If there’s one thing you can say for Edmo, it’s that we’re determined.
When we know our end-to-end solutions are going to make your life a lot easier, we’ll do our best to convince you. And do you know what else? We love it when we’re right.
We’d had a particular company in our sights for over a year. A leading name in the safety solutions industry, this company was making heavy work of something that should’ve been a lot easier: sourcing fabricated aluminium extrusions.
When we first encountered them, the company was:
Buying aluminium bar length from a competitor of ours
Using local fabricators to process the metal
Sending the material to a welding company in order to make panels
The extruded aluminium was being transported from the supplier to this company, then to the fabricator, back to the company, off to the welder, and finally back to the company for completion.
A logistics nightmare, and an expensive, time-consuming one at that.
Edmo’s end-to-end solution
We reached out to the company, explaining the benefits of our turnkey extrusion solutions to the manager in charge of ordering materials.
Happily, this is the kind of company that appreciates savings in time, effort and money (our favourite kind of company) so we’re now working with them to deliver a far more streamlined solution.
Extruded aluminium is being produced by our expert partners in China, before being shipped here to Edmo.
Now, instead of being shipped to various locations – with every stop on the journey painstakingly coordinated by our customer – the fabricated aluminium extrusions are sent directly to us.
They undergo every necessary process, all project managed by our team, and are transported to our customer when complete. Nice and simple.
Just as we promised (not that we’re bragging…) our customer is extremely happy with the service they’re receiving from Edmo.
We’ve reduced their supply chain, cut out the middle men profit centres and transport costs, and provided them with a top quality bespoke extrusion on a consistently quick turnaround.
What the client had to say
James, the manufacturing manager at our client company, commented on the service we deliver:
“When Edmo approached us to propose working together, we immediately got a good impression. This is a really sound company offering us the product we need at a good price.
“We’re very happy with the service we’ve received – everything’s been spot on. There are great quality systems in place, we get a fantastic product, and any issues get rectified immediately.
“The service I get from Richard – our designated contact – is very good. He’s got excellent communication skills, and he’s a really nice gentleman.”
Need extruded aluminium falsework or panels?
The reason we share case studies and stories here on the blog is to give our potential customers an idea of the kind of results we could achieve for them.
If you’re in a similar situation and you’re fed up of outsourcing to multiple parties, managing the project and dealing with the inflated costs, talk to us.
We can streamline your supply chain, and manage your project so you can concentrate on what you do best: running your business.
So, that’s the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics Exhibition done for another year, and what a year it was.
2018 marked the fifth year in a row that we’ve chosen to exhibit at the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics Exhibition and it’s arguably been our best year at the expo yet.
Here’s our own personal review.
Brand new exhibition space
As we mentioned in our previous blog about the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics Exhibition, the expo made the shift this year from temporary marquee to purpose-built exhibition Hall 1 – an amazing space right at the heart of Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Warm, spacious and suitably impressive, Hall 1 combined exhibition and hands-on demonstration areas with break-out zones and spaces for seminars.
It’s a huge improvement on previous years and reflects Southern Manufacturing’s status as the UK’s largest regional manufacturing, electronics and subcontracting exhibition perfectly.
Increased leads year on year
One of the things that makes Southern Manufacturing so worthwhile for us is the number of engaged attendees who are there actively looking to do business.
This is not a mooch-around-looking-vaguely-interested kind of expo – we’re talking thousands of visitors and exhibitors looking to get up-close and hands-on (tricky for a team as gorgeous as our own).
Attendance this year was even better than expected. The show welcomed 7658 visitors, almost 60 per cent of whom were directors, managers and engineers – great for talking serious B2B business.
We went back to Edmo HQ with our reputations as salesmen intact: we enjoyed more than a 20% increase on warm leads from last year’s exhibition.
Video content was a hit
We launched our new website at the start of this year, incorporating expertly shot video content to really bring to life what Edmo achieves for its customers.
We’ve had some great feedback on our video from visitors to our website, so we decided to see how it’d work at an expo.
And, sure enough, it was a hit – it can be difficult to explain exactly what we do to non-experts, but video has bridged that gap, enabled us to show off our capabilities quickly and clearly, and given us a great talking point with folks who stop off at the Edmo stand.
Diverse attendees
This years Southern Exhibition expo welcomed a wealth of visitors from every trade and industrial sector imaginable.
Mechanical and electrical engineering dominated in terms of sheer numbers, representing a total of 70.2% of all visitors to the show. Numbers from the aerospace and automotive sectors followed closely, with 64% of visitors identifying themselves as belonging to these industries.
The range of attendees who visited our stand was incredibly diverse in terms of industry and size, with guests from the following sectors stopping by:
Electronic Signage
Specialist Lighting
Refrigeration
Fan & Motor Products
Engineering
Medical Instrumentation
Defence contractors
Precision Machinists
Scientific Instrumentation
Auditorium Seating
LED Lighting
Construction
Commercial & Industrial Heating
Aluminium Facades
Communication masts
Electronic Enclosures
Product Designers
Wind Renewables
Barrier Companies
ATM Manufacturers
Manufacturers of cash and asset protection systems
Lifts/Elevators
Alpaca Farming (we don’t ask, we don’t judge)
Despite the wide array of industries (we admit alpaca farming is a bit of an outlier…), all our visitors had a common extrusion requirement, or were interested in interested in substituting their current substrates for aluminium.
All in all, brilliant quality leads.
See you at Southern Manufacturing Exhibition 2019?
So was Southern Manufacturing Exhibition 2018 worth the money? After all, that’s what this all comes down to.
Our verdict? No doubt.
We’ve already booked our place at Southern Manufacturing Exhibition 2019 (right down to the same position, so if you saw us this year, you’ll know where to find us…).
And, we’re already planning new ways to show attendees what Edmo can do for them – either as a partner or a supplier.
If you can’t wait until then (and who would blame you?), contact us directly: you can drop us an email at darren@edmolimited.co.uk or call us on 01989 768 307.
On 6th February, some of the team from Edmo will be heading down to the Southern Manufacturing Show in Farnborough.
2018 will mark the fifth year that we’ve attended the expo – the UK’s LARGEST regional manufacturing technology, electronics and subcontracting exhibition – and we’ve got plenty of good reasons to be there once again.
1. Finding customers
Obviously. We’re not into doing a hard sell, but we’d be lying if we said the Southern Manufacturing Show wasn’t a great opportunity to meet potential new customers. As the UK’s biggest expo of its kind, Southern Manufacturing 2018 is set to attract thousands of visitors over the course of three days – it’s likely that some of them might need aluminium extrusion, fabrication and finishing services, right?
2. Finding suppliers and subcontractors
One of the things that makes Edmo so popular with customers is our ability to offer end-to-end solutions. We work with a global network of the best suppliers and partners to deliver complete products to the people who come to us. The Southern Manufacturing Show attracts B2B brands with something to shout about, and with over 600 exhibitors expected at Southern Manufacturing 2018, we’re looking forward to getting to know some folks.
3. Discovering new technologies
Where there are interesting people, there are fascinating new gadgets. And we’re not going to lie – we’re like kids in a B2B sweet-shop at the Southern Manufacturing Show. Every brand there is aiming to impress, so you know they’re going to bring their newest, most exciting innovations with them. We’ll be having a look round and getting up close and personal with the best new technologies.
4. Sharing technical expertise
The Southern Manufacturing Show is full of people who know their stuff. Folks who understand the amazing benefits you’re telling them about when you mention the new dual-probed, auto-adjusting, hydro-pneumatic dingle-hopper you just invested in. Customers are great, but it’s sometimes disappointing when you get a blank stare instead of an amazed gasp. Folks at this show know their stuff.
5. Getting quick answers
Most of the time we’re at expos, we stick around our stand, chatting to people and generally representing the Edmo brand as beautifully as possible. But when we get chance to go off and explore – even just briefly – it’s a brilliant opportunity to ask in-depth questions and get quick, expert answers.
Same for visitors to our stand: bring a sketch, an idea, a technical drawing or a model with you, and we’ll answer any questions you’ve got about designing, engineering, or manufacturing it.
6. Showing off our goods
As well as our technical sales team (reported* to be the best-looking and most talented team at Edmo) we’ll be bringing a range of extruded, fabricated and finished components with us for visitors to our stand to take a look at.
Last year, we brought a 3D printer with us to showcase our CAD and prototyping, and Design Support services. But, after at least 50 queries about whether we were 3D printer salesmen, we won’t be making that mistake again. Sorry.
*by the sales team
7. Getting out of the office
Who doesn’t like a day-trip? Or even a three-day-trip? Five of us from Edmo will be down in Farnborough at Southern Manufacturing 2018, and it’s the fifth year in a row that we’ve visited the expo. We’re looking forward to seeing the new, purpose-built facility at FIVE this year, particularly after the weather and last year’s marquee made for an interesting mix…
We’ll be on Stand J170 and there’ll be:
Andrew, our managing director
Darren, sales and marketing
Jim, Nev and Richard, from our technical sales team
If you’d like to make an appointment in advance, or there’s something in particular you’d like to chat with us about, feel free to drop us an email at darren@edmolimited.co.uk or call us on 01989 768 307.
Will you be at Southern Manufacturing 2018? Come and introduce yourself to us at Stand J170.
This month, we’re taking a closer look at one of our most popular services: powder coating. One question we get asked a lot is whether our powder coating service is suited to steel. Here’s what we’ve got to say on the topic.
Do you offer powder coating for steel?
In short, yes. Our dedicated coating plant is able to deal with a variety of materials, including but not limited to aluminium, plastic and steel.
We coat a significant volume of free issue steel pressing, steel sheet and cast products, and offer a bespoke colour-matching service so you get the perfect results.
What are the benefits of powder coating steel?
There are a number of key benefits to powder coating steel, as you’d expect.
Powder coating steel:
is relatively quick and cost-effective
gives it a smooth, attractive finish
is durable and weatherproof, making it suitable for indoor or outdoor use
Not sure if we’re right for you?
The quickest and easiest way to tell whether powder coating steel with us is the right option for your product or project is to get in touch.
A member of our technical team will be happy to advise you as to the pros and cons of our service, and we welcome prospective customers to come and have a look around our dedicated powder coating facility.
Visits to Edmo are completely without obligation, and there’s no hard sell – you can just come and see what we do.
Our take is this: the more information you have, the better chance you’ll make the right decision for your business.
Case study:
A leading name in excavation safety solutions came to us after being less than impressed by one of our competitors.
The customer contacted Edmo for advice on a number of significant quality concerns with their current supplier:
The steel wasn’t being cleansed thoroughly prior to powder coating, leading to an uneven finish
The supplier couldn’t offer a quick enough turnaround
Goods were being damaged during the packing and shipping process
We invited the customer to come for a tour of our powder coating plant, where they were able to view the entire process in action.
Our state-of-the-art facility and attentive staff made a good impression, leading the customer to give us a try.
The result?
The customer is thrilled with the results of our steel powder coating service. To quote them:
“The quality issues headache is now completely gone, and we’re delighted with both the customer service, and the quality of the product.”
Can we help you?
If you’re looking for powder coating for steel, and you think our attention to detail could be just what you’re looking for, we’d love to help.
We can powder coat free issue steel quickly and effectively. Alternatively, we can handle the whole process: we’ll source steel components for you, powder coat them, and supply them to you already finished.
While the winter days may be getting darker, the last few months have seen Edmo lighting the way in one particular industry.
Over the last few months, we’ve received an influx of enquiries from brands in the commercial and domestic lighting sectors. Our bespoke aluminium extrusion profiles and components have been used in a huge range of applications – from street lights to stage lights.
Here are just a few of the lighting niches we’ve worked with over the last quarter:
Architectural Lighting Solutions
We’ve been supplying a range of aluminium extrusion profiles to a number of leading UK names in the architectural lighting industry. Our profiles and components are used in a huge range of applications, from internal domestic use to outdoor lighting systems in public spaces.
Our aluminium extrusion profiles are versatile enough be used in anything from street lamps to LED lighting strips.
Healthcare lighting
One of the lighting brands we supply aluminium extrusion profiles to is a prominent name in the healthcare lighting industry. This niche lighting application involves creating dynamic lighting systems for hospitals, clinics and residential centres, with increased focus on how artificial light can improve the wellbeing and mood of people by mimicking natural light.
Bespoke lighting solutions
A number of our customers in the lighting industry need bespoke aluminium extrusion profiles to be incorporated into their recessed, wall mounted, suspended and track lighting systems. We work closely with our customers to create bespoke extruded profiles and components to fit their exact requirements.
Stage lighting
Another area we’ve been supplying aluminium extrusion profiles to is the stage lighting industry. Brands serving this demanding commercial sector have commissioned a range of extruded aluminium components from us, including parts for projection applications and stage lights.
Aluminium extrusion profiles for lighting applications
Our custom aluminium extrusion profiles and components can be used in an infinite number of applications specific to the lighting industry.
Extruded aluminium is a versatile, easily workable and cost effective material that’s ideally suited to a range of functions. For example, we provide various extruded aluminium channels for LED strip lighting, micro recessed extrusions for recessed light fixtures, and heat sinks, used to absorb and disperse excess heat from lights.
Our aluminium extrusion profiles can now be found in:
Public spaces: restaurants, offices, schools, hotels and shops
External environments: outdoor sports facilities, stadiums, streetlights, roads, car parks and footpaths
Healthcare facilities
Public transport: vehicles, sign boxes and stations
Private residences
A bright future
As more organisations make the switch to energy-saving LED lighting, we’re hopeful that the increase in enquiries we’ve seen from manufacturers and suppliers in the industry will continue.
Our design and technical team is always on hand to discuss customers’ unique requirements, and our bespoke aluminium extrusion profiles and components can be completely tailored to even the most complex or unusual projects.
If you’d like to talk to us about custom aluminium extrusion profiles for your lighting application, please get in touch.
If you’ve had a look around our website in the last couple of weeks, you’ll have noticed that there have been some big changes.
New design, new build, new content – all geared towards reflecting how we work as a company, and how we like to treat our customers.
Good user experience
When you come to Edmo, what you’ll find is that we’re keen to give you a good experience from the moment you make contact with us to the point your job is done.
Our new website aims to replicate that level of customer care. It’s stripped back, easy to navigate, and full of clear, informative content designed to give you the information you need as quickly as possible.
Across the website, you’ll also find that we encourage you to get in touch for more information on the services we offer.
You can expect the same kind of customer experience when you do: we’ll get back to you as soon as we can, and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you’ve got clearly, and without going heavy on the sales spiel.
Aluminium extrusion education centre
A big part of our new website is the aluminium extrusion education centre. This area of the website is full of information and resources on our services, including:
It’s a work in progress, but what you’ll find there is designed to give you an insight into what we do and how we do it. There are news stories about what’s happening in-house, case studies detailing how we’ve solved customer problems, and FAQs on each of our service areas.
And, if the topic you’re looking for isn’t covered there, we’ve thought of that, too.
You ask, we answer
There’s nothing quite as struggling to get a straight answer when you’re trying to make a procurement decision.
Companies that dodge questions are a a pain in everybody’s neck, and that’s not who we want to be, which is why the resources in our education centre are based on the questions our customers ask.
And, while there often isn’t a straight answer to things like, “How long will X take?” or “How much will Y cost?”, we’ll still do our best to give you the information you need to make a decision.
Our customer care team works closely with our technical team, so they’re well informed on all things aluminium extrusion. And if it’s a more in-depth answer you need, they’ll pass you over to the experts.
So there we are: a new website to communicate our lasting values. We’d love to get your feedback on any of the changes and, remember: if you have a question on aluminium extrusion, just ask.
Edmo’s main activity is the specification, sourcing and supply of customer specific aluminium extrusion components and products.
We’re able to supply our customers with a range of goods, from fabricated components through to sub-assemblies and finished goods complete in final packaging. For more information on any of our aluminium extrusion fabrication services, please contact us.
The next financial period is set to be an exciting one at Edmo, with a new RALC CNC machining centre paving the way for significant business growth that will benefit both Edmo and our customers.
Our aluminium extrusion solutions
At Edmo, we design, source and supply bespoke extruded aluminium components, products and profiles for our customers. We work with a global network of trusted supply partners to deliver great results on end-to-end projects.
Considering how versatile and cost-effective aluminium alloys are, the demand for extruded aluminium products is basically limitless. That’s why we’re going to be using the next financial period to expand our capabilities to accommodate additional work for new and existing customers.
Our planned investment
We’ve identified a potential bottleneck in our long-bed CNC machining capacity that, if left unaddressed, will limit our ability to produce fabricated aluminium components and goods.
To enable our business to grow to its maximum potential, and to continue to satisfy the needs of all our customers, we need to increase our aluminium extrusion fabrication capacity.
We are investing in:
A RALC 6.7m High Speed Vertical Machining Centre complete with enclosure
A Heli HFG25 LPG Counterbalance Fork Truck
The RALC machining centre will increase our capacity for the type of fabrication work it handles by at least 50%. It will also enable us to fabricate larger pieces of work than our existing equipment can accommodate.
We expect our increased aluminium extrusion fabrication capacity and capabilities to result in higher production outputs and new business from current and potential customers. The new machining centre costs around £125,000 and follows investment of roughly £500,000 over the last 24 months.
Environmental benefits
In line with our environmental responsibility policies, we’ve taken the time to consider how the new investment at Edmo can reduce our impact on the environment.
The green benefits of this project are three-fold:
Software and technology: improved control software and energy-efficient motors will mean a 20% reduction in power consumption, equal to 4,000kWh per year – around 1.5% of our factory electricity consumption.
Handling efficiency: increased handling efficiency will result in reduced materials movements and shorter machining times, resulting in a machine power saving of 1,000kWh per annum. The new machine will also accommodate larger items without needing to be reset or handle products twice.
Transport and movement: the new machine will enable us to address new customer products that our existing equipment is too small to handle, reducing the number of items we need to transport to alternative facilities.
New employment opportunities
In addition to increased capacity and reduced environmental impact, the new CNC machining centre and fork-lift truck will provide up to seven new employment opportunities at our Ross-on-Wye facility.
The full time jobs lasting one year or more that will be created by March 2018 include:
Two machine setters and operators
Two upstream process operators e.g. saw operator
Two materials handling staff members (including one fork lift operator)
One multi-departmental assistant (e.g. assembly, inspection packing, dispatch)
If you would be interested in finding out more about any of these positions, please call our office on 01989 768 307 for full details.
When is all this happening?
Our new 6.7m 3 axis, dual station CNC machining centre is due to be installed within the next month (December 2017) and will be fully operational by January 2018, increasing our capacity for aluminium extrusion fabrication of that type by 50%.
We also have a number of additional investments planned for the next business period, and look forward to updating you on those in due course.
Edmo’s main activity is the specification, sourcing and supply of customer specific aluminium extrusion components and products. We are able to supply our customers with a range of types of goods, from fabricated components through to sub-assemblies and finished goods complete in final packaging. For more information on any of our aluminium extrusion fabrication services, please contact us.
A big part of what makes Edmo so popular is our wealth of design and engineering expertise. In this case, our technical team helped a customer to boost their production efficiency and cut costs with a carefully considered tooling redesign.
Punch press problems
The customer in this case – a leading name in the UK horticultural and forestry markets – was new to Edmo in 2017.
They came to us on a simple aluminium extrusion supply arrangement: we began to provide them with a range of extruded aluminium profiles, both in mill finish* and powder coated lengths, which they would then fabricate in-house.
During a meeting with the customer, we found out that there were significant problems with their production efficiency, caused by an issue with the tooling on their punch press. Poorly designed for the job at hand, the tools kept breaking and holding up production. There was also a significant level of wastage and scrap due to the tools breaking mid-process.
This faulty tooling was costing our customer money by:
Slowing production
Damaging materials
Needing to be replaced regularly
Our design and technical team is made up of engineers with decades of combined experience in aluminium extrusion fabrication. The customer asked if there was anything we could do to help them improve their punch press tooling and, as a result, their overall production efficiency.
Our design support solution
Once we’d found out about the challenge our customer was facing, our design support team set to work coming up with a solution. After speaking to the customer and finding out their exact requirements, we came up with a new power punch press tool for their machine.
The new tooling was bespoke, based on the shape of the extruded aluminium profile we supplied to them and taking into account the fabrication requirements – in this case, large notches and holes that needed to be punched out of the extrusion in a particular pattern.
“Production has improved significantly, with no interruptions”
The customer is delighted with the results of the new tooling design: a simple change has led to a significant increase in production efficiency and has all but cut out the costly interruptions the old tooling caused.
The next time we spoke to the customer, they commented that they wished we’d designed all their tooling for them, as there are other areas causing them issues.
We’re currently working with them to redesign their other tools, and look forward to hearing about the positive results.
Got a similar problem? Find out how we can help.
Contact a member of our design and technical team to find out how our turnkey aluminium extrusion solutions can help your business.
Aluminium extrusion glossary
*Mill finish: we supply a large number of customers with mill finish aluminium extrusion. This simply means extruded aluminium profiles that haven’t been treated or finished: they’re likely to be treated later on during the fabrication process (e.g. by being anodised, painted or polished) to make them more hard-wearing and/or attractive.
Edmo’s main activity is the specification, sourcing and supply of customer specific aluminium extrusion components and products. We are able to supply our customers with a range of types of goods, from fabricated components through to sub-assemblies and finished goods complete in final packaging. For more information on any of our aluminium extrusion fabrication services, please contact us.
How can we help your business?
Let’s talk about how we can make your next project a success.
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