Seal-Lite Group has reported manufacturing efficiencies of up to 25% since signing to the TwentyFour-Seven system from Swish Window and Doors late last year.
Time and motion studies by the West Country trade fabricator revealed that since switching to the five chamber window system it had successfully trimmed eight to 10 minutes off its door manufacturing process – cutting manufacturing times by a quarter.
Using the Epwin Group’s recycled thermally efficient PVC-U reinforcement in place of steel reinforcement in window manufacture, the fabricator reported average time savings of between 10% and 20%.
Chris Shearn, Managing Director, said new manufacturing efficiencies, supported the fabricator’s aim to bring a more flexible approach to its trade customers.
He said: “The single biggest efficiency that we have seen has been in manufacture of doors, purely because the Swish system comes with fully integrated hardware including a full one-piece keep. We don’t have to fit profile packers or separate shoot bolts top and bottom, a few screws and it’s there.
“When you actually look at the labour involved simply in collecting individual components and pulling them together then it’s really quite a significant time input, if you can eliminate that by using integrated hardware then it’s a very quick win but one which has knock-on effects on the whole production line.”
Seal-Lite’s growth
Manufacturing 350 frames per week, Seal-Lite has grown its trade business in just a couple of years so that it now accounts for almost 60% of turnover. Its decision to switch to Swish’s TwentyFour-Seven system part of a longer term strategy to strengthen its retail and trade credentials.