TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION ADVERTORIAL Business as normal … as it can be F


or Dorking-based injection moulder Broanmain Plastics, it’s business as normal … with a few slight adaptations


to workforce patterns. But when it comes to production, at this moment in time the company is still very much open for business, assisting OEM customers who need to pull forward on orders or ramp up production and assembly of specific components, most destined for use in medical devices, reassures Managing Director Jo Davis. Taking the pandemic seriously, the management team


is adhering to government and Public Health England guidance regarding social distancing and protecting workforce safety in workspaces. With the situation continuing to evolve day-by-day, Jo points out that during this fog of uncertainty, normal is being reshaped - potentially indefinitely in the manufacturing landscape. “The urgency of the situation cannot be underplayed.


Flexibility is now the norm. And day-by-day, manufacturers across the UK are adjusting to what at best can be described as the ‘next normal’. Balancing the safeguarding of lives with the protection of livelihoods is imperative,” comments Jo. Like many factories, working from home is not an option. In order to ensure staff can balance family time with work, Broanmain has extended it production opening times by two and half hours, introduced split-shift flexible working patterns, providing cover between 6am and 5pm, and closed the factory on Friday’s. Already, this has enabled Broanmain to respond swiftly


to order increases and turn projects around in less than 48 hours. “As we are seeing first hand, this is all feasible providing a customer has the tooling and we can source the polymer materials,” highlights production manager Thomas Catinet. Broanmain reports that new projects requiring tooling


design and testing have, rightly so, been put on pause. Thomas explains: “As we are seeing with the ventilator challenges, even with fast track approvals, it takes time - often two to three months - to move from concept to accreditation and then production.”


Another benefit of the remote working is OEMs are now


giving future projects their full attention, and are eager to discuss the scope and feasibility. A number have also been discussing supply chain risks and the different choke points when reliant on production hubs the other side of the globe. To help mitigate future risks, reshoring is likely to escalate, adds Jo: “This virus has exposed our global vulnerabilities and interdependencies. I imagine the supply chain dynamics may shift again. Although an uncertain and stressful time for everyone in every business, it can be a good time to re-evaluate supply chain options and speak to domestic companies about how they can assist.”


Common purpose Having combined manufacturing muscle can clearly speed matters up. And it’s here where larger moulders are best placed to ramp up component production. “Realistically, building a tool and then getting it approved is beyond the scope of most moulding SMEs as it’s a high cost investment and would need to met set specifications,”


exclaims Thomas. He notes that their efforts are best served supporting existing medical, electronic, optical and building control OEMs. Another vulnerability exposed by Covid-19 is the


shortage of skills in plastic processing. Establishing new behaviours with regard to knowledge sharing is imperative, stresses Jo. “Sourcing skilled staff can be challenging at the best of times. Sharing personnel tends to go against the grain of how we work as an industry. Clearly, this needs to change. Being able to share expertise and specific skill sets with other manufacturers is a lesson we can all take away from this pandemic. Like everyone across the globe, manufacturers and


moulders are all facing this crisis together. Rather than just trying to protect our own island, coming together as a business community can help to strengthen our resilience. And this in turn benefits customers.”


Broanmain Plastics  www.broanmainplastics.co.uk


Upgraded Hi-Line adsorption dryers ideal for breathing air applications The Atacama-CT Plus series offers corrected flow rates


from 0.2 to 2.83 m3/min. Importantly, this three-stage unit features a CT (Carbon Tower) located after the adsorption dryer. Clean, dry air passes through the third CT stage and adsorbs gases and aerosols depending on requirements and which zeolites are selected. To attain Class ‘0’ for medical and food production applications the air needs to be oil-free, which can be achieved thanks to the use of high-quality carbon. Even working with a fully oil lubricated screw, vane or piston compressor, the Atacama- CT Plus will achieve better than ISO8573-1:2010 Class 1, giving a total oil concentration of less than 0.003 mg/m³, which is significantly less than that found in normal atmospheric air at home or in the workplace. Also featuring the newly upgraded diaphragm valves is


Hi-line’s off-the-shelf model, the Atacama Plus. As standard, this unit dries air to a dewpoint of -40°C and comes with pre and after filtration. All Atacama Plus dryers, including the CT model, feature an energy-saving digital controller and dewpoint control function. Atacama Plus is available for next-day delivery and


air sector, now feature upgraded diaphragm valves that are helping these point-of-use units prove even more reliable for Class ‘0’ breathing air applications in the medical and hospital sectors. Hi-line Industries will remain open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help serve the medical and healthcare industry, as well as those involved in food production. The company’s service and main


A


tacama-CT Plus adsorption dryers from Hi-line Industries, a leading UK supplier to the compressed


reception numbers, as well as the mobile numbers of key staff, remain available to support customers. Based on a heavier duty specification, the new valves


in the Atacama-CT Plus range now feature a tougher diaphragm that is resistant to both oil and aggressive condensate. This robust engineering is matched by other sturdy features on the valves, such as 100% rated anti- vibrating coils, special locating lugs and a machined pilot hole in place of an O-ring.


CONNECTINGINDUSTRY.COM/DESIGNSOLUTIONS


offers capacity from 5 to 100cfm. The unit features aluminium top and bottom valve blocks and extruded aluminium chambers filled with desiccant. Air is dried as it passes through the desiccant bed in one of the chambers, while the other chamber regenerates using the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) principle. The change is automatic and controlled by the digital controller. These popular and environmentally-friendly compressed air dryers are suited to sectors that include pharmaceutical, dairy, brewing and general manufacturing, to list but a few.


Hi-line Industries Ltd  01283 533377  enquiries@hilineindustries.com  www.hilineindustries.com


DESIGN SOLUTIONS | APRIL 2020 37


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