Sandretto UK & Ireland supplies Injection Moulding Machinery and automation equipment for use in manufacturing domestic gardenware products. These include garden patio furniture, flower pots and storage containers.
Click on any of the stories below to read more about how our clients make use of Sandretto products:
TSR Plastics Limited
TSR PLASTICS RAISES THE ROOF TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
"Investment in more efficient manufacture is vital to withstand international competition and gain larger market share"
Carlo Tai, Managing Director TSR Plastics
When planning the current expansion of its Northamptonshire moulding factory, the third expansion in the 9 years it has occupied the site, TSR Plastics took the opportunity of literally raising the roof. "We can see an imminent need to install even larger injection machines in the near future" explains Managing Director Carlo Tai, "so we've raised the roof line by several metres, giving us the headroom for a 10 tonne gantry crane to lift the larger moulds we will soon be using, as well as upgrading the services, in particular the cooling water supply system.
"By constructing the new building around and over the existing structure, the impact on production was minimised. Furthermore, the new walls are over a metre outside the old walls, so the moulding shop is wider as well."
Specialists in the field of designing, manufacturing and marketing plastic ware for the garden and home - and most recently for the playroom with the Kiddyland range - TSR Plastics has spent almost £10 million in the last few years on new buildings, new plant, additional warehousing, a further 8 acres of land and the company's infrastructure.
REGULAR MACHINE REPLACEMENT THEORY
TSR's plant replacement programme is impressive; with the exception of one or two "classics" from the company's early yeas in Watford, none of the 30 machines is more than 5 years old. Two 200 tonne, two 270 tonne and one 550 tonne, all Sandrettos, are a part of a major investment programme over the last six months.
For the last 20 years, the company has built up what it describes as an excellent relationship with Sandretto and, with the obvious benefits in production control and maintenance, TSR Plastics has operated a policy of buying only Sandrettos. "We seek a high degree of reliability and a rapid response to any request for service back-up" explains Carlo Tai.
TSR Plastics Limited is a leading and independent UK manufacturer of plastic ware for the home and garden. Its b-line range is sold widely in the UK - in stores, DIY outlets and garden centres - and overseas. In order to fight international competition and gain a larger market share, constant reduction in unit costs is essential; investing in the latest technology is a necessary step towards achieving the goal. In recent years TSR has enjoyed substantial growth in export business, but the high value of the £-sterling is eroding margins, making investment in more efficient manufacture vital to maintaining profitability.
SELF-SUFFICIENT IN DESIGN - AND IT SHOWS
The 26-year old company, which moved to its present site at Finedon 9 years ago, is now totally self-sufficient in design and tool development, with tool repair and new tool manufacture lying within TSR's capability on site. The last few months has seen £1/4 million spent in setting up a new, fully functioning toolroom with CNC machines and EDM equipment under the reasonability of a new tooling manager.
With its own design team, TSR constantly updates its products and colourways; in both areas it can lay claim to have influenced the market. If the design requires larger machines, the company has always been prepared to invest, such as the Sandretto "Mega 750" machine to produce a large swing-top bin and the 55 litre linen hamper.
Examples of TSR innovation include the unique "Studio Drainer", several new colourways for its housewares, use of in-foil moulding with a traditional 'narrow-boat' design and the lion's foot pot supports for the garden market.
NEW WAREHOUSING MEETS NEW MARKET REQUIREMENTS
Introduction of the Kiddyland playroom range, which TSR moulds, assembles and packages on site, is dependent on the company maintaining stocks in all standard colours. Completion of Phase III of the warehouse expansion, with its high-reach/narrow-aisle stacker trucks, has provided the necessary space to hold stocks to meet customer demand. An 8 acre site close to the existing facility is to be developed under Phase IV. It will comprise a high bay warehouse for bulk raw material storage, enabling TSR to benefit from out-of-season raw material pricing, and for transport fleet servicing.
FLEXIBLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Complementary to the massive capital expansion programme is the manner in which the company has produced a working environment which recognises the social needs of its employees.
"In an industry with a history of long hours and inflexible structures" says Carlo Tai, "we have introduced flexibility at all levels. Shop-floor production staff are now contracted for 4 days in a week, absenteeism and high workforce turnover associated with long hours have dropped significantly and we are now able to recruit from a wider group of people whose social and family ties can be more easily satisfied with our new system.
"In the long run, we see the new shift system adding to the overall efficiency of the company. This, together with the new capital investment and further factory expansion, all contribute to placing TSR Plastics in a strong position to meet the demands of the millennium."
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