Warrington-based John Chorley & Co (www.johnchorley.co.uk), a 160-year-old steel processing business, is the first company in the UK to acquire a Ficep Valiant machine, taking the total number of Ficep machines at the company to five.

The business processes 100 tonnes of steel every day through its modern service centre — a success which has been supported by a Ficep Gemini, Ficep Tipo, and two Ficep cut and drill lines. The extensive suite of machinery means the company now provides plasma cutting, drilling, sawing and scribing functions at its facility.

Managing director Terry Shanahan has been with John Chorley for three decades and has steered the company from a relatively small turnover company to become a primary UK steel processing business.

He believes that success is down to one key decision he made regarding investment: “During the recession years I made the decision to invest, this meant the need to travel, to visit businesses which specialised in all aspects of steel processing, I needed to seek out the knowledge that would allow me to make the correct investment decisions for the business in the future.

“Seeing the large automated sites during my visits overseas was a window to the future for steel processing and how a steel business could evolve and become an important partner to their client base.”

Through investment in equipment such as Ficep’s steel processing machines - including the new Valiant - Mr Shanahan has ensured John Chorley could retain and increase its processing capability at a time when stockholders faced serious challenges.

The Valiant is coupled with a 1,100mm wide saw for additional processing capabilities of notching/slotted holes and service holes — and continues a purchasing trend which has contributed to John Chorley’s success.

Mr Shanahan continued: “The installation of our new Ficep Valiant compliments our two existing Ficep drill lines, plasma line and shear and punch lines, together with our on-site shotblast and paint line.

“Our drilling capacity has increased significantly and the additional processes offered by the Valiant are proving very popular with clients old and new.

“Every time I consider a new purchase, I consider what impact this machine will have on our business and how we can, as a business embrace new technology, learn and grow.”

The adoption of five Ficep machines over 15 years is in no small part due to the strength of the working relationship that Mr Shanahan has built up with Ficep UK sales manager, Chris Berriman.

He said: “Chris has given a lot of advice over the years, he has always updated me on what is available machinery-wise and what would be right for us based on our shop space and business size. He understands that whatever we purchase needs to have a direct link to improving our offering to clients.”

Mr Berriman said: “It is always a pleasure to work with companies with drive and ambition, when I first made contact with Terry, we both showed the same passion for technology, it was important to show John Chorley where the machines are manufactured and some user sites, so a trip to Ficep Spa in Italy marked the start of a long partnership.

“Over the last 15 years we have had a very good relationship together not only on the machine investment but with after-sales support and user visits.”