New investment boost

Bifold hardware company Debar has announced significant investment in the latest HAAS CNC machinery to increase capacity, reduce waste and enhance production efficiencies.

The company’s new high-speed CNC lathe and milling machine includes the latest generation touch-screen displays, as well as automatic bar feed and waste-reducing technology.

By bringing further manufacturing capabilities in house, Debar said it will have greater command of the manufacturing process. The benefits to customers include more value for money, reduced lead times and tighter quality control. There will also be greater flexibility in terms of fulfilling orders on time and on budget, as the company can now more closely match supply to demand and react to any surge in orders.

The technological investment will also provide the opportunity for more in-house research and development, with the potential to create prototype products for customers in the future.

For the business itself, the investment in capital machinery will improve cost control and reduce waste. It also means the creation of up to 10 further jobs at Debar’s base in Bradford, West Yorkshire. This includes the appointment of an in-house CNC programmer to ensure that the technological investment is utilised to maximum effect. Additional shifts have also been added to allow customer demands to be met.

Continued growth in both home and export markets is enabling the ongoing investment, a commitment that has already increased capacity by 25%. Components fully manufactured on site for supply to European and US markets include hinge pins, bodies for hinges, rollers and guides, and additional investment is expected by the end of the year to enable further expansion.

Ken Gray, operations director, said: “It is very rewarding to be able to achieve such growth in a short period of time. The efficiencies we have achieved are just the beginning of what we feel is possible with further investment. We hope to acquire a further four or five machines this year, which will enable us to employ an extra 30 to 40 people to satisfy growing demand.

“We are also currently securing larger premises and additional vehicles to support our continued growth and to ensure we exceed the expectations of our customers.”