Trox completes major investment programme in chilled-beam manufacture
Trox has completed the final phase of a £2.1 million investment to establish its Thetford factory as the group’s global centre of excellence for manufacturing multi-service chilled beams. The third phase of the programme involved the investment of £600 000 in equipment for computer-aided manufacture, including a Salvagnini panel-bending machine.
This new machine provides a high-tech alternative to the factory’s existing press brakes. It can create components in a third of the time — with greater repeatability, accuracy and quality.
The new machine can handle aluminium or steel and has outstanding levels of flexibility for creating chilled-beam fascias of different designs. Lead times are expected to be reduced, especially where a chilled beam involves a bespoke or architect-inspired fascia.
Earlier phases of the programme of investment, which began in 2007, involved the installation of two fully automated Trumpf punch presses which have increased production capacity by around 60%.
Ian Sams, chief operating office with Trox UK, said, ‘While the new equipment is the most visible outcome of the investment programme, it is really just one part of the overall project. A significant figure has also been dedicated to training of our workforce, including skills development in Six Sigma. So the greatest investment of all is coming from Trox employees through their involvement in activities such as Kaizen.
