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Factory of the Future , AMIC ( Artist ’ s impression )
Crossen Engineering also created a metal component for one blue chip ’ s Heater Humidifier respiratory device and a two-part plastic seal that would avoid leaks and enhance ease of use for ostomy products .
Hutchinson Engineering , which supplies components and complex sub-assemblies to global brands in the crushing and screening , agricultural and transport sectors such as Wrightbus , Terex , Sandvik , Caterpillar and Metso Outotec is also indicative of the resilience and diversity increasingly sought after from the region ’ s advanced manufacturing companies .
Like so many of the region ’ s advanced manufacturing firms it has added medical equipment to its credentials having designed and marketed the HanSan 1000 foot-operated hand sanitiser dispenser in the fight against Covid-19 , a process that took only 10 days from start to finish . “ While we don ’ t supply this anymore , the health crisis has shown us how innovative , responsive and effective our team can be ,” explained Mark Hutchinson , Managing Director .
The company turnover has almost doubled in the past two years . “ We have made a £ 4m investment in a laser cutting cell with automation which will allow us to increase our fabrication capacity this year by 50 per cent . Clients are benefitting through better quality , lead times and service and we are involved in several R & D projects in automation , robotics and electric and hydrogen vehicles ,” added Mark .
Supply Chains being remodelled to avoid disruption
According to a recent Economist Intelligence Unit report , supply chain disruption has not ended and many firms now recognise that a new model is needed to mitigate the inevitability of disruption – including typical costs of 6-10 per cent and the unquantifiable cost of reputation damage .
Most important is the fact that Northern Ireland ’ s precision engineering credentials are renowned throughout the world .
For example , with less than 3 per cent of the population of the UK , it is home to over 50 per cent of the UK ’ s SC21 Aerospace & Defence Supply Chain Excellence Gold Awards . Not only did companies such as Moyola Precision Engineering , Denroy and IPC Mouldings Ltd retain coveted SC21 Gold Standard status throughout the pandemic , Northern Ireland actually saw an increase in the number of companies attaining this standard during the pandemic - proof of quality and dependability . RTA Ireland and Technical Metals have now joined the roll call of the industry Gold Standard elite .
The level of proximity and cohesion in the region means that 100 + firms are within a one-hour drive of each other - a high density of suppliers across all elements of the aerospace supply chain , from design and manufacture ( world leading capabilities in machining , composites , polymers ), to coatings , assembly , certification and testing .