early a Best Kept Secret
Packaging for individual companies is also very flexible. Large printing and
folding presses are a thing of the past and I watched as a small glue folder produced own brand cardboard packaging, folded and glued it in readiness for the next batch of sheets to hit the shelves – all in a space less than half of my lounge. National Abrasives did not get to be the number one maker of finished abrasive
products by ignoring the needs of its customers. Because of their nature, abrasives can be hard to display logically and neatly in a retail environment, especially on mixed displays of discs, sheets and rolls. Using the Stand Creator app on the National Abrasives website, customers can design their own display stand to suit their levels and types of abrasive stock. The stands are then made up in the factory workshop for retailers and wholesalers. In the midst of all the daily production Stephen was still keen to show me that
National Abrasives has a very sharp eye on the future. I was introduced to the new, and very expensive, abrasive belt making machine that is due to start production within the next few weeks. This will make belts small enough for a Black and Decker Power File as well as larger belts for floor sanders. He was also in the complex process of organising the move and expansion of a new Beam press cutting machine that will further speed up production to cope with much larger orders from America. Back upstairs in the board room, I was shown a set of prototypes for a new
range of wall and floor sanders – they are due for a test in ToolBusiness+Hire when the production processes are finally sorted, so watch this space. Newer forms of abrasive like Sianet mesh and foam backed sanding rolls are
also being launched shortly. Having been introduced only fairly recently, the next generation of improved mesh backed sanding sheets is due on the market. Driven largely by the need to improve dust collection from sanding machines of all kinds with the needs for longer-lasting abrasive materials, they will be an important addition to the market in my view. I will definitely need another visit to National Abrasives in the next few months
in order to do a range of product testing and explore the bedding in of the new production machines – I had to leave because Stephen was late for an interview for another machine operator. It seems that it’s all go at National Abrasives!
telephone 01444 440188
ToolBUSINESS+HIRE 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
