Manufacturing Today Issue - 216 September 2023 | Page 159

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Sanko
Gosei UK paints and assembles it thanks to both its robotic lines and the additional huge manual booths . By leveraging this facility , we can better serve our customer base in Birmingham and bring the painted and assembled parts back to Skelmersdale , where they can be supplied to our customers in the northwest region of the country ,” he adds .
By expanding its footprint both internationally and nationally in the UK with the opening of the Birmingham facility , Sanko is positioning itself for future success . Alongside these strategic investments , Sanko demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement through ongoing investments in new machinery and workforce development . “ In response to increased demand and to support Sanko UK ’ s business , two new machines and a new pipeline have been recently implemented in the Skelmersdale facility . Furthermore , based on the current forecast , there are plans to build three-to-four more machines in the same
facility . Overall , in the past five to six years , Skelmersdale has seen substantial investment of circa £ 10 million .
Bridging the skills gap
“ To address the current staff shortage our industry is currently facing , Sanko UK offers apprenticeship programs . We collaborate with local colleges such as St . Helens or Wigan College to promote engineering as a viable career option to students . Our aim is to increase awareness among the younger generation about the field of engineering and the multitude of opportunities it offers . We have three apprentices undergoing training in tooling within our organization at the moment and actively engage with graduates and postgraduates , maintaining a close partnership with John Moores University . Over the past six-to-seven years , we have had the privilege of working with approximately four individuals who originated from that university , and they continue to be valuable
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