NEWS
New era and strategy for CBM
Britain’s biggest trade association for metalforming companies is set for a strategic shake-up, after the arrival of its new chief executive.
Services from a loss-making business with just fifteen workers, into a profitable venture employing five times that number, with high profile contracts throughout the UK and Western Europe. Now, having sold Carlton to an MBO team, Dennis is eager
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expensive technology imports, R&D has been given its due importance in NORM’s strategy and identified as the best way to launch new products. NORM Fasteners Co. Research and Development Centre, housed in a custom designed 871 square metre area contains a CAE office, laboratory and test centre as well as a prototype manufacturing workshop. Key responsibilities include design and product development, national and international new product design, patent and utility model researching, continuous improvement, strategic planning, technology and effectiveness, project management, die and model design, material and spare part development, and design verification and test.
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for a new challenge, and has taken on the top job at the West Bromwich based Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM). The affable engineer readily admits that the move wasn’t part of a
grand plan, even though he has been a CBM member for six years, and represented the sheet metal sector on its executive board. “I was invited to take part in the CBM’s strategic review, which
began after the previous chief executive retired. I’ve never been one to do things half-heartedly, so I really got stuck into the research. It made sense to ask member companies what they
ennis Kent is best known in the industry for transforming Leicester based Carlton Laser
thought of the CBM, and what more they wanted it to do for them. Then I started to talk to its own employees, from the directors right down to the kitchen staff. I needed to find out what made the place tick, to see if everyone’s skill-set was right, and to judge if they worked together as a team.” Three months later, and Dennis had compiled a sizeable
dossier of comments, suggestions and strategic options. “What pleased me most was that almost everyone thought the CBM was doing a really good job, but we did need to get closer to our customers. It was also clear that we had to raise our profile, and have more of a national presence,” he admitted. Dennis thought his work was done…until the board invited
him to implement the strategy which he had devised. “It was a bit of a surprise, but I didn’t think twice about accepting. I’m passionate about manufacturing, and given the economic climate it’s essential that we really fight our corner, so I was delighted to come on board.”
NORM Fasteners establishes R&D facility
Leading Turkish fastener producers, Norm Fasteners Co., has received certification from the Ministry, Science and Technology for its R&D Centre.
ORM now employs 64 young and dynamic R&D staff to drive a growing number of high added value, product- oriented research and dvelopment projects. In an age of intellectual property rights and
Focus areas for the R&D Centre include: • Numerical simulation of fastener production. • Creative and low cost solutions to customer problems. • New product design and development. • Process development. • New measuring device design and production. • New machine design and production. • Mechanical, physical and microscopic investigation of fasteners and die materials.
• New materials for forging industry. • Mechanical behaviour of fasteners in service conditions. • Patent research.
NORM emphasises its respect for nature and the earth. The
company is currently working on environmental friendly projects and aims to minimise energy consumptions for production and save energy to reduce CO2
emissions. The company also supports education and scientific councils and founds scholarships.
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