Domestic production can help OEMs to rationalise vendor supply chains, reduce stockholdings and mitigate future risks

Aligned to industry and customer-driven sustainability principles, Dorking-based UK technical moulder Broanmain Plastics will unveil how it is navigating the energy and cost of living crisis. Including a number of production and energy efficient enhancements it has taken to assist domestic OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) meet sustainability KPIs, reduce supply chain risks, manage stock holdings, spur UK engineering innovation, increase value and maintain production continuity.

At Southern Manufacturing and Electronics 2023 (Stand C195), Broanmain Plastics will showcase the continual improvement steps implemented at its factory to get ahead of the spiralling energy crisis costs and reduce its mass manufacturing production carbon footprint. The event takes place at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre, from 7-9 February.

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 over-production to minimise utilities consumption.

Tangible savings
A number of process and site improvements are already delivering tangible savings, including
approximately £17,000 per annum 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% 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.

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-tonne machine to the company’s fleet, means customers can now rationalise their supply chain and have all their precision components — from 0.1mm-size 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 said: “Supply chains in the plastic industry are highly sensitive — as 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 sizes. 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.”