Bots fire record output
PRODUCTIVITY is no puzzle for sheet metal and fabrication specialist Contracts Engineering Ltd (CEL) whose highly-skilled workforce backed by robots is firing on all cylinders achieving record outputs.
Asset finance for the automation is from NatWest Group’s Lombard and underpins the high volume and growth capabilities of the manufacturer in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Supplying original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 (top level) companies with a factory or assembly plant is its prime focus.
Via those clients CEL’s products are shipped to Europe, the Middle East and North America, servicing a wide range of markets from heavy lifting equipment, aerospace and defence to industrial machines, commercial furniture and refrigeration.
“Our team and operations are built around investing in them as well as modern technologies to make us as productive as possible,” says chief executive Troy Barratt, a former investment banker.
“Our vision is to bring more manufacturing back to the UK to support our industrial renationalisation.
“It’s a long game but we want that trend to be our friend.”
Troy and wife Catherine are majority owners of CEL and Furnitubes International, a furniture company for public spaces which together form holding company the BAMUK Group. Barratt bought CEL in 2011 with the intention of “acquiring a picks and shovels business to supply those doing well”, he says. “Since then we have transformed every part. A driver has been the UK realising it needs a stronger manufacturing industry.” Having doubled staff numbers to 38, sales have increased fivefold. This year’s turnover is forecast to rise to £10million and the goal is quadruple sales further by 2028.
The introduction from 2020 of first a cobot (aka Colin) where machine and human work together, then two robots plus a large fibre optic laser cutting machine that can handle heavy pieces, has made a massive difference.
“Troy shows that success in manufacturing isn’t just about producing goods, it’s about clear purpose, adapting to the future, embracing digitalisation and fostering a resilient culture,” says Laura Capper, NatWest’s head of manufacturing and construction.
Already a NatWest customer, the £500,000 deal from Lombard was “competitive, the bank gets what we do,”, says Barratt who worked with the lender from the planning stage. “We did not immediately jump into robots, we tested automation on our office software side first,” he explains.
“We also built in time to scope out the right system integrator to give the production support we needed. We chose a FANUC Robotics solution through Cyber-Weld. But people are equally essential for robot programmes.
“The UK has an amazing chance to become a manufacturing powerhouse and our aim is to be one of the largest contract manufacturers by 2028.”