Advances in technology are ever-evolving the landscape of manufacturing – and particularly sheet metal fabrication. In such a fast-paced industry with increasing pressure to supply to meet demand and often within tight turnaround times, many firms are embracing automation and it’s empowering them.
Here, we consider how automation facilitates successful sheet metal fabrication, during and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Driving the Industry Forward
Automation helps businesses meet huge demand. They have the capability to produce vast quantities of products all to a high-quality spec and meet within those shortened lead times. Simply, automation results in higher productivity, as it means equipment can run for longer periods of time with very little input from the workforce. Staff are freed from manually intensive jobs a smart tool can take the lead on – and can spend vital time on projects requiring the human touch instead.
Businesses – and importantly, their customers – can also benefit from lower costs where automation is implemented. Automation systems ensure the utmost efficiency – there’s little waste, minimum power and precise, controlled movements, all adding up to cheaper costs and increased profit.
Encouraging a 24/7 Service
We’re all human and we all make mistakes. Automation removes the risk for human error, increasing accuracy and repeatability as the machines are programmed to perform a task over and over again.
Meanwhile, automated systems allow management in sheet metal fabrication companies to monitor all processes at any time. This would-be tedious manual labour is left to the machines and can be managed from anywhere (senior teams don’t even have to be on the workshop floor). All this effectively leaves businesses with a round-the-clock service to offer customers, enabling them to clinch that lead spot in a saturated market.
To get a detailed account of automation within sheet metal fabrication, head over to Made in Yorkshire, where Salamander’s director David McStrafick offers his opinion.
Copper has been proven an extremely effective metal in helping prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Installing antimicrobial metals – copper and its alloys – for surfaces that receive high volumes of traffic or are frequently touched is a simple but effective measure that, while slightly higher in cost, could dramatically reduce infection rates.
As the world continues to feel the impact of COVID-19, we consider copper’s place in the healthcare setting, highlight its importance in the fight against infections and discuss whether public facilities may look very different in the not-too-distant future in our bid to combat the spread of germs.
Copper Kills Germs
An antimicrobial is an agent that actively destroys microorganisms and prevents their growth. Antimicrobials act against all types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, such as mould and mildew. Copper has been found to have such properties and can destroy germs and eliminate bacteria and viruses. It kills microorganisms on contact and interferes with its processes so it’s extremely effective in combating infection spread.
Antimicrobial copper is the term given to copper and its alloys (like bronze and brass). Copper’s antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties have been drawn on since ancient times, when filings from bronze swords placed in wounds were thought to reduce chance of infection and speed up the healing process. But we are still learning about the undisputed benefits of copper.
Many establishments around the world have already taken advantage of copper’s great abilities and replaced frequently touched surfaces as an infection-control measure. But what does this mean at a time when the world is fighting against the catastrophic effects of the coronavirus pandemic?
In the US, new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus, was infectious in aerosols for up to three hours, up to 24 hours in cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. However, it found the virus could only survive on copper’s surface for up to four hours. The research begs the question of whether in years to come in the almighty push to prepare ourselves for and fight against another pandemic, we’ll see more copper touch surfaces installed, particularly in a healthcare setting.
Antimicrobial Copper vs Traditional Materials
The healthcare environment has long relied on antimicrobial silver to combat the spread of infection – and alongside this, good hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection play a huge role in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). But stainless steel does have some minor pitfalls. It can fall victim to microscopic scratches and wear and tear, leaving surfaces vulnerable to reservoirs of infection, where viruses reside and evade cleaning procedures. Copper, on the other hand, is inherently antimicrobial – it works around the clock to quickly kill pathogens that settle on its surface.
Clinical trials have taken place across the globe (including at Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital) and have found that antimicrobial copper surfaces hold 80% fewer pathogens than non-copper alternatives.
Weighing Up the Costs of Change
The world is likely to find itself fighting against COVID-19 for months, if not years, and if we’re to seriously reduce any likelihood of future pandemics, perhaps we should be looking to more copper-based surfaces in healthcare settings at the very least. Door handles, sinks and taps, bed rails, for example, made from antimicrobial copper will be effective in drastically reducing infection rates in hospitals and protecting public health. While copper is a more costly material, its germ-fighting qualities could prove invaluable and lessons learned in the current climate may mean for key decision makers, cost simply no longer comes into the equation.
With research ongoing and as we begin to better understand the antimicrobial properties of copper, the fight continues against microorganisms that threaten public health.
If you’d like to discuss the use of copper in the fight against COVID-19 or other aspects of sheet metal manufacturing, get in touch and we’d be happy to help.
We know our manufacturing is just as important as our people. That’s why we want you to get to know them a little better. So, next up is Reece Snow…
Summarise your role at Salamander in just one paragraph
It’s very varied considering the wide range of industries that we supply to. My role mainly consists of pricing up whatever our customer requires, utilising Salamander’s in-house machinery and skillsets. I determine the best and most cost-effective way in order to achieve what our client requires.
What’s your absolute favourite part of the job?
The varied drawings that I receive for pricing – especially when they are parts that you instantly recognise from your day-to-day life outside of work. It’s so rewarding to see something that has gone through your works and to know that you’ve aided in the manufacturing of that specific part.
Share an interesting fact about you that we might not know.
I’m a qualified scuba diver.
Which one word would your Salamander colleagues use to describe you?
Meticulous.
And the word you think best describes Salamander?
Dedicated.
Why do you personally think Salamander stands out from its competitors?
Our ability to react at a fast pace throughout the entire company. From receiving fast, accurate quotations to getting products out of the door. We work closely with our customers to keep to their timeframes.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who would it be?
Rolls Royce
What’s the most personally satisfying moment in your Salamander career so far?
Probably being trusted with one of our biggest spending accounts and knowing that I was being handed that responsibility.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A firefighter of course!
What is the biggest challenge facing the sheet metal manufacturing industry over the next 12 months?
I’d say it’s about staying ahead of the competitors in terms of machinery. We need to make sure our work is being produced with the latest technology.
We know our manufacturing is just as important as our people. That’s why we want you to get to know them a little better. We asked Trevor to answer a few questions below…
Summarise your role at Salamander in just one paragraph
My job – with the support of my team – is to make sure that our customers get their orders on time, in full, and to the standard they expect.
What’s your absolute favourite part of the job?
I really enjoy cracking a problem.
Share an interesting fact about you that we might not know
At just 15 years old I walked into an engineering company – and they gave me a job, and an apprenticeship!
Which one word would your Salamander colleagues use to describe you?
Committed.
And the words you think best describes Salamander?
Forward-thinking.
Why do you personally think Salamander stands out from its competitors?
We are not happy to stand still, and we are always exploring new technologies to streamline the business and improve efficiencies.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who would it be?
Difficult one to answer as I see every customer as being important.
What’s the most personally satisfying moment in your Salamander career so far?
It has to be my climb through the positions within the company, and knowing that I’m making a difference.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always fancied being a landscape gardener – and I still enjoy spending time in the garden now.
What is the biggest challenge facing the sheet metal manufacturing industry over the next 12 months?
It’s the implementation of new technology and what opportunities that will present. I expect many companies in the industry to be facing the same challenges too.
Summarise your role at Salamander in just one paragraph
I guide my team to help drive the company forward. This is done by setting targets and plans, in order to maximise new business development , and nurture – and support – existing customers. We are constantly looking at new ways of staying ahead of our competitors.
What’s your absolute favourite part of the job?
I most enjoy the variation that comes with working with such a broad client base across many sectors – it’s never a dull day!
Share an interesting fact about you that we might not know
I was one of a handful of people to fly on Concorde the day it came out of service.
Which one word would your Salamander colleagues use to describe you?
Confident.
And the word you think best describes Salamander?
Family.
Why do you personally think Salamander stands out from its competitors?
The level of service can be very personal – we always aim to ensure that our communication is clear, and often.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who would it be?
Amazon – they have their fingers in so many pies!
What’s the most personally satisfying moment in your Salamander career so far?
Seeing the business grow on many levels, and not just concerning our turnover. I’ve seen several exciting changes in the eight years I have been here, and it’s been great to see us both flourish – financially and professionally.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I’ll let you know when it happens – I always fancied being a train driver!
What is the biggest challenge facing the sheet metal manufacturing industry over the next 12 months?
Staying ahead of the game. We’re in quite a saturated industry and are based in a highly competitive location. The challenge is to make sure we look after people and keep looking at new ways in which to improve – whether that’s via investing in technology or putting systems in place to give us that all-important advantage.
Prototypes are used in many industries to provide confirmation (or not as the case may be) that a design is viable and will meet end user needs. They’re also built to answer questions around the design – for example, to ascertain whether the costs of the build outweigh the benefits or provide better visualisation if stakeholders are yet to be bought into the idea.
What is a prototype?
Between the design phase of a product and its market introduction, a prototype (or early model or sample) is built to help identify any gaps in its design and assess where extra work might be required. This working example helps manufacturers to improve and better the product after receiving valuable feedback from clients and end users. Because of that, it can be a crucial stage of the manufacturing process.There are many benefits of prototyping including:
Better visualisation and understanding
Bringing designs to life in this way helps the team better understand the look and feel of the final product and provide strong visualisation for any stakeholders or potential end users.
Cost-saving and efficiencies
Because prototyping takes place in the initial stages of a build, any changes or improvements can be carried out early on, before any real effort or money has gone into developing the final product. Assessing where improvements are needed and making those changes early enables designers and manufacturers to achieve their objectives and have certainty in the final version.
Gain valuable user feedback
The impacting results from prototyping come from the users themselves, as designers are given a clearer picture of what works for them – and what doesn’t. User testing gives you immediate answers as to how valuable and usable a product will be for its intended audience. This might mean new features are required or some parts may need to be redesigned – but this will have been identified at an early enough stage.
To speak to a member of the team about prototyping in the manufacturing industry, get in touch.
We know our manufacturing is just as important as our people. That’s why we want you to get to know them a little better. So, first up is Colin Johnson, our technical manager…
Summarise your role at Salamander in just one paragraph
I ensure that my team performs within set technical guidelines to maintain Salamander’s high-quality standards.
What’s your absolute favourite part of the job?
Working with the different types of the latest software – no two days are ever the same.
Share an interesting fact about you that we might not know
I used to be an amateur wrestler!
Which one word would your Salamander colleagues use to describe you?
Thorough.
And the word you think best describes Salamander?
Efficient.
Why do you personally think Salamander stands out from its competitors?
We provide an excellent, quick, reliable and quality service for our customers.
The phone rings and it’s your dream client… who would it be?
JCB.
What’s the most personally satisfying moment in your Salamander career so far?
When I was promoted to technical manager at the firm in 2012.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always dreamed of being a bin man.
What is the biggest challenge facing the sheet metal manufacturing industry over the next 12 months?
The increasing price of raw material – it’s set to cause challenges and opportunities for many firms within our sector.
Thanks to its unrivalled strength, resistance to corrosion and minimal maintenance, stainless steel is an extremely competent material widely used in the medical field. And because of the significance of its usage, there’s a requirement for a rigid design and fabrication process.
Here we discuss where you’ll find stainless steel in healthcare and pharmaceutical settings and consider the processes required to manufacture stainless steel medical furniture and equipment with such precision.
Why stainless steel is a versatile solution
With such high levels of sanitation and cleanliness required in medical settings, it’s little wonder stainless steel is the metal of choice for most equipment found there. In fact, it now plays a crucial role in the modern hospital. As well as being found in the make-up of beds, wheelchairs and handrails, stainless steel is ideal for cannulas, MRI scanners and sterilisable surgical instruments. Plus, it’s also used in surgical implants as well as replacement joints like hips.
Stainless steel won’t deteriorate or corrode when exposed to the extreme temperatures often found in surgical procedures and sterilisation methods. It has low yield strength so it’s easily manipulated into complex shapes extending its uses even further. In such a hygienic setting with stringent requirements, stainless steel provides a rust-proof, recyclable solution with antibacterial properties.
Medical equipment in the manufacturing industry
Sheet metal fabrication is a valuable process for the medical sector – precision, accuracy and innovative technology combine to produce the highest-quality equipment. Combining traditional techniques with the latest software and advanced machinery, sheet metal fabrication aids the medical industry with precision manufacturing and efficient turnaround times.
Laser cutting machines are also commonly used within the sector because of their scope for precision and high-volume production. Where intricate life-saving equipment is of vital importance, laser cutting enables extremely fine and precise cuts needed for medical devices in surgeries.
Salamander offers both services in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors – and many others – using the very latest technology.
Want to know more about sheet metal fabrication or laser cutting and how they can benefit your project? Get in touch for expert advice.
The Salamander team are back in the office and ready to tackle a busy 2019. We have a lot of exciting projects lined up for this year so make sure you keep an eye out for any updates.
Our busy end to 2018 saw us pull together as a team as we held a company Christmas jumper day in aid of raising money for our chosen charity, Save The Children. We think it’s important that we use our platform to help raise money for charity and it’s something that we have always taken great pride in.
Aside from raising money for charity, we also gave back to our customers this Christmas. The Salamander team manufactured some bespoke coasters alongside some (very well received) bottles of wine. We value our excellent relationships with our customers and always like to do something a little different for them during the festive period.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff and customers at Salamander for their hard work and loyalty in 2018, we’re expecting this year to be our best yet!
Along with our wide range of fantastic customers and friends, our employees are what keeps the Salamander cogs moving and have done for so many years. We are always keen to invest in our staff as they are our brand ambassadors and deserve to be given opportunities to progress their careers in the right direction.
We’ve recently had a new employee join us at our Salamander offices in Slaithwaite. Gemma Williams has joined the team as office administrator, assisting Kirsty in accounts, payroll and administration duties. Gemma has joined us from a community services background and is excited about helping ‘shape the office’ with her mentor, Kirsty.
As Gemma is taking over the reins of the more administrative side of things in the office, Kirsty has been promoted to office manager. Her new responsibilities include managing the purchasing & buying duties of the businesses related to everything from sheet raw material to specialist fittings and fixtures. Kirsty’s new role will allow us to have a deeper competitive edge when it comes to achieving the best prices for products, meaning Salamander can become even more efficient on cost. Kirsty is already proving a great asset to the management team and we have more than welcomed having an extra employee help us keep on top of our busy schedules. Kirsty was also heavily involved in our recent ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditations.
If you would like to speak to us about opportunities to join the Salamander team, please get in touch.
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