Award for forge's precision work
A Northumberland engineering firm has scooped a top national award for its innovative design work which has won the company £1m worth of new orders.
Cramlington Precision Forge has won the Confederation of British Metalforming's (CBM) Component of the Year Award for its pioneering advances in commercial vehicle clutch design. The firm used a combination of technological advancements, automated production and lean manufacturing principles to create a new die to forge teeth on differential drive clutches. These parts were previously made from solid steel forgings, which required extensive machining to create the final product. Managing director Steve Rose and his team created a new design which slashes production-generated waste by 95% and produces teeth that are much stronger than those made by traditional methods.
The firm worked closely with the One NorthEast-funded North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA) to raise productivity as part of a transformation of its business since new Indian owners Sundram Fasteners Ltd - part of the TVS group - bought the plant just over three years ago. The result is a new, lean manufacturing system turning out up to 6,000 more component gear parts every week, and a continuing determination to build on the NEPA lean principles. Says Rose: 'The new product has already brought £1m worth of new business to the company and will represent around a fifth of Cramlington's annual sales when full production is reached. The innovation is all inside the die, but the introduction of further automation for the process, under the guidance of NEPA's lean manufacturing methodology has been critical. This award is recognition of the hard work and skill of all our employees and is a real boost going forward as we strive to win further new orders.'
Cramlington Precision Forge is due to start work on a £500,000 contract with commercial vehicle giant Scania to manufacture complex gear and clutch parts for the Swedish company's range of trucks from mid-summer. It's the second major contract success in a year for the firm after winning £1m worth of new business to supply clutches to the MAN Group, one of Europe's largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles. The company had faced closure under its former owner in 2003 with production moving to Hungary. Steve Rose now has his sights on winning more new business as Cramlington Precision Forge fully exploits its niche market position in highly specialised component parts for differentials, clutches and professional power tools.
Colin Herron, NEPA Head of Dissemination of Best Practice, says: 'Cramlington Precision Forge is going from strength to strength after adopting NEPA principles which is a tribute to the hard work and foresight of both management and shopfloor staff. This award is a reflection of the company's innovation and determination to move forward and is thoroughly deserved.'
