Investment keeps automotive supply chain agile and just-in-time

William Hughes has adapted quickly to a serious increase in demand from a tier-one automotive seating customer, thanks to a major new investment in robotic welding cells and associated tooling and fixtures.

The investment at its plant in Bulgaria is in reaction to the ramp up in popularity for a recently released sports utility vehicle (SUV). Currently selling beyond production capacity, the vehicle is available with multiple seating configurations, so the demand for seating frames and hardware has seen commensurate growth.

William Hughes' manager for Bulgaria, says: “The output for the various seating modules and formats is now about 30% higher than the original anticipated peak production plan. And with the automotive industry relying on just-in-time delivery for primary modules, such as seating, we knew that we had to pull out all the stops to ensure our tier-one customer would not disrupt production.

“The seat frame for this model is unusually heavy duty – being a welded-wire assembly designed to complement the vehicle’s impressive off-road reputation,” he continues. “The new welding cells, Fanuc robots and additional tooling have enabled us to meet our delivery quotas for this model and, indeed, other projects in the future, which will also benefit from the added efficiencies we can bring through automation and fabrication at scale.”

Demand for the new SUV is showing no signs of slowing so there is the potential for additional investment in the future. “The Bulgarian factory is ideally placed to satisfy the demands of the Eastern European OEMs,” he concludes. “With hand-to-mouth delivery, being on their doorstep – or at least in the same neighbourhood – removes many of the logistical hurdles. And from a technological standpoint, investment like this, and in wider capabilities such as spot-welding for back frames, puts us in a perfect position to satisfy a huge array of OEM demands.”

The investment in its Bulgarian facility cements the company’s commitment to its customers and Eastern European operations. Indeed, the plant is already being asked to investigate newer seating variants, with its customers being confident that William Hughes can quickly ramp up and scale production to cater for any demand level – now and in the future.

William Hughes

Station Road
Stalbridge
Dorset
DT10 2RZ
UNITED KINGDOM

01963 363377

sales@wmhughes.co.uk

www.wmhughes.co.uk

More news
5 days ago
Southco launches a new wireless access system with the Keypaniontm app
Southco has launched a new wireless access system featuring the Keypanion app, a revolutionary smart access app that lets users wirelessly actuate latches from their smartphones.
6 days ago
Food Manufacturing Live – May 1st 2024 – National Motorcycle Museum
Specialist engineering publisher and exhibition organiser The Engineering Network (TEN) has just announced an all-new event for suppliers of engineering solutions to the food and drink manufacturing sector, Food Manufacturing Live.
1 week ago
Essentra’s Kidlington site switches to 100% recyclable packaging
Essentra Components has completed the switch within its UK manufacturing and distribution centre in Kidlington to using paper-based packaging. The new packaging contains recycled content and is widely recyclable after use, supporting both its own and its customers’ ambitions for a more sustainable future.
1 week ago
Intertronics launches adhesive and dispensing technology seminars
In a bid to help grow the adhesives, dispensing, and curing technology knowledge base of British manufacturing companies, Intertonics is offering seminars for customers under the adhere academy brand.
2 weeks ago
Coloured super glue enables automated QA in optical component assembly
A manufacturer of optical components was faced with an assembly challenge, needing an adhesive not only that could be applied around the complete diameter of the part, but one which also contained a pigment such that the application of the adhesive could be checked by camera before the next stage of the process. For a solution, the company turned to Advanced Adhesives.
3 weeks ago
Intertronics becomes UK distributor of Scigrip adhesives
Adhesives supplier Intertronics has partnered with Scigrip to distribute its methyl methacrylate structural adhesives (MMAs) in the UK.
3 weeks ago
SD Products now official UK distributor for King Slide
SD Products has announced an exciting new partnership with King Slide, Taiwan’s leading furniture hardware manufacturer. With over 30 years of experience in their industry sector King Slide has earned a strong reputation and trust among leading tech companies as well as high-end home furniture and appliance brands.
4 weeks ago
RS celebrates Formula Student team successes at milestone event
RS is celebrating the award-winning success of three of the teams it supported at the recent UK Formula Student 25-year milestone event. Sixty-one teams subjected their single-seat race car prototypes to rigorous testing at Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire, in the annual challenge organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
1 month ago
Rolec enclosures get special mention in German Innovation Awards
Rolec’s aluDOOR industrial electronic enclosures have gained a Special Mention in the German Innovation Awards. Judges praised the “high added value for users”.
1 month ago
Live webinar to demonstrate LOCTITE value in assembly automation
LOCTITE is hosting a live webinar on 26 September at 11.30 am, focusing on its equipment assembly automation solutions for various market applications.

Login / Sign up