £600,000 to £2.4 million in the space of 18 months. However, when market challenges led to Clynder Cables going into administration, Andy believed the company was still viable and acquired the machinery and retained a percentage of the key staff before rebranding the firm as ATAG Cable Solutions. “At the time of ATAG Cable Solutions’ inception, we were predominantly focused on
the manufacture of custom design cables; at this point in time we were growing gradually month to month and it was getting to the point when we were thinking about investment as we were in a relatively strong position. However, it was at this point in time that one of our key customers, APT Electronics went into administration. This left us with significant cash flow issues,” begins Andy “Me and the wife made the strategic decision to purchase the assets of APT, which enabled us to diversify our business model to include bespoke temperature probes for the telematics industry and assembly solutions.” Indeed, with the skills of the former APT Electronics’ staff and assets added to ATAG Cable Solutions, the company is able to add assembly to the custom cable design, manufacture and supply services it already delivered. Thriving on new product development and custom assemblies, ATAG Cable Solutions not only saves its customers money, but can also offer custom
company growing from a team of seven with a turnover of £600,000 to a team of 20 with a turnover forecast at £1.8 million for 2016. “This money meant we could heavily invest in our people, plant and machines; we started with three employees on the assembly side and one small unit. Within two months we had five members of staff and two units, within three months we increased to seven staff and got another unit. We expect to continue this pattern for growth by adding another five or six people over the next six months at least,” says Andy, who firmly believes people are key to the company’s success: “We have built up a great workforce and have gone on from there; all of our personnel know how to use the machines and what the customers want, with no training required.” Mainly operating within the oil & gas industry, 95 per cent of ATAG Cable Solutions’ customers are based in the UK, while the remaining five per cent are located in locations such as Canada, Turkey and Germany. Having invested in diversification of its products and quality standards, the company is able to meet the high standards of its customers.
Having enjoyed incredible growth in a short amount of time, ATAG Cable Solutions is focusing on consolidation over the coming years to ensure quality standards and customer expectations are maintained. “We want to continue looking after the customers who helped us through the rough patch and delivering the same level of quality, so instead of focusing on growth we have chosen to stop and evaluate what we have and to also implement and improve quality systems. We have gone from £600,000 a year to around £1.8 million this year so the three of us running the company want to make sure our development of the business is done right,” concludes Andy.
ATAG Cable Solutions Products: Custom designed cables and bespoke sensors and assemblies www.atagcables.com
design; from the initial concept to prototype, right through to manufacture and assembly, each customer’s unique requirements are taken into account. This commitment to customer satisfaction ensures optimum consistency and performance each and every time. Assembly services available include wiring harnesses, box build assembly, panel wiring, cable looms, control boxes, wiring looms, control panels, sub-assemblies, instrument panel building, custom overmoulded cables, coax assembly and mil spec soldered assembly. Following the acquisition of ATP Electronics, Andy invested a significant amount of money into the company so assembly equipment could be brought and APT Electronics’ customer base could be retained. This cash injection was also the catalyst in the company securing a six-figure investment from the Finance for Business North East Growth Fund through NEL Fund Managers in 2015; a development that has resulted in the
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Morris Line Engineering
Fully
energised
Morris Line Engineering continues to represent the quality values of UK manufacturing as a leader throughout the world
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n 2016 Morris Line Engineering (MLE) is celebrating 40 years since JW & E Morris set out to provide specialist design and manufacturing services for high voltage overhead line disconnectors and switches. Over this time the company has earned an international reputation for outstanding product design and manufacturing quality, supplying a comprehensive range from 12kV to 145kV switches to electricity distribution authorities, oil and gas operators, and rail electrification experts across the UK, Ireland, Middle and Far East, the Caribbean and Africa. Within the oil and gas market MLE is heavily active in the South and Middle East where it can count blue-chip companies such as Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO), and Qatar Petroleum amongst its key clients. Recent growth for the business in this sector has occurred with major contracts awarded by companies like the Saudi Electric Company (SEC), and it now counts for between 30 to 40 per cent of all work for the UK business. “We are designing products that have to be suitable for use in the desert so they have to be durable,” comments Steve Davies, Director
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of International Operations, in speaking about the company’s ability to work successfully in such challenging markets. “We have many years’ experience of designing products for tough terrain so we’ve become very adept at doing so. We are also known for our quality and we stick to the ISO legislation rigidly – that is very important because companies in the oil and gas sectors will accept nothing less than the best.”
Innovation has always been and remains to be a driving force in MLE’s business, and nowhere is this more evident than its work with the Oil and Gas industry, where the company has been a key influencer in new industry standards for silicone rubber insulators. “Years ago, porcelain insulators were the norm,” Steve continues. “Along with ADCO in Abu Dhabi, we developed our switches to accommodate composite insulators, which are hugely beneficial as they don’t attract dust. The old porcelain insulators had to be washed twice a year and that requires a lot of labour power. We are now seeing a high demand for 145kV products fitted with silicone rubber insulators and MLE has now reached a solution after several years investigating the possibility of fitting these insulators on to our disconnectors.” The utilities market is also a major avenue for MLE, where it has been supplying the Distribution Network Operators in the UK and Ireland since it was first founded in 1976, concentrating not only on the large orders but the individual and bespoke requirements that each customer may have. More recently it was awarded a three-year contract to provide a Middle Eastern electricity supply company with 13.8kV to 36kV equipment
from three separate product lines. Ever committed to developing long-term engineering partnerships and with demand from both the oil and gas, and utilities industries in the Middle East, the company recently made the decision to open up a dedicated assembly plant in the UAE. Not only does this help MLE better serve its customers in the area, but it also helps to effectively manage the cost of doing business in the Middle East. Speaking last year to Manufacturing Today Europe’s sister magazine Railway Strategies, Sales Director Nigel Jones elaborates on this strategic move. “We manufacture all the equipment in the UK still, but in kit form that is then sent out to the UAE in large loads to be assembled locally,” he says. “To get a UK assembled unit to customers in the region would be very expensive, so this strategy has helped us to develop a strong customer base, particularly in the Gulf markets. This way we can still guarantee that the quality of the product is maintained, also where the assembly is undertaken there is a stringent quality policy that our International Director Steve Davies monitors closely.” In terms of its rail operations, MLE has amassed a project portfolio spanning the globe from China to Brazil and in the UK it is the preferred supplier of 25kV track switches and fixed earthing devices to Network Rail. In the UK its Welsh manufacturing facilities are situated perfectly to quickly provide design, test, manufacture and support services to Network Rail, and MLE is committed to supporting the training and development of client teams to carry out installation and maintenance works. With major electrification projects being carried out across the UK’s network at present, opportunities for the company to continue delivering a quality service are rife, and with the development of a fully IEC tested Load Break 25kV 1250amp switch, designed and tested for the UK’s rail network, Network Rail can benefit again by having a product that is manufactured and delivered with the reliability, quality and support that MLE has given them for the last 30 years. Occupying such a leading position in these three core markets around the world is currently rewarding MLE with high levels of growth. Over recent years the company has undertaken significant development programmes at its manufacturing facilities in Bridgend to cope with the rise in demand. Works include extending its site by a third to accommodate the production and storage of new products and the addition of a new dedicated mechanism department to serve the motor mechanism needs of Network Rail, it has also extended the research and development department due to the amount of development projects that have been requested by its customers - MLE has also acquired additional space allowing it room to grow even further as future demand dictates.
Of course, much of MLE’s success can be put down to the years of experience and expertise it has developed over 40 years of operating, yet equally as responsible is its clearly defined and highly focused approach to serving the ever-changing needs of its clients. With a deep understanding of its customers’ requirements and the challenges that they continue to face around the world, MLE has been able to develop a leading reputation for providing key solutions and forming strong engineering relationships that facilitate continued product development. Maintaining this is clearly a key part of the
company’s vision and adhering to it looks to reward MLE with even more growth over coming years.
Morris Line Engineering Products: Industry leading design and manufacture specialist for high voltage disconnectors and switches www.morrisline.co.uk
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Chargepoint Technology
Taking charge Renowned market leaders in powder containment and aseptic transfer valves Chargepoint Technology provides operator safety and sterility assurance for customers in the pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical and other process industries
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lthough it was formed in 2009, Chargepoint Technology Limited Company’s history dates as far back as 1996 when the first Chargepoint split valve was built in the UK in conjunction with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline). Previously known as Contained Transfer Coupling (CTC), the valve’s fundamental features have still been retained in the most up-to-date design today. A common solution for contained charging/filling or discharging/dispensing of potent compounds from a wide variety of pharmaceutical and chemical process equipment such as reactors, isolators and tablet pressing equipment, the ChargePoint valve has become a pharmaceutical standard for high containment batch transfers. A key strength of the ChargePoint split valve design is its flexibility, which has enabled it to be applied within other areas of the pharmaceutical production process;
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these include bulk formulations and aseptic processes, it is also suitable for other markets such as the beverage industry. Major milestones in the company’s history include the opening of its new inhouse manufacturing facility in 2010, which was followed one year later by the launch of the ChargePoint Bio valve. In 2012, the company won the coveted Queen’s Award for International Trade before it made the strategic decision to expand into China with an office in Hong Kong. Following this major expansion, the company pressed on with increasing its global presence with the opening of ChargePoint Inc. New Jersey Incorporated, which enabled it to have a closer relationship with clients in the US. Throughout these major developments, the company continued to focus on innovation, a move that resulted in the launch of new product ranges in 2013: Pharmasafe, Aseptisafe and AfterCare.
Today the company’s products and services are split into six divisions: ChargePoint PharmaSafe, ChargePoint AseptiSafe, ChargePoint AfterCare, ChargeBag, ChargeBottle and Accessories. Through the manufacture of powder containment valves, PharmaSafe is able to offer the highest level of containment performance to assure the safe handling of potent API, intermediates and pharmaceutical formulations. Also within this business segment is the ChargePoint ExtraSafe system, which provides safe dust particulate extraction in conjunction with the PharmaSafe pro-containment valve when there is no suitable air handling available. ChargePoint AseptiSafe aseptic transfer valves, meanwhile, offer increased sterility assurance during the handling of sensitive ingredients and small components in fill/finish aseptic processing and biotech sterile API production. Key benefits of using the valves include the optimisation of product quality with increased sterility
usage of the acquired solution. On top of this, these dedicated employees offer responsive customer support, the supply of spare parts, upgrades, consumables and accessories, training and on-site services. Spare parts, consumables and accessories available include ChargeBottle rigid containers, ChargeBag flexible packaging, clamp components, storage, protection and maintenance accessories; cleaning and washing accessories and containment, handling and docking accessories. The ChargeBottle range includes products such as ChargeBottle P, small scale polypropylene containers to suit a range of specific requirements and ChargeBottle MX, pressure rated stainless steel/Alloy 22 containers that are available with optional purge connections and viewing ports to ensure maximised transfer yield. Meanwhile, the operation and maintenance training available includes correct and safe use of the valve and basic cleaning procedures for operators, while training for maintenance personnel the services available include disassembly and reassembly of the valve, what to look for in terms of signs of excessive wear and troubleshooting. Should a customer require ChargePoint’s
services on-site, service engineers can be deployed internationally to provide customers with a rapid response to both planned and unplanned maintenance visits. On top of this, the company offers preventative maintenance contracts that are tailored to each customer’s requirements as well as validation services such as performance qualification (PQ) testing, IQ/ QQ (Intallation Qualification/ Operational Qualification) execution and documentation and SATs (Site Acceptance Test). Continuing with its goal of delivering optimum quality products that meet the expectations of world-leading manufacturers across the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech and food industries, the ISO 9001 accredited company will be moving to new premises in June 2016 that will not only enable it to make bigger valves but also target a larger market.
Chargepoint Technology Products: Containment valves and integrated materials handling equipment www.thechargepoint.com
assurance, simple in process sterilisation and high containment performance for hazardous products. Additionally, the transfer valves now come with a VERIFi Intelligent Monitoring Platform. Launched at INTERPHEX 2015, VERIFi, an intelligent monitoring platform that communicates vital equipment performance data that helps significantly enhance the reliability, safety and profitability of the facility and its final drug product, adds a new dimension to split valve equipment as it combines the highest levels of performance and reliability with unique technology. This impressive combination enables manufacturers to meet the most stringent requirements of regulatory bodies. Once customers have invested in ChargePoint’s products, the company offers high quality AfterCare services thanks to its team of experts who work closely with clients to identify key areas that will enhance the
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Tronrud Engineering
Redefining manufacturing in
Industrial Automation With more than 5000 projects completed since 1977, Tronrud Engineering AS has developed a strong reputation as a leading provider of cutting-edge technology and specialised engineering solutions
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ounded by Ola Tronrud in 1977, in a workshop that was based on the ground floor of his house (Ringerike county), the Norwegian firm Tronrud Engineering remained a one-man business for seven years before Ola bought a new property to serve as the company premises in Hole County (Norway). From then on, the company saw extensive expansions – both in terms of acquiring larger and well-equipped production facilities as well as the increasing number of manufacturing projects that it was undertaking. In 2011, the company relocated to Ringerike county and celebrated having its entire operations consolidated at one address - Eggemoen. And the company then began operating out of two brand new buildings with an area totaling 12,000 cubic metres. Tronrud Engineering offers customised industrial products and technical solutions to a wide range of sectors including secondary packaging, defence, telecom, healthcare, oil and gas, maritime,
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aviation, wood-processing, automotive, recycling, energy and environment, food and beverages, photovoltaics and textiles. The company has also acquired a special competence in rendering services. They undertake both internal and external R&D assignments, machining through an optimal combination of manual and CNC controlled machines, programming of PLC, PC control, servo systems and databases, and design and assembly of a range of products. Tronrud Engineering also conducts steel and aluminium welding, water jet cutting and steel sheet work. The company’s core business, however, can primarily be categorised as ‘product development’ and ‘specialised machinery and standard products’. Standing by its motto of ‘Putting Ideas into Practice’, Tronrud Engineering offers an ideal setting for innovation and optimisation. As a part of its product development capabilities, the company offers prototyping, R&D, mock-up possibilities with fast and in-house assembly and testing, design and engineering, software development, production and
assembly and complete production lines. During the design and development stages, the company employs advanced equipment and technologies such as additive manufacturing, which is a process by which digital 3D data is used to form a component - layer by layer - through the use of materials available in a fine powdered form. This technique enables creating products with increased design flexibility, lightweight yet stable construction; and the possibilities for rapid prototyping and mass customisation. Much of the specialised machinery that Tronrud Engineering offers started off as designs on the drawing board in its product development wing. The company also manufactures standard off-the-shelf products that include secondary packaging machinery such as the TCP 160 (Case and Tray Packer), NCP 400 (Unique Compression Packer) and WP 3000 (Wrap Around Case Packer); the automated pallet label applicator LabelEx 255B, the TE Titan suppressor, the TC2 (a digital Jacquard loom), wax applicator machine,
Speedex (packaging machine) and machinery for proof coin production. Since its inception, the company has completed more than 5000 projects and successfully met the needs of thousands of customers in different sectors across the globe. In fact, the history of Tronrud Engineering – in many ways – mirrors the manner in which industry has evolved in Norway, with the company’s main customers originally coming from the mobile phone and photovoltaic sectors. Following this, the company took on projects within the growing oil and gas sector as well as medical projects. More recently, the company has taken up projects catering to the food packaging industry. But over the years, the company’s regular customers have been the automotive and air & space industries. Key to Tronrud Engineering’s foray into the food industry is its acquisition of NOR-REG Systems AS - a developer and manufacturer of machinery in the highly specialised area of end-of-line packaging automation - in August 2015. The acquisition not only involved taking over all of NOR-REG Systems’ existing assets, intellectual property, patents and technology, but also taking on personnel from the firm. With the food industry at the heart of NOR-REG Systems’ expertise for more than 30 years, the company has developed packaging machinery for products such as dairy, frozen foods, fruits and vegetables, confectionary, tea and coffee, beverages, pet food and snacks. The company has extensive experience in handling both primary and secondary packaging at high speeds. With this strategic takeover, Tronrud Engineering aims to build on some of NOR-REG Systems’ technology and also become a reliable partner for the delivery of secondary packing machines to both existing and new customers of NOR-REG Systems. Making sure these aims are met is Rune Nordby, Sales and Marketing Director of Tronrud Engineering AS, who joined the company in October 2015. “Since joining the company, my focus has been the acquisition of NOR-REG Systems and the integration of this company and its products into ours, so that we can meet the needs of the food industry across the globe. This acquisition has not only ensured that we maintain a stable project delivery, but will also increase the turnover by taking up more projects and diversification of our customer base. Our expansion into the food industry has been into the meat, fish, dairy and snack sectors. In line with this development, we have focused on R&D, particularly for the fish industry, which of course requires the development of special machinery,” he comments. “We are currently looking at exploring new markets in the food and snack industry with these new system machines. The food industry is still a new market for us and we are looking forward to developing further in this sector.” Having diversified its market presence and strengthened operations, Tronrud Engineering
aims to continue delivering optimum solutions to customers. Rune speaks of the road ahead: “We are currently involved in a lot of new projects in varied sectors - oil and gas, food industry, healthcare to name a few. We have recently entered into a contract with Pepsi Co., a leading American brand with a global presence within the snack food and beverage industry. As a part of this project, we are making packaging machines for their plants. We have also made some special machinery for Norsk Titanium, who will be an important customer for us over the coming years. We are producing three 3D additive manufacturing machines to help them meet the increasing demand from a number of leading commercial aerospace and defence manufacturers.” With its staff numbers increasing from 128
to 156 over the last eight months, this dynamic company is all set to deal with the influx in demand for its products and services over the coming years. “It is all about providing quality, affordability and reliable solutions and services to our customers. By continuing to lead the way when it comes to technology and service, we not only give our customers a competitive advantage in the market, but also increased profitability,” Rune concludes.
Tronrud Engineering AS Products/Services:
Supplier of specialised machinery www.tronrud.no
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Orbit One AB
The full circuit With roots dating back as far as the 1960s, Orbit One is today one of Scandinavia’s leading contract manufacturers of printed circuit boards, packaged electronics and electromechanics
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ince the business was founded as HGL in 1995, Orbit One AB has rapidly grown to represent one of Scandinavia’s largest specialist companies in the manufacture of circuit boards, unit-assembled electronics and electromechanics. Today the business is a globally leading supplier of contract electronics and systems supplier to a diverse range of industry sectors including Medical devices, Infrastructure, Clean Tech and Media. During the early life of the business it was owned by international manufacturers including Ericsson, Nokia, ICL and SEC before the company was acquired through a management buyout by Christer Malm and current CEO, Mats Johansson in 2003 and finally renamed from HGL to Orbit One AB in 2004. Today Orbit One is able to offer customised solutions through the entire value chain, including design, prototype, purchasing, production, testing, logistics and aftermarket services. The business currently employs some 670 members of staff that are deployed throughout its production units in Ronneby and Stockholm in Sweden and further units in Poland and Russia. “During the time of the management buyout the company owned a single factory in Ronneby in the south of Sweden with a staff of 100 employees and a turnover in the region of €12 million. Since then we have continued to develop the business and through the recent acquisition of a company named Flex (the former Flextronics unit in Ronneby, Sweden), we have reached a turnover of €100 million,” reveals CEO Mats Johansson. “In almost every year
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since Christer and myself took over the business something significant has happened within the business and it has enjoyed good organic growth over the years. I have recently taken over as CEO, while Christer has retired and Orbit One has continued to grow rapidly. The main sectors for the company at present are currently general industry and healthcare but IT, telecoms and media applications are also very significant markets as well.” Orbit One acquired the Flex (formerly Flextronics) manufacturing unit in Ronneby during November 2015. The site was focused on manufacturing and logistics services for electronics in the industrial and infrastructural segments. The acquisition allowed Orbit One to
retain former Flex employees and allowed the company to become one of Scandinavia’s largest contract manufacturers, while Flex will continue to operate its design and engineering centres in Sweden, which were not part of the deal. “This was a large and strategically important acquisition. Orbit One is strengthening its position in a tough and competitive market where consolidation is a condition for continued competitiveness and growth. The two companies complement each other very well and we will grow stronger through the merger and can thus both improve and deepen our offering to the market. The business in Ronneby is only 200 metres from Orbit One’s unit where we have both our headquarters and a manufacturing facility. Our intention is to continue to develop both operations’ activities, integrate processes and take advantage of the resources and the expertise available. Swedish industrial expertise is internationally acknowledged and we want to take advantage of and develop this offering,” Mats says. “We have been working very hard since November 2015 and have recently moved SMT production to one site and we are now working with full integration. The big advantage of the consolidation is that it is helping us to move in areas like Poland and Russia. We are expanding the potential of the whole group with these big acquisitions, so it is something that is really very positive for the entire company. We also have good strengths in other fields that all fit together very well, not simply from a customer perspective but also in terms of competence.” The success of Orbit One in recent years and
the importance of the acquisition of Flex to the business is demonstrated by the fact the company has increased its employee base by 220 people in the past 12 months alone. Over the coming years, Orbit One will continue to focus on the integration of Flex into the business and on furthering its presence in the global market. “We are working with a lot of international companies like Atlas Copco and Siemens and a huge range of well-known businesses across our portfolio. We have a broad base of product applications, which is an important strength for the company as it means that if the market changes in one area we will have other customers that can act as a balance. I think that the market remains very difficult to predict. Within the Scandinavian region during 2011-2014 for example, there was a dramatic drop in turnover and profit throughout the industry, which made some consolidation necessary. The more positive news is that electronics are becoming increasing present in all kinds of devices today. From that perspective the market is very interesting and growing with new technologies being introduced everyday,” Mats concludes. “We are very aggressive on the market right now and are meeting a lot of clients, while at the same time we are working on the integration. We now have 18,000m2 of production in Ronneby (total space is around 30,000 sqm) space and we want to move all of our
production under one roof. We are also looking to upgrade our other sites with some assets and over the long term we would like to continue to have good organic growth and will also look at the possibility of becoming a public company within the next three to four years.”
Orbit One AB Products: Printed circuit boards, packaged electronics and electromechanics www.orbitone.se
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KMP PrintTechnik AG
A strong
footprint Since its foundation in 1988 in Eggenfelden, Bavaria, by Heinz G. Sieg, KMP PrintTechnik AG (KMP) has grown into one of the European market leaders in the supply of compatible printer consumables
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riginally focused on ribbon production, the 600 employee strong KMP PrintTechnik AG (KMP) today offers a vast range of printer supplies to customers while operating under the experienced direction of Heinz G. Sieg and his son, Jan-Michael Sieg. Proud to be a family business with tradition and a forward thinking approach to business, CEO Jan-Michael Sieg discusses the reasons behind KMP’s success: “Our strengths lie in the exceptional quality of our products as well as the quick time it takes for us to deliver products to the market; we also have a wide product range, which is a great advantage for us. On top of this, our brand name of KMP is strong in Europe and particularly in Germany; known as KMP Classic, this range consists of our ink and toner products. “Another integral part of our success is the development of new products, which stems from market analysis on different printer devices or other products; this work involves looking into a new product and possible market shares before we create a new product for said printer in
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Apple watch stand
Germany with support from development and production colleagues in the Czech Republic. It is ultimately about evaluating an upcoming product and working out whether it is a good product for our B-2-B customers or our industrial customers and then creating a product for this item. In 2015 alone we launched 400 new products.” Having embraced the new laser and inkjet printing technologies at the right time, the company has developed a strong reputation and long-term experience in modern printing, with the majority of its revenue now earned from ink and toner cartridges. Tested for absolute reliability via 11-step quality control and numerous independent tests, the company creates first-class products by using high-quality pigment and dye based inks to ensure high colour accuracy, reliable performance and consistency. Viewed as the perfect alternative, inks and toners from KMP work perfectly in printers and are as colour-intensive and glossy as inks and toners from the original manufacturers; this cost advantage is further increased thanks to KMP’s commitment to recycling and remanufacturing
many of its inkjet and toner cartridges, which not only lowers long distance transportation but also reduces each customer’s carbon footprint. On top of this, the company doesn’t use harmful substances, which also helps protect workers, customers and the environment. “There is a big trend coming up in Europe, one of which involves the EU and the circular economy, which is where we keep resources for as long as possible through re-use before recycling. Although recycling is a big part of our production, this is a task we are working on to fulfil the government’s requirements while also helping our customers to re-use their carbon footprint too. For example, if you use one of our XXL toner cartridges, you can save up to 50 percent of printing costs and conserve resources. We want our customers to be aware about the opportunities that our products offer them when it comes to reducing their carbon footprint or enhancing their environmental balance sheet,” explains Jan-Michael. Alongside these continuing developments in toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges, ribbons, franking supplies, large format ink and thermal transfer ribbons, KMP has also been developing a recently launched series of innovative products for the protection and care of Apple products, as Jan-Michael comments: “This is a complete range of products to protect your Apple Mac, iPad, iPod, Apple watch and so on and is aimed customers who have a service team of sales reps or technical staff that are always on the go.” Products within this range include a watch stand, which boasts a stylish and innovative German design and high stability due to its aluminium base. Suitable for all watch versions, the stand also has an innovative cable guideline that prevents the knotting of the cable and good operability of the watch, even when it is charging. Other products in the Apple series include a protective case for MacBooks (Air 11/13, Pro 13/15, MacBook 12”), which is shock-absorbing, light and flexible; easy to attach due to snap-on closures and ensures access to all ports. KMP has also created a protective glass case/cooling case for the iPhone6 and 6Plus, which prevents heat radiation and boasts a simple, elegant design. Furthermore, a high-quality Protective Skin with a
patented solution is included in the new portfolio. Continuing with its trend for meeting market needs, the company is also adding sleeves for the iPad and iPhone and further accessories for upcoming iPhones. In line with these developments the company has continually invested in new manufacturing equipment to ensure ongoing innovation. As Jan notes: “We recently invested in new CNC lines and filling machines; this is a necessary part of our success. If we are going to launch hundreds of high quality products every year, we must invest in new production lines or completely new machines. It is our goal to stay strong in the
market and grow in the ink and toner branch; however, our main challenge is to grow the new brand KMP Creative Lifestyle Products, and reach the same level of brand awareness that we have achieved with KMP Classic line (inks and toners).”
KMP PrintTechnik AG Products: Protective products for Apple and printer supplies www.kmp.com/en/home.html
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Brafe Engineering
Casting
call
Brafe Engineering has become a leading UK manufacturer of high-specification special alloy castings thanks to adapting to market trends and the ability to deliver a complete service solution to customers
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ince its foundation in 1966, Brafe Engineering has diversified its activities over 50 years to become a leading manufacturer of precision engineering castings globally. This commitment to continued improvement when it comes to technical expertise and investment in facilities has enabled the company to gain strong knowledge in more than 250 advanced grade alloys, including Hastelloy, Monel and Duplex Stainless Steels, as well as delivering a single service solution to customers in a broad range of industries. In fact, clients of Brafe Engineering range from those within the oil and chemical industries, to those operating in the petrochemical, marine, food processing, environmental control and paper and pulp sectors. By offering this complete service solution to clients - which covers everything from consultation through to design, casting, machining, quality control and certification - with an industry leading turnaround of critical components, the company has developed an excellent reputation for reliability and flexibility. This way of working is attractive to clients who are seeking out one key manufacturing partner as opposed to working with a network of organisations. Recent projects that have allowed Brafe Engineering to demonstrate its manufacturing capability include the Umm Lulu development
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project in Abu Dhabi, a major oil and gas project that involved three of the company’s big customers operating in the supply of flow products. Other projects involving blue chip organisations include the Ichthys LNG project and the Hebron Project for Exxon Mobil. One key factor to the company’s success is modern and well-equipped facilities, which include a precision sand and Repliwax (investment) foundry, a high specification machine shop with full CNC and manual machining capabilities. With the capacity to cast up to 2500kgs gross weight in a wide range of advanced materials, the specialised
silicate sand foundry with induction melting furnaces enables Brafe Engineering to focus on casting with a high mix – low volume approach, which is supported by full traceability and quality assurance to meet the growing needs of its clients. Discussing recent challenges within the industry, Business Development Manager of Brafe Engineering Adam Dalby states: “There has been a huge increase in the level of expectation for our customers, with the key demands being lead time, cost and quality. The expectation of improving quality and performance while lowering lead times and costs is a difficult paradox to understand. Despite this, we are seeking to tackle this increased expectation by investing in the skills of our employees; this is something we see as paramount to us performing as a business that meets our customers’ requirements.” Alongside this focus on enhancing the skills of its personnel, Brafe Engineering is also seeking to tackle the challenge of skills shortages in the manufacturing sector by taking on a number of aspiring engineers through apprenticeship programmes. “We are taking necessary steps with regards to apprenticeship programmes across the factory and are actively recruiting people with the skills we require to satisfy our long term strategy of staying abreast of key technological developments. With the industry ever improving
with developments such as 3D printing and 5-axis CNC machining, we need to be ready to react as quickly as possible to the advantages which these technologies provide to those in the manufacturing industry,” explains Adam. While investing in its people is integral when it comes to the future success of Brafe Engineering, this is just one area that the company is focused on. Known as the ‘3-P’s’: plant, people and process, the company believes that continually investing in these parts of the business will ensure its competitive position is maintained. So far this way of operating has proven fruitful for Brafe Engineering, with the company announcing it has added more than £500,000 to its turnover over the last 12 months in April 2015. Backed by support from the Business Growth Service’s Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), the company made a number of improvements to processes to better position itself for the £60 billion that has been invested in civil nuclear new builds in the UK. Improvements within the business include the development of a formal training programme for all inspectors and production operatives in the company, enhanced CMM calibration arrangements and a system that demonstrates capability to customers and third parties. Although 95 per cent of its output is exported, these developments have opened a wealth of opportunities to Brafe Engineering that are a little closer to home.
Following these improvements, Brafe Engineering was introduced to Fit for Nuclear (F4N), an initiative that offers a business improvement journey that identifies strategy and implement new processes. On top of this, F4N secures necessary accreditations and provides supplier matching opportunities, which will further enable Brafe Engineering to tap into the growing nuclear sector. In line with this trend for improvement, Brafe Engineering is preparing for the future with its extended premises. Due for completion in May 2016, the move into an additional location will
open a new chapter for the highly successful and adaptable firm as it continues to meet the demands of its customers while operating in a range of evolving and challenging industries.
Brafe Engineering Products: High quality castings and fully machined parts www.brafe-engineering.co.uk
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Carrs of Sheffield
Hallmark of
distinction
With 40 years of industry experience, Carrs Silver represents a leading name in high-quality, British-made silverware and cutlery
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perating from the UK’s fifth largest city, Sheffield-based Carrs Silver has a prestigious history that dates back to 1976 when the former production engineer Ron Carr established a business as a self-employed jeweller, producing hand crafting silver jewellery designs. Carrs of Sheffield Limited was incorporated soon after in 1977, during the same year as the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The rapidly expanding business moved into its first industrial premises, where it continued to produce an increasingly large range of silver jewellery and commemorative products. By 1992 Carrs was ready to move to its newly built 80,000 sq. ft. premises from where it immediately began planning for further product development and expansion. The company began manufacturing a comprehensive range of cutlery patterns and tradition silverware products throughout 1994, which rapidly became a much sought-after line with customers globally. The
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following year the company opened prestigious retail concessions in London’s Harrods and Selfridges department stores and by 1996 Carrs silverware could be purchased from high-end retailers in over 50 countries around the world. Throughout the opening decades of the 21st century the significance of Carrs, its silverware and cutlery brands has continued to grow. “I am proud to be able to say that Carrs is now the largest silver giftware and cutlery manufacturer in the UK,” reveals Managing Director, Richard Carr. “We have however grown from a humble beginning, expanding from a workshop rented for £2 per week to a purpose-built state-of-the-art factory of over 100,000 sq. ft., plus satellite units and a number of sub-contractors. This has been the result of almost four decades worth of effort, enterprise and lifetime dedicated to making top class products for a worldwide clientele.” In 2009 Carrs Silver purchased Osborne Tableware, one of Sheffield’s oldest and most respected cutlery producers with a heritage of
more than 300 years encompassing unique style and a comprehensive range of iconic patterns. The Osborne Collection has a soul and charm that is unlike anything else and offers clients seeking the finest quality in a wide choice of both traditional contemporary designs in electro plated nickel silver (EPNS) and sterling silver, some of which can also be further enhanced with fine gold. Today like other lines in the company’s comprehensive collection of silverwares, The Osborne Collection is available through the Carrs concession within The Silver Room at London’s prestigious Harrods department store, as well as through Selfridges and other key stockists throughout the UK. “The acquisition of the assets of the Osborne Group, the largest cutlery-blanks manufacturing organisation in Britain, has given us access to what is believed to be the most comprehensive range of cutlery patterns to be found anywhere in the world, with an incredible archive of hundreds of cutlery patterns spanning over three centries,” Richard elaborates. “Today our range embraces
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the most comprehensive variety of silverware manufactured in the United Kingdom, backed up by a young design team that ensures that we stay at the forefront of fashion whilst still reflecting the very best of British traditions and craftsmanship. One of the keys to our success has been that of self-sufficiency, so much so that silver is melted, cast and rolled at one end of the factory and emerges at the other as a finished product. Woodworking and cutlery manufacturing divisions, together with the first in-house hallmarking operation, provided by the Sheffield Assay Office complete a unique self-contained manufacturing facility.” Presently Carrs exports to more than 80 countries globally, with export revenues representing over 50 per cent of the company’s turnover. “We have a very varied client base that extends across the globe. In the UK, which is our strongest market, we supply silver giftware to over 800 top quality high street jewellers who promote the Carrs brand. We also have long standing relationships with many of the large multi-channel retailers in the UK. America is our biggest single export market where we supply many large well-established multi-channel retailers along with a selection of boutique tabletop stores in many of the major cities. Other important export markets for us include Asia, the Middle East and of course Europe,” Richard says. “The highest revenue generating lines are from our sterling silver giftware collection. The product categories are focused around photograph frames, children’s gifts, and barware and gents accessories.” With a unique manufacturing process that merges traditional techniques with the latest technology, Carrs operates from a self-sufficient
“The luxury hospitality market it currently a major target area for future growth, with a main focus on cutlery, in stainless steel, silver plated and even sterling silver. The luxury hospitality market is a much larger business segment than the silverware retail market that is currently our main business, so developing our brand within this new market is a very exciting prospect for Carrs,” Richard concludes. “In terms of our vision for the next few years, obviously we hope for a larger share of the hospitality market and we would like to see the other aspects of the Carrs business continue to progress. We are committed to bringing younger people into the manufacturing side of the business and training them in the traditional and modern techniques we preach here at Carrs of Sheffield.” foundation that allows the company to be in almost total control when it comes to managing deadlines and meeting the standards of its demanding client base. These strengths combined with its exemplary history in the manufacture of exquisite silverware will be defining factors for Carrs as the company seeks to continue its growth into new markets globally over the coming years.
Carrs of Sheffield Products: Designer and producer of hand crafted siverware and cutlery www.carrs-silver.co.uk
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Bearward Engineering
Technical
expertise
By responding to market demand with innovative solutions, Bearward Engineering has cemented its position as a leading global producer of industrial cooling systems and radiators
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s one of the largest producers of industrial cooling systems and radiators in the world, ISO 9001 accredited Bearward Engineering has developed a global reputation as an expert in the market since its foundation in 1958. Based in Northampton, UK, the company’s name stems from one of its premises on Bearward Street, which was originally the site for bear baiting pits in the Middle Ages. Today the company occupies a 40,000 square metre site at Main Road, Far Cotton, Northampton, where it supplies to the world generating set market; the company also supplies radiators for pumping and construction equipment, off highway, and other specialist equipment sectors. Currently manufacturing over 20,000 radiators annually, the company boasts a turnover of £30 million thanks to heavy investment, innovative developments and its versatility when it comes to the manufacturing of systems. Indeed, by merging engineers with long-term experience with state-
of-the-art technology, the company has not only developed a reputation for bringing new designs and bespoke applications to market, but has also accumulated a customer base that includes major manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Cummins, Mitsubishi and SDMO. With state-of-the-art R&D facilities in place that continuously share new data and information throughout the firm, Bearward has become renowned for its innovative capabilities; it also uses the latest automated processes to ensure absolute consistency when it comes to quality,
while its sectional radiators give optimum process control. The company is also well-known for its strong focus on customer service and its commitment to delivering a comprehensive aftercare service to its global client base. To further cement its reputation as a reliable partner when it comes to service and repair issues that require a high quality solution, the company also supplies parts with full warranty. Merging these strengths with major investments in cutting edge technology and rapid expansion from 1999 to 2009, Bearward had cemented its role in the market. However, customer demand for a more globally local service resulted in the company joining the $2.8 billion Wabtec Group in 2011 – combining it with the cooling group of Young Touchstone and Unifin. Viewed as a strategic complement to the group’s existing thermal management business, the integration of existing products and technologies with Bearward’s product line and European presence further strengthens both
Left: Belt drive and right: Cross flow
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Bearward Engineering Bolted
Four fan and motor
Wabtec’s and Bearward’s global position in the industrial cooling systems market. Operating under the umbrella of Wabtec’s cooling group has provided Bearward with the solid global foundations for growth and ability that it was seeking out to make its mission statement a reality. Focused on becoming the manufacturer of choice for industrial cooling systems through a process of continual improvement and a reduction in lifetime costs, the company used this
Belt drive remote
dedication to develop its unique and innovative sectional cooling system. Designed in such a way that they can be individually removed while the cooling system is in situ for replacement or maintenance works, the sectional cores of these radiators offer huge benefits to end users in all markets as sectional removal can be completed by hand without the need for heavy lifting equipment. Moreover, spare components can be kept on site for quick
Back to back engine mounted
changes, which significantly lowers downtime for companies. The sectional cores can be produced in copper brass, aluminium or Cupobraze technology before they are then fitted into steel frames that can have a variety of finishes dependent upon end user request; these may include galvanizing, C5 marine paint, stainless or any other specialised finish. Ultimately, this product not only allows on-site serviceability for any size of engine, but also eliminates the failures that are associated with thermal expansion in cooling systems. Operating in industries that have become increasingly demanding in line with stringent regulatory requirements when it comes to the reduction of noise and emissions pollution, Bearward’s focus on innovation has proven fruitful as it now boasts a strong product portfolio of products. From engine mounted to power modules, or purpose designed low airflow applications to high pressure reserve units for high acoustic applications, Bearward has a range of radiators to cool engines from 500 KW to three MW; this includes conventional jacket water radiators and water/charge-air configurations. Although low cost producers of cooling systems are attempting to muscle into the market, Bearward remains confident about the future as it seeks to further strengthen its global presence through setting up sub assembly and service locations while also expanding its portfolio. With a strategy in place to ensure the next five years are as positive as the last few decades, it looks like Bearward will be generating growth for many years to come.
Bearward Engineering Services: Manufacture industrial cooling systems and radiators www.wabtec.com/businessunits/bearward-engineering
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Mettler-Toledo Safeline
In line for
success With successful sales growth and improvements across its manufacturing productivity, the last year for Mettler-Toledo Safeline has been extremely positive
Main image: Profile Advantage Pipeline detector (in-situ) – an adaptation of MT Safeline’s latest technology for the inspection of liquids, pastes and slurries
Below: Profile Advantage 9000 system for Asia
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ack in August 2015 we spoke with Alan Purvis, MD of MettlerToledo (MT) Safeline Ltd, a Salford based subsidiary of the MT group specialising in the manufacture of high precision, inline metal detection systems for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Then, Alan discussed the launch of the company’s new Profile Advantage range, an innovative detection system developed in close co-operation with PhD students and senior researchers of the University of Manchester. Using multi-simultaneous radio frequencies, as opposed to the traditionally and widely used single frequency set-up, the Profile Advantage was a true step up in available precision technology within this niche market and confirmed Safeline’s position as an industry forerunner. “I am happy to report that after the first full year of sales we have managed to sell more than 1000 units around the world, which accounts for about 20 per cent of our total sales,” Alan highlights today. “This has been an incredible rate of adoption by the market and it’s because the Profile Advantage really has provided a significant performance leap for our customers. It’s really helped us to defend and enhance our premium position as the global leader for these challenging applications and has rewarded us with greater sales to new customers who we may never have reached with our previous offering.” The last feature also highlighted Safeline’s efforts to achieve a much more productive manufacturing process, and once again Alan is able to report significant progress. Around 60 per cent of all production output has moved to a new assembly method and 98 per cent to a new coil encapsulation process,
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Profile Advantage inspecting fresh pineapple at a customer site
Optimas Component
Optimas Components is the specialist supply partner for ‘C’ Class components, sub-assembly, kitting and on-site inventory management services. Optimas Components supplies Mettler-Toledo Safeline Ltd with a wide range of fasteners; cable management, including an EMC protective cable gland, cable clips; detectable cable ties and PCB accessory products. All products are supplied under Optimas Components’ On-Site Inventory management service, whereby every product has a Mettler Toledo Safeline Ltd part number and bar code. Optimas Components regularly visits Mettler-Toledo Safeline Ltd, checks the stock bins and replenishes inventory as required, ensuring Mettler Toledo Safeline never runs out of parts. Optimas’ growing team now includes dedicated applications engineers to help customers develop tailored solutions suited for their specific application needs as well as offering standard off-the-shelf solutions, which now also comprises small pack quantities for selected ranges.
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which has involved a £100k investment in a new resin potting machine from Germany. “The impact of the design and method changes has been fantastic,” he says. “We are achieving 100 per cent right-first-time from this new method for potting the coil system, which in turn has resulted in a 35-40 per cent reduction in re-work time in the factory as well as a financial saving. Overall, on the back of these process changes the productivity per shop floor employee has risen by about five per cent across the last year, much higher than the UK manufacturing average.” The transformation has also allowed Safeline to take real strides on its lean manufacturing journey. Alan outlines that the factory now demonstrates a 98 per cent on-time delivery rate for its complex, made-to-order equipment, has reduced its average lead time by cutting a week off of in-factory time, and seen a 25 per cent fall in its working capital levels and stock turnover levels soar to record highs. “The upshot is that we’re really motoring in the factory,” he expresses. “In honesty, I think people used to think that whilst we had a great product, the factory was unpredictable, but now we have a fantastic range of improved products and a reliable, ontime operations machine that can support sales around the world.” Other significant investments have been in its
Mettler-Toledo Safeline sales channels around the world. As part of a group effort with its parent company, Safeline has benefitted from converting some country-based distributors into direct MT sales and service operations to better serve its customers. “Last year we went direct in Turkey, which is a market with high growth potential because of its large population, its strong food sector and its gateway position between Europe and Asia,” highlights Alan. “We did the same in Indonesia, which is a fantastic market that we have been underserving before, and also in New Zealand. By doing this we improve our access to market and our customer service, and have the potential to increase sales by being far more proactive in these additional countries, hopefully bringing accelerated organic growth.” With such developments moving forward, both in terms of product technology and its manufacturing and sales organisation, Safeline has been successful in many countries around the world over the last year. Market conditions in general are favourable, and whilst sales have dropped in countries like China, Russia and Brazil due to macroeconomic pressures, improved performance in South East Asia, Mexico and Canada has helped to balance this. Performance in Europe at present is stable with some market’s proving more successful than others, but Alan
points out that this is most likely down to its own activities rather than any wider economic conditions. Challenges continue to present themselves in the form of increased competition as other suppliers bring new products to market, albeit with poorer performance, more than a year after Safeline first launched the Profile Advantage range. Whilst the company is keen not to become complacent, never underestimating the speed at which the market can follow its lead, Alan is positive that Safeline’s continuous development
Profile detector inspecting large cartons of bulk chocolate (bespoke conveyor design)
will allow it to retain its product leadership. A complete redesign of its product platforms will follow over the next two years, once again taking Safeline to the next level of technological capability. As far as the future is concerned for Safeline, continuing on the same trajectory it has experienced over the last few years is very much the commitment with continued staff training, product development and lean manufacturing progress. Responding to the requirements of new GFSI regulations (global food safety initiative) and improving the way it manages key accounts with multi-national clients (who are looking for highly configured, but standardised solutions) will also be key over the coming year. In the more immediate future, in April Safeline will be implementing a new SAP business management system – an MT programme that is being progressively rolled out across the group’s multiple manufacturing sites and customer operations in many countries. The new systems will improve information flow across the full network of sales, service and supply chain operations – taking customer responsiveness and business efficiency to the next level.
Mettler-Toledo Safeline Ltd Products: Manufactures specialist metal detection equipment for complex process applications www.mt.com/metaldetection 1.To see a typical metal detector application, visit: www.mt.com/md-ritter-sport 2. To learn more about how the Profile Advantage overcomes product effect to detect more metal whilst minimising false rejects, watch a video or download a free infographic from: http://glo.mt.com/ global/en/home/supportive_content/news/po/pi/safer-productschallenging-apps.html
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IPG Photonics UK
Broadeninghorizons IPG Photonics continues to bring new innovations to market, which are designed to drive value and efficiency into high-value production processes
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s an internationally leading supplier of high power fibre lasers and amplifiers, IPG Photonics is revolutionising the performance and utility of manufacturing across numerous applications and industries from materials processing and micromachining, to telecommunications, medical and other advanced applications. From four production facilities in the US, Germany, Russia & Italy and supportive sales offices in the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, India and across Europe, the company is the leading vertically integrated manufacturer. IPG has developed a strong reputation for leading design, quality and supply. Due to its unique approach to product innovation, the company has strategically placed itself within the manufacturing industry as a leader of technical solutions, displacing traditional products with superior performance and value. One display of this revolution in practice is with
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the development of IPG’s Laser Seam Stepper (LSS) system. “The LSS is designed as a ready alternative to traditional Resistance Spot Welding (RSW),” explains Director of Sales and Service at IPG Photonics UK, Mark Thompson. “In transportation the market is moving towards the use of lightweight materials and there is often a need to join lightweight or dissimilar materials. The LSS will complete production grade joins in half the cycle time of RSW and is capable of joining dissimilar materials; typically aluminium to automotive grade steel or another grade of aluminium.” Within the automotive industry, and other high-volume production environments, RSW has dominated production lines for years, despite the high process speed and increased component strength offered by earlier laser joining technologies. One key advantage afforded by traditional RSW is the integrated clamping technology that retains the workpiece safely,
accurately and repeatedly. The LSS system from IPG was developed to combine the advantages of the RSW clamping technology with a faster laserwelding process. The LSS is designed to be a maintenance free fibre laser combined with a simple robotic C-gun clamp tool that results in superior process speeds and inherent safety features. An integrated laser welding head within the G-gun clamp realises the X-Y welding motions. The system will only release its laser power when the clamp is in full contact with the material to be welded, so that safety is built-in by design. The basic version of the tool is capable of welding linear seams with a typical length of 20-50mm. A beam wobble function allows a characteristic weave pattern to manipulate the welding seam, increasing the weld area. In terms of process speed, a typical stepping operation with 30mm welding seams, spaced by 30mm achieves a welding velocity around
connection to laser sources
connection to laser sources
component
30mm in 1.7-2.0 seconds. Within the context of automotive ‘body-in-white’ processes, when compared to traditional RSW applications, significant time and cost reductions are realised. For example an RSW cycle of 30 joints might take 75 seconds. The LSS tool, will achieve similar weld criteria with only 15 seams; taking only 37 seconds. With less floor space and less capital investment cost the overall benefits of upgrading from RSW to LSS are clear to see. “The LSS system has been primarily adopted in automotive overlap welding and aluminium joining after four years production and development in a fully-automated car plant,” Mark continues. “Within this environment there are a number of other benefits that present themselves. For example, not only does LSS provide the ability to weld dissimilar materials, but it also allows for the overlap width to be reduced without compromising joining performance. This results in reduced weight
and improved passenger viewing angles.” As a representative example of this, the clamping brackets of the LSS tool will allow vehicle designers and manufacturers to reduce the flanges from 15mm (required for RSW) to a range from 6-10mm, depending on application. This not only facilitates noticeably larger passenger viewing angles but can also increase the A/B pillar entrance areas by eight per cent and significantly reduce weight. To further demonstrate the competitive advantage that the LSS tool brings to the automotive industry, Berlin-based INPRO, which counts names such as Daimler, Volkswagen and Siemens as its partners, carried out an economic comparison between wobbled-beam LSS and RSW methods. After review, it was concluded that the performance of the wobbled seam produced by the new LSS welding module is comparable to or even better than RSW, whilst completing
the task in half the time. Significantly this can result in a cost reduction of six to ten per cent under an assumed condition that sees a fully automated production run of 800 units in a three-shift operation. “It is important to note that the LSS system can be applied successfully to any high-volume production industry where steel or aluminium is widely used,” Mark points out, noting in particular the maritime and furniture industries that have already adopted the technology in some places. “Until now the system has gone through a programme of continuous development and future improvement processes will remain aligned with customer demand. As such, we are open to working with major manufacturers to enhance the benefits of LSS for their applications.” The LSS system is a key example of how IPG approaches the international market to drive value and efficiency into new and existing manufacturing processes; in doing so IPG helps facilitate its customers’ transition into the future. With the growth of high value manufacturing ongoing at a considerable pace, the company has paid particular attention to its UK business by investing in a new UK Sales and Service Centre. “With this established our UK team now have the responsibility to drive growth in the adoption of high power fibre laser applications,” highlights Mark. “IPG’s products are widely used to deliver improved value in a variety of applications including cutting, joining, drilling, marking, 3D printing, cleaning and cladding. We are working closely with the UK’s manufacturing supply chain to support growth. By transitioning to an increased use of fibre laser technology, our customers are benefitting from higher productivity and significantly lower cost of ownership.”
IPG Photonics UK Products: Leading global supplier of high power fibre lasers and fibre amplifiers www.ipgphotonics.com
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GOSH COPENHAGEN
Make your
impression With roots dating back over seven decades, GOSH COPENHAGEN is an innovative cosmetics company dedicated to providing fashionable and high-quality products at accessible prices
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ounded in 1945, GOSH COPENHAGEN (GOSH) is a Danish cosmetic, bath body and fragrance company with a proud Nordic heritage and products that are currently sold in more than 85 countries around the world. The business began life as a pharmaceutical company and quickly moved into the field of cosmetics, with all product development, production and distribution taking place from its head office in Denmark. “We see no better way of developing our products than overseeing all of the production steps ourselves. This way we ensure that all of the products under the GOSH brand embody our identity and values,” reveals Marketing and Communication Manager, Karina Ahm. “GOSH COPENHAGEN offers a wide selection of products in different categories comprising cosmetics, fragrances, hair care, facial care, body care and pharmaceuticals. We also make products for individual labels, while our extensive product range enables consumers to find precisely the product that matches their individual style and wishes. Today’s beauty trends are constantly changing and innovation forms the cornerstones of GOSH, meaning that we are quick to capture and understand new ideas, consumer needs and future trends and translate all of these aspects into exciting new products.” GOSH first entered into the cosmetics market during the 1950s as an agency producer for a range of international labels, before finally taking the decision to focus on trading under the company’s own brand. The first GOSH product was introduced during 1979 and proved to be a highly successful move, with the establishment of the export of GOSH products during the mid-1980s and the recognition of business as a major worldwide brand during the 1990s. Today the export of GOSH products has far surpassed the company’s domestic market and this trend is expected to increase over the coming years. All GOSH products are developed using the very latest technology and industry knowledge. By working closely with its raw material suppliers, the company is able to ensure that only the highest quality products are passed on to its customers. Throughout all of its activities, GOSH remains dedicated to providing its customers with fashionable, high-quality products at accessible prices with a vision to becoming one of the leading cosmetics brands within the semi-selective segment. At the heart of the success of GOSH is its continued operation as a 100 per cent familyowned business. Its founder Einer Tjellesen originally incorporated GOSH to focus on opportunities within the health sector, while today Einer’s son Bo Tjellesen operates as CEO of the company. Additionally all of Bo’s children are involved at different levels in the running of the family business, representing the company’s engagement with new and younger generations.
Through the third generation involvement of the Tjellesen family in the business, GOSH is able to merge its unique heritage with a strong base of youth and different talents to create a stronger and increasingly dynamic brand. “The GOSH brand identity aims to be playful, urban, edgy, rebellious and young,” Karina adds. “Through that we aim to remain creative and innovative to produce excellent products and to create and build a strong brand and industry presence.” The growth of the GOSH brand is supported by its innovative range of products, which is developed by an experienced and talented research and development team that enables the company to develop high-quality cosmetics that appeal to the varied needs of its clients. “The R&D department at GOSH COPENHAGEN has more than 50 years of experience, which runs parallel with further education and training. This is crucial to guarantee the perfection of our products and we closely follow the latest developments regarding formulations, usage of raw materials, technology and legislation from authorities and our facilities in Lynge are well equipped with modern and superior technology, including a clean room production facility. All products comply with the EU and FDA legislation, while a highly-developed quality control system allows us to control and monitor the final quality of our cosmetics,” Karina observes. “As part of its range, GOSH offers a wide selection of vegan products. For example the company has recently launched a new vegan/ man-made line of quality brushes with synthetic hair and more products are still to come. Mostly
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GOSH COPENHAGEN all of our cosmetic products are produced without parabens and we only use perfume in a minimum of our cosmetics. Throughout the rest of 2016 and beyond, GOSH will remain focused on its mission to operate as a forward-thinking company that is committed to bringing the future of beauty to its customers, without ever compromising on quality, creativity and affordable prices. GOSH is a passionate participant in the cosmetics market that is inspired by life and the dynamic nature and trends of the fashion industry. By keeping firmly up to date with the latest trends within the market and updating its products accordingly, GOSH works to ensure that its products are the number one product of choice for its clients. During 2015 the company rebranded to change its name from GOSH Cosmetics to GOSH COPENHAGEN to further emphasise its focus on innovation as well as its desire to honour the Danish heritage of the business. Reflecting on the change of the company’s name and the future of the business, the owner and CEO of GOSH COPENHAGEN, Bo Bjellesen comments: “I am very excited about our new company name. As part of our focus on innovation, our leadership team and I believed that 2015, being the 70th year anniversary of
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the company, was a perfect time to rebrand our company to more specifically reflect its Danish heritage. We wanted to ensure that our image and name accurately reflects who we are moving forward.”
GOSH COPENHAGEN Products:
Cosmetics, fragrances, hair care, facial care, body care and pharmaceutical products
www.goshcopenhagen.com
Luzi
Creativity made in Switzerland. Since 1926. LUZI fragrance compounds are a family-owned Swiss company specialised in the development of unique scents for fine fragrances, personal care, home and air care worldwide. Since 1926 our scents have been created with the ambition to inspire and a strong expertise. Considering the latest trends and innovations we create outstanding fragrances to contribute to the success of our clients’ products. In over 100 countries LUZI ensures an exceptional service offering individual products for our customers. We are proud of our long-time co-operation with GOSH that has developed towards a credible business partnership to our mutual benefit.
Alsico NV
The smart option Since the business was incorporated in 1934, the Belgian workwear provider Alsico has established itself as a leading name in the development, manufacture and marketing of quality workwear
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aking its name from an acronym of the company’s founders, ‘Aelvoet Siau Confection’, Alsico has over eight decades of experience in the development, manufacture and marketing of workwear that is worn across several industry sectors. The business was founded and managed by Mr. and Mrs. Aelvoet, until 1947 when Mr. and Mrs G. Siau took over operation of the company. The third generation, with M. B. Siau, was responsible for international expansion, which now results in the global presence of the group, with production facilities all over the world. Today Alsico continues to operate as a fourth generation, privately owned business that represents one of the largest producers of workwear in Europe. Alsico is a ‘Faminational’ with the right values of a family company and the positive values of a multinational (focused on results and innovation).
As a company of the future, Alsico cares for its employees and encourages their empowerment. Sustainability forms an integral element of Alsico’s strategy. Sustainable operations support all business targets and form a core part of daily operations, management and decisionmaking. Carrying responsibility for finances, the environment, personnel and purchasing makes Alsico a reliable, stable partner for customers. Continuous dialogue with customers and development of operations ensure that both products and services meet customer needs and that they are produced sustainably. Alsico serves the full circle: from the design to the creation of the patterns and the first samples to the production in its own production facilities and the follow-up by its dedicated customer service team. Presently the Alsico Group employs a workforce of over 7000 employees, including
4000 multi-skilled machinists in manufacturing plants across 12 countries. Furthermore, the company maintains sales offices in 30 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and America and within the European Union, Alsico is represented in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Its global manufacturing presence allows Alsico to supply over 16 million garments annually to its customers, generating a consolidated turnover of €205 million. Alsico NV is based within Ronse, Belgium and plays with 126 employees an extremely important part in furthering the development of new innovations across the company. A key focus for the business at present is the continued development and marketing of its patented A-move system, which was developed by Alsico to deliver workwear that is designed with freedom of movement in mind, enhanced for
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Alsico NV
ORAFOL Europe GmbH
ORAFOL Europe GmbH, with its headquarters in Berlin, has been providing the market with superior reflective materials for decades. These precision engineered products are the result of research, ingenuity and dedication. The company places a strong emphasis on team spirit. This co-operation exists between employees, suppliers and of course, valued customers, like Alsico. ORAFOL is proud to supply Alsico with the ORALITE range of industrial washable glass bead tapes. These tapes conform to the highest possible industry standards. Sourcing the best possible reflective tapes for your workwear ensures visibility and recognition, helping to bring workers home safe every day.
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comfort and ergonomic to the workers’ daily routine. Through a combination of new materials and a refined system of assembly, the A-move system allows the wearer to continuously experience a refreshing sense of freedom. Lifting movements and actions that are common within the care and hospitality sectors, can be easily performed with A-move to help ensure pleasant and safe working conditions, while maintaining a sense of job satisfaction. Since the introduction of A-move the system has enjoyed highly positive feedback and is presently being worn by Aldi in Belgium, Colruyt in Belgium, as well as in hospitals throughout Europe. The A-move system is used extensively within the company’s CARE collection, which was designed by Alsico to specifically meet the needs of personnel working within the medical, care and wellness sectors. Its 80 years of operation within the workwear sector has given Alsico extensive experience in delivering complete workwear solutions, paying particular attention to quality, comfort, design and innovation. The company’s ‘Shake Your Style’ initiative represents a second area of focus for the business that has enjoyed great success and will continue to develop during 2016 and beyond. Shake Your Style is a manufacturing process innovation, which allows clients to customise workwear in many ways including the machining of fabrics in a very rapid process from design to delivery. Shake Your Style allows clients to choose the garment’s desired model, fabric, colour and pockets, as well as to add their company logo as required. Customers may choose from various colours and fabrics to design a unique creation in workwear including knitted tunics, knitted tunics with woven side panels and woven tunics. For knitted tunics Alsico uses a high-quality material, with a specific weaving technique, with a
polyester knit on the outside and cotton on the inside, with a fabric composition of 55 per cent cotton and 45 per cent polyester. The use of a special fibre in the manufacturing of Shake Your Style allows the range several key advantages, including a modern look, comfortable feeling on the skin, long durability, greatly reduced shrinkage, freedom from creases, good moisture absorption and rapid moisture transport, but also and simple maintenance and industrial laundry resistance. Since its launch on 21 December 2012, the Shake Your Style range has proven highly successful and popular with clients and is today worn by staff operating within the restaurant, hospitality and care industries. The success of the brand was further demonstrated during 2014, when Alsico and the Shake Your Style range were awarded the Roularta Industry Award in its ‘Best Practice in Manufacturing’ category. Victory in this category proves the dynamics and dedication of Alsico employees and highlights the company’s ability to deliver high-quality workwear both rapidly and at a competitive price. Overall, Alsico collections are divided into three segments: CARE – INDUSTRY – IMAGE+. The CARE collection, especially designed for the care sector consists of several fashionable clothing lines, each available in several colour
combinations. Every clothing line offers a total package and has been designed to dress every function of the care facility and guarantee a uniform image to the outside world. Freedom of movement and wearer comfort are obtained thanks to the A-move concept. The INDUSTRY collection contains a large range of PPE (CE certified), but also basic and functional workwear. Besides a large standard collection, designed for men and women, which is in stock, Alsico specialises in projects. This personalised clothing is entirely designed to the customer’s corporate design and meets the customer’s specific needs in terms of image, colours and functionality. The IMAGE+ collection focuses mainly on professionals in the hotel, catering and service sector. This new collection is characterised by the diversity of colours and ease of maintenance. Across all of its product lines, safety is extremely important to Alsico and the company is committed to delivering reliable clothing that meets all statutory European and international standards. These options coupled with its A-move and Shake Your Style lines, allow Alsico to deliver a comprehensive product portfolio that will ensure that the company’s workwear will remain a common sight through Europe’s workforce.
Alsico NV Products: Development, manufacture and marketing of workwear www.alsico.com
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FANUC UK
A new era for
automation
Having merged its robotics, controls and machine tools divisions into one building in 2015, FANUC UK has enjoyed 20 per cent growth on the previous financial year
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art of the global FANUC organisation, FANUC UK has developed a strong reputation for providing groundbreaking industrial automation and robotic solutions to a diverse range of customers. Operating from its Coventry based facility, which is used as a single customer support portal for its three core businesses, the company pushes the boundaries of innovation in its supply of high quality products. From CNC controllers, lasers, robots, machining centres, wire EDM, injection moulding machines to fully integrated factory automation systems, FANUC UK has versatile technologies to suit every manufacturing process. Keen to enhance synergy, FANUC UK integrated three of its divisions into one at FANUC UK in 2015, which resulted in the company announcing a sales increase of 20 per cent on the previous year. With total control and flexibility over its products, systems and automation projects, the company then turned its
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attentions to training engineers across the board in all areas of the business to further bolster growth when it comes to services/spares and machine sales. These developments have clearly proven fruitful for FANUC UK, with the company undertaking its first major automation cell incorporating both robotics and machine tools. This installation consisting of nine robots and nine machine tools was ordered as a single source solution for an automotive supplier, this landmark project played an integral role in the company’s successful 2015. “We had a strong second half of 2015, with steady growth in all areas of the business,” says Tom Bouchier, Managing Director at FANUC UK. “The main growth has been in injection moulding on the special purpose machines side of our operations; we have gone from ten units a year to 100 units this year on the RoboShot machine range, which is a significant increase. The robots have also witnessed strong growth, with an estimated 30 per cent of the market share coming from robots in 2015. One reason for this growth is the fact manufacturing is returning to the UK, which is fantastic; there is a real feeling of buoyancy in the industry.” Following this strong performance in all areas of the business, FANUC UK is now preparing to move to larger premises in line with the group’s investment programme for continued expansion across the globe, as Tom notes: “We’re currently at the stage of signing a contract and hope to be in the building by February 2017. The new location is at the Technology Park in Ansty, on the outskirts of Coventry and will be four times the size of our current premises.” Alongside these developments, the company has also had a change in management. Previous Managing Director Chris Sumner is now focusing his attentions on the group’s goal of delivering the best response times in the industry, and he will
be facilitating this new strategy across 17 offices in Europe. “It is FANUC’s philosophy that service comes first, which is why we are working on informing people of our capabilities as a systems provider that can provide full turnkey automation
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FANUC UK SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG of Lauffen/Neckar is a German family-owned company and global player in one. The company was founded in 1945 by Friedrich Schunk as a mechanical workshop and has developed under the leadership of Heinz-Dieter Schunk to a competent, world market leader for clamping technology and gripping systems. Today, the company is run by the third generation siblings Henrik A. Schunk and Kristina I. Schunk. More than 2500 employees in eight plants and 30 directly owned subsidiaries and distribution partners in more than 50 countries throughout the world ensure an intensive market presence. With 11,000 standard components SCHUNK offers the world’s largest assortment of clamping technology and gripping systems, and with 2550 SCHUNK grippers the largest product range of standard grippers. The complete program of gripping systems comprises more than 4000 components.
packages to a broad range of industries; robot users know of our strengths but we need to highlight our capabilities and products to other sectors,” explains Tom. Indeed, with more than 100 models, FANUC offers the widest range of industrial robots in the world and covers a broad spectrum of applications and industries. Easy to operate, these robots provide customers with complete
flexibility thanks to a number of applicationspecific options, simple integration, payloads up to 2.3 tonnes and maximum reaches up to 4.7 metres. The most recent robot to join the company’s extensive collection is the world’s first heavy lifting collaboration robot, the CR-35iA, which has a 35 kilogramme payload and is able to work side-by-side with human employees thanks to the use of intelligent sensors that automatically
stop the robot should it touch a human operator. Eradicating the need for external safety devices, this incredible technology opens up a new era for manufacturing, where humans and robots will be able to work even more closely on tasks, which will thus enhance productivity and efficiencies across the plant floor. As opposed to the company’s standard yellow colour for its robots, the ISO 10218-1 certified CR-35iA is covered by a soft green cover to reduce any impact to the human body, while also distinguishing the safe collaborative robot from a standard robot. By combining the repeatability of a robot with the dexterity of a human, customers will benefit from increased productivity, improved health and safety in their workforce and a more competitive business. With more innovative products due to be launched in April 2016, FANUC UK is certain to continue bringing its customers into a new age by redefining factory automation capabilities through advanced artificial intelligence. This innovation, alongside its focus on marketing itself as one company with a comprehensive range of products and services, will also aid the firm in reaching its goal of doubling growth over the | next four years, as Tom concludes: “Put together with the new management team, we will strive to meet this business plan to double growth once again by highlighting our strengths to customers. Four years ago we were at £25 million turnover and we’re just under £50 million in 2015; it is our focus to continue this trend moving forward.”
FANUC UK Products: Industrial automation and robotic solutions www.fanuc.eu/uk/
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Diamond Box
Investing in the
future
As one of the fastest growing cardboard manufacturers in the UK, Diamond Box aims to continue its success through investment, acquisition and superior customer service
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ince its foundation in 2007 by husband and wife team Kavi and Rani Jundu, Diamond Box has developed a strong reputation in the market as a specialist in the manufacture of corrugated packaging; in fact, the company’s website states: ‘If its made out of cardboard we’ll be your one-stop-shop.’ Having seen an opportunity in the market for a high quality, independent manufacturer of cardboard packaging, particularly in the FMCG sector, Diamond Box offers services such as consultancy, design and manufacture, while its highly experience sales team offers customers assistance in developing solutions; from simple cartons to complex packaging, the sales team can advise on the most economical solutions in order to meet the precise specifications and requirements of the client. However, should trade customers require an instant price at any time of day, the company has CaseAce, an online costing platform that enables clients to be first to market with a competitive price and real-time lead time information. Accessed
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via the company’s website, CaseAce also offers customers information such as pallet quantity and pallet weight; they can also request samples from the design team. Other services from the design team include the production of high quality drawings that match the economy of materials, production, transport and storage, with quality strength and fitness for purpose. For this segment of the business the company’s team of designers use state-of-the-art CAD software and sample-making technology; the designers are also available to liaise directly with clients throughout the project to ensure the end product is the best possible result. Once the client is happy to proceed to manufacture, the order is sent to the factory floor of Diamond Box’s high tech facility. This is stocked with an extensive range of machinery, which enables it to offer a broad product offering, ranging from conventional 0201 cases to five colour SRP’s, to small and large format diecutting to complex multipoint cases with self seal tape. The core
machines within the factory are the Emba 170QS and Emba 245 QS, both extremely capable case makers. These state-of-the-art systems enable Diamond Box to produce quality products at high speeds, from the simplest brown box to complex retail-ready packaging. With a wide range of product sizes with up to four-colour printing and speeds of up to 26,400 cases per hour, the conversion plant can satisfy the most challenging of tasks. Thanks to its close proximity to motorway links in the heart of the UK, Diamond Box is able to flexibly deliver to its customers across the nation through a dedicated transport fleet of more than ten articulated vehicles. With quality at the core of Diamond Box, company has maintained a solid commitment to establishing strong and enduring relationships with key strategic partners, both in custom and supply, across the UK since its inception as a way to ensure it is continuously able to source optimum quality raw materials. Furthermore, by closely
monitoring both international and local markets, combined with customer needs, Diamond Box is able to carefully manage the supply and demand cycle to ensure it is able to provide products of high quality with short lead times, at competitive rates, and with consistency and reliability. This way of operating has proven fruitful for the company, which has not only filled the gap it originally saw in the market, but also outgrown it over the last nine years. Further strengthening this strategy is Diamond Box’s focus on investment, which not only cements its leading reputation in the market through quality and efficiency but also provides benefits to customers such as a highly competitive pricing policy and shortened lead times. Indeed, following significant investment in its production area in 2013, the company was able to break into new markets, most notably the high quality post-print and value added markets, thanks to the addition of five-colour Bobst High Quality Printers. Additionally, a Latitude case maker was also commissioned that year, which delivered a 50 per cent increase in case
making capacity, improved lead times for customers and brought a faster turnover for conventional work. Integrating these strengths has resulted in the successful company turning over in excess of £21 million while also holding the coveted position of the largest independently owned cardboard box manufacturing business in the Midlands as well as one of the largest single sheet plants in the UK. However, as a company that doesn’t rest on its laurels, Diamond Box is further strengthening its capabilities by investing in an innovative, state-ofthe-art line that is due for completion in 2016. This investment will not only enable the company to continue its strategy for continued growth, but will also replace existing older machinery. Having laid the foundations for ongoing success, the future looks bright for Diamond Box as it focuses on doubling in size over the next five years through organic and acquisitioned growth. Viewed as a force to be reckoned with in the market, the leading company is only going to get bigger and better over the years to come.
Diamond Box Products: Corrugated packaging www.diamond-box.co.uk
Antonine Printing
Antonine Printing Inks are proud to be the sole supplier for all of Diamond Box’s ink requirements. We have worked together closely as a partnership over the past few years to raise the print capabilities of Diamond Box resulting in a dramatic improvement of their finished products. Antonine continue to provide technical knowledge, new developments, on-site support and training to Diamond Box which will always allow them to produce the very best quality across various products. Antonine have also introduced various digital innovations to Diamond Box with huge benefits both now and for many years to come.
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What More UK Ltd
Big plans in
store
With more than 800 high quality products being exported to 64 countries, What More UK is the UK’s largest manufacturer and brand leader of plastic housewares, gardening and storage products
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stablished only 17 years ago in 1999, What More UK Limited has grown rapidly through acquisition, expansion and investment in its state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution plant to become a leader in the field of plastic housewares, garden products and houseware, and a brand and market leader in the UK. “We now turnover £50 million and the boss has purchased a further seven acres on the site for our future development; a move that secures the future growth that What More UK will create,” says Tony Grimshaw, Director at What More UK Limited. “We have 1800 independent customers in the UK and all major UK retailers stock our products in the country. Furthermore, in 2008 we only had one export country, Ireland, and today we export to 64 countries; this incredible growth was recognised in 2014 when we were very proud to be awarded the Queen’s Award in International Trade. More recently we have become finalists in three categories at the Red Rose Awards 2016.” He continues: “This is a major change from when we were first established with only 15 products, nine of which were garden planters, and there is not a lot of call for garden planters in November! In the first year we managed to turnover £4.2 million, so the birth of the company was anything but easy, and we had to fight tooth and nail to get on the first rung of the survival ladder,” addsTony. Although the early years were challenging, the company decided to merge its strengths, such as excellent production facilities and dedicated staff, with a sales force who knew the industry and a service-orientated distribution team to further enhance its capabilities in a competitive industry. Following a relocation
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from Blackpool to seven acres of land in Altham, Acrrington, the company developed the site and by 2005 the whole occupation was housed here. However, following further growth, the company needed outside warehousing and now occupies a 500,000 square feet area for production and distribution. It is in here in its cutting edge factory that the company manufactures a vast catalogue of plastic housewares and storage products under the brand name WHAM; items include buckets and bowls, recycling bins, plant pots and laundry hampers. “From very small storage boxes to massive 160 litre storage boxes, anything you would find in the house, garden or garage that is made from plastic is made by What More,” highlights Tony. Not a company to rest on its laurels, What More is continuously seeking out new products to add to its vast portfolio, through investment in new machinery or through acquisition, as Tony continues: “At the end of 2014 we purchased the presses and moulds of a famous Lancastrian Bakeware manufacturer, which included taking on board some very experienced engineers and production people. Had we not done this, 100 years of bakeware expertise would have been lost
forever. Following the acquisition, we spent most of 2015 rebuilding presses and sorting out the mould stock and are now ready to go.” Following this development, the company went onto finalise the purchase of Hong Kong based PushPan, a company that manufactures a patented baking product range that is well-established across the globe. “This is the perfect fit to our more conventional bakeware products. Eventually we
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What More UK Ltd
countries with a total population of 4.3 billion, we can say our products are available to more than half the world’s population, so the trick is getting these people to buy our products. We are working very hard to solve this challenge,” concludes Tony.
What More UK Ltd will bring the production of PushPan to the UK, reversing the trend of taking all manufacturing to China,” explains Tony. Elaborating on why What More UK expanded into the bakeware market, Tony states: “First and foremost it was an obvious bolt-on to what we already do as the two generally have the same retailers. There were also social reasons; by allowing the Lancashire-based company to pass away, the north of Britain would be losing its only remaining bakeware manufacturer and the family name on the company, which had been around since 1887, would be gone. The skills lost would be irreplaceable and it would have opened the door to even more Chinese imports.” Alongside acquisitions, the company has invested both in its staff and facilities to maintain its leading reputation. For example, over the last 18 months the company has spent millions on replacing its injection moulding machines with Krauss Maffei machines from Germany, an investment that will continue for two more years until all of its 55 machines are replaced. “Investment covers all areas of our business,” confirms Tony. “The most important area is our biggest asset: our colleagues. As a team of 235, we spend money on training the team, keeping the team healthy and on paying wages that ensure our staff have a life outside of work. Meanwhile, when it comes to products, we spend £2.5 million on product development to ensure we provide oxygen to sales and feed the demand buyers have for new products.” As a company that is hungry for growth and ongoing success, What More UK is focused on doubling its turnover by 2025 by honing the foundations of its success: good people, new products, new equipment and new facilities. In addition, the company will naturally continue its trend of seeking out strategic acquisitions to accelerate growth, while also finding ways to
attract new customers to its high quality products. “Our aim in the next seven years is to become a £100 million turnover company. Dependent on which search engine you use, there are 196 countries in the world, which is home to 7.2 billion people. Because we export to 64
Products: Plastic housewares and storage products
whatmoreuk.com
Select Colours
Set up in 2008 Select Colours is a successful independent business, supplying tailor made coloured and additive masterbatch to the thermoplastics industry. Select Colours focuses on providing a high quality rapid service for bespoke colours in the polymer of your choice. To ensure your unique colour and technical requirements are met we will agree on colour standards and a technical specification with you. Concern for the environment led Select Colours to achieve ISO 14001 Environmental registration in 2012. As part of this commitment one of the services we offer is to re-colour redundant stock turning it into useable stock. Select Colours is focused on working closely with the What More team to meet their needs and gain new business for their continuous growth. This is achieved through rapid response to colour matching and delivery services.
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BAE Systems
Flying
high
Global defence, aerospace and security firm BAE Systems is teamed with Northrop Grumman and programme lead Lockheed Martin to deliver the F-35 Lightning II, the world’s largest defence programme
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esponsible for the design, manufacture and assembly of the aft fuselage and empennage for each fifth generation F-35 Lightning II, aka Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), BAE Systems will be setting new standards for assembly precision and pace throughout the programme.This is thanks to digital design and precision manufacturing techniques that have been pioneered by the innovative company. Furthermore, BAE Systems is also responsible for the design and delivery of core areas of the vehicle and mission systems; these include the fuel system, crew escape, manufacture details and life support system as well as UK aircraft carrier integration and Prognostics Health Management (PHM) integration. On top of this, BAE Systems is providing expertise
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to Autonomic Logistics and Global Sustainment (support), flight test support, structural testing and UK weapons integration to the programme. Meanwhile, BAE Systems’ Military Air & Information business is supporting sustainment efforts on the programme.The company will be an integral part in developing the F-35 global sustainment model and will be at the forefront of sustainment activities for the UK fleet on behalf of the F-35 team. State-of-the-art in every respect, the F-35 Lightning II is a stealthy, versatile, all-weather attack aircraft that is capable of operating from both land and sea. Chosen for its accuracy and expertise, BAE Systems is involved in all three variants of the F-35 programme: the Conventional Take Off and Landing
(CTOL or F-35A), the Carrier Variant (or F-35C) and the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL or F-35B). As the producer of approximately ten per cent of each F-35’s airframe, the company is using its superior manufacturing strengths to make the rear fuselage and tailplanes fit together with such precision that there are no gaps that will reflect back radio waves. By manufacturing the components to two or three 1000ths of an inch, the stealth jet will become all but invisible to radar. Key to delivering this level of smoothness is the company’s cutting edge facility in Samlesbury, Lancashire, which has been transformed through £150 million investment that ensures it not only delivers optimum quality parts, but also meets the challenge of quadrupling the rate of production
while halving the cost in the next three years. These enhancements are in line with the ‘Blueprint for Affordability’ that has been agreed between the US Department of Defence and contractors to halve costs by streamlining production, as Jon Evans, BAE Systems’ Head of F-35 Operations, notes: “There is no simple answer as to how we will meet this challenge, however, I like to refer to the four P’s: product, plant, process and people. Firstly, we need to install the necessary plant and capacity to deliver the planned rates; next we need to enable the people to be able to build the product and also equip them to help improve the way it is built.Thirdly, during the learning phase the operators will also find innovative ways of improving the process, which may need engineering support or offline development to complete prior to introducing improvements onto the line. Finally, we are investing in our employees’ abilities with the Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) NVQ programme in LEAN. We know the hours it takes to make each section and we have planned how this will reduce going forward.” So far the £150 million has gone on a 10,000 square metre titanium machine shop that opened in 2010 where parts for the F-35 are ground out
Droop+Rein
of titanium by eight automated milling machines; these have just three operators monitoring them and another two personnel who set up specialised tools that remove excess material; meanwhile, other employees on the floor remove excess metal from finished parts. In addition, the company has also invested in a new office building and an extended
The Starrag Group brand Droop+Rein is the manufacturer of overhead gantry type machines for producing high precision composite parts like aft fuselages and tails. The machines – which align perfectly with the Starrag Group’s philosophy of ‘Engineering precisely what you value’ incorporate a patented volumetric compensation and automated laser calibration system which enable the machines to achieve a full five-axis volumetric accuracy of 55 microns. This ensures production safety. The machines linked to flexible manufacturing systems with part washing units and workpiece handling by pallet transport system improve productivity by 20 per cent. The machines offer the highest degree of reliability, thereby ensuring a seamless production process.
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Magellan Aerospace
Magellan Aerospace is a global, integrated aerospace company that provides complex assemblies and systems solutions to aircraft and engine manufacturers, and defence and space agencies worldwide. Magellan designs, engineers, and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure assemblies and components for aerospace markets, advanced products for military and space markets, industrial power generation, and specialty products. BAE is a principal sub-contractor for the delivery of the F-35 programme and has world leading expertise and operational capabilities. BAE and Magellan are integral stakeholders in the F-35 programme, working together to provide sophisticated major assemblies for this global, next generation fighter.
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manufacturing facility, which opened in 2012 as the second part of a three phase expansion plan to meet production plans and remain at the forefront of UK manufacturing. “We have demonstrated continued investment in our facilities over the past 13 years.That investment included the new titanium machining facility, which allows flexible manufacturing and an initial extension to the assembly facility in 2011; this will be completed by our latest extension. We are also
particularly proud of the assembly facility’s moving Integrated Assembly Line, or IAL, which first came online in 2012,” says Jon. “The IAL ‘pulses’ currently every four days – usually on a Monday.The lines moves as one so every section has to be balanced in terms of work content and also complete before the deadline to allow the line to move as one.” The line is a multi-model line making all three variants of the F-35 aircraft down the same line. A pair of products (port & starboard) will move down the line together. At each station work will be completed prior to the pulse.The pulse is effectively a very complex overhead crane system that moves the product along every four days. “Jigs and fixtures are selected from a store based on the programme order of variants.The line also transfers the product to the machining centre, the spray facility and the equipping sections.” In December 2015 the company announced it had begun work on a major extension to its cutting edge manufacturing facility, which will further prepare the site for a significant boost in production. Following the start of the project, the UK Government recently committed to 138 F-35
BAE Systems
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The eventual plan was always to build one aircraft every day so planning ahead and installing a building large enough to cope with the growth required in time for the necessary line expansion is key
Lightning II STOVL variant aircraft for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The 4,500 square metre expansion is due for completion in January 2017 and is the final part of a three phase plan for the facility. Originally opened in 2003 at a cost of £11 million, the facility will be capable of manufacturing over 160 aircraft sets annually once completed; this is a whopping increase of 250 per cent from current numbers.
“The continued development gives BAE Systems the necessary physical space for the installed capacity to operate within in order to achieve the planned rates F35 is predicting.The eventual plan was always to build one aircraft every day so planning ahead and installing a building large enough to cope with the growth required in time for the necessary line expansion is key,” states Jon. With the increased rates and cost reductions,
BAE Systems has a challenging few years ahead of it, but the company is relishing the opportunity to meet demand through ongoing investments in both employees and facilities, as Jon concludes: “You could sum it up by saying we have built 240 aircraft in 15 years and have to build another 200 in the next three, however, our continued investment in people and in facilities – especially through the latest extension work to our assembly facility - demonstrates we are ready to meet that challenge.”
BAE Systems Products: Future technologies, combat and trainer aircraft, complex surface ships and combat vehicles www.baesystems.com www.manufacturing-today-europe.com 123
Ransomes Jacobsen
Strimming along
nicely
A pioneer in turf care, Ransomes Jacobsen boasts an unrivalled understanding of turf maintenance and a strong reputation for quality, innovation and green initiatives
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ith innovation at the very core of its activities since its inception in 1789, Ipswich headquartered Ransomes Jacobsen has produced a number of the industry’s most important firsts over the years; these include the world’s first lawn mower in 1832, the first steam plough in 1856, the first petrol lawn mower in 1920 and the first self-propelled high work rate ride-on triple mower in 1974. More recent innovations for the firm include the first hybrid pedestrian greens mower in 2007 and the first hybrid ride-on greens mower in 2009 as well as the first triplex mini flail mower in 2013. “Ransomes Jacobsen’s long history begins in 1789 when Robert Ransome invested the princely sum of £200 and started an iron foundry business in Ipswich, Suffolk, manufacturing plough shares for the local farming community. It was 40 years later in August 1830 that Edwin Beard Budding lodged the patent for the world’s first lawnmower, and, in 1932, Ransomes built the ‘Budding Patent’ under licence from the inventor. The way grass was maintained was thus changed forever,” begins Managing Director of Ransomes Jacobsen Alan Prickett. “Today, thanks to an unrivalled
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understanding of turf maintenance equipment, we are trusted to maintain some of the world’s most prestigious fine turf areas; these include palace lawns, legendary golf courses, cemeteries, stadia monuments and football pitches, the latter of which includes those at numerous FIFA World Cups.” Thanks to strong industry knowledge and longterm experience, Ransomes Jacobsen operates in 28 countries across the globe and has an enviable portfolio of products available to customers; these include rotary mowers, remote controlled mowers, golf cars, utility vehicles, tractors, blowers, bunker rakes, aerators and sod cutters. Recent additions to the portfolio include the Jacobsen MP493 and MP653 rotary mowers, which are ideal for maintaining large parts of semi-rough and rough areas on golf courses and on municipal maintenance contracts. Powered by rugged and reliable 49hp and 65hp Kubota diesel engines respectively, the two rotary mowers also feature three all new rotary decks, one out-front and two wing decks. As the lightest mower in its class, the Jacobsen MP493 will benefit from significant fuel savings thanks to its reduced weight. Additionally, the
mower complies with European Stage IIIA emission regulations thanks to the direct injection 49hp Kubota Diesel engine, therefore avoiding complex emission controls. The mower’s maintenance free direct drive decks, which are manufactured from high steel strength, offer customers a choice of width when it comes to cut options to enable the highest productivity in all environment. Meanwhile, Jacobsen’s SureTrac four-wheel drive control system ensures superior traction when climbing or cutting side slopes, while four-wheel drive in reverse ensures surefootedness when reversing uphill. As the more powerful 65hp version of the MP, Jacobsen MP653 has the latest European Stage IIB turbo-charged common rail diesel engine, which provides customers with cleaner running and the ability to use advanced electronics for more precise control. On top of this, the Jacobsen MP653 has enough residual power to support a fully air-conditioned cab and boasts three selectable drive modes: automatic, manual and creep. Automatic mode has a fuel saving system activated when the machine comes to a stop to reduce fuel consumption, while manual disables all automatic functions so the mower reacts and
drives like a standard mechanical over hydraulic drive machine. Creep, meanwhile, disables the cutting units and reduces the transport speed to eight kilometres per hour, which is ideal for those wanting to manoeuver in tight areas such as workshops or loading ramps. “Aimed at the municipal and golf markets, the new product has replaced a previous machine
that had been in the range for many years and its launch has generated sales at three times the previous levels. Our engineering team has done a great job that leverages new technologies in the control and operation areas, while our ISC team managed to integrate a complex project in line with tight launch timeframes. This machine adds new levels of productivity due to a wide range of
cutting widths and engine options,� says Alan. A more recent product to be launched is the all-new HR700 wide-area mower, which features an industry-first 14 foot wide cutting width that enables it to cut up to 25 per cent more grass than traditional 11-foot rotary mowers. Launched in February 2016, the HR700 wide-area rotary mower combines the manoeuvrability and agility of a smaller mower with the productivity of a 14-foot cutting width, which will allow turf managers to mow up to 13 acres an hour. This wide-ranging portfolio has enabled the company to accumulate a customer base that is split into three key categories: golf courses and golf resorts, municipal grounds maintenance departments and the groundscare contractors that serve them; the company also serves high-end homeowners. Although this diversification has enabled the company to remain strong financially, the company is currently facing some headwinds due to issues such as exchange rates and government cut backs, as Alan continues: “In terms of market conditions, austerity in the public sector is probably our biggest challenge at present, with many grounds maintenance budgets being cut back.
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Ransomes Jacobsen
Furthermore, growth in the golf market, which previous was evident for many years, has now slowed; this development has provided us with another challenge to maintain growth. However, on the other end of the scale, we do see significant growth in the Asia Pacific region in the golf sector and continue to build our business down there with a team based in China, Singapore and Australia.” To remain profitable during these economic difficulties in the market, Alan says Ransomes Jacobsen is continuing with its R&D programme, which will result in new innovations: “The objective is always to bring products to the market that leverage new technologies as well as manufacturing techniques and materials, which will ensure we not only remain competitive in the global market, but also satisfy our customers’ needs. A good example of product development is our Eclipse range of hybrid greens mowers, which completely remove potentially damaging hydraulic oil from the machines and guarantee the best possible cut on golf greens.” Through ongoing innovation and product development, the grass will always be greener for Ransomes Jacobsen as customers from across the world seek out optimum quality solutions from the highly experienced and customer-orientated firm.
Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd. Products: Turf maintenance equipment
http://jacobsen.com
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ERG (Air Pollution Control) Ltd
A controlled
approach With a leading reputation as a supplier of air pollution control systems and services, ERG (Air Pollution Control) Ltd has established a successful track record over more than three decades with over 700 systems installed globally
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RG (Air Pollution Control) Ltd was formed in 1978 and quickly developed a reputation as a well-established and reputable name in the field of environmental engineering and contracting. Today ERG operates a fully Lloyds Register accredited ISO 9001 company that organises its services across six areas that are comprised of its odour control, air pollution control, thermal systems, maintenance, consultancy and V-tex divisions. V-tex is a recognised brand that delivers proven scrubbing and stripping technology that was first developed in response to the tough gas scrubbing requirements in the nuclear industry to scrub both gaseous and particulate contamination and has since become a reliable technology across several process industries. The company provides clients with turnkey solutions that are optimised to deliver the best technical solution for the lowest capital running cost, that are backed up with dependable performance guarantees. ERG specialises in the provision of technical solutions across a broad base of applications including, odour control systems, air pollution control systems, industrial gas cleaning, soluble contamination capture and recovery, partial removal systems, hazardous waste flue gas cleaning systems, VOC contamination abatement, thermal oxidation systems, thermal fluid heaters and toxic waste destruction systems. Furthermore the company is also able to employ its proven V-tex scrubbing, stripping and condensing technology and provide expert maintenance of odour control and industrial air pollution control (APC) equipment. ERG is committed to further increasing its scope of services and delivering leading-edge services within the APC industry. During September 2015 for
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example, it announced the addition of thermal oxidation and thermal fluid heater systems to its already extensive portfolio of APC technologies. The introduction of the new technology was made possible through the recruitment of engineers and consultants from Beverley Environmental and the support of preexisting ERG infrastructure and sales engineers; mechanical, electrical and process designers; project managers; and aftersales servicing and maintenance teams. “We are delighted to have this capability within the ERG team as it will expand our service offering and deliver additional value to our customers,” says ERG’s Group Managing Director, James Scott Bowden. “Thermal systems are very complimentary to our existing gas cleaning technologies and creates very good synergy to the gas scrubbing technology that ERG has applied for many years to treat waste gas streams.” The extensive product portfolio of ERG is further supported with a comprehensive package of aftersales and maintenance solutions that ensure that customers are assisted throughout the entire life of their APC system. The company’s turnkey support process includes consultancy with odour and contamination modelling, frontend engineering design studies, design contracts,
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pilot trials using any of its five different pilot plants, hire of temporary odour control and air pollution control systems and commissioning services. These allow ERG to provide effective and economical solutions to clients on a global basis. The company has an established history of providing effective APC and odour control solutions to customers within the UK and abroad from its base in Horsham, West Sussex and its satellite around the UK, the Middle East, Russia, as well as a global network of V-tex technology licensees. During January 2016 ERG announced the successful design, supply and commissioning of a solvent abatement system for Seagate Technologies. Seagate manufactures hard drives at its facility in Derry, Northern Ireland and required a new scrubber package as part of the company’s £35 million factory expansion that took place during 2015. ERG supplied two packed tower scrubbers to give Seagate security of treatment through 100 per cent equipment redundancy. The process air extraction system provided by Seagate’s mechanical and electrical contractor, Total Engineering and Design links the new wafer manufacturing facility to the scrubbers where solvent fumes from the production process are removed from the air. The treated air is then
ERG (Air Pollution Control) Ltd discharged to atmosphere, enabling Seagate to operate under its emission limit. The systems scrubber vessels, recirculation pumps, pipe work and valves and internal random packing are all manufactured using stainless steel and its scrubbers were fully fitted out and the pipe work partially trial assembled prior to delivery to the site. The scope of supply for the project also included high-specification instruments and a purpose built control panel and an extremely demanding timescale for delivery and installation. Throughout the operation teams from ERG, Total and Seagate coordinated closely to ensure that the equipment was delivered to site as required. Commenting on the project, Senior Facilities Engineer at Seagate, Gerard Owens said: “We are impressed by the quality of the package provided by ERG, their responsiveness to our requests, and the service we have received during installation and commissioning.” Through the operation of the solvent abatement system solvent is scrubbed from the air stream in the packed tower, while the emission concentration is controlled by carefully regulating the addition of clean process water to the scrubber. The solvent solution is then discharged from the scrubber and directed to the site’s
effluent treatment facility. To avoid the build-up of biological growth within the scrubber, it is further equipped with a biocide dosing unit. With successful installations and support operations taking place around the world, ERG has enjoyed an impressive rate of growth during the past 15 years and the company is keen to continue to match this success over the coming years. By continuing to deliver a flexible, competent and expert service, ERG is keen to increase its global presence and further develop the product portfolio and added value that it can provide to its clients. Part of this strategy will involve greater integration with its plastic fabrication division, BHP Plastics to increase quality while reducing costs. By ensuring closer dialogue between engineering designers and manufacturers, the company will be able to continue to improve the solutions that it can offer and deliver real benefits to its clients.
ERG (Air Pollution Control) Ltd Services: Air pollution control services
www.ergapc.co.uk
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ANDRITZ
From an iron foundry to a global technology
supplier
Having grown from a small foundry to a globally leading technology group, ANDRITZ represents a trusted supplier of production technology and support services across several industry sectors
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With a strong product portfolio and a proven history of growth, ANDRITZ maintains a strong market position and during 2016 will seek to further its presence and continue to grow within its chosen market sectors
Montes Del Plata, pulp mill, Uruguay
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Far left: ANDRITZ Hydro Pelton Turbine Left: Thickener at Vale Site, Mozambique
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mploying circa 25,500 employees across more than 250 sites globally, ANDRITZ AG has its origins as an iron foundry that was established in 1852 by the Hungarian entrepreneur Josef Körösi in Andritz, a suburb of the city of Graz. During the course of a history spanning more than 160 years, the company has quickly grown by developing a diverse production programme that includes large capital goods (such as boilers, metals rolling and stamping lines, pumps, centrifuges, water turbines, etc.), individual equipment (such as filters, presses, pellet mills, etc.), and a complete line of automation systems. While the market has, on occasion, presented significant challenges, ANDRITZ has continued to grow at an annual compound rate of about 14 per cent per year since the year 2000 and adapt to the needs of its clients. “During the early 1900s, ANDRITZ experienced a lot of ups and downs due to the World Wars and the Great Depression,” elaborates Humbert Köfler, a Member of ANDRITZ’s Executive Board. “However, following the Second World War the business experienced a period of continuous growth, primarily as a licensee of Escher
Wyss Group of Switzerland. This included the manufacture of water turbines and paper machines for certain markets.” In 1987, the Frankfurt investment company, AGIV acquired a majority stake in ANDRITZ and began to change the strategic direction of the company from being a licensee for other equipment manufacturers to developing its own proprietary products. AGIV later sold its shareholding in ANDRITZ to a consortium of investment companies and the Custos private foundation, established by Wolfgang Leitner, who is now President and CEO of ANDRITZ. Today ANDRITZ is a globally leading supplier of plants, equipment and services within four main business sectors: hydropower stations; the pulp and paper industry; metalworking and steel applications; and solid/liquid separation for municipal and industrial processes. “In terms of revenue, Pulp & Paper is currently the largest business area, representing around 35 per cent of the business,” Köfler explains. “Hydropower has a very similar revenue profile. Within the Pulp & Paper global market, ANDRITZ are a full-line supplier of systems for
the production of pulp (chemical, mechanical, and recycled fibre). The company also supplies machines for the production of tissue, board, and paper. In addition, ANDRITZ delivers boilers and gasifiers for energy generation and for chemical recovery. ANDRITZ are market leaders in this area. Within the Hydropower market, ANDRITZ are also market leaders in the provision of hydromechanical equipment for hydropower plants including turbines and generators. “The third largest business area for the company is the Metals industry, which today incorporates around 25 per cent of the business,” Köfler continues. “With the acquisition of the German Schuler Group during 2013, ANDRITZ became world leaders in metal pressing, stamping, and forming. This capability is mainly applied to the automotive industry but is also delivered to other areas including rail and forging shops as well. “The final area of the business is Separation, where ANDRITZ maintains a broad portfolio comprising a variety of solid/liquid separation and thermal drying solutions. Although the company is not presently a global market leader in these markets, it does have one of the industry’s largest portfolios of equipment for the food industry, mining, chemicals, petrochemicals, and other segments. Another group within this business area produces systems and equipment for animal feed production, biomass pelleting, and other applications,” Köfler says. Despite the volatile nature of the global manufacturing market ANDRITZ has continued to expand, with about 50 per cent of its growth coming organically and the rest coming from acquisitions. “We have successfully concluded more than 60 acquisitions and we are always looking for complementary product lines - ANDRITZ never acquires a competitor,” Köfler says. “For example, our first acquisition during the 1990s was SproutBauer, a producer of systems for mechanical
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ANDRITZ
Humbert Köfler
PSI
Pulpmill Services, Inc. specialises in the fabrication, installation, refurbishing, and repair of pulp washing equipment throughout the U.S. Its precision maintenance trained crews perform equipment setting and alignments and general construction. Its plant has 40,000 sq. ft. under roof and includes extensive machining and fabrication capabilities. It offers custom waterjet cutting services with two tables including a 10’ x 20’, 5 axis table capable of specialised cuts in almost any material, for any industry.
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pulping. We built upon this with a string of acquisitions, including Ahlstrom Machinery in 2000, which helped us become full-line supplier to the Pulp & Paper industry. Over the following years, we acquired several companies within the hydropower segment, which allowed ANDRITZ to become a leader in this business area. All of the markets in which ANDRITZ is present continue to enjoy some level of growth. We are not dependent on a few clients, although we do have several very large projects a year. Our customers are all the major players in the Pulp & Paper industry. Within China, where we have been very successful, we focus on the ‘A-customers’, representing around 60 per cent
of the market, so that we work mostly with the major players within each industry.” With a strong product portfolio and a proven history of growth, ANDRITZ maintains a strong market position and during 2016 will seek to further its presence and continue to grow within its chosen market sectors. “The efforts of the company for the future will be to continue to focus on the development of new technology through research and development. Although the market in China is currently a concern, in the mid-term ANDRITZ does not intend to change its strategy and will continue to work to maintain the growth of the business,” Köfler concludes. “Organically the company invests in R&D to find new solutions for customers. That said, we look opportunistically for potential acquisitions. ANDRITZ has a good level of liquidity, and a good cash position, which allows us to be basically independent from banks and to capitalize on interesting opportunities to broaden our portfolio.”
ANDRITZ Products: Leading global supplier of plants, equipment and services
www.andritz.com
Speedboard Assembly Services
Speedboard’s Selective Soldering line is used for complex doublesided, mixed-technology PCB assembly projects
Full speed
ahead
In a fast moving and competitive market, Speedboard attributes its success to its collaborative approach to business and its investment in manufacturing equipment that ensures consistently high quality
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tarting life as a bare-board manufacturer in 1983, Speedboard tackled its first Contract Electronics Manufacture (CEM) assembly project in 1988; for a then pioneering developer of electronic personal organisers. Today, the CEM is renowned for supporting its customers in hightech sectors - such as communications, defence, industrial, medical and security – by adding value to outsourcing arrangements. In FY 2014-15, the company turned over £9.23 million, its best year on record and up 24 per cent on the previous year; a remarkable achievement in a market that, according to the latest Plimsoll Summary Analysis report on UK Contract Electronics Manufacturing, only grew four per cent over the same period. So what is the secret of Speedboard’s success? The company’s CEM activities fall broadly into two categories, as Managing Director Neil Owen explains: “The first is printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) work, and our investment in the latest manufacturing techniques and equipment enables us to tackle increasingly complex projects. Some of the work is traditional build-to-print but increasingly we are working closer to our
customers’ engineers on both Design for Test (DFT) and Design for Manufacture (DFM) issues. The second main activity is final assembly. For some customers this can also include packaging and shipping product to their customers.” Speedboard has all of the standard manufacturing equipment you would expect of
a traditional CEM, including five Surface Mount Technology (SMT) lines which, between comprise 15 Siemens SiPlace machines. The company also has a variety of standard test capabilities, offers Kanban stock holding and operates a Quality Management System which is BSI-certified as being compliant with ISO 9001.
The Five Directors. Left to right: Karen Heath (Supply Chain Director), Nick Fairhead (Sales & Marketing Director), Neil Owen (Managing Director and co-owner), Martin Bullimore (Operations Director) and Richard Watson (Financial Director and co-owner)
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A key differentiator between Speedboard and the vast majority of UK-based CEMs is that the company’s owners were previously customers of the company. This has instilled an extremely customer-focused approach to business and is reflected in its high customer retention rate. Speedboard’s longest standing customer has been working with the CEM for over 23 years. Staff retention is high too. Neil comments: “Some of our key staff have been with us since our bareboard days in the early 1980s. Impressive in its own right but that’s also great expertise for any CEM to have in-house.” Another differentiator is Speedboard’s willingness to invest in manufacturing equipment, and the associated training of personnel. In the last 18 months alone, Speedboard has invested a CAPEX value of around £200,000 in two additional manufacturing techniques. The first investment was a Vapour Phase oven. Compared to traditional convection reflow soldering, Vapour Phase affords much better control and stability over the entire soldering process, irrespective of variations in the board’s thermal mass. During the process, the PCB is suspended in the vapour of a boiling, inert liquid (which has a boiling point slightly higher than the solder reflow temperature). The PCB physically cannot become hotter than the vapour, thus minimising the risk of over-cooking heat-sensitive components. The second investment was in a Selective Soldering line; ideal for tackling increasingly
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complex double-sided, mixed technology PCB assembly projects. The process has much in common with wave soldering but components are soldered on a pin-by-pin basis and without disturbing pre-placed neighbouring components. Neil comments: “Both investments were made in light of the increasing complexity of PCB assemblies and to ensure we deliver consistently high quality.” Speedboard’s success is not just down to its investment in manufacturing equipment, though. Neil stresses that the CEM-customer engagement model must be mutually beneficial if both parties are to grow their respective businesses. “We firmly believe that the traditional outsourcing arrangement model, which is transactional based, is no longer able to produce win-win situations for the customer and the CEM. Instead, the engagement model needs to be collaborative, and more akin to how an OEM engages with its in-house shop floor. This is particularly the case where new product introductions are concerned and if continuous improvements are to be made.” Proof of the ‘more collaborative’ relationship between CEM and customer working, and producing great results, is Speedboard’s recent receipt of an Outstanding Customer Service award from motion capture specialist Vicon Motion Systems Ltd. The award recognises how the CEM rose to both technical and logistical challenges during the launch of Vicon’s latest camera, Vantage, in 2015. “A Vantage camera comprises three circuit
Above: The strobe board for Vicon’s Vantage camera is a metal-backed substrate, thus ruling out assembly using a convection reflow oven for fear of damaging heat-sensitive components. Speedboard’s solution was to use its Vapour Phase oven
Below: Assembled PCBAs and associated interface cables are built into a 1U 19” rack, ready for integration into a larger system
Speedboard Assembly Services
A Vocality BASIC radio is packaged prior to shipment to the customer. Packaging materials are managed on a min-max basis so as to integrate with Speedboard’s Kanban system
boards,” explains Neil, “all of which present significant manufacturing challenges. Its processor board is complex by virtue of having 16 layers, 800 PTH vias, 6,500 blind/buried vias and more than 30 BGA-packaged devices. Its strobe board is a metal backed single layer substrate, ruling out traditional convection reflow and warrants Vapour Phase. Lastly, the camera’s sensor board is a mixed-technology PCBA, dominated by a high-end, through-hole sensor device with several hundred pins and a tight pitch. For that we recommended Selective Soldering.” Regarding the logistical challenges, one included addressing Vicon’s concerns over outsourcing so much work to a single CEM, as Speedboard is also responsible for the manufacture of another of Vicon’s popular camera ranges. Speaking at the award presentation, CEO of Vicon, Imogen Moorhouse, said: “Whilst outsourcing so much to a single CEM may seem risky to some, we enjoy a particularly open and trustworthy relationship with Speedboard and we have a variety of jointlydeveloped business risk reduction measures in
place that enable both parties to focus on their key areas of expertise. During the development of Vantage, we were able to treat Speedboard as if they were our own shop floor, and we do not believe any other CEM could have supported us in this way.” Speedboard also coped with a last-minute 50 per cent increase to already demanding launch quantities. Also key to the successful launch of Vantage was the use of Speedboard’s New Product
Introduction (NPI) model. It extends beyond a typical build-to-print scenario by including an early review of the Bill of Material, the securing of long lead items (which can often be a governing factor in how quickly a product can reach market) and considerable DFT and DFM guidance. “These days, NPIs require a very open book policy,” says Neil, “as it is only through the sharing of information and allowing the CEM to contribute its expertise as soon as possible that realistic launch dates can be set and hit.” Speedboard sees collaborative engagements as the way forward and has recently formed dedicated customer teams to support this. Each team is responsible for supporting a number of customers, and the allocation of customers to a team is based on a variety of factors such as product complexity, assembly complexity and whether or not box-build (final assembly) is required. Continuous quality improvement is on the agenda too, and Speedboard has signed up to the SC21 supply-chain improvement programme. “We’re not resting on our laurels,” says Neil, “we’re on track for our turnover hitting the £10 million mark this year and we want to hit £15 million within the next five. How will we do this? We’re setting our stalls out to become ‘the CEM partner of choice’ for complex, demanding projects – and we envisage that the majority of the engagements with our customers will soon be collaborative, virtual shop floor type arrangements.”
Speedboard Assembly Services Products: • PCB Assembly • Final Assembly • New Product Introductions • Full Lifecycle
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R. STAHL
A bright future A strong manufacturing facility in India facilitates the global explosion proof equipment leader, R. STAHL, to achieve unprecedented levels of growth
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anufacturing Today Europe last spoke to Joerg Fitzek of R. STAHL in India back in June 2015, when he talked about the company’s successful history as a critical manufacturing subsidiary to the German based, explosion protection experts, R. STAHL. Nearly a year on, we find out from Joerg how the company’s busiest manufacturing facility has developed and how changing market conditions are impacting on its growth strategy. “Since last June the most prominent step has been a restructuring of our organisation and as part of this we have put forth a new and improved organisation chart,” he explains. “Under the leadership of qualified and experienced stalwarts we now have a large and motivated team. We have finalised a recruitment drive and we now have a complete team with well-defined roles and responsibilities. With this in mind we foresee a very good future for this site with assured order intake from overseas customers in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and African markets.” One of R. STAHL’s historically key markets is the oil and gas industry and the economic slowdown within this industry has had a noticeable effect on the company. Critically though, this has coincided with strong growth from new and emerging markets that are beginning to open up for R. STAHL. “There is a tremendous slow down in the upstream oil and gas industry,” confirms Joerg. “Little or no investment in this stream has impacted a lot of manufacturing companies like ours. However, the pharmaceutical and chemical industries are burgeoning on a global scale and there are investments that are happening here that culminate in more requirements for electrical and instrumentation products designed for hazardous areas.” He also highlights the growth opportunities presenting themselves in the renewables sector, where focus has rapidly gathered pace over recent years. In terms of geographies, Joerg notes the fortunate development of India’s domestic market where ongoing petrochemical and refinery projects are positive and other projects in the shipbuilding industry for example are continuing to grow. “All of this
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is resulting in an increased uptake of explosion proof equipment from select oil and gas industries based in India,” he says. One particular area that is proving lucrative for R. STAHL at present is in LED products. “This technology is becoming more and more dominant in all industries around the world, including those that operate in hazardous areas,” Joerg continues. “International governments are encouraging consumers to adopt it and this fosters growth for companies like ours that have a wide portfolio of LED lighting solutions for hazardous environments. We are able to take advantage of this even further by remaining very open to the development of new designs.” Illustrating this commitment to continuous development, the company in India remains focused on innovation and recently completed several new LED products for zone-2 hazardous area installations. “We design and develop this lighting ranging from floodlights, sheet metal clean room lights, emergency lights with battery backup, right up to pendant lights and linear lights,” Joerg outlines. “Importantly, we have the complete
support and technical guidance to deliver these project results from our parent company in Germany.” Further supporting the development of R. STAHL’s LED range, a marketing campaign named ‘The STAHL Explorers’ is seeing its Exstandard LED products being tested in extreme conditions around the world. More information on www.stahl-explorers.com.
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R. STAHL
Such focused attention to development and growth opportunities has rewarded R. STAHL with record levels of growth over the last year. In what Joerg highlights as “a quantum leap in annual sales” the business has increased turnover from 12 million euros last year to 16 million euros.“One of the reasons behind this is that we secured a large repeat order from a leading refinery in India,” he explains. “Besides this we have also reached out to major EPCs and
end users in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries with our enhanced product portfolio, including the LED luminaries range and this has resulted in a lot of good business. We expect to make about 22 million euros in sales in the year 2016’’, he said. “Another reason for this success is that exports to Asia Pacific, Middle East and African regions have shown significant increases over the past year. Our parent company is also encouraging other subsidiaries and partners within the distribution network to source from India – meaning products made at this facility. We have the added bonus of producing products that are certified according to the latest IEC standard for explosion proof equipment.” Whilst the challenges posed by the oil and gas industry continue, success and growth in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries is positive, and working to capitalise on this will be a key part of R. STAHL’s progress from now on. Putting together a complete package for these markets, whilst at the same time investing into its manufacturing capabilities will be central to this. Recent investments of this sort include upgraded tooling for sophisticated CNC machines, and in correspondence with increased training and investment into its personnel the Indian firm is gearing up to cope with any future rises in demand. Joerg also points out opportunities in the Indian shipbuilding industry, where the government is encouraging companies to buy from domestic suppliers, so putting themselves in front of prospective clients will be another focused activity over 2016. “Over the coming 12 months we will be positioning our newly developed products in the domestic and international markets with the aid of their USPs which are unmatched,” he concludes. “In the longer term, I have a vision to scale up not only the annual sales figure by high double-digit growth, but also to add onto our manufacturing line in India , high-end technology and the development of new explosion-proof products and solutions to take the portfolio to the next level. We are also working towards being the leading manufacturing facility of our kind in India, which is already enforced by the IEX Ex approval.”
R. STAHL, the explosion protection Ex-perts Products: Specialist manufacturers of explosion-proof equipment
www.rstahl.net
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Kreber BV
A refined approach to continuously reinventing the
company
Specialists in the design, manufacture and modification of tailored machines and equipment, independent family owned firm Kreber BV uses its 114 years of experience to deliver optimum quality equipment that ensure customer satisfaction each and every time
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designer and constructor of machines for more than a century, Kreber began operating in 1902 in the shipping industry in response to market demand for steam engines on fishery vessels. Since then, the company has diversified its markets and today develops unique machinery based on the research and innovation ambitions of its clients. Kreber specialises in engineering, manufacturing and commissioning of heavy machinery for customers within the petrochemical, food processing and maritime & offshore industries. In essence it concerns innovative heavy (process) equipment, high pressure machinery and vessels, skid constructions, manipulation and handling equipment, for which protection of intellectual property is paramount to their clients’ competitiveness. With a focus on continuing the 114 year old company Kreber aims at long lasting relationships based on the highest customer satisfaction. “Our first customers were within the local fishery sector as they were just beginning to be affected by the first industrial revolution. Following this, an opportunity opened up in the food processing industry during World War One. When the financial crisis hit in 1929 we faced challenging circumstances that forced us to reinvent ourselves again. A decision that resulted in our expansion into the dredging industry. This market grew over the years and reached a peak during the Delta Works in the 1980’s. The Delta Works was a master plan of the Dutch government to never let the sea flood the Netherlands again after the big flood in 1953. It was the biggest maritime project in the world in that era. For Kreber this project lasted approximately 15 years and involved the design and
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manufacture of many dredging tools in extremely short times frames,” begins Managing Director of Kreber BV Paul Dits. “Another key development in our history took place when Dutch State Mines changed her business from coal mining to bulk chemical production in the 1960s,” he continues. “The State Mines were closed and the company converted into one of the most innovative industrial chemical companies in the world; DSM. This development catapulted our expansion into the (petro)chemical industry. In close co-operation Kreber started to develop proprietary machinery for the production of bulk chemicals. This is how Kreber Prilling Equipment originated. A prill is a small globule of a material, most often a dry
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sphere, formed from a melted liquid. Prills are formed by allowing drops of the melted prill substance to congeal or freeze in mid-air after being sprayed from a tall prilling tower. A provider of prilling systems for more than 50 years, Kreber is able to deliver an innovative technique that results in high-quality and pure prills that can be used for the bulk production of chemicals such as urea, ammonium nitrate, nitro phosphate and hisphenol-A.” Proud that the first prilling machine ever made by the company in the 1960s is still in operation and making money for its customer, Kreber’s prilling installation consists of state-ofthe-art components, which provides the end user with a quality assured, uninterrupted process against optimal exploitation costs. Strengths such
as high-level reliability, low operation expenses and high quality production are the result of decades of innovative developments. Based in its 9500 square metre manufacturing plant in Vlaardingen, along the Nieuwe Maas river, 15 kilometres west from Rotterdam, Kreber is dedicated to seeking out innovative solutions that not only meet the stringent regulations of the petrochemical, offshore and food industries, but also meet the ever-growing demands of its customers. “Many of our clients are big multinational companies that we have developed long-lasting relationships with, in fact, we have been working with one of our customers for 90 years! Being active in various niche markets means we have noticed that, in general, pressure begins to rise when growth in certain industries is coming to an end. With for example the oil and gas industry being challenged by low oil prices improving efficiency is no longer a good enough solution for our customers; transformation is coming, which means we don’t need to improve on what we have always done, but instead focus to do things differently and be more innovative. Although this causes challenges for us, we have a unique selling point as we keep full manufacturing in-house and don’t work for competing customers, which means each of these multinational companies knows we will protect their intellectual property,” explains Paul.
Kreber BV
One way the company has responded to this challenge is through establishing the five step Kreber Solution Cycle, a unique working method that results in machines that deliver the best performance while also being the most suitable to a customer’s demands. Starting with discussing ideas, frustrations or challenges, the cycle continues with a thorough analysis of research results before Kreber works step-by-step through the design, engineering, manufacturing and testing of the product. To further ensure quality, the company also ensures customers do business with the same person: their project manager. With tests complete, the company delivers the machine and sets it up in the customer’s company; results are tested and Kreber then runs through phase three again until complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Following the completion of the product, Kreber then takes care of all maintenance and repairs,
which also enables the company to seek out improvements of the machinery. “We work as a single point of contact during the five step solution cycle and have intelligent engineers who use their innovative insights combined with past experience to deliver a high quality solution. By having a continuous feedback loop between the engineers and our customer’s engineers we provide regular gate reviews and progress reports; keeping the customer continually involved is a key part of our success,” highlights Paul. By listening to its clients and focusing on developing its capabilities to the most intricate of details in line with market changes and customer demand, Kreber is certain to continue delivering ‘the thrill of first time right’ to its global customer base.
Kreber BV Products: Tailor made machines and equipment
www.kreber.nl
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Sapin
Leader of the pack Celebrating its 40th year in operation during 2016, Sapin is considered a pioneer in can manufacturing within Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East
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ince the business was founded during 1976 in Dammam, Saudi Arabia Sapin has grown from humble beginnings to today represent one of the region’s largest and most acclaimed packaging suppliers.Taking its name from an abbreviation of ‘Saudi Arabian Packing Industry’, the business has amassed four decades of industry experience in the manufacture of packaging products, with a core competency in metal cans within the food, chemical and paint market sectors. Within the food sector for example, Sapin products are used in the packaging and sales of cheese, baby food and powdered milk, while the company’s competence also extends to metal canisters for aerosol sprays. Within the paint market, Sapin is also able to provide both metal and plastic pails according to the needs of its clients. During its 40-year history, Sapin has operated as a market-leader in the development of packaging solutions and technology.This has allowed the company to become to partner of choice in packaging solutions for globally recognised brands including Nestle, Kraft and Airwick, to name a few. “As a company we adopted a lot of technology early on,’ explains Marketing and Communications Manager, Saurabh Timochin. “For example we were the first to bring computer to plate printing into the Saudi Arabian market. We are also recognised as the highest quality provider of products compared to
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our competitors within the region, so while we are not the cheapest option we are very quality focused and this has allowed us to supply big-name brands across several industries.” Sapin currently manages four manufacturing facilities comprised of three plants within Saudi Arabia and a further factory in Dubai, which provides the company with greater logistical flexibility that allows the business to serve the entire Middle Eastern region.To further increase its effectiveness in reaching its customers, Sapin has also recently made a significant investment into the development of its new website with a view to eventually allow clients to interact with the business directly via the webpage. “Our new website has yet to go live at the time of writing because it is that new,” Saurabh exclaims. “However, we intend to go live with it over the coming weeks and our eventual aim is to further serve our clients through the website by making it easier for customers to access purchase orders and bills and so on.The full capability of this development is anticipated to be online within the next year. we recently won an Award for the ‘Best New Manufacturing Website’ during the 15th Pan Arab Awards for Excellence.The primary criteria for this was how ‘crisp’ the website is and how it is laid out in terms of logic, so it is very easy to navigate. Although we are a manufacturing company we wanted to
make the website completely uncomplicated and approachable by clients old and new.” Throughout all of its operations Sapin is dedicated to acting with both corporate and social responsibility and presently holds ‘Platinum’ membership with the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF, as the first private company within the region to do so. “We are proud of this achievement and we believe that environmental regulation is something that should become more important within the industry during the future and we want to be ahead of the curve as this happens,” Saurabh says. “We also maintain a lot of healthcare initiatives and are one of the biggest supporters of ‘Think Pink’, the Saudi Arabian campaign against breast cancer. We also support the Saudi National Guard and the Ministry of Health in their campaign against obesity.” Although global trading conditions within a number of markets have been affected by the impact of the drop in oil price, Sapin continues to achieve positive performance across each of its key markets. “Market conditions at the moment are a little slow, largely due to the drop in oil prices,” Saurabh elaborates. “However different industries each react slightly differently, so food for example is a little erratic because of the interruption of exports to Iraq and Syria while paint is generally stable with slow but consistent growth. Aerosols are again a
little erratic due to the wider market being less stable, but our sales are certainly not bad despite the fact that trading conditions are relatively volatile throughout the Middle Eastern region.” Sapin has built its success through delivering consistently high levels of quality in products and new designs in collaboration with industry leaders. “We work closely with our clients to develop new packaging products. For example, aluminium is an ‘unsung hero’ within the retail sector because it omnipresent - it really is everywhere,” Saurabh reveals. “But equally it has also been missing in some areas, therefore we worked in collaboration with Kraft to develop the world’s first aluminium cheese can.This might not sound like much but it is actually a very complicated process because all other cheese cans have to be opened with a can opener, but our design has an easy-peel lid and incorporates specially formulated lycra.This means that once the can is opened the cheese can easily slide out without the need of a further tool such a knife or other object.The design was subsequently recognised by a number of awards.”
on sustainable operation. “Operationally we have already gone paperless, we have migrated all of our administration procedures to electronic means. We have also stopped using disposable cups and our process is focused on using CNG, which is a cleaner fuel than petrol. We aim in the future to also change our lighting to LED so when it comes to environmentally responsible operation we have taken the opening steps and are keen to continue in this direction,” Saurabh concludes. “While the low cost of oil and the political situation in Yemen, Syria and Iraq has created some instability, we are keen to remain market-leaders and to grow by at least ten per cent on 2015.”
Sapin Services: Throughout 2016 and beyond, Sapin will work to build on its market-leading position in the face of a challenging market, while expanding its focus
Pioneer in can manufacturing www.sapin.com
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RUWEL International
A structured
future
Leading European producer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) RUWEL International GmbH has strengthened its operations thanks to an organisational restructure and 20 million euros of investment over recent years
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ince it was founded by Mr. Fritz Stahl in 1945, RUWEL has been headquartered in Geldern, Germany. RUWEL International GmbH today is renowned as the oldest operating PCB producer in Europe and a leading producer of circuit boards for high reliability applications. “Following the death of Mr. Stahl in 1991, the company was acquired by a local investor in 1993, who went on to acquire further PCB manufacturers,” begins Gerard van Dierendonck, Managing Director at RUWEL International GmbH. “However, the PCB market was impacted by production in China, with approximately 100 bigger PCB manufacturers now left in Europe in comparison to the 1500 that were in operation in the 90s. In 2009 we were acquired by Unimicron Group, one of the global leaders in the PCB industry, which boasts a turnover of $2 billion annually, in line with its strategy to deliver a one-stopshop solution to European customers within the automotive industry. Since then there have been
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Heimerle + Meule – Precious metals unlimited Heimerle + Meule GmbH was founded in 1845 and is Germany’s oldest gold and silver refinery. The precious metals expert specialises in separating materials and substances that contain precious metals from production processes. As a leading manufacturer of precious metals products, the company also offers high quality materials and semi-finished products for the jewellery, wedding ring, electronics, electrical and dental industries. In the field of electroplating, surface refinements can be added to all of the metals and applied in a range of industries. Additional innovative product areas include investment products and the electroplating chemistry and equipment sector.
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further investments and developments. Today we focus on high tech, low volume products for customers in the automotive, renewable energy and industrial sectors.” The acquisition of RUWEL and a strategic restructure in 2013 has put the company in a unique position, as it is now able to offer high reliability PCBs from both Europe and Asia thanks to its facility in Kunshan, China. From its German site, the company is able to offer benefits such as quick turnaround and short delivery times to European customers due to its highly flexible production lines and small to medium lot sizes where low minimum volume is required for highly
complex products. Cutting-edge technology used here includes HiCu profile, metal inlay, hybrid constructions and wirelaid. Meanwhile, the sister site, Unimicron Kunshan, focuses on high volume, cost-effective, yet high quality products that have few design changes over time. Although delivered from China, Gerard notes that the company has the same points of contact as the European plant. “We are the only PCB company to be owned by a Taiwanese company, which means that if there is a problem in China we have some power to solve that problem for Europe; this offers reliability and instills confidence in our capabilities for our customers.”
RUWEL International
Alongside this restructure, RUWEL has also enhanced production services through a 20 million Euro investment from its parent company over the last two years to not only ensure a swift turnaround and optimum quality but also boost its reputation as a technological trendsetter. “Here in Geldern we have a fully digital plant, with a digital light source for our inner layers, outer layers and our solder mask,” says Gerard. “For the production process of the PCBs you must use a light source and with that light source you put a certain geometry on the resist. If you do this with conventional light you work with films and installing the films takes 15 to 20 minutes, however, with digital equipment you can do this behind a computer with an automated return; this reduces the time frame of this process. Next is the precision of conventional lights that you can make reliable; let’s say it is 100 micron line/space, but with LDI technology you can go down to 50/50, which is another advantage.” Other capabilities are the 352 (263 contracts and 89 temporary contracts) employees, strong plant include production of PCBs from 2 to 16 layers, copper thickness from 18 μm to 210 μm and 400 μm, a volume range for serial production, from five square metres to 5000 square metres; mass production related prototyping and a wide range of technologies such as heat management, radio frequency, high current applications and
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RUWEL International
Atotech
Although Atotech’s history traces a long way back, the company was officially founded in 1993. Today, it’s a global leader in plating chemicals, equipment and services for printed circuit board (PCB), package substrate and semiconductor manufacturing, as well as decorative and functional surface finishing. Within the chemical sector, Atotech has developed distinct capabilities in two core businesses: electronics and general metal finishing. The company has its head-office in Berlin, Germany, with presence in 47 countries serving over 8,000 customers. Along with a comprehensive range of solutions, Atotech is known in the industry for its extensive R&D, carried out at its TechCenters network. Equipped with latest technology, processes and highly skilled professionals, these TechCenters are also dedicated to ongoing trainings – both for their team and customers. The TechCenters have also helped Atotech build an unrivalled portfolio of sustainable solutions. Atotech works in close collaboration with the customers each step of the development stage: from process development, sampling to qualification runs in production-sized plating lines. Two such customers include Ruwel international and Unimicron Group with whom Atotech has had a long-standing partnership.
optimisation for assembly and integration. With approximately 50 PCBs in each modern day car, this major investment has not only put RUWEL at the forefront of PCB production thanks to its ability to develop highly complex products in a short time frame, but has also ensured it maintains its long-term reputation as a company to be trusted. “Our name is steeped in history and people trust us,” confirms Gerard. “On top of this, seeing is believing; if we have people come visit our site they are always impressed at our technology and strong performance.” Nevertheless, compared to other companies, RUWEL views HDI, Semiflex and similar demanding technologies as tried and tested, and is instead focusing on consistently aiming higher. By constantly upgrading equipment and its processes, the company is able to produce capabilities with high reliability, high complexity, high speed, high current and heat management and intends to enhance technological innovations further over the coming years. For example, with a current aspect ratio of 10:1 for standard samples and 12:1 for small samples and small series products, the company intends to reach 12:1 to 14:1 respectively by 2018. “By 2030 it is likely there will be fully autonomous driving cars, which need a lot of PCBs that we produce both at our Geldern site and our sister site in Kunshan. Another thing we will be focusing on is lowering our energy consumption, with the goal of having approximately 50 per cent of our energy consumption made by solar by 2035,” concludes Gerard.
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Grundfos Manufacturing
Get pumped! Celebrating its 40th year in operation in 2013, Sunderland based Grundfos Manufacturing Limited has developed a leading reputation in advanced pump solutions and is viewed as a pioneer in water technology
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ith an annual production in excess of 16 million pump units, and 19,000 employees globally, Denmark-based Grundfos Group is one of the world’s leading pump manufacturers and the largest manufacturer
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of circulators, covering approximately 50 per cent of the global market. In addition to pumps, the group also produces standard and submersible motors as well as cutting-edge electronics for monitoring and controlling pumps. These products are manufactured in the
BioBooster and Lifelink divisions, which form part of its new business activities, as Mark Lister, General Manager of Grundfos Manufacturing Limited, explains: “Grundfos is committed to delivering solutions that strengthen reliability and sustainability of water supply in the developing world. Grundfos Lifelink water solutions combine our innovative and reliable technology with professional service networks to support operations on the ground. “We believe that partnerships across sectors and business model thinking are also needed to provide sustainable and scalable solutions. Grundfos addresses the missing link to sustainability in water supply through innovative Grundfos Lifelink solutions that take a holistic and long-term approach.” On top of this, the group has also introduced Grundfos Blueflux, a new technology label that ensures equipment is of optimum quality. Since its establishment in 1945, Grundfos Group has expanded to more than 55 countries and is represented by over 80 companies such as the UK based subsidiary Grundfos Manufacturing Limited. Based in Sunderland, the 190-strong
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The Grundfos brand is synonymous with quality. We are a premium brand that the customer trusts as they know Grundfos has the performance and history that will ensure success for their projects. In England, our focus is developing customeroriented solutions; as more than just a pump company, we can provide full offsite manufactured solutions to meet our customers’ needs company works closely with other UK based subsidiaries Grundfos Pumps Limited, Bedforshire, Grundfos Service, Lancashire, and Grundfos Watermill, Kent. It is in Sunderland that the company produces and distributes items, from small domestic circulators through to larger applications that go into buildings in the UK and Ireland; these include the Shard and Heron Towers in London. The company also manufactured a range of products to support the Olympics in 2012. Discussing the company’s operations, Mark explains: “The Grundfos brand is synonymous with quality. We are a premium brand that the customer trusts as they know Grundfos has the performance and history that will ensure success for their projects. In England, our focus is developing customer-oriented solutions; as more than just a pump company, we can provide full offsite manufactured solutions to meet our customers’ needs. Although globally there are pressures in some of our core markets, in the UK we see strong growth in this area across commercial building services, fire suppression and water utility markets.” Despite a continued focus on domestic water pumps, Grundfos Manufacturing Limited made the strategic decision to diversify its services with bespoke solutions in 2014 after developing a range of engineered-to-order fire suppressant units. Targeting the engineer-to-order sector, the company has been creating specially made fire suppressant packaged pump houses (PPH) to meet its customers’ specific needs, a move that resulted in seven contract wins in 2014 for delivery to customers including an oil refinery, a Welsh hospital and a UK power station. Suitable for schools, commercial buildings, retail outlets, general industry, MoD and hospitals, the PPH’s are constructed, pre-wired and tested to individual site requirements at the company’s Sunderland facility prior to dispatch. They can also be built fully compliant to any known fire standard and can cater for virtually any quantity of pumps required. Furthermore, they are fitted with a choice of components from trusted suppliers to guarantee a robust yet cost-effective solution. Having passed all quality checks and achieved duty parameters that prevent incorrectly sized equipment reaching the site, units will arrive at the customer’s facility ready to be connected externally, mechanically and electrically. Because the products start immediately, customers benefit from reducing labour and time on site costs. In addition to this product development, Grundos Manufacturing Limited - as well as the group as a whole - is focusing on Innovation Intent, a programme targeting sustainability, a changing world and ground-breaking technology. One example of this is the company reducing its consumption of clean water by 15 per cent, corresponding to 300 cubic metres, in line with the group’s water strategy of halving its consumption of clean water by 2025 in comparison to numbers in 2008. To make this reduction possible, the company is using rainwater to flush toilets in part of its factory as well as in its newly renovated offices through a rainwater system that it developed. Taken from a downpipe that collects water from a roof covering some 2000
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Grundfos Manufacturing
metres, the water is then led to a three cubicmetre tank before it is pumped to where it is used via a small holding tank that is automatically supplied with mains during dry periods. All valves, sensors and pumps in the system are monitored and controlled via a dedicated Grundfos Rainwater System controller, which is now marketed externally. So far, the rainwater system has been sold to 200 customers in Belgium, while
the Sunderland based firm considers reducing its water consumption further through increasing
the capacity of its tank and connecting new pipes to more toilets. Within the city of Sunderland, Grundfos Manufacturing Limited is seen as key player in the community. The company is one of the city’s largest employers and regularly raises money – internally and externally – for local charities, as well as being a long-term supporter of a special needs academy in the city. Grundfos also supports local children’s football teams. Mark Lister is a key member of the Sunderland Business Group, an important body of city business leaders, as well as the regional North East Chamber of Commerce. The company is also a founding supporter of the city’s Work Discovery Week, which links the city’s schools with its largest employers. The Sunderland site prides itself on its impeccable health and safety record. Last year the company celebrated three years without a serious accident – quite an achievement for a busy manufacturing plant. A few months previously, GML had been awarded the prestigious gold award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for its health and safety record and the innovative measures it had introduced in Sunderland. Moving forward, Grundfos Manufacturing will remain focused on maintaining and enhancing its existing product range to meet the needs of clients in the future. It will also develop an engineered-to-order service for larger products and commercial applications that go offsite, which will enable it to design, build and distribute bespoke commercial engineered-to-order systems and solutions that will go into some of the most iconic buildings in the UK and Ireland.
Grundfos Manufacturing Limited
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Capital Coated Steel
We’ve got you
covered Gary Hunt, Managing Director
Following a relocation to premises at the North Black Vein Industrial Estate, Wattsville, Capital Coated Steel anticipates a turnover of more than £40 million in 2016 as it seeks to diversify its broad customer base
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s Europe’s largest independent specialist distributor of precoated steel, Capital Coated Steel processes more than 70,000 tonnes of steel annually to all pre-coated steel markets in Europe and further afield and boasts a strong reputation as a leading expert in its field. “Capital Coated Steel was set up in 1972 by my father John Hunt, when the market for precoated steel was in its infancy, mainly supplying the roofing and cladding market. The company has grown with the boom in the product’s usage over the decades and now reports a turnover of nearly £40 million,” begins Gary Hunt, Managing Director at Capital Coated Steel. “Our core markets are very broad and include automotive, domestic appliances, building exteriors and interiors, ceilings, lighting, office furniture, electronic enclosures, office furniture, doors and garages, food panel industries and manufacturers, air conditioning and the refrigeration industry. Effectively, if you need a steel box, large or small, it can be made from pre-coated steel.”
Products within the group’s portfolio include Laminates for interior or exterior application, Co-Laminates for surface critical applications, Polyester for internal or external use, Tata Colorcoat Prisma, a range of technically superior building products; Tata Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra, reliable, durable, building envelope products, Tata Colorcoat LG, affordable, high performance building products, and PVDF with exceptional UV resistance. Elaborating on the advantages of pre-coated steel in comparison to post powder coating steel, Gary continues: “There are huge environmental and cost benefits as our customers do not need to invest in a powder-coating plant or face the energy, time, resources and costs involved in running one. It also allows for better quality control as our pre-coated steel is delivered to the highest standards from the best mills. Purchasing pre-coated steel from Capital Coated Steel also means that we handle the whole supply chain on behalf of our customer, reducing the pressure on resources and space internally.”
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Meanwhile, the group’s services include corrugating and profiling, multi blanking and decoiling, warehousing and distribution, slitting and shearing. For corrugating and profiling, the group offers four types of roll formed strip; box profiled sheets that are available in 32 mm or 26 mm deep, 16 mm liner panel and 19 mm corrugated sheet that conforms with the requirements of BS 3083:1988. If condensation is an issue, anticondensation felt can be offered on both 32 mm
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and 26 mm box profiles. Meanwhile, for multi blanking & decoiling, the group has over 40 years of experience in decoiling, edge trimming, centreslitting, multi-stranding and filming. Decoiled sheets can range from as small as 100 mm to more than 6000 mm, with a gauge range from 0.2 to 2.0 mm. It now has slitting capacity from 0.15 mm to 1.6 mm thick and from 6mm wide up to 1600 mm. Complementing the group’s long-term
Capital Coated Steel First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones with Gary Hunt
expertise is its commitment to continuous improvement, with millions invested in new equipment and facilities to ensure it operates with enough capacity and efficiencies to not only meet the demands of global players, but also niche firms. This way of operating has resulted in an enviable reputation for putting the customer first. The most notable investment in recent years for the group took place in 2015, with almost
four million pounds spent on the purchase and refurbishment of the former Tata Steel plant in Wattsville, South Wales. Acquired to create new headquarters and a production base for all companies within the group under one roof, the relocation has enabled all 110 employees within the group, including those at Brunel Steel Services, a supplier of non-prime, pre-finished steels, Forall decoiling and shearing services, Macward Steel Slitting Services and Odoni-Elwell, cycle storage
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Capital Coated Steel
consultants to work in a more collaborative environment and also take advantage of a more efficient and cutting edge plant. The new site has also provided Capital Coated Steel with significantly increased capacity, which enables it to meet the growing worldwide demand for its products. In line with this increased capacity, the investment also naturally included the acquisition of new equipment, as Gary highlights: “In 2015, Capital Coated Steel invested £3.5 million in a new 130,000 square foot premises and the very latest equipment including a two million dollar light gauge slitting line. Manufactured by Red Bud Industries of Illinois, US, which also assisted in the installation of the new line, the machine is capable of slitting 300 metres of coated steel a minute and over 500 tonnes a day. The new slitting machine is in addition to the company’s three other slitting machines, three cut-to-length lines, two guillotines and three roll formers for roofing and cladding.” With up to 20 per cent of its turnover being exported to Europe, Capital Coated Steel is faced with a challenging market due to the strength of the pound over the Euro; however, as a group that remained profitable during the recession, it is quietly confident about its future.
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As demand increases for its products, the group plans a period of consolidation. “In the last two years we have invested a lot of money in getting the right processes and facilities in place. We are now returning to full production, having made the biggest move in the company’s history with minimal disruption for our customers, so the next 12 months will be spent using that investment to the fullest and continuing to build and maintain relationships with our customers. We are also continually looking at new markets, especially niche markets, and making the most of our recent investments to further expand across Europe with the goal of further cementing our position as Europe’s largest independent specialist distributor of pre-coated steel. We have a philosophy of being easy to deal with. Call us and we’ll do our best to fulfill all your pre-coated steel needs,” concludes Gary.
Capital Coated Steel Products/Services: Pre-coated steel www.capitalcs.com
Baxi
Safe and
warm
Above: Assembly line, Preston
Baxi’s forward-looking attitude remains underpinned by a long history of high quality products and strong customer focus
W Paul Hardy, managing director
ith its roots firmly planted in 1866, Baxi is a company steeped in history and heritage, yet as it celebrates its 150th year of successful business the boiler manufacturer’s focus is trained unfalteringly towards the future. “Of course this is a good opportunity to reflect on our rich history and we are very proud of what the company has achieved in this time,” begins Paul Hardy, Managing Director of the UK-based firm. “However, we are careful not to become too nostalgic because our efforts are all about looking ahead at the next 150 years.” A manufacturer of complete boiler systems to the global market, Baxi last spoke to Manufacturing Today Europe in June 2015 when Paul discussed the continued development of innovative products in line with increasing regulatory pressures. Nine months on and it is clear to see what progress has been made. “It has been somewhat challenging over the last year as we have had to support the roll out of new ErP (Energy-related Products) directive compliant boilers into the market,” he explains. “We have done this successfully by working closely with our distribution partners and merchants to facilitate the transition whilst ensuring they’re not left with out-of-date stock.“ Bearing in mind this forward-looking focus, Baxi enters this milestone year committed to continuing the process of evolution it has very much been a part of for the last century and a half. “A lot of changes have taken place throughout our history and even more are inevitably set to happen well in to the future,” Paul highlights. “It’s all about making our products more reliable, more efficient, more fit for purpose and more easy to use. As a leader in this field we are taking people, both our customers and our employees, on a journey and I think the next stage of this journey is in the increased connectivity of home appliances.” As with many leading manufacturers across multiple industry sectors, the need to engage with the impending Internet of Things is occupying much of Baxi’s development focus at present. However, with its long-standing value to make its customer’s lives easier plus its unique attention to market demands, the company is taking this in its stride. “Everything we develop and launch is a result of listening to customer insights and feedback from the individual
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Baxi
Heatrae Sadia, Norwich
Kaymar Print Ltd
Kaymar Print Ltd are experts in litho, screenprint, digital and print management boasting experienced key personnel in all departments, utilising the latest technology. Founded 70 years ago, Kaymar Print Ltd today produce a diverse range of print to worldwide brand names and to small local businesses alike across a wide variety of industries in the UK. Due to consistently high standards of their service Kaymar Prints’ long established clients return regularly for new and repeat work.
Bilendi
market sectors that we serve,” says Paul. “At the moment the trend is that everything is becoming increasingly connected and so we are looking closely at smart technology and how we can integrate boiler systems into this communicative network. As such, over the coming months and years we will be introducing a lot of smart technology that enables our customers to engage and communicate with our products more and more.” The progress towards this has already began with the launch of a new Toolbelt app. Targeted towards its trade customers, the app includes a gas calculator and pipe sizing calculator amongst other key tools, plus maintains a link with Baxi’s loyalty scheme platform. “This has been launched successfully and we will be assessing our customers’ feedback to improve it continuously and make their lives better,” Paul adds.
Realising this vision to bring connectivity into its boiler range will be a key part of Baxi’s focus over the coming 12 months. In the final quarter of 2016 it will be launching a new range of boilers that bring connectivity and smart solutions to the fore of its offering. Careful to serve its end users in the best way possible, Baxi splits its market up into defined segments, meaning it can take into account the varying needs of specific customer requirements. This coming launch will be targeted towards the independent installer segment, and its next launch in 2017 will be aimed at the public and social housing sector before further evolution makes its way across the rest of the portfolio. Besides its long history and forward-thinking attitude, Baxi has also built itself a reputation for quality and value for money. By employing refined lean manufacturing techniques and
Bilendi is the driving force behind Baxi’s new loyalty programme for gas installers. Integrating an impressive mix of incentives, marketing, a mobile app and forum features, the programme is underpinned by a single-view database and platform. Bilendi offers a range of loyalty and engagement services focusing on the relationship between companies, resellers and their customers. Bilendi currently manages programmes for more than 90 companies across a range of industries including manufacturing, banking and retail. Whether you are looking to incentivise your resellers, push your latest product or learn more about your end customer, Bilendi will deliver the perfect solution.
The foundry at Preston
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Baxi Logistics, Preston
a number of qualified six sigma operatives the company is able to compete with foreign imports on price, whilst maintaining the utmost quality standards. “We manufacture many of our components from scratch,” explains Paul. “In Preston we cast all of our own heat exchangers in our foundry and we have a sister company in Norwich that manufactures cylinders from scratch. This way we are not merely an assembly plant, but a manufacturer in its truest form.” Supplying across Europe to partner companies under the Dutch-based BDR Thermea group, Baxi’s Preston plant manufactures over seven million components a year. High quality comes courtesy of an extremely rigorous testing and development programme. “Our quality department is incredibly important and they won’t let a product go to market unless they think it is reliable and fit for purpose,” Paul expresses. “It’s a process which ensures that we are providing the best products and service to the customer, and upholding our reputation for doing so.” Exemplifying this, over
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the recent winter months Baxi had around 200 development products operationally installed being put through their paces from both a technical and usability perspective. As far as the future is concerned then, Baxi is set to continue its journey of evolution and innovation that it has followed since the nineteenth century. By working closely with both its customers, end users and the Government to ensure it can both meet and help define boiler regulations, the company really is at the forefront of the industry. Ultimately, however,
it is its commitment to quality and customer service that has driven this success, and as such remaining so will be the most important part of Baxi’s future as it moves forward.
Baxi Products: Specialist boiler manufacturers
www.baxi.co.uk
Iggesund Paperboard
A neat
package
With a rich heritage extending back for more than 300 years, Iggesund Paperboard AB has developed a leading reputation specialising in the manufacture of paperboard for the packaging and graphics sectors
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ggesund Paperboard was founded within Sweden’s Hudiksvall municipality during 1685 and since its incorporation the company has continuously striven for quality and innovation. The business began with the production of highquality tissue paper and made the decision to expand into the production of paperboard for packaging in 1963. Managing the new venture under the brand name Invercote, the decision to diversify represented a strategic choice to enter into the manufacture of paperboard at a time when there was no regional market for the product and relatively little know-how regarding the technology used during production. The move to diversify into the manufacture of paperboard would prove to be a highly successful decision for Iggesund and today the company has more than 50 years of expertise and paperboard know-how. The business operates as part of the Holmen Group and is recognised as a strong contributor to the Group’s overall financial strength. Holmen generated 15,994 MSEK during 2014, with an operating profit of circa 1284 MSEK. The company has land ownership comprising some 1.3 million hectares, encompassing one million hectares of productive forest and 218,000 hectares in natural reserves. Today Iggesund manufactures its lines of paperboard products under its Ivercote and Incada brands. The Invercote family of products is produced from pure virgin fibre sourced from sustainably managed Swedish forests. The brand has an established reputation as one of the world’s best performing paperboard for packaging and graphical applications. It is a multilayered solid bleached board (SBB) that is preferred by some of the most demanding brand owners in a number of industry sectors for its durability, versatility and taint and odour neutrality. The Incada family consists of products that are customised for different end-user applications. Incada is manufactured to the highest quality and holds a prominent position within the market as a multilayered folding box board (FBB) that is based entirely on virgin fibre of known and traceable origin. Incada is used for various graphical applications, such as picture postcards, brochures and book covers, and also for the packaging of cosmetics, health care items, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and tobacco products. Incada is also an ideal base for plastic extrusion coating and laminations.
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Iggesund Paperboard
Since the first introduction of its Invercote brand, Iggesund has steadily increased its presence within the global market. The Invercote and Imcada lines are manufactured in two state-of-the-art mills, located within Iggesund’s mill in Sweden and its Workington mill in the UK. Incada products are manufactured at the company’s Workington mill, which is fully powered by biofuel, while Invercote products are produced at the Iggesund mill using 99 per cent biofuel, although on occasion the plant is run fully on biofuel, such as during December 2014 for example. Furthermore, Iggesund also adds further value to its Invercote and Incada brands at its converting plant located within Strömsbruk in Sweden, where it applies various barriers and surface films and foils. Paperboard is combined with various plastics, films, foils or other additional paperboard layers, to attain specific properties. The choice of material is determined by the desired property and complete descriptions of the product can be acquired by studying the specifications of the laminate together with those of the paperboard products itself. The applied barriers can protect against moisture, grease and heat, as well as further strengthen the paperboard, or combine several of these functions. Iggesund Paperboard representatives often participate in the packaging development of its clients, thereby acquiring a broad overview of packaging solutions. This knowledge can help determine the best solution for the product’s journey through the distribution system from
manufacturer to consumer. In addition to what is presented in the Iggesund catalogue, there are other products and combinations paperboard solutions available. Further to its on-going push for creative solutions and innovation, environmental awareness and sustainability are key objectives for Iggesund. This was demonstrated in November 2015, when the company was awarded the Environmental and Energy Awareness Award at the CN Group Business Awards. The event’s judges selected Iggesund as the victors in recognition of the scale of the contribution to the reduction in fossil fuel CO2 emissions resulting from its investment in its Workington biofuel CHP plant. The biomass boiler at the Workington mill was started during 2013 and was an investment of 1305 MSEK (£108 million). The reduction of fossil carbon dioxide emissions is equal to taking 65,000 cars off the road. The company was also acknowledged for having shown commitment to improving its impact on the environment through a dedicated and structured approach to maximising its process efficiencies within its wider pulpmill, boardmachine and finishing operations over the years. This is exemplified by ongoing work in preparation for certification under Energy Management Standard ISO 50001 to complement the existing Environmental Management Standard 14001. “We can be very proud of the award and what it recognises in Iggesund Paperboard. It is a reminder that we have achieved an enormous amount already in recent years,” commented Jonny Lowe, head of HR at Iggesund Paperboard’s Workington Mill. “We still have some exciting developments ahead in this area and through people continuing to engage with identifying and proposing ideas and opportunities for our future energy and environmental improvements we will be able to maintain this progress into the future.”
Iggesund remains committed to providing the best standards of quality, as well as the highest standards of customer service to new and existing clients. To further demonstrate what the business is cable of, Iggesund has been busy during 2016 attending industry events including DSCOOP Tel Aviv, LuxePack Shanghai and DSCOOP San Antonio. With a firmly established reputation and high market visibility, Iggesund is a proven marketleader in packaging solutions.
Iggesund Paperboard AB Products: Manufacture of paperboard for the packaging and graphics sectors
www.iggesund.com
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Slaney Precision Limited
Precision without
limit Using its precision equipment, innovative approach and dedication to quality Slaney Precision Ltd’s mission is to create whatever components its customers require
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ince the business was founded on 6 June 2003, Slaney Precision Limited has established a reputation as a trusted Irish precision engineering business located near Ballycarney, Enniscorthy. Today the company operates in accordance with its mission to manufacture the specific engineered products that its customers require in a wide range of materials, including steel, stainless steel, brass, phosphor brass, aluminium, plastics, polyoxymethylene (DelrinTM), nylon and copper. In 2012 Slaney Precision saw significant opportunities for growth through the ability to produce more complex parts than were then produced in Ireland and at lower cycle times. Following a significant programme of research and investigation, the company identified a specialised CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) machine that would ultimately allow the business to greatly increase its existing engineering capabilities. The machine was the first of its kind in
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Ireland and because of the potential for it to generate greater service and job opportunities for the region, the Wexford Local Development organisation awarded a grant of €150,000 towards the machine’s purchase. The new CNC machine has allowed more detailed and cost-effective work to be undertaken, giving Slaney Precision a significant advantage in terms of both quality and service. Since capitalising on this investment the company has been able to complete orders for work that would have previously been outsourced to Asia and Eastern Europe, while delivering services that are unique in Ireland. Today Slaney Precision maintains engineering capabilities that allow the company to manufacture anything from 5” to 65” diameter in a range of materials. Most of its machines have a C-Axis sub-spindle driven tool auto bar loader, which gives the option of running lights-out manufacture on suitable components. With its C-Axis sub-spindle driven tool and auto
bar loader machines Slaney Precision can fully finish difficult parts in a single operation, which eliminates the need for secondary machining operations. These machines are able to turn, drill, mill, tap, bore, ream, screw and cut in one operation, which allows for extremely efficient manufacture. In recent years the company has continued to expand its manufacturing capabilities through the acquisition of a WT-150 twin-turret, twin-spindle turning centre from ETG Ireland. Its comprehensive portfolio of manufacturing equipment has allowed Slaney Precision to develop a reputation as a leading Irish manufacturer of bespoke components to meet the technically demanding needs of its clients. Slaney Precision provides precision engineering services to customers operating predominantly within the fields of oil and gas and general manufacturing. The company places customer service and the highest standards of engineering quality at the heart of its operations. As such
it began a programme of achieving ISO 9001 status during 2013 and was officially certified to ISO 9001:2008 during December 2014. The company’s dedication to delivering the highest quality in bespoke engineering solutions coupled with its on-going investment into advanced manufacturing techniques has given Slaney Precision a pioneering position within the Irish specialist project engineering segment. With a core of cutting-edge technology at its disposal, Slaney Precision is set to remain at the forefront of Ireland’s manufacturing sector well into 2016 and beyond.
Slaney Precision Limited Services: Specialist manufacturer www.slaneyprecision.ie
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VCST Industrial Products
Geared
up
As a key supplier to the automotive industry, VCST’s commitment to innovation and customer relationships have been critical to it occupying such a leading position in the market
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irst established in 1972 as a subsidiary of the DAF and Volvo Group, VCST Industrial Products is now a key supply partner to some of the biggest and most reputable names in the automotive industry. Volkswagen Group, General Motors and Ford count amongst its light passenger vehicle market, whilst Caterpillar Perkins, DAF PACCAR and Cummins feature in the medium-heavy client list. The company’s current market offering mainly encompasses toothed components, as in gears for engine and transmission applications, but also includes related shaft and brake products. It is a portfolio which has very much developed out of VCST’s close engagement with the industry as a key supplier as well as its unrivalled manufacturing capability. Current CEO Eric Willekens explains that at the turn of the new millennium engine technology within the passenger vehicle industry progressed in a number of ways demanding a partial transition from belts and chains, that had previously been relied upon for timing applications,
to geared systems. What has followed is a period of market growth facilitated by VCST’s innovative development of geared timing and NVH-mitigating (noise, vibration and harshness) engine-balancing systems. “Today you can find gears in a whole variety of applications,” he explains. “From camto-cam and balancing applications to the accurate timing of all kinds of periphery devices like oil pumps, fuel pumps and HVAC systems. “As such our business is split into three divisions: engine applications; transmissions, which includes both gears and shafts because customers wanted a one-stop-shop for these interacting components; and aluminium brake blocks for electronic brake systems, which again resulted from our machining capacity and existing customer relationships.” Over its history VCST has developed an unrivalled depth of specialist knowledge within the fields of gear geometry and design and this, as Eric points out, is one of the company’s key USPs. “A lot of customers praise us for our competence and knowledge in the design and development
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of complete gear systems and turnkey solutions, and this recognition has often been realised by a number of key supplier awards,” he highlights. “Over the years we have been able to exploit this competence and have set up a fully-fledged R&D department to support our engineering operations and ensure that we can be a good partner to all of our customers in the design and development of new solutions. Very often OEMs and T1 suppliers, who are confronted with new engine designs and regulations, knock on our doors to ask for support in the development of associated gear components.” Enhancing this approach to innovation is a strong globalisation strategy – one that has defined VCST’s growth over the past 15 years. Starting in 2001 with the opening of plants in Germany and the US, new sites in Mexico, China and Romania have followed and it is now active in five of its ‘best-cost’ markets. “This not only provides excellent customer proximity in the various regions where they are most active, but it is also a major strength of us as we embark on global projects for our customers whilst still supplying them from local sources,” Eric continues. However, whilst a lot of VCST’s strength comes
2-S - Petrofer
New generation of base oil (= GtL technology) with low emission and excellent cutting and grinding properties. Established in 1948, Petrofer is a privately owned company, located in Hildesheim, Germany. As a result of continuous research and development, high levels of innovation and extensive expertise, Petrofer has continued to optimise its products by working in close cooperation with customers like VCST, ZF and VW. Today, with over 600 high-quality chemical products, Petrofer is one of the world’s leading companies for industrial lubricants, specialised liquids and process technologies, with 42 locations worldwide. For the Benelux area 2-S is Petrofer’s partner for its portfolio and technical support. 2-S is an ISO9001 company with its own lab facilities. Visit 2-S at the TechniShow in Utrecht, Netherlands 15-18 March 2016, to hear about innovations about emulsions, neat oils and cleaners. Exhibition hall 12, booth C 119
Your technologic innovative partner in fluids for the metal industry www.petrofer.com www.2-s.eu
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VCST Industrial Products
from within, as it continues to innovate both alongside and ahead of its customers’ trends and demands, Eric is also keen to reward its own key supply partnerships. In particular he points out grinding specialist Reishauer, which has been essential in providing top quality solutions to the wider market. “During gear development it is very important to understand NVH characteristics and in terms of geared components these issues arrive at the point of contact between two gears,” he explains. “In order to mitigate this NVH behaviour you have to be able to control the microgeometry of the gear and this is a very intricate process. We rely very heavily on our state-of-the-art tooling and equipment in ensuring we can meet these high quality requirements during the finishing operations and working with our suppliers at both the development and operation stages results in a very good marriage. This helps develop a fully integrated value chain to reach the best results for our end customers.” As it progresses along this path of continued development VCST aims to invest around 10-12 per cent of its total revenues into ensuring it can remain competitive in a wider industry that is always moving forward. By looking carefully at these strategic decisions, standardising its solutions and operations as best as possible is key to ensuring it can create long-term sustainability whilst keeping its customers and its relationships with those customers at the heart of everything it does. Not only is it investment into cutting-edge technology alongside its suppliers that facilitates this, but also its continued approach to idea generation and the industrialisation of its core competencies and patented solutions.
In 2015 VCST experienced its biggest year yet with a turnover of 170 million euros, the third consecutive year of ten per cent growth, and continuing this trajectory is a defining feature of the company’s future outlook. “In line with this aspiration the biggest challenge for us is managing growth to ensure that we can be sustainable in the long-term in light of a market that has the potential to can fluctuate quite quickly,” Eric comments. “Therefore over the course of 2016 will be looking at managing and establishing our newest plants in Romania and China where we see the biggest growth coming from in the near future, and ensuring we can balance our global presence in the best way.” Furthermore, by making significant steps with its globalisation and innovation strategy, continuing
to support and develop its people will also play a key role in achieving further success over the coming years. Eric notes that nourishing and nurturing the talents and creativity of its employees is essential to VCST’s future and it is this commitment, combined with its unique customer relationships within the automotive market that will drive the business’s success well into the future.
VCST Industrial Products Products: Specialist manufacturers of automotive gear and brake components
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MORNOS
Containing
growth Continued investment means that MORNOS has its sights set on a growing European market
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ORNOS was first founded in 1991 as a packaging materials manufacturing company in Thiva, Greece and in the years that have followed it has grown through a strategy of acquired and organic growth to become one of the country’s leading packaging firms. Predominantly active in the food industry, Mornos has a vast range of state-of-theart manufacturing facilities and demonstrates a number of different capabilities including injection moulding, thermoforming and printing. What results is a portfolio that encompasses everything from flexible and rigid plastic solutions to bottle crates, barrels, carton boxes and a variety of paper packaging solutions. “It is this complete range of capabilities and our cutting edge equipment combined with the broad knowhow and experience of our people that really sets us apart in the market,” begins Marketing and Exports manager Sifis Kalfaoglou. “This is then bolstered by an extensive client base
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made up of major multinationals.” Amongst this client list sits a host of high profile international household names like Heineken, Nestlé, Carrefour, Coca Cola, Pepsico, Fabulous Bakin’ Boys, The Co-operative Group, Unilever and Shell. Sifis notes that the vast majority of MORNOS’ activities revolve around the food sector, and its manufacturing facilities aptly illustrate both the reach of its expertise and the types of products delivered to market. “We have three different segments in our production line,” he outlines. “The first involves our thermoforming and injection processes, which can provide printed, sleeved or labelled cups and containers. The customer base here is mainly the dairy industries for yoghurt and ice cream, but also for retailers and distributors for the disposable items they produce. “The second is our flexible packaging line, which is accompanied by both Flexo and Gravure printing machines. Sitting within this is a selection of laminators, slitters, punching machines for aluminium foils, and converting machines for different bag shapes. PE extruder lines and a fully equipped prepress room support this capability. Finally we have our Litho printing line for the manufacturing of printed cartons from cardboard up to 600gsm. Window patching, paper cup printing, UV coating and gold foil are all features made possible by this line.” The majority of this production is carried out at the company’s main facility, now based close to Athens, which provides 300,000 square metres of space (40,000 square metres of which is covered), including warehouse capacity. However, a manufacturing site in Albania adds plastic barrel and irrigation pipe manufacturing facilities to the portfolio. Investment into equipment and
procedures to maintain this highly modern, stateof-the-art capacity is an ongoing commitment. A dedicated R&D department ensures that the development of particular solutions and products are adapted inline with customer needs. Whilst Sifis expresses that much of its product line is
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MORNOS
made up of standard components, it is able to work with its clients to ensure it can come up with the most cost effective solutions. A pre-press department also maintains strong co-operative relationships with customers’ marketing experts to ensure that the best possible presence of the final product. “Quality is also a major commitment for us at MORNOS and we have all the relevant certifications for the products that we supply, from ISO 9001 to BRC/IOP and IMS/FDA regulations,” explains Sifis. “Supplying into the food
industry means we take this responsibility very seriously and, as such, our qualifications cover all food safety aspects and related standards.” Sitting next to its responsibility for high quality standards is MORNOS’ approach to its environmental impact and sustainable performance. Whilst it actively works to comply with the ISO 14001 environmental management system, the company also demonstrates a proactive attitude through a number of initiatives. For instance when it comes to energy usage, over recent years the business has installed modern lighting equipment throughout its plants, which has resulted in a marked 80 per cent reduction in power for lighting needs. On top of this it is currently exploring the possibility of natural gas usage. Furthermore, the business commits to an emissions management system (RTO), a rigorous recycling programme and ensures that its secondary packaging materials are made from 70 per cent recycled paper alongside the reuse of pallets. In addition to this a team of R&D engineers research and collaborate on a continuous basis to improve its own product offerings with the aim to lessening their environmental, social and economical impact. Business for MORNOS at present is strong with particular growth coming from its export market. Continued investment into its facilities and product development will be key to securing further expansion in Western Europe, which will be a key strategic driver for the company over the coming months. Securing this ambition will take the company one step closer to achieving its ultimate vision to be the most credible and effective partner for its customers, aiding them through a complete range of solutions and services to reach product success.
MORNOS Products: Leading Greek packaging firm www.mo.gr
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ABT Products
A comprehensive
service
With 45 years of experience in the design, testing and production of cabs, chassis, rollbars and equipment ABT Products Ltd has become the first choice partner for global OEM manufacturers
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ormed in 1964 by Anthony BeachThomas, ABT Products Ltd was incorporated in 1971. Throughout the 1970s and early 80s the company developed and manufactured its own range of agricultural equipment such as cultivators, bale wrappers and bale handlers that were used by customers across the globe. With an expanded factory and a neighbouring factory purchased in 1986, the company progressed into the manufacture of cabs for forklift trucks in 1988; this further diversification of its operations meant ABT Products Ltd required a larger factory, which resulted in the purchase of a 3.2 acre Ashburton site and the construction of a new purpose built 2787 square metre factory in 1989. By 1993 the company had become a significant supplier of cabs to the forklift industry and a well-known supplier of chassis for sports cars as well as ABT’s own brand of agricultural machinery. Following further expansions of the factory in
1997 and 2007, the factory reached 6000 square metres - making it the largest industrial vehicle safety structure manufacturer in Britain - and enabled the company to invest in an autophoretic paint plant in 1999 that could provide customers with optimum corrosion protection. Involving the high quality surface cleaning of ferrous metal and an anti corrosion treatment, the autophoretic treatment increases product life as it provides in excess of 1000 hours of salt spray protection. In 2006 and 2008 ABT invested once again in new technology with the introduction of an in-house purpose built rig and the commissioning of a new HD CNC three metre bed plasma machines respectively. The former enables the firm to carry out ROPS/TOPS tests, while the latter investment enabled the firm to produce profiles up to 32 millimetre thickness. “The autophoretic plant is one of our key facilities, as it is the only process that will give this level of internal corrosion protection on ferrous metal,” begins Mark Hignett, Director and
Co-Owner of ABT Products Ltd. “On top of this, it is one of the largest sub contracting plants in Europe, which means we can put products with dimensions of up to 3.2 metres by two metres by two metres through the corrosion protection process in comparison to other plants that can only put through small items as their tanks are smaller. Because of the size of our tanks we can put a whole cab through or a whole chassis.” A major development for the highly successful firm took place in 2011, when it was not only acquired by Mark Hignett and Tim Morris, but also merged with Loadmac. Today ABT Products is the UK’s leading cab, rollbar and chassis manufacturer for niche OEM’s, while Loadmac truck mounted forklifts are designed and built at ABT with sales in the UK and also further afield, to Australia, the US and Canada. “Since becoming involved in ABT, we have concentrated on not just being sub contract manufacturers, but on manufacturing partnerships; this development means we now make complete
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complex machines for customers to the point they are shipped directly to our customers’ distributors. The business has gone through a real evolution over the last 42 years, expanding from three employees to the 100 we have now working in our 3.2 acre factory. We can now also do everything physically under one roof; from design and procurement, we can take on the whole supply chain, which is highly attractive to customers who would otherwise have to deal with 50 or 60 suppliers for their product. Instead, we do all of that for them so we become their one supplier,” explains Mark.
Quantum Mouldings
John Goff, Purchasing Manager at ABT Products commented: “Quantum Mouldings have been a key supplier of GRP (fibreglass) mouldings to ABT for over 20 years. Low volume parts are made by hand, higher volume parts are manufactured by injection (RTM) moulding. Parts are produced in a stunning and durable gelcoat finish negating the requirement and cost of painting. Liaison between Quantum and ABT at the design stage has enabled products that are both high quality and low cost. Quantum’s professionalism and consistent performance has placed them as one of ABT’s top suppliers.”
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“Another benefit for our customers is that we design and manufacture our own tooling in-house,” adds Tim Morris, Managing Director and Co-Owner of ABT Products Ltd. “Very few customers can go to a manufacturer and say ‘we want this machine’ or ‘we want you to design this’; it really is as little or as much involvement as the customer wants. Furthermore, if a customer comes to us and doesn’t have a clue what they want, we have the latest 3D CAD and FEA software and highly experienced design engineers, which means we can create concepts and ‘virtual’ test them to ensure they are structurally sound. We also offer prototyping and pre-production, so even if they come up with the most basic idea we can take them through the design process, right through to full production.” Highly flexible and comprehensive in its service delivery, ABT Products Ltd is focused on providing customers with quality appropriate to their industries standards at the best possible price. This dedication has recently been celebrated, with ABT Loadmac currently flying the flag for Herefordshire manufacturing after being chosen as one of the 1000 companies to inspire Britain, as Mark highlights: “We were noticed for a number
of reasons but the main ones were a growth in export due to our market leadership in Australia with the Loadmac truck mounted forklift; this product was 100 per cent designed, developed and tested by ABT. Other reasons include the fact we engaged heavily in a knowledge transfer programme with a local university, our cash generation and re-investment; we were also recognised for our financial performance and the consistency of this.” Like many companies with strong growth, the success of ABT Products Ltd stems from
ABT Products
our working patterns and begun a two-shift system that has resulted in extra capacity and opportunities to take on new projects. We are actively looking for two or three new projects that will have annual production runs of 200 to 2000 units per year.”
ABT Products Ltd Products: Cabs, chassis and rollbars
www.abtproducts.com innovation and investment in both facilities and staff rather than strict cost control. Not only investing in new equipment such as a massive six kilowatt laser with a 4m x 2m cutting bed and new paint facilities, the ISO 9001 certified company has also been developing its new apprenticeship scheme, as Tim notes: “An integral part of our new apprenticeship programme involved going directly to schools and cherry picking the best students from the selection process for the apprenticeship course. We got to pick the right people and now have a strong group of apprentices; we are looking
to roll this out this year and then keep taking on two or three apprentices each year. We also take on students from university when they take a sandwich year in the hope that when they finish university they come and work for us.” With cutting edge facilities and a new method of getting the cream of the crop when it comes to apprentices, the future looks positive for ABT Products as it seeks out new projects and opportunities in the market, as Mark concludes: “We were originally a single shift company, however, we have recently modernised
Wye Cylinder Engineering (WCE) Ltd Wye Cylinder Engineering (WCE) Ltd designs and manufactures hydraulic cylinders. The company’s objective is to supply a quality product at a competitive price complete with a high level of product knowledge, service and back up support. WCE manufactures a standard range of cylinders that can be supplied from stock. It also supplies a wide range of hydraulic cylinders for a large number of different applications some of which are supplied to some very well known OEMs within a variety of industry sectors. Its dedicated management team has in excess of 45 years experience and knowledge in the design and manufacture of hydraulic cylinders.
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Applied Component Technology (ACT)
Applied
expertise
Collaboration and innovation combine with Applied Component Technology’s expert production capabilities, resulting in it occupying a leading position in the UK’s automotive, and now aerospace, supply chain
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espite being a relatively young company, formed in 2012 from the assets of a previous company fallen into administration, Applied Component Technology (ACT) has quickly proven itself to be a key partner to the UK’s growing automotive industry. “Essentially we are an automotive Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier of interior components and systems,” begins Managing Director, Dermot Sterne. “Our focus in this industry is on lightweight materials, and we have a UK-leading capability in structural composites for interiors, which is a real advantage. The core products include loadfloors, safety nets, roller luggage covers and a variety of plastic trim components, both for interior and exterior applications.” However, with 60 highly skilled employees working from a single 2700 square metre site, complete with in-house design and engineering competences, ACT has established itself as an agile, quality focused and highly innovative manufacturer.
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As such it has begun to set its sights beyond the automotive industry and into new markets. “We have very recently moved into the aerospace interiors market as manufacturers of a novel
sustainable, lightweight, high security aircraft galley trolley called SmartCart,” Dermot continues. “Manufacturing exclusively for Flightweight Ltd, we are the first to market in this industry with a
Left: SmartCart assembly cell
Dermot Sterne (left) and Mark Pople with a composite loadfloor
new product that uses an electronic seal (from Security Seal Technology Ltd), novel natural fibre and bioresin composite panels and is modular for easy repair.” By working closely with Flightweight, ACT has illustrated its ability to add value right through both the design and development stages in anticipation of manufacturing and launching a product. “This was a short project in terms of its timeframe so we have embraced help from a variety of sources,” highlights Dermot. “Firstly, we are grateful to the Welsh Government who provided support with capital investment for the high quality, error-proofed production line – with full traceability of raw material, back to the harvest from where the natural fibres came. This support will also help to create around 20 new jobs once SmartCart is in full production. “We have a highly skilled team of engineers and product development people here at ACT. However, at key points in the project we supplemented that team with staff from Jigsaw Business Group, who provided specialist skills in a very flexible arrangement. Furthermore, as we
enter production we are working very closely with Percival Aviation Ltd to handle the aerospace production approvals necessary to launch the product into the global market. Other suppliers such as EcoTechnilin, the supplier of the innovative raw material, also readily joined our team to add their expertise when required.” What resulted was a highly collaborative development process allowing ACT to become a fully integrated member of a supply chain in a new and opportunity-rich market. Combined with the
Jigsaw Business Group
Jigsaw Business Group is a business consultancy that helps organisation improved their people, processes, and profitability. A great example of this is the recent joint project with Applied Components Technology (ACT). Manufacturers are amongst the most prolific and successful innovators in the UK. ACT had been through some tough times when we were asked to support them on this innovative project. With our established network of professional practitioners, we were able to put together an experienced, cross functional, new product development team to help ACT design, develop, source, produce, test and launch this revolutionary new smart galley cart.
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Applied Component Technology (ACT) Tente Castors
Tente Castors is one of the leading manufacturers of castors and wheels worldwide, with products that are suitable for any industry. It can provide a solution to your problems. Its range of innovative products includes its e-drive unit to make moving heavy loads much easier to its aviation castors that save on fuel costs. Its CAD files are straightforward to incorporate into your designs, and its teams are available to answer any queries.
SmartCart
ATM Automation Ltd
ATM Automation Ltd was commissioned by ACT to produce an intelligent manufacturing assembly line. The key requirement was to ensure the build was to the correct specification and each subcomponent would have full traceability. ACT selected ATM’s unique, market-leading Build Assist software and assembly system, for this stringent requirement. ATM supplied a full line to enable ACT to produce a variety of carts from a single component to a complete cart with the full history of each subcomponent; hence making each assembly a unique cart with its own ‘VIN’ number, much like manufacturing an automobile.
expertise and commitment already held within the firm, the final product has been awarded ‘Smart Product of the Year 2016’ by EEF – a recognition which, as Dermot points out: “Is a real pat on the back for the team here. The collaborative nature of the project is reinforced by the EEF accolade being a joint award with Jigsaw.” The SmartCart project undoubtedly brought with it a wealth of potential for the future success and continued growth of ACT and Dermot is keen to point out the advantages that can now be applied to its automotive offering. “This new expertise in sustainable composites and the associated capital investment mean that we can also offer such materials to vehicle manufacturers and suppliers who value sustainable components as part of the vehicle’s overall ‘life cycle analysis’ approach to energy use,” he says. In terms of quality, the new production line for SmartCart implements a new benchmark for assembly processes, revolving predominantly around the ‘no-fault-forward’ principle. With the aim to replicate its approach in future projects, it adds significant value to a range of capabilities that already includes compression and injection moulding, die cutting, high frequency welding,
automated gluing and sewing, as well as general assembly. With such significant development on-going ACT looks set to experience a strong future within two industries that are showing positive signs of growth. Despite some uncertainty around the UK’s position in the EU, Dermot is generally confident, saying: “With the UK hopefully set to reach the milestone of manufacturing over two million cars in the next few years, the future for us in that sector is very promising. The trend for the large vehicle manufacturers to use very large global suppliers who can support them across different continents is here to stay. So, whilst ACT continues to supply to OEMs directly with some products, we predict that in future years our client base will become dominated by the large Tier 1 suppliers, who require manufacturing and/or design support local to their UK customers. “In terms of aerospace, we supply exclusively to just one customer, who sells the SmartCart to airlines and catering companies around the world. However, it is a well known fact that the aircraft industry is also growing fast, driven by emerging market activity, so the future for Flightweight and ACT looks very promising here too.” In this respect then the next 12 months, and indeed beyond, will be focused very much on building upon recent successes and general market positivity. “Our attention will be on the launch of the SmartCart and growing our automotive business,” concludes Dermot, speaking about the short-term goals. “We are really well placed to supply the UK automotive sector and are already working on some exciting new projects both in the car segment and also in the bus and coach segment, where we have recently won a large piece of interiors business.” In the longer term combining this strategy with a fresh approach to lightweight and sustainable ‘green’ materials will be key as it looks to expand its footprint. Ultimately, ACT is a glowing example of a UK manufacturer able to combine leading expertise and production capability with an open, innovative and, critically, collaborative approach to both new and existing channels. It is with this in mind that the future for the company, no matter what the market may try to throw at it, looks set to be very fruitful indeed.
Applied Component Technology (ACT) Products: Leading manufacturer of interior components www.applied-components.com
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Lambert Engineering
Precise
planning
A solid combination of values and world-class engineering skills set Lambert Engineering apart as a multi-award winning innovation partner
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t 2015’s The Manufacturer MX Awards one company stood out amongst the rest, winning four awards including the main prize of Manufacturer of the Year. Also winning the Customer Focus, Innovation and Design, and Leadership and Strategy awards, Lambert’s success at the awards topped off another year
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of significant growth that saw it reach sales in excess of £20 million. Founded back in 1973 by Chris Lambert and Peter Wainman as a small engineering shop, four decades of experience define the company’s current offering to the market that make it a leading innovation partner in the development of bespoke automation systems. “At present we have 190 people split across three individual business units,” begins Sales Director, Matthew Cox. “The first is automation systems (AS), which accounts for around 50 per cent of our sales, and is essentially the design and build of specialist automation machinery. The second is our equipment engineering (EE) division, which allows customers to operate on a build-to-print basis, whereby they design the system and utilise our manufacturing expertise to realise it. This accounts for an additional 40 per cent of our business. The remaining business then comes from our precision components (PC) segment, which focuses on parts.”
“They have to be developed at the same time to make a good use of time and money – it is pointless developing a product that can’t be manufactured effectively. In the past we would reverse engineer some of the products to make them automatable, but now we make sure to get involved right at the start, in some cases actually developing some of our customer’s products in their entirety. This is why working partnerships are crucial. “The other driver was to fully develop our service offering to the client. It is to become closer to the customer, to promote the whole idea of partnership and to allow us to differentiate our customers so we are giving them something really special and unique. Something that would never go to their competition.”
In approaching its working relationships, Lambert very much considers itself a key partner to globally leading clients, mostly coming from the healthcare and FMCG markets. In cementing these partnerships, and in order to capacitate future growth aspirations, in 2014 Lambert opened its state-of-the-art innovation centre. Named the Peter Wainman Innovation Centre,
after the company’s co-founder, the facility reinforces Lambert’s pro-active approach to research and development – the cornerstone of its market offering. “The first rationale behind the centre’s development was the need to help our customer base to develop products as well as the processes that go along with them,” explains Matthew.
Halcyon Drives
Halcyon Drives is an electrical engineering firm based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It has been working with Lambert Engineering for over 30 years, providing quality control systems with a flexible customer focused service. Its offering also includes specialist distribution for a small number of partnerships with world-leading manufacturers including ABB, Rockwell Automation, Riello UPS and PULS. It also provides exceptional service levels for the commission, repair and maintenance of ABB Variable Speed Drives.
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Lambert Engineering Stäubli Robotics
Life Science Automation Solutions. Bringing you high speed and reliability for higher productivity and quality. Stäubli Robotics, the market leader with a global presence, is your innovative partner for automation in sterile or standard environments, high end or routine tasks. Stäubli robots deliver clean, consistent performance ensuring the highest levels of product hygiene, safety, flexibility and productivity. Focusing on lean manufacturing its advanced solutions have the power to increase your productivity, improve your processes, save time and reduce costs.
DE-STA-CO
For more than 50 years, CAMCO products have been the industry standard for the highest quality cam-actuated motion control products available. DE-STA-CO manufactures a wide range of CAMCO motion control products including indexing drives, linear and rotary parts handlers, precision link conveyors, servo-mechanical drives, and custom cams. Its customer base covers a wide range of industries requiring a global customer service network offering consistent solutions and program support. CAMCO brings a philosophy of quality unsurpassed by its counterparts. It serves designers, builders and users of specialty automation equipment worldwide with manufacturing facilities in both North America and Europe.
In 2007, Lambert was subject to a management buyout, which has seen its sales increase from £8.5 million to the £20 millionplus that it now experiences. Looking forward the company sets its aspirations on 90 per cent growth over the next five years. Commenting on the company’s ability to achieve such levels of growth Matthew puts its strength down to its clear vision, breadth of offering and the skills of its people. “I see that our focused strategy and sense of knowing precisely where we are going
and how we are going to get there makes us stand out as a business,” he says. “Then, without our people and their skills we wouldn’t be able to exist. They are part of our mission statement of empowerment – we empower them and make them the best they can be and this is vital to the continued success of the business. “In addition to this we have a great set of ethics and values, and we tend to align ourselves with customers who share these. This is all about establishing strong partnerships both with our customers and suppliers, creating an environment that allows everyone to add as much value as possible. The final thing that sets us apart is our technical excellence. Operationally, we try to be as enlightened as possible, as lean as possible and as cutting edge as possible with regards to the tools and expertise we can bring.” Placing this robust proposition within the context of current market conditions suggests that the future for Lambert looks positive. Matthew notes his confidence in the strong market, particularly pointing out the continued drive towards innovation and product development that exists within many industries around the globe. “Every big international market leader is in that position because they come up with clever and innovative products on a consistent basis,” he says. “This is how they stay ahead of the competition. We don’t really see this changing much, as even throughout the last recession the company performed extremely well because it was focused on those areas of new development and innovation.” By operating in its core healthcare and FMCG segments on a global scale Lambert is also able to avoid exposure to difficult sectors that are subject to political and economic influences, such as the oil and gas market. Considering this is the case, it is no surprise that Lambert’s target over the next five years is to grow to sales worth £35 million. The next 12 months will be key to supporting this as the company focuses on growing its talent with young engineers and graduates, expanding its service offering to the market, both before and after the point of sale, and adding to its customer base. By continuing to serve the unique needs of global leaders as a critical innovation partner, Lambert looks set to experience a long and prosperous future.
Lambert Engineering Services: Produce bespoke turnkey automation solutions for specialist assembly needs
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Todd & Duncan
A fine
yarn
As the world’s finest quality spinner of cashmere yarn, Todd & Duncan uses its 140 years of history to deliver superior quality, exceptional customer service, innovation and integrity
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ounded in 1867 in Scotland by William Todd and James Duncan,Todd & Duncan originally began operating at its mill in Alva, Clackmannanshire. In 1897 the company expanded with the acquisition of Kinross spinning mills in Loch Leven and moved the entire business to its new facility following a fire at the Alva mill in 1906. A milestone for the company took place in 1946 when a young entrepreneur entered the family firm who was convinced the future of Todd & Duncan lay in specialised high value knitting yarns. By focusing on these yarns instead of the broad range of textiles that the company traditionally produced, Alan Smith saw potential in the market for a specialist skill in spinning high quality single ply cashmere yarn. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then the company quickly established itself as the world’s largest and finest quality spinner of cashmere yarn; a reputation that has been maintained through significant investments in technology that not only enhances performance, but also boosts productivity and the consistency of the natural
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fibres. Furthermore, following a dip in profits during the 2000’s, the company sought out a European management team who came up with strategies to increase sales, boost margins and enhance customer service levels, as well as improve product quality, performance and manufacturing efficiency. With these strategies a success, the company was back in profit by 2008. Following a five year partnership in which Ningxia Zhongyin Cashmere Company supplied cashmere fibre to Todd & Duncan, the Chinese firm took this working relationship to the next level in September 2009 when Todd & Duncan became its subsidiary. As the largest cashmere dehairing and combing operation in China, which has also been ranked as the leading cashmere company in China since 2004, Ningxia Zhongyin Cashmere Company has guaranteed access to the world’s finest cashmere fibre. Recognising the heritage and integrity that the Todd & Duncan cashmere brand represents, as well as its potential to accelerate market share both in its home market and throughout Europe, Ningxia
Zhongyin Cashmere Company acquired the Scottish firm to exploit these opportunities. Keen to manufacture cashmere yarn from a traditional Scottish manufacturing base that maintains a strong pride in high quality craftsmanship, Ningxa Zhongyin not only brought a mill but a market that will have authenticity for its global customer base. Todd & Duncan, meanwhile, has benefited from financial security and new direct access to the Chinese market. Today the acknowledged leader in the production of cashmere yarns of the highest quality, the company’s products are used by the world’s most famous knitwear brands. However, to retain its crown, the company is committed to constantly refining and developing new textures and colours that are in line with current or upcoming fashion trends. This dedication to staying at the forefront of innovation can be seen in Todd & Duncan’s Spring/ Summer 2015 collection, which was inspired by light installations by international artists such as
Morellet and Navarro as well as water colour and ink paintings by William Johnston. On top of this, the bright bold and brash works of David Batchelor and all types of street graffiti inspires the collection. Within the collection are a rhapsody of new colours to create a vibrant energy for customers throughout the summer that are seeking individuality. Colour snap shots for the season included Rainbows, vibrant rich soaked colours such as black, trance, azurite, bleu celeste, vanilla, krill and lipstick to create a portfolio of bold hues; Denim Dreams, a range of never ending blues mixed with off-whites, and Graffiti, with surfaces covered with bold shapes and scratchy linear marks in an array of colours or monochrome. Also new for the season was Consort, a smart cashmere/silk blend yard that has all of the natural characteristics of silk on show; it is ideal for fine gauge knits and is multi-plied for a more casual look, and Helix, a new metallised two-tone wrapped yarn in a spectrum of colours that offers a spider web effect with an etched look that worked well with the new summer brights. Meanwhile, the company’s Autumn/Winter 2015 Collection focused on the infinite nature of colour
and used the likes of Louise Bourgeois’ exhibition ‘Insomnia’, which featured 220 night-time doodles, and Kate MccGwire’s exhibition ‘Lure’, which presented extraordinary feather installations, as inspiration. Denim also made a return, this time with new multi-ply Denim marls – nine clever colour twists that are knitted on the 2.5 ndle or by hand. Alongside this product development, the company also introduced Tweedsmuir, a new addition to the Tweeddale collection, which offers a heavier look with interesting colour combinations and is knit on 8ndle and multi-ply for 5ndle. Lomond, a lambs wool textured slub yarn with a striking colour offering, was also part of the collection. With stock service, sales support
and product development remaining at the forefront of Todd & Duncan’s operations, the company seems to have its future sewn up as it continues to deliver optimum quality cashmere yarn to top fashion brands, couture houses and international contemporary designers across the globe.
Todd & Duncan Products: Cashmere yarn www.todd-duncan.co.uk
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Amcanu
Sound
opportunities People sit at the heart of Amcanu, a company committed to delivering high quality solutions to global customers in a flexible and diversified manner
Mulmuf Exhausts
Mulmuf Exhausts is one of the leading exhaust manufacturers in the UK and Ireland. It specialises in industrial and off road equipment. It can design to the specific requirements of its customers and always works to the highest quality standards. It manufactures exhaust systems for generators, diggers, tractors, forklifts and screening / earthmoving equipment.
Tawi UK Ltd
As a leading manufacturer of innovative and bespoke lifting solutions for industrial applications, Tawi is a key supplier to Amcanu. With regards to materials handling a 180kg Tawi VacuEasylift, mounted on a gantry crane and suspended from the building is already in operation and two additional 500kg and 2000kg hoists are currently being installed to provide enhanced product handling capabilities. Commenting on the working relationship between the two companies, MD of Amcanu Owain Davies said: “Tawi has been excellent at helping us design a solution to our lifting requirements and we feel that what they provide us with is a very cost effective and worthwhile service that helps us greatly with our processes and business needs.”
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ounded in 1975 and now into its second generation of family ownership, South Wales based Amcanu has amassed years of expertise in sheet metal manufacture and today is a leading specialist in high performance industrial enclosures. Supplying to a host of international OEMs, the core of the company’s offering revolves around helping engine-powered systems, such as pumps, compressors and engines, meet the various noise regulations imposed upon construction, mining and quarrying sites around the world. However, a highly flexible and proactive approach to the market has resulted in a company that is able to react well to changing market conditions and take advantage of emerging opportunities. “We consider ourselves to be a glass-half-full organisation, even through challenging times,” begins current MD Owain Davies. “We were hit very badly in 2008 and 2009 by the recession because at the time we were supplying to a lot of hire equipment suppliers, a segment that lost its funding overnight. We had to cut the workforce in half and lost a lot of money. However, it forced us to do a lot of restructuring and, despite the pain, it has made us stronger.” Finally recovering around 2011, progress since the downturn has been exceptional to the point of exceeding pre-recession performance. Keen to adhere to its philosophy of sticking to what it knows, Amcanu today splits its core focus into three key areas: industrial enclosures for sound insulation, enclosures for digital technology, such as for Renishaw’s
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industrial 3D printers, and small subcontracted projects for local customers. “Years ago a water pump would sit in the middle of a quarry or a construction site and it was noisy and dirty but nobody bothered about it. Now however, because of new regulations and legislation around the health and safety of on-site workers and their environment, we have seen a strong market open up,” Owain explains. As part of the global Xylem group, dewatering and liquid transfer pump manufacturer Godwin is one of Amcanu’s major customers, with products operating in over 150 countries. Working closely with the customer, Owain and his team have developed a complete enclosure system which integrates all the necessary components whilst regulating noise emissions and increasing the airflow for optimum engine performance. Successfully applied to a broad range of Godwin systems, the work has led to subsequent discussions with Xylem to develop a new globalised standard for its attenuation enclosures. Similar collaboration has been necessary in the development of what Owain refers to as a “supersilent” enclosure system for Hydrainer, a leading manufacturer of hydraulic submersible pumps. With the remit to reach a benchmark for sound attenuation of 70dB(A) at one metre, encompassed by an easy-to-maintain modular system, the equipment is currently operating in the centre of London on the prestigious Crossrail programme, amongst many other sound-sensitive applications. It is clear that Amcanu learnt from the challenges it faced during the recession and the growth that followed its recovery has exemplified this not only in its ability to diversify and focus its core offering, but also in its understanding of the market conditions. “The markets in India and China are learning about what we do and it could be a challenge to stay ahead of this potential competition,” Owain expresses. “There are also opportunities developing in some of the emerging economies in Africa and South America. However keeping control of our costs is paramount as we approach this because we consider ourselves to be sheet metal tailors catering for the premium market where customers are willing to pay that bit more for quality and service.”
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Amcanu
Long-term relationships with customers play a major part in occupying this premium position and it is the company’s people that make this possible. In fact, people are absolutely central to Amcanu’s business as Owain goes on to discuss: “Our core values centre around being part of this community, employing local people and supporting apprentice training. I came in as an apprentice working around all the business areas so I understand the challenges that everyone faces on a daily basis and this is true for our entire management team. We support this with continued training opportunities and investment into our staff and as such have a very high retention of people.” Having celebrated its 40th birthday in 2015, Amcanu is now gearing up to reach the next level of success with renewed vigour. “As a business that survived and successfully recovered from the economic challenges we are now confident to put some investment back into our operations. Therefore 2016 will be all about investing in our continued growth with new equipment, such as a £300,000 powder coating plant, as well as new people and skills in order to secure new and existing opportunities and improve our quality offerings,” concludes Owain. “This amounts to a five year plan in which we hope to double the size of the business and create even more opportunities for both our global customers and our local communities.”
Amcanu Ltd Products:
World-class specialists in manufacturing sound attenuation enclosures
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Lawrence David
Body
builders
Proud to create more than just trailers, leading UK manufacturer Lawrence David designs every component in-house and uses cutting edge technology to ensure complete customer satisfaction
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ince its foundation in 1973, Peterborough based Lawrence David has grown to become the UK’s leading manufacturer of trailers, curtainsiders, box vans, refrigerated and rigid bodywork and one of the most respected trailer manufacturers in the UK. Viewed as the strength behind the haulage industry, the company offers customers engineering expertise, optimum quality products and exceptional customer service while progressing with a culture of continuous innovation. Key to this ingrained culture is the company’s in-house design capabilities, its continuous investment in state-of-the-art technology and a team of highly experienced, competent and dedicated craftsmen who strive for the best possible solution to each customer’s requirement. By having total in-house control over component designs, quality and performance, Lawrence David can deliver all of its trailers with a minimum five year warranty and guarantee absolute satisfaction and confidence for its customers. Moreover, the company’s attention to detail means the next unique innovation is never far away, while its constant investment in facilities and personnel ensures its leading reputation at the forefront of the trailer industry is maintained. Within its portfolio are box vans, fuel savers,
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fridges, curtainsiders and double deck trailers; all of which are custom-built with the unique needs of each customer in mind. With more than 40 years of experience, Lawrence David also lays claim to being one of the biggest body builders in the UK for the haulage industry and a pioneer when it comes to innovations and engineering firsts. Within its rigid portfolio the company offers an 18 tonne rigid curtainsider, an 18 tonne rigid fuel saver, 3.5 tonne bonded Luton box van, a 7.5 tonne rigid and a 7.5 tonne rigid curtainsider. On top of this, should spare parts be required, the company can ship genuine parts and replacement components to the customer. Alongside these manufacturing capabilities, Lawrence David has also invested in dedicated facilities in Peterborough and Corby to repair and refurbish trailers and bodies. Services include full chassis and body shot blast, repaints, new curtains, new doors, overall height increases and accident repairs. One example of the company’s market leading capabilities was announced in February 2015 when Elddis Transport celebrated clocking up one million kilometres in its first longer semi-trailer from Lawrence David. The bespoke trailer has averaged 981 kilometres per day since it was delivered in May 2012 and has resulted in Elddis
NWE Network Engineering FIX high performance cargo securing systems by NWE Network Engineering - captive - suspended- self-retracting – ground level operation. If it’s just 50mm straps you want then FIX-Strap to EN 12195-2 LC2,500daN, self-adjusts to load height, pulls clear for loading/ unloading and is easily positioned over the target cargo. For more complex loads, FIX-Road to EN 12195-2, is a very special high performance retracting load securing tarpaulin. Pulls clear for loading/unloading. Can give lashing capacities in excess of 30,000daN. FIX systems can assist DVSA compliance when correctly used. NWE greatly appreciates Lawrence David’s support and confidence in FIX systems.
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Lawrence David
Transport ordering ten more trailers from the company. Today operating across seven sites and more than 420,000 square feet of manufacturing space, Lawrence David made the strategic decision to expand in the first quarter of 2015 following increased demand for its services. In response to the market, it acquired a Peterborough property that is comprised of three interlinked
warehouses and office space and totals 161,151 square feet of space. Furthermore, the site extends to approximately eight acres, thus providing Lawrence David with excellent space for immediate use as well as further development opportunities in the future. Having already reached 60 to 70 per cent capacity, further expansions are looking increasingly likely as Lawrence David continues to take on major contracts such as the delivery of 40 trailers for Butterkist; as part of an order from world-leading logistics firm CEVA Logistics, Lawrence David will design and build its new trailers, with TUV EN12642XL certified bodies as standard. The trailers will include Armoursheet ‘plus’ load-bearing curtains with straps and webbing handles on both front and rear curtain poles for easy removal, while the design of 13.7 metre long trailers will be topped off with Butterkist livery. With front and rear Lawrence David ratchet tensioners, a Just Modal landing gear, Michelin alloy wheels, a pull-out ladder and rear buffers for scratch-free loading, these new trailers are certain to ensure the delivery of
Butterkist popcorn around the UK for many years to come. Another notable contract for Lawrence David involved the promotion of safer trailers for the public and operators alongside its long-term customer DS Smith Logistics. For this project, the company retrofitted one of DS Smith’s pillarless curtainsiders with a portfolio of health and safety conscious devices; these includes a fully EN12642XL rated ArmourSheet, automatic rear step illumination lamp, a Lawrence David patented curved ground coupling, its latest strap safe load securing system; a fully integrated soft dock system with audible warning, porthole in the roof to act as skylights, side marker lamps incorporated in the indicator/repeater system, two high level rear indicator lamps and two high level rear stop lamps. Currently being trialled by a number of longterm customers, the curved ground coupling is industry leading in terms of driver safety as it provides comfortable, ground level Suzie coupling of the trailer connections, with no working at height or getting behind the cab. Once all retrofitting was complete, DS Smith employed the services of the German independent test agency TUV to perform both static and dynamic tests on the trailers, with Lawrence David passing on all counts. With a number of successful years behind it, the company aims to continue this positive trend of growth by investing in new machinery and equipment at its new facility. Furthermore, Lawrence David will seek out new contract opportunities at exhibitions and events such as the CV Show in Birmingham, which it attended in 2015. During this event, the company secured a prime position at the heart of hall five, stand 5D70 to exhibit three products: the EN12642XL pallet network double-deck trailer, the 18 tonne EN12642XL curtainsider vehicle and its latest home delivery vehicle. Through showcasing its superior products and manufacturing capabilities at notable events, while also maintaining a culture of continued improvement and advancement in all areas of the business, Lawrence David is certain to remain in demand and retain its crown as the leader in trailer and commercial vehicle body manufacturing.
Lawrence David Products: Trailers, curtainsiders, box vans, refrigerated and rigid bodywork
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Swift Group Laufenberg
The drive to
thrive
Innovation, value for money and customer engagement all define Swift’s current success and with momentum growing the future looks bright for the UK’s leading caravan manufacturer
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Behind this success we have a very sound business and a management team with over a hundred years worth of combined experience and a fantastic team of people that are aligned to the company vision of delivering the very best market-leading products
Nick Page
ow employing over 1000 staff and turning over more than £200 million annually, Swift Group has grown to become the UK’s largest leisure vehicle manufacturer since it was first established back in 1964. With a range of products designed to suit all budgets and requirements, Swift is the leader in the tourer caravan and motorhome markets with shares of 40 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively. Possessing a 20 per cent share it is also amongst the leading producers of holiday homes. When Manufacturing Today Europe featured Swift back in May 2015, Group Commercial Director, Nick Page, spoke of the company’s approach to innovation and the unprecedented growth it was experiencing, achieving record sales and having already sold out of its 2016 season motorhome production capacity. Today, the success story continues with improved sales
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Swift Kon-Tiki
performance and a number of awards under its belt. “All our products have been greatly in demand over the last few years,” Nick begins. “Last season we sold out a little too early and this season is looking similar.” Whist the domestic UK market remains a key stage for Swift, over the past few years its export activities have seen considerable growth, notably increasing 34 per cent over the past two years. Putting this into context, in 2015 the company placed 95th in the Sunday Times Top Track 200 for Britain’s Private Companies with the Fastest Growth in International Sales. Markets for the group now extend across the globe from Europe and Iceland to Sri Lanka, South Korea and Australasia. “Behind this success we have a very sound business and a management team with over a hundred years worth of combined experience and a fantastic team of people that are aligned to the company vision of delivering the very best market-leading products,” Nick explains. “In terms of our products we deliver an outstanding array of features including SMART HT – the world’s most advanced caravan construction system – innovative styles and designs, and great value products, all supplemented by an ability to react quickly to market demands.” The latest addition to Swift’s innovative range of product features is Swift Command, which features across the top end of both its caravan and motorhome ranges giving customers the ability to monitor and control certain features like lighting and heating remotely via the internet or through an app. Such commitment to delivering high quality product offerings to the market has resulted in a number of prestigious awards over the years. Most recently Swift was awarded the Best Family Caravan under £15,500 at the National Caravan Awards 2016 for the Sprite Freedom 6TD package it offers. Providing exceptional affordable value for families, the caravan utilises the innovative SMART Plus construction process that is normally reserved for the more expensive models. “We were also recently awarded the Luxury Tourer of the Year 2016 for the Elegance/ Continental range from Caravan Times,” highlights Nick. “Importantly this was voted for by actual customers, rather than journalists, and is testament to the high quality product offering and superb user experience our customers have had with this exceptional range of caravans.” Also helping to solidify its position as a leading player in this consumer market is an exemplary approach to marketing. “We have run a number of different initiatives that have worked for us over the last 12 months such as ‘First Time Buyer’ and ‘Swift Experience’,” Nick continues. “These
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Swift Group Swift Escape
Swift Elegance
“
Overall we have a very exciting year ahead and are looking forward to the new 2017 season where we have some exciting product launches including a new highly appealing leisure vehicle targeted at attracting new customers to the industry
are designed with the aim of attracting new customers to the industry, to visit shows and to hopefully help them on their way to leisure vehicle ownership. The ‘Swift Experience’ follows several existing Swift owners via social media and PR activity showcasing how appealing ownership is and the myriad of opportunities it opens up. We believe that this has definitely encouraged new customers into the industry.” To cope with such popular success and the ensuing growth, Swift undergoes a continuous programme of investment to improve manufacturing capabilities and increase production capacity. Back in May 2015 Nick mentioned the £1.5 million investment into a state-of-the-art CNC router, and it is currently in the middle of a further £1.75 million programme to install a new laminating facility. The new facility will allow the company to produce panels to a high quality standard as well as enabling it to change the technical specification of its entire touring caravan and motorhome product line up bringing noticeable customer benefits. “In addition to this a new assembly hall will be built adjacent to the current production facility here in Cottingham allowing us to consolidate our holiday home business onto one site,” says Nick. “The new facility will also incorporate a large covered storage area for just-in-time component delivery. Preparatory works have already started with the main element due for completion before
April 2018 giving us the additional production flexibility with an enhanced ability to respond appropriately to the market. Ultimately, it clearly signals the business’ intent over the coming years to increase its production capacity.” Over the next year Swift plans to continue its trailblazing progress in the industry with further innovative product, service and initiative launches further anchoring the company at the forefront of the industry across its entire range. On a concluding note Nick sums up the company’s positivity as it looks towards the future: “We will be continuing our sponsorship of Team Wiggins in partnership with Sir Bradley Wiggins and are providing two new 2016 motorhomes for the team to use during the Olympic build up. Overall we have a very exciting year ahead and are looking forward to the new 2017 season where we have some exciting product launches including a new highly appealing leisure vehicle targeted at attracting new customers to the industry.”
Swift Group Products: UK’s leading manufacturer of motorhomes, caravans and holiday homes www.swiftgroup.co.uk
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Jacob Pipework Systems
Jacob pipework in a sugar factory
Solid flow of
success Occupying a leading position in the market is the result of many years worth of customer relationships and continuous innovation for Jacob Pipework Systems, which now looks forward to expanding its international presence even further
F Patrick Jacob, Managing Director
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r. Jacob Söhne GmbH & Co. KG was first established back in 1928 and is now the leading global supplier of modular pipework systems. Compared to the rest of its market, Jacob has the widest offering of around 7000 standardised products geared towards providing comprehensive solutions to dry product transfer and contaminated air extraction needs within an industrial environment. With a number of plants situated around the world and even more sales representatives operating in over 40 countries, Jacob has laid down a footprint in numerous industries from pharmaceutical and food
to chemicals, plastics, oil mist extraction and other major industrial applications. “Basically, anywhere dry product needs to be transported throughout a process, or contaminated air needs to be removed from a space, our modular systems can provide key benefits,” begins Managing Director, Patrick Jacob who goes on to discuss the company’s main sales channels. “We cater to the plant engineering and mechanical engineering experts around the world. Germany is a major stronghold for us as it is a large exporting nation and we have a lot of plant engineers here who carry out international business. In terms of sales it is generally split equally
Modular pipework application
Pipework for the chemical industry
between domestic and export, but in reality, because a lot of our domestic customers are operating on a global platform, it is weighted more towards the export side.� It is not only the breadth of products that marks Jacob out as a leader in the market able to provide a one-stop-shop of pipework solutions from bends to turn-head distributors, but also this international presence and stock flexibility. Five daughter companies make up the Jacob Group, consisting of two production sites in Germany, and one each in Italy and the US. Sales-wise, two main offices are set up in the UK and France, and its network of representatives takes this around the world.
Feedmill
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Jacob Pipework Systems Swivel pipe switch, food grade
‘
We are able to understand the market, respond to demands and develop new products accordingly, as well as providing excellent German engineering to our customers.
“When it comes to our product, availability is key because whilst it can still represent a significant investment, it is not usually the first priority in a major plant construction project for many of our customers,” he says. “This means they want a very flexible, modular pipework system that can be delivered very quickly and we are perfectly placed to provide this.” At its largest plant in Germany, Jacob holds around ten million euros worth of stock in one of the largest warehouses of its kind. A total of around 14 million euros is held across the group and in Germany alone this equates to one million individual items. “Having multiple production locations also gives our customers confidence in delivery as if one site encounters an issue, another can take the additional load and provide this production stability,” Patrick adds. Within its production sites the combination of highly skilled and knowledgeable labour with state-of-the-art automation technology enables Jacob to run high volume production lines with consistent quality but also an adaptive, solutions-led process. “Automation drives productivity and reliability, and we are the only ones in this industry large enough to make use of this technology,” Patrick continues. “However maintaining a high level of skilled labour, which we do through continuous training, is rewarded with very low turnover rates, so we are able to understand the market, respond to demands and develop new products accordingly, as well as providing excellent German engineering to our customers.” When it comes to innovation the company approaches product development from two strategic angles. As the largest supplier in the market with such a long history and robust reputation, it has become the partner of choice for many of its customers when they start looking at new processes and products. “We are often included at this phase to help develop the best solutions and we can gather really good market feedback this way,” says Patrick. The second stream of development comes from the business’ large technology and engineering department, which retains a focus on innovation by looking at what products can be improved and what new systems could be launched to market.
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Illustrating the success Jacob has experienced from this approach, Patrick outlines three of the company’s recent and most important innovations. “Firstly we have developed an economical connection method called QUICK CONNECT, which is essentially a pull-ring that provides a very quick and easy method for putting a system together,” he describes. “The installation of pipeworks is very time consuming and labour intensive and the longer this takes, the more expensive it gets. Therefore this system becomes very cost effective. It is also very flexible, making cleaning and adjustments very simple to carry out.” Two other key developments are related very closely to the food industry where quality assurance is absolutely essential. For example, over the last couple of years it has developed a Food Grade line, which is the only modular pipework system in the world certified by both the US FDA and European EC1935/2004 accredited standards agencies. This assures that all products that pass through remain safe to consume and unaltered in terms of quality. “Continuing this we have also launched the Detectable Design line, which revolves around making the seals that sit between two joining components, metal detectable,” Patrick explains. “This means that should a seal enter the process, for whatever reason, they will be detectable by the manufacturer’s metal detector system and safely
removed. Of course they are food-grade certified so no contamination will have occurred but our customers appreciate that we can safeguard against this. Again, we are the only company in the industry able to offer such a solution.” With a strong market around the world and a leading position in the development of new and innovative products, the future for Jacob looks positive. At POWTECH 2016, the sector’s biggest trade show, it will be launching a new service innovation and over the coming months continued investment will be pumped into expanding its technical capability to aid more efficient production. “However our main strategy as we move forward is going to be on expanding our international presence,” concludes Patrick. “We are finalising a new plant in Italy, which will significantly increase production capability there, and we hope to do something similar in the US to offer our products to more international companies whilst being able to service them locally.”
Jacob Pipework Systems Products: Market leading supplier of industrial pipework systems
www.pipe-systems.eu
PURE ENJOYMENT FOOD GRADE EG /EC 1935/2004 p lus FDA
DETECTABLE DESIGN
‘
With a strong market around the world and a leading position in the development of new and innovative products, the future for Jacob looks positive
NO . 1 IN PI PE WO RK SY STEM S
Hygiene in the bag! Good to know what else is in it: trail mix. Good to know what isn’t: foreign matters. Good to know why: thanks to JACOB FOOD GRADE.
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ESKATE is a leading manufacturer and supplier of clamp rings and flanges for pipe connections. With 30 years’ experience, ESKATE has advanced to become Germany’s number one manufacturer. Top quality and extremely short lead times are the major strengths of the company. Europe’s largest on-site stock and cost effective manufacturing processes enable ESKATE to offer very favourable conditions to its customers. “We are continuously improving our production processes and developing new ways of manufacturing our current product range,” says Werner Breitenkamp (CEO). “Utilising the most modern of bending technologies we bend all sizes of pipes and other parts from the smallest radius to the largest sections for a variety of industries, including offshore, architectural steel construction, infrastructure, machine construction and the petrochemical industry. ESKATE has infinite possibilities for bespoke solutions.”
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United Cast Bar
Setting the
bar
Since the company was first incorporated during February 1998, United Cast Bar Limited has forged an impressive reputation in the production of Unibar Continuous Cast Iron from two of Europe’s most prestigious foundries
U
nited Cast Bar Limited (UCB) was formed just under two decades ago by the merger of three of Europe’s most prestigious continuous cast iron bar foundries. Together Eurocast Bar Limited (UK), Starkey’s Technicast Limited (UK) and Cast Profil SA (Spain), along with their associated stockists and service centres, combine over 120 years of industry experience. This allows UCB to synergise its leading technical and manufacturing procedures, quality systems, control parameters, commercial rationalisation and supply logistics systems to provide a complete turnkey solution. From this solid base, the company has developed its comprehensive range of Unibar products, across a host of materials in both standard and bespoke measurements and shapes. Presently UCB has locations throughout the world, including two foundries located in Chesterfield, UK and Zaragoza, Spain. The company’s distribution network is currently
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established throughout the UK, Germany, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, France and Turkey, and South Korea. While furthermore, UCB also maintains a strategic partnership with Elcas BV based in the Netherlands. During its history UCB has strengthened and extended its sales structure and sales network by providing a manufacturing base that is able to produce over 80,000 tonnes of Unibar products, with over 20,000 tonnes permanently held as standard stock within its foundries and distributors around the world. Since 2014, UCB has increased its capacity through the investment of £6 million in new melting facilities in Spain and the UK, as well as new laboratory and machine shop. The aim of the development of Unibar is to establish standards of quality, consistency and customer service that exceed current market demands, coupled with the best technical and commercial support. At the core of the business is the UCB manufacturing process, which allows the company to manufacture products
to the highest standards. The Unibar horizontal continuous casting machine consists of four major units comprised of a holding furnace with liquidcooled dies; a pulling unit; a notching and breaking device; and a control panel that regulates the flow of coolant and the speed of casting and that also co-ordinates the function of the other three components of the machine. The manufacturing process employs a closed system, in which a liquid-cooled die is built into the holding furnace so that the liquid metal enters the die without coming into contact with the atmosphere. The bar itself is pulled horizontally so that the metal flows more uniformly and is always subject to a much higher ferrostatic pressure when compared to sand castings. This process combined with the rapid cooling of the die, ensures superior soundness, good surface finish and homogenous structure as well as excellent structural cohesion throughout the section. As a result of this operation, the periphery of the bar is solid the moment it leaves the die and cooling
fresh fractures on every length of bar produced. During July 2015 UCB further established itself as a leading manufacturer by producing the largest diameter cast ever fabricated in the UK at its site in Chesterfield. In an impressive feat, the company was able to successfully produce over 180 tonne of 700mm dia in both flake and nodular iron grades. Commenting on the achievement, Managing Director of the United Cast Bar (UK) facility, James Brand said: “This production run marks the culmination of many years hard work in design of equipment and process flow. It supports and expands the already broad product portfolio, opening up yet more doors for our sales people.” 2015 continued to represent a highly successful year for UCB within the UK with the production of a second run of the company’s second largest rectangle bar in 750mm x 550mm dimensions, due to all of its previously produced stock selling very quickly. This led Group Managing Director, Alessandro Rottach to praise the UK operation for the development, while adding: “United Cast Bar’s balance of efficiency, flexibility coupled with
our broadest product offering for the market from both our UK and Spanish operations, make UCB an invincible force in the continuous cast iron market.” Through the culmination of investment into the company’s manufacturing capability, its dedication to market-leading levels of customer service and quality and its specialist Unibar manufacturing process, UCB represents an industry leader with a strong reputation going into 2016. Furthermore, its comprehensive portfolio of standard and bespoke products that are available through a strong global distribution network will ensure that the company is on had to supply customers old and new, when and where products are required.
United Cast Bar Limited Products: Manufacturer of cast iron bars www.unitedcastbar.com
system (which also conforms the profile shape), while the core remains liquid. The rapid cooling process causes the periphery to have very fine graphite in a predominant ferritic matrix with a high material cohesion, which is much higher than is obtained in sand casting. The lack of porosity, slag and other inclusions are ensured by the Unibar Process, which combines with other advantages to deliver a significantly greater level of fatigue strength. Starter bars are inserted into graphite die prior to filling the holding furnace. Upon entering the die, liquid metal freezes on the protruding bolts and is subsequently extracted by means of standard round pulling bars connecting the starting blocks with the drive mechanism. After the newly cast material has passed the pulling mechanism, the pulling bars are disconnected and the material itself is notched and broken into individual bars. These are commonly between two and four metres long and the quality of the material can be readily checked by observing
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