Published: 20th August 2011
Seal-Lite Group has reported manufacturing efficiencies of up to 25 per cent since signing to the TwentyFour-Seven system from Swish Window and Doors late last year.
Time and motion studies by the West Country trade fabricator revealed that since switching to the five chamber window system it had successfully trimmed eight to 10 minutes off its door manufacturing process – cutting manufacturing times by a quarter.
Using the Epwin Group’s patented recycled thermally efficient PVC-U reinforcement in place of steel reinforcement in window manufacture, the fabricator reported average time savings of between 10 and 20 per cent.
Chris Shearn, managing director, said new manufacturing efficiencies, supported the fabricator’s aim to bring a more flexible approach to its trade customers.
He said: “The single biggest efficiency that we have seen has been in manufacture of doors, purely because the Swish system comes with fully integrated hardware including a full one-piece keep. We don’t have to fit profile packers or separate shoot bolts top and bottom, a few screws and it’s there.
“When you actually look at the labour involved simply in collecting individual components and pulling them together then it’s really quite a significant time input, if you can eliminate that by using integrated hardware then it’s a very quick win but one which has knock-on effects on the whole production line.”
Manufacturing 350 frames per week, Seal-Lite has grown its trade business in just a couple of years so that it now accounts for almost 60 per cent of turnover. Its decision to switch to Swish’s TwentyFour-Seven system part of a longer term strategy to strengthen its retail and trade credentials.
Shearn continued: “The TwentyFour-Seven is a strong aesthetic match to the system we were using so installers liked it and the transition for them was as smooth as it could be.
“But very simply from our perspective it’s good to work with. As mentioned RCM delivers us a time saving in the factory and our trade customers think it’s great because they don’t have to screw into steel so often, it’s simply easier to work with. It just goes around the factory quicker and that means we can offer shorter turnaround times.”
Seal-Lite’s push into trade has also included the launch of its new Web Designer. This allows installers to place orders at anytime through a dedicated web portal. The system prompts customers for product dimensions and specification and then gives them an instant price, “they simply click to agree and it’s ordered”, added Shearn.
Seal-Lite, which supplies trade customers throughout the South West and as far North as the Midlands, has also committed to offer its trade customers access to a new and far broader choice of finishes by tapping into the extensive colour range offered by Swish.
Developed exclusively for the systems company it features bespoke finishes including off whites, Barley Water and Vanilla, Willow Green. This exclusive offer is launched in addition to wood grains, Irish Oak, Antique Oak, Rosewood, Chartwell Green, Siena, Gale Grey, Beck Brown (black) and other standard offers to give Swish customers access to 20 finish options.
For more information on trade frames visitwww.seal-lite.co.uk or call 01275 345 841.
For more information on Swish Window and Door Systems call 0808 178 3040, email info@swishwindows.co.uk or visit www.swishwindows.co.uk.
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