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Fundamental to both quality and productivity second story office complex to production environment certainly helps but
development has been a consistent director Mike Wakefields’ domain, the characteristically the key is again in
commitment to investment. Paul Denning, advantages of additional space and the investment, this time in its people. The
together with chairman Eric Forgan, attended opportunity to systematically arrange the relocation plan included the creation of an
several seminars as the new directors production floor are clear. Smaller parts are excellent training room, including a suite of
formulated their business strategy – an
formed, predominantly, on Nakashimada personal computers. Barton Cold Form works
appetite for knowledge and locking into
machines, graduating to Sacmas ranging up to closely with Worcester College of Technology
available business support that remains a
an SP260 five-die. Virtually all the headers are to provide a range of educational resources.
process monitored - the exceptions only where These include modules taught towards
die configuration makes interference between achievement of the European Computer
sensors unavoidable. Arguably the best Driving Licence and core literacy and numeracy
example of machinery investment – a highly training available to all employees. “We expect
opportunist one - is a fully automated our people to be able to understand and work
Nedschroef former, just ten months old when with a range of TS 16949 documentation,”
it was purchased from a bank following a explains Paul Denning, “and recognised that
company receivership. The five station parts investing in this kind of training would deliver
former is a custom built short stroke machine, major advantages to the business. We will
with a wire capacity up to 19.5mm and cut-off back pretty well any training to which our
length of 70mm. “We bought a £750,000 people commit – in addition to the knowledge
machine without a single order for it,” acquired there are huge motivational and
concedes Paul Denning, “but we were employee retention benefits.”
confident the business would come once we For the record, Barton Cold Form’s
strong characteristic in the business. “One
demonstrated its capabilities, particularly for manufacturing capabilities extend from 2 to
seminar speaker constantly stressed the
larger diameter tubular and semi-tubular parts. 19.5mm nominal shank diameter, with head
importance of making strategic investments,”
We weren’t disappointed.” or shoulder diameters up to 45mm and
recalls Paul Denning, “so we came away – and
Investment in efficient machinery is tough lengths up to 127mm. The range of materials
did.” He cites one example of experiencing
enough for any business. Having the people to is extensive, in addition to steel and alloy
perpetual quality issues with a specific
operate it in the long term, in the UK as in steel, the company produces in aluminium
part – until the company invested in a new
many other western European countries, is a and its alloys, brass, copper and stainless
CNC machine. “Quality problem solved,
real challenge. “There is no reason,” says Paul steel. The emphasis, unsurprisingly, is on
productivity improved and return on
Denning, “why a fastener company cannot prototypes, deriving the benefit of early links
investment in labour costs alone within 12
look like a hospital. It is clearly important in
months.” The company now has an array of
terms of the perception of your
Takamaz machining centres that have
significantly improved accuracy and efficiency
customers. It is equally
in secondary operations, and are controlled by
crucial in
a single operator.
The major investment, however, came in
2007 when Barton Cold Form committed £4
million in moving to a 5,000 square
metre, specifically designed, factory
on the Stonebridge Cross
Business Park, outside
Droitwich. It is Impressive
– no question.
The efficiency
advantages of
the move
are
measured in a
work force
reduced, through
natural wastage, from
attracting good with development engineers, and
135 to 100. “In the
young people into increasingly complex forgings.
previous factory we often had
engineering – they The future? On the investment front
little choice but to throw people
can see advanced developing warm forging capabilities is high
at growth, as well as suffering the
technology producing on the target list. Commercially? “Tripling the
inefficiencies of operating from two
complex and clever parts. sales again would be nice,” says Paul Den-
sites.”
” Being able to present an ning, “but for now we are aiming for the £15
Descending the stairs from the
outstanding modern working million mark.”
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