Faster cleaner coatings
The new line offers major green benefits says Foleshill Plating's Gurpal Thadwal
A new electrophoretic coating line at Foleshill Plating offers faster coating speeds and a much cleaner finish for customers.
Thanks to the £750,000 new line, the second at the Coventry-based company, Foleshill is on course to break the £2m sales barrier.
The family-run company includes blue chip clients such as Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover in its customer base.
Backed by strategic and financial support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service–West Midlands Auto project, the firm is now aiming to increase turnover from £1.4m to £2m over the course of the next twelve month.
Gurpal Thadwal, company secretary and environmental manager at Foleshill Plating, commented:
“This sector of manufacturing has undergone some major changes over the last decade and we have had to move with the times to ensure we offer something different.
“We’ve moved away from chrome, nickel and decorative plating as it is difficult to comply with current environmental legislation. Instead we have focused our efforts on retaining and securing new work through zinc electro-plating and our e-coating arm of the business…this helped us withstand the recession and emerge with our order book intact.”
He continued: “Electrophoretic coating is primarily a series of dip processes, with the parts moving along on individual jigs. The process gives improved anti-corrosion properties, a uniform thickness of paint and a flawless finish – no paint is wasted by the new plant adding to the plants already ‘green’ credentials.”
The substantial investment in the new line brings the latest robotics to Foleshill Plating, which was established in 1978 by the current managing director Mohan Singh.
Designed by environmental specialist Chris Waterhouse of EPD Consultants Ltd, the bespoke plant features seven flight bars that move along a series of baths all controlled by a central panel.
This means the company can handle larger (up to 4m in length) and heavier (up to a tonne) parts and all processes can be done on one line reducing lead times by a couple of days in some cases.
“We are an approved coating specialist for Caterpillar Perkins and Aston Martin, providing finishing on the body sides, the bonnet and bracketry for the luxury marque’s range of cars,” continued Mr Thadwal.
“Outside of automotive, we also do coatings for aerospace, architectural and hardware customers, not to mention animal products, including luxury dog kennels.”
MAS-WM has worked with Foleshill Plating for nearly ten years providing manufacturing benchmarking, one-to-one mentoring, strategic advice and funding towards installing new machinery and systems at its Coventry site.
It has also assisted in helping it meet the latest environmental legislation and develop bespoke software that allows for automation of office functions.
“The investment in the latest line, which has been self-funded, puts Foleshill in an excellent position to take advantage of a resurgent automotive sector,” explained MAS-WM Auto’s Rachel Eade.
“We are continuing to work with the management team and believe there is significant potential for growth and possible job creation over the course of the next 12 months.”
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