The categories HBC are nominated in are :

Processor of the Year - Sponsored by Bayer Material Science

• Bespak Plc
• HBC Engineering Solutions
• Hi-Technology Group
• Nifco UK Ltd
• Rosti Technical Plastics ( UK ) Ltd

In 2006 awards, HBC came a close 2nd to Bespak PLC. This year HBC have identified several clear objectives and targets through the year which have caught the judges' eye and we hope we can bring home the winner's award this time! The processor of the year category aims at identifying the key functions in the process and how as part of a measured and structured campaign, that processor has managed the operation to achieve significant improvements in their operation.

Under the management of Terry Palmer, Operations Manager at HBC, and his team managed to absorb a substantial £1 million of cost without passing any of that cost back to its client base. This was achieved by productivity savings. The increase in Copper pricing, energy and raw materials in general had to be offset by:

Increasing manufacturing output and reducing labour cost
Shift Improvements
99.9 % stock Accuracy
20% productivity gain
98% delivery promise, that's delivered on time
Quality Improvements from target 150 ppm to actual 92 ppm for all customers

Best Business Initiative - Sponsored by ALBIS UK (Ltd)

• Cobra UK Automotive Products Ltd
• HBC Engineering Solutions
• OGM Ltd
• SMP Plastics (Fabrications) Ltd

HBC entered their New Business Introduction (NBI) unit for this award having not been nominated in this category before. The NBI unit is responsible for bringing new clients into HBC as project managers while taking away the stress of working directly with production teams who will respond to the project managers' aims and objectives as well as the clients.

Nick Braby and Gordon Nicholson head up the NBI unit. The unit has been introduced by bringing the engineering design and production staff closer to the client. These staff would otherwise have been made redundant or would have been taken away from the client into operational production. The NBI unit utilises key skills in their best position from a client and manufacturing perspective. We hope that the judges will see how a devastating effect, such as loss of business to Far East cheap labour.