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Constantly striving to provide the best products and services for both existing and new clients, McCauley Trailers has recently invested a total of over £ 2 million in robotics to advance its top of the range trailers. One of the company’ s latest enhancements includes the acquisition of six robotic welders from FANUC as part of a broader initiative that also encompasses new brake presses, plasma cutters, CNC machining, and more. These investments are critical for helping McCauley Trailers continue operating at a high standard in the face of a worldwide skills shortage.
Additionally, the company has begun construction on a new factory within the perimeter of its current location, which will be equipped with high automation using robotic welders. The company is keen to open this new facility and prioritizes reinvesting any revenue and profits it generates back into the business. Furthermore, McCauley Trailers is establishing an automated paint and blast shop to reduce its reliance on highly skilled labor, which has been difficult to find. This new setup not only improves quality but also speeds up production, reduces lead times, enhances quality and allows for the potential operation of robots in the spray booths 24 hours a day.
At present, 95 percent of McCauley Trailers products are exported beyond Ireland to clients all over the globe. Caitriona tells us more about the strategies that have been most effective in reaching international markets.“ Around 2003, we noticed that the market in Ireland was becoming increasingly difficult, and many businesses struggled to survive unless they adapted to the changing landscape. As a result, we began exploring opportunities further afield. Scandinavia has been a particularly strong market for us; in one year, 70 percent of our trailer sales went to this region, most notably in Finland, Denmark, 130