SOUTHERN MANUFACTURING SHOW PREVIEW MASS-PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY
BROANMAIN PLASTICS
Broanmain paves the way for sustainable mass-manufacturing at SM & E
Aligned to industry and customer-driven sustainability principles , UK technical moulder Broanmain Plastics will unveil how it is navigating the energy and cost of living curveballs . Including a number of production and energy efficient enhancements it has taken to assist domestic OEMs meet sustainability KPIs , reduce supply chain risks , manage stock holdings , spur UK engineering innovation , increase value and maintain production continuity .
On Stand C195 at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2023 , Broanmain Plastics will showcase the continual improvement steps implemented at its Dorking factory to get ahead of the spiraling energy crisis costs and reduce its mass manufacturing production carbon footprint .
From capturing live dashboard data to further machinery investments , relocating to one production site and the introduction of overlapping double injection moulding shifts to reduce machine shut-offs and restarts , Broanmain will highlight to visitors how its new approach continues to embody mass-production efficiency and reduce overproduction to minimise utilities consumption .
A number of process and site improvements are already delivering tangible savings , including approximately £ 17,000 p / a in compressed air power consumption . Additionally , the company ’ s investment in all-electric moulding clean-tech has increased its production capacity and mass repeatability , while reducing energy use by over 70 percent compared to hybrid and hydraulic machines . Broanmain is also benchmarking the savings and reduction in curing time of upgrading to variable speed drives on its other moulding machines . Balancing the ‘ rightshoring ’ benefits In today ’ s cost of living and energy crisis , shipping heavier and bulkier weighted components across continents can incur large costs and is not carbon neutral . Adding a 500-ton machine to the company ’ s Dorking fleet , means customers can now rationalise their supply chain and have all their precision components - from 0.1mm-sized micro components right up to polymer parts with shot weights of up to
3kg - moulded , finished , assembled and despatched from Broanmain .
Managing Director Jo Davis comments : “ Supply chains in the plastic industry are highly sensitive . Evidenced during the pandemic . Now , for UK OEMs seeking bespoke moulded and fabricated parts all managed through one vendor , Broanmain offers the flexibility , tools , production and assembly resources to undertake manufacturing projects of all volumes . We also project manage tooling commissions . This expertise helps to de-risk projects , supports real-time production , provides customers with supply-chain assurance and enhances quality control .”
Cucumber Lighting Controls is the latest British business to select Broanmain as its preferred mass-component manufacturer . As well as overseeing the initial development of 14 mould tools designs , Cucumber was adamant that they wanted to partner with a British moulder with the capacity and flexibility to mass-manufacture estimated significantly high volumes in an everchanging market sector .
Cucumber Product Manager John Mercer comments : “ The logistical benefits of appointing a British company that has the capacity to mass mould and store components for us , combined with a skilled and collaborative team that can oversee the design and production of technical tools , are multiple . The advanced samples have been extremely impressive . We feel confident to have selected a responsive and dependable partner that is aligned to our sustainability KPIs and mature market knowledge , who will equally challenge us on all aspects of getting our innovative products ready for market in early 2023 .”
Whatever your design challenge or sustainable plastic moulding question , the Broanmain production experts have a solution . Test their knowledge at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics , Stand C195 , Farnborough , 7-9 February 2023 .
For further information , please visit www . broanmainplastics . co . uk
Issue 60 PECM 55