PRODUCT INNOVATION
moved here I initially had no staff, but I knew I needed a press brake, and bought an extremely high quality Amada eight- axis CNC press brake, used for bending the various metals. I had to teach myself to use it, and, soon after buying it, realised that we needed an extensive range of tooling, at a cost of around £25,000. With the press brake we can bend up to 12 mm thick stainless steel.”
Once business began accruing, he recruited a small team of experienced engineers and other staff, and his team is now five-strong.” He explained: “With demand for custom-manufactured products increasing, we plan shortly to move the press brake from the smaller to the main unit, where all the manufacturing processes bar machining are undertaken. Our existing equipment includes a CNC lathe, a CNC milling machine, and welding equipment. As an Abloy Disklock Pro and Abloy Protek dealer, supplying masterkey cylinders,” he continued, “we also have key machines, and in fact I have designed components to work with most of the major lock manufacturers’ cylinders, such as a robust clutch turn for mental health applications.” This, he explained, is designed to fit any commercially available cylinder, has a corrosion-resistant brass or aluminium body and mounting plate, and an infinite clutch pressure ‘that allows variation to suit any proprietary lock case’. Existing masterkeyed cylinders can be converted using an extension ring, while the clutch turn – ‘engineered to reduce ligature and barricade risk’ – can be fixed to give permanent drive when used as a pair of knobs. It is affixed with two M5 bolts for increased durability, and can be supplied in custom sizes as a retrofit replacement for failed turns.
Large volume capability Creative Ironmongery is proud of its expertise in custom design/manufacture, but I wondered whether, as a small business, its production facilities would enable it to produce large numbers of a product, should, say, a large hospital require them. Alan Rees explained: “We can indeed fulfil sizeable orders. A few months ago we supplied Mill Lodge, a mental healthcare facility in Leicestershire (see panel, page 31), with 250 wall access panels which facilitate access to shower and toilet valves.” Alan Rees stressed that today the company is increasingly keen to focus on developing its own products, whether to meet specific requests, or simply to expand its range. He said: “Sales of our own products accounted for about 85 per cent of our turnover last year. Many go into healthcare settings, but, for example, our Creative Pull Handle – developed for any environment where user safety is key – is also popular with schools.”
A wide-ranging portfolio As detailed in the company’s 2018 Product Catalogue, the wide-ranging Creative Ironmongery portfolio ranges from pull handles, pivot protectors, and clutch turns, to vision panels, spring adaptor plates, and a ligature-resistant window trickle-vent, which allows ventilation in service-user bedrooms where window opening is restricted. Other items presented include an impact, aerosol, and liquid-resistant TV cabinet, a robust anti-ligature soap dispenser, an Espag window handle for use where standard such handles are not suitable due to safety considerations, and a Cockspur Ligature Resistant window handle ‘with a sleek, simple style’, designed to minimise ligature risk, operable by a key-holder.
The well-stocked ‘spares’ facility.
‘Weaknesses’ in vision panels Alan Rees had already explained that he and his team’s expertise in crafting metals and plastics enables the company to often take existing, widely used products like handles and vision panels and improve upon the design. “Take vision panels,” he said, “and deficiencies in even some of the biggest-selling ones can include weak cam turns – which break too easily. Thereafter, not only will the panel not turn, but if a distressed service-user gets hold of a broken-off handle they have a viable weapon.” Creative Ironmongery’s vision panel is designed to address such ‘failings’, and has a durable stainless steel frame secured by anti- tamper stainless steel screws. The wideness of the frame reportedly reduces the chances of it being forced out of the aperture. The glass has a Grade A industry standard impact rating, and the panel is
Wireless HTM Nurse Call systems
HTM 08-03 compliant wireless nurse call Quickly deployed with minimal disruption Wireless call points with anti-microbial protection Wireless over door indicator lights “Pull to Activate” emergency/cardiac pull switch
Patient handset (IP67 rated) with call reassurance LED & backlight (optional bedside light switch)
All-in-one back plates, incorporating bedside light switch & plug socket Call logging software with management reporting
ref: HEJ-19
For more information please call 01568 610 016 or visit
www.arm.uk.com
May 2019 Health Estate Journal 69
WIRELESS SOLUTIONS INCLUDE: NURSE CALL, STAFF ALARM, CALL, FIRE ALARM.
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