special feature
SGB editor Bryony Andrews tries her hand at handle threading
Bat Grades The process
behind the production All Gunn & Moore English Willow DXM bats are
designed and produced by their own craſtsmen and women in their own factory in Nottingham – the only major cricket brand that can make this claim. The SGB team visited the GM factory in Nottingham to find out more about the production and rigorous grading process behind these world class bats. Bryony Andrews reports
bats takes 18-20 years to mature. Once harvested and split, the roughly-
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formed blades are stored for 12 months on the GM premises, where they are dried in a willow kiln. The moisture content of the wood is integral to the bat’s performance – it needs to be resilient whilst remaining as lightweight as possible. They then go through a stringent, consistent, multi-stage grading process, starting with the farmer and progressing through to Gunn & Moore’s in-house experts. “GM’s grading process is recognised for its consistency and value,” Richard Harris, who works in sports sponsorship for the brand, told the team. “It maintains the integrity of the brand and its long-term assurance of quality.” Initially the grader assesses and grades the bats, which are then moved to temperature controlled storage that ensures they maintain their quality, neither taking on water nor shedding it. Cutting, shaping, sanding and handle-fitting all takes place in the GM workshop, in which
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ourced from 100% willow and only from English farms, the wood for GM
more than half the craftsmen and women have been with the company for 25 years – some more than 30. GM uses an intriguing combination of state-of-the-art and traditional methods. The 5-axis CNC machine, which is the only one in the world used for cricket bat manufacture, uses a computer programme to shape bats to the nearest millimetre. It enables GM to consistently create each bat shape to exactly the same specification, enhancing consumer confidence. The hand press, meanwhile, which is what gives the bats their ‘ping’, is a hundred-year-old process that uses the same pressing machine from the factory’s inception. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” said Richard. After shaping, the bats are fitted with handles and sanded to a superior finish. The handles are threaded, the bats treated with raw linseed oil to reduce cracking and splitting, and the blades fitted with GM’s trademark ToeTek DriGuard to resist damp and minimise toe swelling and damage. The final grading process is then carried out and the bats are stickered and bagged ready to be despatched all around the globe.
Each bat quality is developed around different grades of willow. For a top grade bat, graders look for a straight, narrow grain; no knots, pin marks or blemishes, and a superior colour, flex and control. Original L.E. ORIGINAL 909 808 707 606 404 303
SGB caught up with Peter Wright, Gunn &
Moore managing director, after the factory tour. “Selling cricket bats online can cause problems,” he told SGB. “People often buy according to scale weight, but feel or pick up is just as important to ensure the player gets the best bat for them.” GM regularly offers retailers the opportunity to come to the factory to take part in the 5 Star Dealer programme, which provides them with specialist product knowledge and training from GM’s on-site experts. This, combined with their local knowledge of grassroots sport and their customers, gives these retailers an exclusive level of customer service, Peter explained. From start to finish, the entire bat making
Peter Wright with Australian cricketer Shane Watson
process takes part in England. What’s more, the transformation from raw wood to finished, packaged product takes place solely on the GM premises in Nottingham – the brand has complete control over every stage of the process and can continuously assess and reassess quality and grade. With this attention to detail and pride in product, it is clear to see why, after 130 years, Gunn & Moore bats continue to hold such a high profile position in the cricket world. To find out more about the GM 5 Star Dealer
programme, please contact Nicky Isherwood at GM Nottingham on 01159 853 500.
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