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Plastics Industry Award winners for Processor
of the Year 2007 are HBC Engineering Solutions
Ltd. It is a landmark year for HBC after
coming a close second in the category for four
consecutive preceding years. It is certainly
a welcome acknowledgement for all the hard work,
investment and shear determination of recent
years. When you consider that the company has
only been an independent one since 2003 (following
an MBO from Weidmuller) it is really quite a
feat.
Judges will have been impressed by HBC's increased
manufacturing output and reduced labour costs
as well as shift improvements, 99.9% stock accuracy,
a 20% productivity gain, 98% of promised delivery
times being adhered to, and a quality gain where
HBC's target of only 150 faulty parts per million
was actually improved to no more than 92 ppm.
Amongst the other factors appreciated by the
judging panel were HBC's commitment to continuous
improvement and the business's growth since
the management buy-out just a few years ago.
HBC's business plan had required that it raise
its gross profit margin to 20% and, despite
the continual and unwelcome rise in polymer
costs during the period, this was still achieved.
Over £1 million in operational overheads were
saved during the year while at the same time
quality was further improved, labour and material
costs were tightly managed, stock control and
waste levels were optimised and overall delivery
became even further improved. Focus for the
company will continue to be on quality, cost,
delivery and safety.
HBC Managing Director Paul Blackmore reports
that the entire company has been celebrating
the success. "It's fantastic to get the recognition
of the industry," he said. The judges commented:
"This is a business with a solidly growing customer
reputation for quality, cost and delivery, with
a sound underpinning financial performance."
Steve Hadlow, Director at HBC said, "I am delighted...
for the company as a whole who have worked so
hard... and now someone else has recognised
this from the.. industry itself... They tracked
our situation for 4 years, each year as finalist...
you are extensively audited on process, financials
and output and that includes client views and
so the team in the factory... should feel very
proud of this achievement."
Organised by PRW in association with BPF and
now in its seventh year, the event attracted
700 guests, the biggest audience in its history,
and was hosted by TV and Radio's always entertaining
Bob Mills. It was held at The London Hilton,
Park Lane, London, on 15 June 2007 and was a
glittering gala celebration. As the industry's
largest and most respected European event of
this type, it is dedicated to rewarding innovation
and exceptional performance.
Fifteen awards were given out during the course
of the evening in recognition of key achievements,
innovations and successes within the industry.
Excluding the top category won by HBC, these
included:
• Best Technology Application
• Best Sales & Marketing / Best Business Initiative
• Best Health & Safety Programme
• Best Training & Development Programme
• Apprentice or Trainee of the Year
• Product Design of the Year - Industrial
• Product Design of the Year - Consumer
• Polymer Producer of the Year
• Polymer Distributor or Compounder of the Year
• Prime Machinery Supplier of the Year
• Ancillary Machinery Supplier of the Year
• Toolmaker of the Year
• Personal Contribution to the Industry
Following the management buy-out back in 2003,
HBC Engineering Solutions have gone from strength
to strength. They have a solid reputation amongst
their customer base for exceptional quality,
cost effective services and products and reliable
delivery. The judges have recognised the excellent
performance of the company year after year by
regularly choosing them as a finalist. But this
year, they have finally become the deserving
winner of the top category, Processor of
the Year, in the 2007 Plastics Industry
Awards.
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