Glass
Carrying Vehicles |
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SUPERTRUCKS’ INVESTMENT BRINGS MAJOR CUSTOMER BENEFITS |
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Supertrucks,
inventors of
the light alloy glass carrying rack for panel vans and the UK’s largest
manufacturer of specialist glass carrying vehicles and equipment, has just
completed its largest single investment in new equipment. The major
£300,000+ investment in new machinery has been made to raise productivity
and quality standards to allow the company to remain competitive in both
home and its growing export markets. Peter Wright, Supertrucks’ chairman, explains, “To succeed as a manufacturing business in the UK requires a continuous effort to remain competitive. Recent massive increases in material and energy costs would have meant increasing our prices to levels which would have adversely affected our home and export business. Thus, the directors decided that major productivity gains had to be achieved to remain competitive and offer our customers even higher quality product.” |
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Hence the appearance of two new machines in Supertrucks’ modern, St Helens works. Purchased from Promac Industrial Machinery, Rugby, the L651007 Emmegi Diamant 4 axis CNC machining centre and associated CNC twin headed sawing centre have been specified to revolutionise the production of aluminium internal and external glass carrying racks and roof racks which Supertrucks manufactures to fit a wide range of panel vans.
Currently, Supertrucks manufactures some 2,000 of these racks per annum. But, big things are expected of these new machines. “By the end of 2007 we plan to have increased rack production by at least 50 per cent thanks to the productivity benefits brought by these new machines. We also expect to be able to apply these productivity benefits across all other aspects of our manufacturing operations,” comments Bob Hitchen, Supertrucks’ managing director.
Prior to and during the introduction of the new machinery Supertrucks’ production staff benefited from extensive training provided by the machine manufacturers/suppliers.
Production using the new machinery was phased in gradually over a period of four months to allow all snags in the new system to be overcome. This phased process enabled Supertrucks to maintain its production schedules during the changeover from the previous manufacturing process.
Fully in service since the beginning of March, the new machines are now delivering both the expected benefits of increased productivity, as well as many other, advantages. The expected benefits achieved included:- - reduced manufacturing time - shorter production lead times - greater manufacturing flexibility - even higher levels of quality - tighter production tolerances - faster supply of spare parts
In addition, there were other benefits, which included:- - less material wastage, through optimised material usage - weight reduction of finished racks - greater strength of finished product - even better finish
Supertrucks, which has a network of seven UK partners and a growing four partner network in mainland Europe, is well placed to take advantage of its ability to expand production by upwards of 50 per cent.
“While we have a significant export business we know that our unique partnership arrangements will allow us to achieve far higher levels of trade in Europe. And, while we are the largest company in our field in the UK, there is still significant potential for growth in the home market,” explains Bob Hitchen.
Living up to its slogan, “The safe way to carry glass” Supertrucks Ltd has been working with the GGF and the Department for Transport regarding the safe transportation of glass. The company supplies safety guidance manuals with each of the bodies and rack conversions it produces.
The latest light weight Supertrucks glass racks will fit any current panel van available in the UK, from Citroën Berlingo size vans upwards. Apart from the quality, strength and finish benefits brought by its new production machinery Supertrucks has recently made other unique improvements to its racks, including fitting:- - inclinometer, to give an immediate indication of the angle of the rack and thus whether it is safe to load/unload the vehicle - new rubber base blocks, incorporating side reflectors, to provide better in-transit load protection and improve vehicle visibility/safety - reflective white safety markers, to effectively define the rack edges front and rear in poor visibility - pole rest, to provide convenient, safe storage for securing poles during load handling - test certificate, issued with every rack to show maximum safe working load.
The Supertrucks rack is available with a choice of glass securing systems including the company’s latest System 3 securing pole which, with its latest over-centre toggle securing action, makes securing glass sheets to the rack a remarkably quick and convenient operation.
Fully compliant with all relevant European regulations, the Supertrucks rack is the only UK built product of its type which can be fitted without drilling the base vehicle’s sides. It is also the only UK manufactured glass carrying rack which has been awarded the internationally recognised German TUV and GS engineering and safety certification. |
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