Overhaul helps metals group to boost service

Constant Manufacturing, Hollinwood, Matt Garlick, MD, with David Gilligan, Operations Manager

A SHEET metal and architectural ironmongery fabricator has invested heavily in staff and technology in a widespread overhaul of its manufacturing operations and marketing activities, and also to assist its ISO accreditation.

Hollinwood-based Constant Group Ltd makes a range of metal products for clients in the telecoms, air conditioning, transport, industrial, lighting, medical, media, retail, display, sport and fitness sectors.

Established in 1970 as a multi-metal stockholder, the firm today makes precision sheet metal fabricated parts, displays, components and fully assembled pieces.

The group operates under the brands of Constant Manufacturing and Constant Engineering, and its Tweedale Way manufacturing specialisms included CNC cutting machines, sheet metal-working and welding teams, a fully-automated powder coating line and an assembly department.

The firm describes itself as the largest sheet metal manufacturing company in the North-West offering single-source services for these types of products.

Operations manager David Gilligan said: "Effective use of new technology and cloud computing is enabling us to complete our ISO accreditation, introduce new manufacturing process software E2i and provide a range of staff with a flexible remote working environment.

"We've consciously invested heavily in new IT operational infrastructure, which allowed us to facilitate digital and technological growth, and to pave the way to develop the business further and therefore offer an effective lean manufacturing offering to new and existing customers."

In addition to enhancing the production process, the digital overhaul has included new marketing activities.

The makeover started with the appointment of a digital marketing manager in 2014, who was given the task of creating user-friendly websites with plenty of news, case studies, photography and videos, with the main aim of attracting new business alongside developing existing contracts.

Videos include a factory tour as well as a monthly 'How It's Made' case study showing the production process of a particular item.

Matt Garlick, managing director of Constant Group, said: "We took the decision to overhaul our static websites by making them engaging, responsive in design and up-to-date.

"The design and manufacture of our new products has always been a strength but now our design and production process is much better supported."