Norcros Adhesives has increased the capacity of its plant by 150 per cent over the past year, by improving manufacturing efficiency. The changes include the implementation of a new ERP and warehouse management system to strengthen management controls and the adoption of pneumatic transfer technology on the production line.
Due to increasing sales, the company has been able to increase employment at the factory and head office. Sales in all sectors are strong and, with the housebuilding market currently enjoying a boom, sales into this sector are increasing rapidly. Recently Norcros Adhesives has won several new specifications with house builders to add to its exclusive arrangement with Barratts and David Wilson Homes.
This sales success follows investment in the company’s production capability. Norcros Adhesives has installed a pneumatic air-blown system to move powders from silo to mixing station. This provides much greater efficiency than using conveyors, since it is quicker, more controllable, more flexible, reduces contamination and takes up less space on the factory floor.
“This is a significant investment for us, designed to meet the demands of our growing business,” says Richard Wallis, Managing Director of Norcros Adhesives. “Product quality is key for us and this system gives us much better control over the formulas of our individual products, as well as delivering improved all-round efficiency.”
In addition to investment in manufacturing and control systems, Norcros Adhesives has also invested in its factory infrastructure. It has created a new reception area for the factory, combined with staff welfare and conference facilities, which can be used for production meetings and safety briefings. This area also includes new kitchen and washroom facilities.
“Creating an improved working environment for staff is important for our company,” explains Richard Wallis, “as that feeds into the efficiency goals which lie behind all our recent investments in the company. We are a growing business, with ambitious goals for further growth. As part of our programme of continuous improvement, we are supporting those goals with the necessary investment in systems, manufacturing technology and our day-to-day working environment.”
