Ready-milled steel demand up
Last year Carrs supplied 15,000 ready-milled pieces in response to an 80% increase in demand from customers for this bespoke service
Tipton-based tool steel firm Carrs Tool Steels Ltd has reported a 30% year-on-year growth in total sales as demand for its ready-milled products continues to rise.
Last year Carrs supplied 15,000 ready-milled pieces in response to an 80% increase in demand from customers for this bespoke service. Items are machined on six faces (to –0.00mm/+0.1mm) to customers’ finished sizes, offering a cost-effective alternative to buying standard machined sizes.
To keep pace with the influx of new contracts, Carrs has increased staffing levels in its production areas, bringing the total number of employees to 29 in addition to adding new machinery. The company now has a 24-hour, three-shift capability, which it put into operation for the first time in August to turn round an urgent order.
Carrs launched its ready-milled service in January 2009, just as the economic slowdown was beginning to hit industry hard. “Like many companies we were affected by the global downturn and we had to make cutbacks,” recalled managing director Andy Eastwood.
“We had just taken delivery of new milling machines, adding cost and raising expectations, but our employees understood the situation and worked with us to ensure the successful launch of our bespoke service. We have faced a few problems on the way, but I am very proud of the way everyone coped with the changes we implemented, and they should be very proud of the success we have achieved since then.”
Across all areas of its business, Carrs supplied a total of 81,000 cut pieces in 2010/11, an increase of 32% over the previous 12 months. The company specialises in the manufacture and distribution of tool steel, used in toolmaking for plastic moulds and hot/cold work applications in all kinds of manufacturing.
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