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COMPANY PROFILE
The Calander operation at Berwin
this, is the supply of sealing products to systems suppliers within the mobility/transportation segment OE market.
“The site at Lydney is different from other Hexpol sites,”
explained Managing Director Gareth Jefferson, “and we have tried to create our own identity for Berwin.”
The acquisition does, however, fit in with HEXPOL’s corporate strategy of expanding into new sectors, a fact which was underlined by Georg Brunstam, CEO of Hexpol Group at the time of the acquisition, who commented “The acquisition is a very good complement to Hexpol
Compounding in Europe. It broadens and strengthens our presence with rubber compounds in the UK market – Berwin expands our capabilities and capacities to serve our
customers in a more efficient way.”
Indeed, according to Jefferson, a key positive arising from the company’s position in the Group is that the site has now been nominated as the Group’s Centre of Excellence for tyres and matting in Europe, so if any of the other companies within the HEXPOL Group get an enquiry for that sector, the enquiry will find its way to Berwin. “This has helped eliminate internal competition between the HEXPOL companies,” said Jefferson. It also reflects well on the team in Lydney.”
Facilities at the Lydney site include two fully computer controlled internal mixing lines with both intermeshing and tangential mixing technologies, which allow the company to supply rubber compound in most formats, including sheet slab, wig wag slab, continuous single strip and wig wag pipped strip. The factor y also has a three bowl calander line capable of producing calandered sheet up to 1240 mm wide, a rewind and slitting capability for coils
and a full perforating and dusting line.
“There have been huge changes at Lydney since the acquisition,” explained Sales Director Clive Rickards. “One of the benefits that HEXPOL have brought is the financial capability to invest in the site, which has been completely uplifted.”
The investments have included a comprehensive programme of upgrading and modernisation, including the addition of automated weighing and mixing and the addition of various mixer sizes and types. IT systems now monitor the weighing process for increased accuracy and traceability.
The company has also focused heavily on improving working practices and training, minimising waste within the plant and reducing dead time on machines within the facility. In the two years following the acquisition the company managed a 10% efficiency improvement and a 25% improvement in productivity, an achievement which enabled the company to achieve UK governmental recognition of
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