600 Group brings £5 million back to UK
1 min read
Following re-organisation and consolidation of businesses, 600 UK is to gain £5 million in additional work previously supplied by overseas companies.
The company, based at Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, is the 600 Group's UK manufacturing headquarters and is now home to 600 Lathes, 600 Centre and Pratt Burnerd International (PBI). In addition to the consolidation of these three businesses onto a single site, the facility has benefitted from streamlining of the factory's workflow and new manufacturing equipment.
Consolidation of these three businesses eliminates duplication, pools resources under one roof and creates greatly improved manufacturing efficiencies. It also removes the need for machined parts to be transported from one location to another. Additionally, the redesign of workflow will ensure maximum efficiency, employing the very latest ideas in lean manufacturing.
Investment made in new equipment will allow the Group to manufacture, in-house, around £5 million of spares, accessories and components, including chucks, which were previously sub-contracted overseas. This will, says the company, ensure greater control over quality, improve lead times and give greater demand flexibility, thus enabling the Group to deliver better customer focused products.
"These changes will give us greater control over the quality of the products which is essential to our brands. It also gives us greater manufacturing flexibility, which in turn gives us a competitive advantage in the market," underlined Mike Berry (pictured), general manager, 600 UK.
600 Centre, which was previously the shop front for 600 Group products, has now been relocated to the Heckmondwike site, as have the sales and service functions. Moving these departments to one site has significantly increased the effectiveness of customer service for all major product groups, it is highlighted.
David Norman, CEO, The 600 Group plc, said: "We are the UK's leading machine tool group and we are pleased to have one of the largest machined parts operations of this type in the UK. Our capability extends from high precision chucks to the latest multi-axis CNC turning equipment.
"The investment and changes we are making will also allow the Group to react speedily to changes in the wider global economy."
* 600 Group is hosting a 600 UK Open House event between November 10 and 12. Call Philip Cullen, marketing manager, on 01924 415000, or email mail@600uk.com.
