Move towards automation boosts speed and quality at components supplier
Huddersfield-based component supplier, Accu, has invested more than £13,000 on specialist equipment.
This has been acquired to improve the speed and quality of AccuLock – the company’s in-house thread locking solution – which minimises the corrosion of screws within their application.
In the 12 months to January 2021, Accu applied AccuLock to more than £1m worth of screws; an average of 77 products per hour.
These are used in thousands of products and applications across the globe, in sectors ranging from F1 to robotics.
With the firm’s intentions to grow its turnover from £7m to £20m within the two years to 2023, this figure is set to increase threefold.
To assist in maintaining its high-quality stance, Accu decided to invest in a semi-automated patching rig and move away from a manual, laborious process.
The new equipment is able to patch multiple screws per minute, and has increased Accu’s throughput by 360%, meaning customers will not experience longer lead times as demand increases.
It has also improved quality, accuracy, efficiency and OTIF, and has resulted in cost savings of approximately £20,000 per year.
Business co-founder Antony Kitson said: “The investment is a commercially attractive one and aligns with our commitment for continual improvement alongside growth, whilst offering clear benefits to our customers.
“Recent industry figures from the CBI indicate a general feeling of optimism in the manufacturing sector with many firms planning to raise their spending in the coming months.
“The tax super-deduction on outlay in machinery and equipment makes it an attractive time to purchase, and our aim is to support firms as they embark on new projects and investments.”
