Focus SB® invests in a new guillotine much to the delight of its press setters at its No 22 metal pressing and showroom facility, father and son team Allan and Liam who are delighted with it.
Purchased from UK company Morgan Rushworth at an investment of £40K, the King's Awards for Enterprise winning premium electrical accessories manufacturer's new hydraulic swing beam guillotine is a critical piece of kit for Focus SB, and with its clever programming technology for precision cutting different sheet brass and stainless steel material thicknesses looks set to reduce the company's metal waste and improve production efficiency even further. Brass material supplied to the manufacturer is made with up to 80% recycled material and is recyclable. Its stainless steel waste is recycled through an authorised metal recycler. Replacing Focus SB's second hand 20-year old model at its facility, located on the outskirts of the seaside towns of St Leonards on Sea and Hastings, the new guillotine comes with the benefit of advanced safety features and takes up less floor space than its former one.
Skilled operator, press setter Liam started with Focus SB in 2016 at its Napier road site in the production department and over six years became proficient in all aspects of finishing, also gaining his forklift truck licence and first aid certificate. In August 2022 Liam progressed to the Engineering Department where he started on the two-year press setters training program and is on course to manage day to day business operations this year.
Liam says: “I started at 20 and heard about the job by recommendation. I didn’t know what I wanted to do and it’s my second job. I’ve met really nice people - it’s been a good experience so far. I love the work and the way Focus SB looks after its employees. It’s a family-centric company, plus you get a chance to be put on courses and feel valued for your work.”
Liam’s father Allan joined the company five years ago following a varied career path including working in the scrap industry, on roads, in baking and fencing. Allan’s career with Focus SB also began in the finishing department until the opportunity arose to train as a press setter and work alongside his son.
Allan, who is extremely impressed with the new guillotine and is on the path to completing his press setter and first aid training, and who also recently successfully achieved his forklift driver licence along with warehouse supply chain apprentice Alfie Williams, says: “It’s been the only job where I love going to work each day - and where the boss knows everybody’s name!”
Find out more about Focus SB on their member profile page here
Member-created content 3 months ago | From members