Continuous improvement and further investment mark the start of another successful year for Dudley heat treatment specialists, Alloy Heat Treatment.
AHT, based on Grazebrook Industrial Park, have made a New Years resolution to dedicate time and resources to continuous improvement for their staff and customers alike.
After investing heavily in 2014, the heat treatment specialists have committed a further £500,000 investment in new plant, training and workshop improvements in line with their company motto Learning, Evolving and Growing.
The investment comes in the form of a new drop bottom oven with water tank, polymer tank, and rinse tank line, as well as an electronic tracking system, which has improved communication between AHT customers and the shop floor team.
The semi automated heat treatment plant is much larger than any of the existing kit that AHT have, which will ultimately improve the application of corrosion protection, and means that their customers can now send products up to 2m x 2m x 2.5m for treatment.
Sales and New Projects Manager, Ian Perks, said: This oven will come into its own with orders from the Aerospace sector due to its size. With advances in technology across the board in the manufacturing sector, much of the work coming to us from this area means we need to keep up and this new system means we can handle bigger clad sheets and larger skins.
Installation of the electronic tracking system has proved very popular with AHTs customers, allowing them to communicate with the Aircraft department for updates on orders, capacity and lead times. The next step will be an electronic dispatch system, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2015.
Ian went on to explain As a company we recognise and appreciate the benefits a good organisational culture can bring to both the employee and customer perspective, so it is with that in mind that we planned the improvements to both workshop and office space.
Working with The Black Country Skills Factory and Dudley College, AHT have taken on a further three apprentices, bringing their total workforce to an impressive 55 members of staff. The new starters will be stationed within the Quality, Maintenance and Aircraft departments.
Further plans for 2015 include a trade mission to Italy, in association with the UKTI. With 40% capacity available for commercial applications, AHT are looking to increase their customer base, especially in Italy, as well as plans to increase their presence on the NADCAP approved supplier list.