Broxton - Press release: Broxton invests £300k in Trumpf

14 March 2004
Broxton invests over £300k in Trumpf TC5000 punch and Trumpf V85s press brake and achieves more than 50 per cent growth

Sheet metalwork specialist, Broxton Industries Limited, has announced significant further investment in plant: a strategy that, according to managing director Marcus Ellams, has been central to the company withstanding two particularly difficult years for the industry. The success of Broxton’s approach is evidenced in Broxton returning to more than 50 per cent growth this last financial year.

“2001 and 2002 saw the IT and telecoms market decimated, many OEMs and subcontractors went bust, and Broxton saw flat sales throughout the period,” says Ellams. “However, we retained all our customers and won new ones, giving us a strong base. We were also financially well set up with no debts to service. We buy our machines rather than lease them, which puts us in a very good position to weather storms.”

Whilst technology markets are picking up, Ellams admits that the subcontracting market is not growing rapidly. However, he has noticed increased demand for high calibre subcontracting suppliers. “Customers are getting more and more sophisticated and looking for JIT deliveries and system build. The reason we are seeing strong growth now and winning significant new business is our strength in these areas.”

Broxton is now looking to expand its customer base and has invested more than £300,000 in a Trumpf TC5000 punch and Trumpf V85s press brake that will help the company to achieve higher levels of productivity – on set times as well as run times - and provide increased customer satisfaction.

The TC5000 punch, the second that Broxton has installed in the last two years, delivers real benefits in respect of set-up time. Tools can be prepared in advance, while previous jobs are being finished, then set-up is just a matter of pulling down the program and snapping in the tools. It is also possible to form and tap, minimizing secondary operations and work in progress. The Multi-Shear feature gives customers the benefit of a laser quality, nibble-free edge.

The V85s is Broxton’s fifth multi-access CNC press brake from Trumpf. The 2.5 metre bed, 85 ton machine gives Broxton additional options for multi-set tooling to improve their ability to achieve part bending in a single operation.

“We tend to invest in innovative products from market-leading machine tool manufacturers such as Trumpf because, as well as meeting our manufacturing needs, we are looking for quick payback from our main plant and equipment,” says Ellams. “This strategy adds value to our business by improving our competitive advantage and enhancing Broxton’s marketability.”