Fastener manufacturer celebrates 20 years
An
Alcoa Fastening Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 10, 2005
Alcoa Fastening Systems celebrated 20 years of trading by inviting employees and their families to an open day.
A leading Shropshire manufacturer recently celebrated 20 years of trading by inviting employees and their families to an open day.
Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS), which engineers high-quality, high-performance fastening systems serving a variety of applications predominantly in the truck, trailer, commercial vehicle body builder, auto and railcar markets, organised a tour of their facilities and showed presentations highlighting the company's history and achievements, followed by lunch for their VIP guests.
Originally called Huck International the company opened its site on Stafford Park, Telford in 1985, employing 54 people.
First year sales were GBP 4.8 million, 95% of which came from within the UK.
Achieving notable accreditations such as ISO9001 in 1991, Investors in People in 2000, environmental management ISO14001 in 2001 and the automotive quality standard QS9000 in 2002, the company recorded its best ever turnover in 2004 of GBP 17.4 million.
With 75% of sales originating from outside the UK, new markets now include continental Europe, Africa, India, China and the USA.
2002's integration into the Alcoa (Aluminium Company of America) group resulted in a name change to Alcoa Fastening Systems.
The first Kaizen event took place in 1997 and AFS adopted the lean manufacturing process.
Based on this and its other achievements Jim Arnold, MD at AFS believes the company has the tools in place to meet the global manufacturing challenge.
He said: "I rejoined Huck in 1992, having previously spent 20 months with them through 1987 and 1988".
"Struggling with their identity of being UK or European, the last 13 has seen us develop and grow beyond that question to become a quality manufacturer with a global reach".
Arnold believes the company's efficiency, which has led to a quadrupling of sales but only a doubling of staff since 1985 is the key.
Commenting on the future he continued: "The challenges facing UK manufacturing are well documented with the emergence of low cost production facilities in China and elsewhere".
"However, I remain excited by the potential of AFS".
"We have outstanding people and quality products, so our challenge is to realise that potential through the pursuit of excellence and secure a long term future for the Telford manufacturing operation".
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Contact Alcoa Fastening Systems
Tel +44 1952 290011
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