Planning the removal or relocation of heavy industrial machinery can be a daunting prospect. It is not just the dismantling and reinstallation, but the logistics of the entire project, including transportation, that is difficult to coordinate. Added to the challenge is the knowledge that every single day the machinery is
BAL – market-leaders in full tiling solutions – are presenting innovative new tiling technologies including its unique Flexbone uncoupling mats on Stand 618 at the Surface Design Show from 5-7 February at the Business Design Centre in Islington. As well as discovering the latest technologies, visitors to the stand can
Businesses across the world are looking at ways they can reduce the level of waste they produce, whether that’s switching to eco-friendly packaging or incorporating greener manufacturing methods. However, this is not so simple for companies and businesses that use large amounts of packaging or physical products. A sector that
Managing the logistics of your construction site is integral to ensuring time and budget constraints are met. Dan Casey, Marketing Manager at award-winning lifting equipment manufacturer Penny Hyrdraulics, shares four tips to help you do this. When managing a construction site, ensuring the whole operation runs smoothly is of paramount
Temporary buildings are used by manufacturers for a variety of purposes. They provide a quick solution to short-term needs or a way to create space that is needed fast. They can be attached to a warehouse or installed as stand-alone structures on a manufacturing plant. Modular buildings, which are sectional
Plans for an advanced manufacturing training hub in Shropshire have been announced, with the aim of supporting ‘2020 learners by 2020’. The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT), which is led by a consortium of Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, Salop Design & Engineering and training provider In-Comm,
Sheffield based GRI Group has acquired contract manufacturer Expac Ltd. Expac, which focuses on toiletry, beauty, health and household sectors, has now become a subsidiary of GRI Expac. Entrepreneur Graham Royle is the leader of GRI Group, which bought the £5 million turnover household products manufacturing firm as part of
Planning the removal or relocation of heavy industrial machinery can be a daunting prospect. It is not just the dismantling and reinstallation, but the logistics of the entire project, including transportation, that is difficult to coordinate. Added to the challenge is the knowledge that every single day the machinery is not in operation for its intended purpose is a day that the business is losing production time and therefore revenue. It stands to reason that the best course of action is to hire an expert to deliver this tricky piece of work for you, and here are some things to consider when choosing whose services to procure. Using a single provider reduces risk to your project The removal, transportation and installation of heavy industrial machinery is no easy task. It has not been unusual in the past for companies to hire several different providers to cover each part of the process, even for a single project. This was simply because it was virtually impossible to find a company that could safely, and expertly cover all aspects of machinery removals, covering only perhaps part of the process. This coordination of multiple suppliers in a project is a nightmare, and introduces a lot of additional moving parts and risk to project timelines that is completely unnecessary. Nowadays it is entirely possible to hire a company that can cover everything, from mechanics, electricity, electronics, pneumatics, hydraulics, plumbing, welding and cutting of structures, movement to loading, transport and start-up for any industry sector. Hire a company that values training its workforce Of course if you are trusting a single vendor to provide all of the services in relation to industrial machinery removal and installation, you need to be able to trust in their expertise. As part of your vetting procedures and due diligence during contract negotiation it is very important to look at how professional and well trained the staff are, and make sure they are trained to an adequate level to fulfil any quality standards you need. You want someone who has years of experience in the industry too. After all every project will be completely unique in almost every respects, so you need enough experience to be able to adapt to any possible roadblock or issue encountered during the project. You also want to be sure that they can handle the scale of the project, whether large or small, and that they have the equipment and resources available to deliver what you need, on time and to the highest standards. Finally safety standards are also incredibly imports, especially when it comes to operation and set up of industrial machinery. You should be looking for a zero-incidents orientated provider. Innovation and flexibility is key to success As previously mentioned, no two removal or relocation of industrial machinery will be the same. Not only should a services provider have years of experience, but you also need them to be flexible and innovative – able to come up with ingenious solutions to a multitude of problems they could encounter along the way. They also need to be flexible to moulding to what your business needs operationally, and be sensitive to production lines. You want a company with access to sophisticated tools, a highly trained workforce, and be able to offer a complete service that lives up to your expectations. After all you need to be up and running as quickly as possible. Ultimately you need to choose someone who puts the customer first in their delivery, and can offer administrative, logistical and technical personnel and guidance at each stage of the project from start to finish.
BAL – market-leaders in full tiling solutions – are presenting innovative new tiling technologies including its unique Flexbone uncoupling mats on Stand 618 at the Surface Design Show from 5-7 February at the Business Design Centre in Islington. As well as discovering the latest technologies, visitors to the stand can also pick up CPD points with RIBA-approved seminars, and talk to our team of specification experts about your flooring or tiling project. Developed to protect floor tiling from lateral movement which occurs in problem substrates – such as heated floors – BAL Flexbone uncoupling mats provide a buffer layer between tile and substrate. BAL Flexbone comes in two varieties – Flexbone VAried and Flexbone 2Easy. Unique to the UK, BAL Flexbone 2Easy is a floating mat system – where NO adhesive is needed underneath the mat system i.e. the mat is truly uncoupled. Because no adhesive is needed under the mat, preparation is reduced to a quick sweep of the floor if the surface is flat, sound and level. No removal or residue, no removal of laitance and no priming of the surface is needed. This means that contaminated and stained floors, wooden floors, bitumen, cracked screeds and mixed substrates can be tiled immediately. It can also be used direct onto difficult substrates such as bitumen, fresh sand:cement screeds or new anhydrite screeds that are not fully cured (up to 1.5% CM residual moisture). Time trials indicate the removal of subfloor preparation for installations provides a circa 50% time saving. BAL Flexbone VAried is a bonded mat system for heavily trafficked areas. Waterproof, it features patented GripLock Technology for superior adhesion and a unique bone structure for faster fixing than traditional cavity mat systems. Less adhesive is required on the mat surface, and trials indicate adhesive can be spread on the mat surface circa. 30% faster. The bonded mat is perfect for high load-bearing and commercial areas such as shopping malls, airports, car showrooms, office building and hospitals. As well as innovative products, BAL provides a full support service including free NBS specification writing, CPDs, on-site consultancy and more. www.bal-adhesives.com
Businesses across the world are looking at ways they can reduce the level of waste they produce, whether that’s switching to eco-friendly packaging or incorporating greener manufacturing methods. However, this is not so simple for companies and businesses that use large amounts of packaging or physical products. A sector that springs to mind is manufacturing, due to their usage of packaging and the waste that is often created as part of the process. Therefore, it’s not difficult to see why they aren’t typically seen as environmentally friendly or clean. That being said things have drastically changed and the manufacturing industry is now on board with the green movement more than ever. Sustainability, healthier environments and lower costs are just some of their incentives. Here, we’ve taken a look at some of the ways those in manufacturing are incorporating more eco-friendly practices. Reducing waste One of the biggest concerns for the manufacturing industry is the efficient use of raw materials. Think of wood products and the huge demand for these which has resulted in the cutting down of many forests around the world. To combat this, manufacturing companies are looking into more sustainable materials, such as bamboo which grows faster and yields a bigger crop and so is becoming more popular in the industry. Recycling In the same style as reducing waste, more and more manufacturers are adopting recycling policies as an important part of their eco-friendly process. Some are choosing to use recycled products to feature as the base of their own products, instead of raw materials. New materials that have the durability of plastic are now appearing all over the market, providing our manufacturers with a much greener option for their products and packaging. Tente is a prime example of a manufacturer who has heavily researched sustainability and developing more environmentally friendly products. Their castor wheels now emit less noise while still offering the same load capacity and their lightweight construction means companies save when it comes to operating costs, as well as carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption. Lean production The 1980s and 1990s saw a huge revaluation in manufacturing when it comes to lean production. While it’s main focus is on lowering production costs lean production has another great benefit: it’s green. Reducing waste across the board, lean production focuses on ‘just in time production‘ so that companies are only employing the number of people they need, producing and shipping only as much as they need and streamlining their process to maximise efficiency. New advances in technology make it possible for improvement across all aspects of production and makes it possible to reduce energy consumption. Updating facilities When people think of manufacturing, they often picture big factories with huge smoke stacks coming from them, by far not the greenest of images we’ve ever had. The move to greener facilities whether they’re new or refurbished means we can make this image a thing of the past. Inefficient machinery can consume 70 per cent more energy than it needs to; focusing on energy efficient plants will help manufacturers reduce their energy consumption, and bill. Other areas that are being focused upon include heating and cooling, investing in clean renewable energy, such as solar or wind power.
Managing the logistics of your construction site is integral to ensuring time and budget constraints are met. Dan Casey, Marketing Manager at award-winning lifting equipment manufacturer Penny Hyrdraulics, shares four tips to help you do this. When managing a construction site, ensuring the whole operation runs smoothly is of paramount importance. Logistics management is key to this, helping to keep the project on time and on budget but, if you want to minimize inefficiency, you’re going to need a strategy. In this article, I will discuss four ways you can improve the logistics of your construction site to ensure that materials are delivered on schedule, you have the right tools and equipment for every job, and all your workers are fully trained and briefed on what they need to do. Start with a plan Projects of all kinds suffer due to unnecessary and wasteful activities. While this can never be fully avoided, creating a logistics plan at the start of your project is key to determining how everything will turn out. The purpose of creating a detailed plan is to increase efficiency and maximise profits, while also preparing as best you can for unforeseen circumstances. Ideally, you want to create a process map and a list of all the materials you’re going to use, which you can keep track of and update each day. Your plan must take into account the various logistical factors of the construction site, such as material transportation, workforce management, and control of equipment and machinery. This will help to avoid any wasted time and energy, and ultimately determine whether or not the project can be delivered on time and on budget. Communicate with your team An integral part of construction logistics is maintaining open communication channels with your workers, suppliers, and higher-ups. You should always be looking for new ways to improve communication, as this will allow you to get on top of problems early and nip them in the bud before they snowball into something bigger. Little things left unchecked can lead to workflow inefficiencies, so it’ll pay dividends to stay on top of things. As construction is a constantly-evolving industry with new practices and requirements being implemented all the time, it is important to maintain open channels of communication. This is especially true for experienced workers who will be able to help spot holes in your plan, so it’s a good idea to get them involved early and stay in contact with them on a regular basis. While a lot of this can be streamlined and done from afar, the site should still be visited regularly so you can chat to workers on the ground. Have the right tools for the job Even the simplest jobs can take far longer than they should without the correct equipment, leaving workers to struggle through at reduced efficiency. This can be something as simple having the correct shovel for the job but, when it comes to larger equipment and machinery, entire processes can be slowed down, and days can be lost. Providing your workers with the tools they need to do the job effectively is a key part of ensuring the logistics of your site are running smoothly. At Penny Hydraulics, we aim to help improve workflow efficiencies with our vehicle-mounted hydraulic crane and SwingLift products, which are used to move and load materials in a safe and efficient manner. Trying to manually load such items can be laborious and time consuming, so having a handy and easy-to-use solution on-site can massively improve efficiency. Jobs that would have previously required two or more people, such as filling a van with material, can now easily be done by one. Use software to your advantage Improving your own workflow will allow you to spend more time on important tasks, such as focusing on the logistics of your construction site. Implementing automated systems will allow you to save time by cutting down the time it takes for you to send out progress reports, manage ongoing budgets, and keep track of day-to-day changes that affect the site. By using reporting and budget management software, you’ll be able to make sure the right people know what’s happening at all times, allowing you to focus on the more important day-to-day logistics management. There are all kinds of other tools you might find beneficial as well, such as health and safety management software, which can help to prevent hazards and keep track of incidents. There will always be unforeseen circumstances that you have to deal with on your construction site but, with careful planning, open channels of communication, and the right tools to help you do the job, you’ll be best placed to tackle them head on.
Temporary buildings are used by manufacturers for a variety of purposes. They provide a quick solution to short-term needs or a way to create space that is needed fast. They can be attached to a warehouse or installed as stand-alone structures on a manufacturing plant. Modular buildings, which are sectional prefabricated structures, can be put together elsewhere then delivered to the customer. The delivery may be in one or several complete sections. These buildings are cost-effective and provide a fast solution when one is needed. Smart space buildings are some of the best quality temporary buildings in the market. Advantages over Traditional Construction Temporary buildings have many advantages over traditional ones. Some of these advantages include: Flexibility They are portable, therefore, providing ease of relocation. Whether temporary or permanent, modular buildings are durable and secure. They are appropriate for the applications of any manufacturing plant. They take a shorter time to construct They employ an accelerated production method thereby making it possible for the construction to be completed fast. There are no site-related delays or bottlenecks. Design and constructions time is reduced by up to 50%. They are cost-effective This is due to reduced labor and fewer material costs. When construction is done off-site, there is maximum utilization of labour and fewer material purchases. Waste is also reduced. Additionally, you have the following financial options: Lease your portable structure Opt for a lease-to-own alternative Purchase the building outright Opt for a guaranteed buy-back option Any type of industry will find an alternative that best suits its particular requirements. Their quality is more consistent With modular buildings, for instance, quality is guaranteed every step of the building process. The components are inspected at every phase and approved by third-party inspectors. Compliance with specifications and codes is insisted upon. The facilities that are utilized are state-of-the-art and the constructers integrate the best practices to produce the best designs. Temporary buildings must meet the same specifications of conventional buildings. Therefore, you will get a structure that meets the same standards of quality, longevity and durability that are expected of the traditionally constructed structures. Other benefits include versatility and diminished site disruptions. These benefits make them suitable for a lot of uses in not only the manufacturing industry but also other industries as well. They have therefore risen in popularity over the years as better alternatives to conventional buildings which take a lot of time and money to put up. It is possible to build individual modular building components on site as the site is being prepared for construction, and then have additional architectural details added. The modular project then looks just like the other conventional structures. This saves you time and money. Types of Temporary Structures for Manufacturers Restrooms Training facilities Locker rooms Administrative offices Break rooms Laboratories Healthcare facilities The manufacturing industry players have a deep understanding and appreciation of the value that temporary buildings bring to the sector. This is especially with regard to providing solutions for much-needed space. In addition, there is the quality, safety and speed all of which are highly regarded in manufacturing.
Plans for an advanced manufacturing training hub in Shropshire have been announced, with the aim of supporting ‘2020 learners by 2020’. The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT), which is led by a consortium of Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, Salop Design & Engineering and training provider In-Comm, will provide a “high-tech environment for individuals to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology”, which will involve working on real life manufacturing situations. Supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, work will start on fitting out the 36,000 sq ft building on the Stanmore Industrial Estate in January 2017, with plans in place to create dedicated fabrication, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections, as well as a specialist CNC Zone and spray booth/mixing capabilities. There will also be an auditorium lecture theatre, bespoke learning environments, five vehicle ramps and a rolling road test facility. It will look to support 2020 learners between now and 2020 and this will largely involve developing apprentices in advanced manufacturing and engineering, giving employers a strong pool of skills to tap into as they continue to compete globally. In addition to this, there will also be capacity to work with 400 companies on developing existing manufacturing professionals up to Level 7 qualifications, covering business improvement techniques, team leadership, vehicle body repair and paint, vehicle body building, technical development, quality and continuous improvement. Matthew Snelson, director of Grainger & Worrall and managing director of the MCMT, said: “We believe the MCMT is critical to closing the skills gap for Shropshire businesses, but we are under no illusions that we will need the rest of local industry, education and training to play their part. This could be through informing how the provision develops, using the services and even offering time and expertise to help with delivering some of the learning.”
Sheffield based GRI Group has acquired contract manufacturer Expac Ltd. Expac, which focuses on toiletry, beauty, health and household sectors, has now become a subsidiary of GRI Expac. Entrepreneur Graham Royle is the leader of GRI Group, which bought the £5 million turnover household products manufacturing firm as part of its continuing acquisition strategy. Among Expac’s products are talcum powder, shower gel, cleaning sprays and washing up liquid. The acquired firm will carry on operating under its own in-house management team who will make decisions on a day to day basis. During its acquisition of Expac, GRI Group was advised by commercial law firm Nabarro. Corporate partner Ben Hendry led the Nabarro team. He was assisted by corporate associates Richard Lee and Caroline Walker. GRI Group was also advised by BHP Chartered Accountants. Corporate partner at Nabarro, Ben Hendry, commented: “We were thrilled to advise GRI Group on their latest acquisition. Expac is recognised as a highly successful manufacturer with a strong presence in the household products sector. “GRI Group has established itself in developing, manufacturing and the distribution of chemical ingredients for personal care, household care, pharmaceutical and many industrial applications. “The combined business will have many advantages such as a comprehensive range of products and contract manufacturing capability. We look forward to working with them in the future.” Graham Royle, chairman and chief executive of GRI, added: “Expac is a fantastic strategic fit with the rest of our group associate companies. “There is virtually no product overlap and the combined range offers superb synergy across the customer base and global geographical markets that we cover.” Meanwhile, GRI recently unveiled new global sustainability reporting standards. The Global Reporting Initiative has launched a new set of global sustainability reporting standards aimed at giving companies a common language for communicating such information.
