Despite short-term market demand being hit by the coronvirus lockdown, Samuel Taylor Ltd is investing around £100,000 in two new Chin Fong OCP45 stamping presses as part of a project that will see the introduction of two new production lines at its facility in Redditch.
Sales & Marketing Manager Carl Siviter said: “These are unique times in business. However, optimism and solid engineering remain a cornerstone to the eventual recovery of manufacturing and STL is continuing to battle through the current difficult times, while maintaining its commitment to a longer-term plan. The ethos of supporting strategic customers is central to this, and is evidenced in this instance by our latest investment to increase capacity.”
STL identified that in ever more competitive and global markets, cost of ownership was key to customers. Earlier this year, the company came up with a new proposal for reducing direct cost at one of its strategic customers. The proposal was subsequently validated, accepted, and is planned to be up and running before the end of 2020.
Mr Siviter added: “The project scope includes tool design and build, integrated with two new production lines which will include the two Ching Fong OCP45 presses. Tools and the production lines are in-house supported projects.”
The Ching Fong presses will be supplied and installed by long-term partner Dudley-based Worcester Presses.
Russell Hartill, Worcester Presses managing director, said: “This latest investment is characteristic of the company’s approach and willingness to make targeted investments where required. They have developed an exceptional team of people that are empowered to be creative and develop innovative solutions for their customers.
“Over the course of our partnership with STL, we have installed more than 10 presses, feeders and coil handling systems.”
Investment in the new production line follows a significant outlay in 2019, as STL invested £500,000 in new machinery and additional factory space in order to support both existing and new customers and as part of ongoing efforts to increase capacity and efficiency.
Mr Siviter concluded: “We operate globally, and investment is required to ensure that we remain competitive, but it has also enabled us to broaden the services that we can offer.
“Between the announcement of our 2019 investments and those that we are making now, other smaller investments in new equipment have been made, such as the £30,000 purchase of a fourth wire eroder which has increased day-to-day production flexibility in our on-site toolroom.”