Metal Presswork, Stamping and Deep Drawing Expertise

The sales team at H T Brigham is in buoyant mood. A major customer from the US has just placed several long-term brand new project orders, for both tooling and component manufacture. The contract, which is worth in excess of £400,000 a year, commences production in the first quarter of 2011. These orders can be added to an extensive list of foreign accounts, with overseas work now accounting for over 65% of the company’s order book.

The impressive new contract win is for the manufacture of a component into a trans-continental automotive assembly corporation which supplies directly into the likes of Chrysler, Honda, Ford and GM.

The reality of this contract win may be just coming to fruition, but in fact the actions affecting whether it would be won or lost, were made during the unlikeliest of times in UK manufacturing.

The economic downturn suddenly presented traditional manufacturers like H T Brigham with hugely challenging situations, but for those who were able to weather the storm, it also presented a stark opportunity to take stock and perhaps even re-focus. H T Brigham realised that relations with existing customers were key and an ability to maintain and strengthen these relations would be more critical than ever.

It was during this period that H T Brigham received a significant enquiry from a longstanding customer in the USA. Helped by the parity between the pound and the dollar, H T Brigham entered into intensive design consultations with its client regarding some brand new projects which were tentatively in the pipeline. Technical Sales Manager, Andrew Essom said, ‘Some people may have considered it to be a bold move to invest time and resources into a project such as this during such uncertainty, but we were keen to embrace the opportunity even though, if successful, its rewards would not be enjoyed until several years later.’

This was an intense period of design collaboration, prototype development and trial product testing in order to achieve the best result for the best possible cost. H T Brigham’s project engineers are highly proficient in working this way with customers from the product concept stage, right through to final component production and will always try and improve product design and functionality where possible in order give their customers the competitive edge.

Managing Director, Barry Smith said, ‘By recognising the opportunity, understanding our strengths and thinking long-term, we have secured a lucrative contract with an extremely valued customer which has contributed to the securing of our future success.’

H T Brigham recognises the huge importance of maintaining and increasing its international communications in order to continue to attract opportunities like this. To achieve this, sales & marketing communications are tailored to effectively incorporate overseas contacts. Andrew Essom says, ‘Our overseas contacts may be out of sight, but they are not out of mind. It is particularly important to maintain a high profile in the minds of our overseas customers. Obviously, we cannot visit these contacts as regularly as we would like, which is why other lines of communication become so important.’

That said, H T Brigham’s sales team does take every available opportunity to visit their overseas contacts. Regular visits to mainland Europe and the Americas are conducted throughout the year, and in light of the recent multiple order win from the USA, a trip to the States has been scheduled for December to investigate new opportunities with existing contacts and to seek out future prospects.

The medical sector has always been a tempting one for H T Brigham. High volumes and long-term contract opportunities come with obvious rewards, but the pressworker’s capabilities also match up well with the demands of this particular market sector.

With the UK reportedly having one of the largest medical device markets in the world, one which is believed to be relatively stable and growing, H T Brigham is keen to have a slice of the pie. It is widely considered that the capabilities and quality requirements necessary to supply into this sector are similar to those required by the aerospace and automotive sectors. Encouraging news for H T Brigham – the Birmingham based manufacturer’s roots lie firmly in the automotive sector.

In more recent years the company’s order book has illustrated a healthy split of both automotive and non-automotive contracts, but with only minimal involvement in the medical sector. Precision, reliability and expertise are factors which really count in the medical industry and H T Brigham has been delivering these requirements for over 60 years. Strict adherences to ISO 9001, TS 16949 & ISO 14001 quality systems demonstrates the company’s commitment to manufacturing components of the highest quality and the H T Brigham is now looking into obtaining the medical accreditation ISO 13485 to assist in satisfying this market.

Technical Sales Manager, Andrew Essom says, “Precision, high volume manufacturing is our speciality. We can manufacture components into the millions, competitively. This combined with a focus on lean processes and zero defect supply makes us an ideal contender for the medical market.”

Wisely though, HT Brigham has not jumped in feet first. The company’s decision to grow into the medical device sector was made following intensive investigation into the market. As a result, lucrative opportunities were identified and strategies implemented. With guidance from industry experts and funding from MAS West Midlands, H T Brigham is now seeing positive results from these efforts as enquiries from the medical device sector begin to stream in.

The company has called upon fellow Made in the Midlands member, MyM-link, for further insight into the medical device market. MyM-link is an organisation, which can help local firms like H T Brigham develop mutually beneficial relationships with other companies within the Healthcare Technology sector. MyM-link offers H T Brigham a range of research, networking and PR opportunities, all of which have helped to ease the way ahead into a notoriously difficult market to crack.

‘We met MyM-link’s Sue Wilde at the Made in the Midlands exhibition at The Public, West Bromwich, in March. At that time we had recently concluded our initial research into the market and had decided that we really wanted to increase our supply of presswork into the medical device sector. We became a MyM-link member soon after and they have been extremely helpful and informative. It’s nice to know that if there is something that we need to know, MyM-link will be able to put us in touch with the right people’, says Andrew Essom.

Recent reward for H T Brigham’s efforts has come in the shape of an order from a leading UK based healthcare company. This contract is for the manufacture of a stainless steel item. Managing Director, Barry Smith, says, ‘H T Brigham recognised that this contract presented a huge opportunity for us, but an intensive period of research & development work was required in order to achieve this’.

H T Brigham’s dedicated team of engineers worked very closely with the customer to re-design the product in question, in order to make it better suit patient needs and improve commercial viability. The new design was then trialled by focus groups nationwide and subsequently approved. An order has now been received for prototype production, with imminent full production orders having the potential to run to 4 million components in the UK alone.

Global metal pressing manufacturer, HT Brigham, is branching out into the medical technology sector after over 60 years of supplying high quality pressed metal component, including stampings and deep drawings to automotive, construction and various other types of company worldwide.

The Birmingham-based stampings specialist recently won a Made in the Midlands award in recognition for its manufacturing success, having this year won a £2m contract which looks set to nearly double their turnover. HT Brigham is one of the latest high profile companies to join Life Science specialists myM-link in a bid to break into the market.

Technical Sales Manager, Andrew Essom says, “Precision, high volume presswork is our speciality. We can manufacture components into the millions, competitively. This combined with a focus on lean processes and zero defect supply makes us an ideal contender for the medical market.”

HT Brigham have already achieved ISO 9001, TS 16949 & ISO 14001 accreditation, assuring that their stampings and deep drawings are of superb quality, and now as they begin to expand into the medical sector they are aiming to obtain the medical accreditation ISO 13485.

myM-link manager, Sue Wilde says, “Having met back in March at a Made in the Midlands event I quickly realised the expertise and quality of product that HT Brigham could bring to the medical market. To have the company join myM-link so soon after, and now to be working with them to identify areas which would benefit massively from their presswork, is fantastic”.

A valuable membership service for private companies in the Life Science market, myM-link uses its close working relationships with healthcare delivery organisations, academics and industry, to identify product and service gaps. Achieving an outstanding retention rate of 95 per cent in its second year, myM-link is in the top six per cent of the UK’s membership organisations.

Coleshill based presswork expert ‘HT Brigham Limited’, one of the founder members of the Made in the Midlands initiative, is set to become the first company to receive an Industrial Achievement award for Diversification at a gathering of the region’s leading manufacturing decision makers.

Barry Smith, Managing Director, will receive the award on behalf of the firm, at the inaugural Made in the Midlands Manufacturing Achievement Awards on September 10^th in Wolverhampton, commending the company’s efforts in researching, developing and introducing their services to new markets including the Medical sector.

This has been the product of 18 months of careful planning at the presswork firm and has resulted in the successful win of a number of lucrative contracts, one in excess of £2m. This is allowing the firm to press on in coming months to expand their premises and invest further.

With the UK reportedly having one of the largest medical device markets in the world, one which is believed to be relatively stable and growing, H T Brigham is keen to have a slice of the pie. It is widely considered that the capabilities and quality requirements necessary to supply into this sector are similar to those required by the aerospace and automotive sectors. Encouraging news for H T Brigham – the Birmingham based pressings manufacturer’s roots lie firmly in the automotive sector.

In more recent years the company’s pressings order book has illustrated a healthy split of both automotive and non-automotive contracts, but with only minimal involvement in the medical sector. Precision, reliability and expertise are factors which really count in the medical industry and H T Brigham has been delivering these benefits for over 60 years. Strict adherences to ISO 9001, TS 16949 & ISO 14001 quality systems demonstrates the company’s commitment to manufacturing pressings – even the most intricate deep drawing components – of the highest quality.

H T Brigham is now looking into obtaining the medical accreditation ISO 13485 to assist in satisfying this market.

Technical Sales Manager, Andrew Essom says, “Precision, high volume manufacturing is our speciality. We can manufacture components into the millions, competitively. This combined with a focus on lean processes and zero defect supply in presswork makes us an ideal contender for the medical market.”

Wisely though, HT Brigham has not jumped in feet first. The company’s decision to grow into the medical device sector was made following intensive investigation into the market. As a result, lucrative opportunities were identified and strategies implemented. With guidance from industry experts and funding from MAS West Midlands, H T Brigham is now seeing positive results from these efforts as presswork enquiries from the medical device sector begin to stream in.

The Made in the Midlands campaign is a dedicated platform promoting the achievements of West Midlands’ manufacturers such as HT Brigham, whilst also encouraging the region’s manufacturers to build stronger local industrial supply chains, up skill and retain skills of their workforces and invest in R&D.

H T Brigham and Company Limited has placed major investment into new presswork machinery following a significant increase in orders and enquiries for heavier work.

The Coleshill based pressings specialist, which has a 62 year heritage of manufacturing in the West Midlands, supplies a range of industry sectors, including the automotive and construction markets, with high volume pressed metal stampings and deep drawings.

The company, which has historically specialised in the manufacture of components from 0.2mm thick to 5mm thick and ranging from 6mm dia to 160mm dia, received a sharp increase in demand for larger components as a result of the recent economic climate and the reduced number of presswork companies in the area. This, combined with the promise of a significant new presswork order from the Czech Republic, triggered H T Brigham to invest in a new press which would satisfy the boost in demand.

Barry Smith, Managing Director, said, ‘It was a bold decision to make a commitment to invest in this way at this time, but the new orders and increased volume of metal stampings enquiries which we have received of late, highlights that there is work to be won. We fully intend to embrace this opportunity in the current market and move the company forward into new ventures.’

The machine, a Fagor progression press, was delivered to the H T Brigham factory in early July following weeks of preparation. Walsall based company, Schuler Presses UK Limited, was commissioned to coordinate the move. During the installation, the factory roof literally had to be raised in order for the press, weighing 48 tonnes, to be craned in. The new machine is equipped with a coil line allowing material feed up to 600mm wide and 4mm thick and a tool bed 1800mm x 1200mm.

This acquisition now gives H T Brigham the capability to increase manufacturing capacity for progression work from its previous 110t to 250t, which coupled with existing transfer press capacity ranging from 25t 9 station up to 300t 16 station, will enable the company to manufacture larger and heavier presswork. This will allow diversification across all market sectors currently served and the potential to enter new ones.

Andrew Essom, Technical Sales Manager said, ‘With our newly increased capacity, we are now in a position to quote a broader selection of stamping, pressing and deep drawing work and offer a more encompassing presswork solution, which will benefit our current and prospective customers enormously’.

Customers will not be the only ones to benefit though. H T Brigham’s supplier base has also been able to reap the rewards of the initial stages of the new venture. In addition to Schuler, other local companies to benefit include Stourbridge based toolmaker, Portway Tool and Gauge and material supplier United Steels, based in Kingswinford. It is likely that these suppliers will continue to play a key role as the project progresses.

In addition and perhaps most importantly, Brigham employees have been encouraged by the company’s motives for the purchase of the new press, namely the fact that it will produce the new, high value order secured from the Czech Republic. This presswork, for the automotive market, has the potential for volumes to run well into the millions and is expected to endure long into the future. The security of such a lucrative long-term contract has not been under-estimated by the company or its employees at a time of such employment fragility in the manufacturing sector.

The installation of the new press also prompted the company’s Tool Setters to embark on a bespoke training regime. The focus of this new initiative, not only involves the practicalities of operating the new press, but also centres around creating a blueprint, which encourages employees to take on increased responsibility. The 5S Japanese business improvement technique has been implemented to organise and assign individuals responsibility for different aspects of the designated cell area surrounding the Fagor press. This approach is designed to boost productivity, increase individual job responsibility and empower the workforce.

In fact, the new addition to H T Brigham’s plant is likely to have a huge impact on the entire factory’s processes. If the new production model is successful, management fully intend to roll it out across all other areas of stamping, pressing and deep drawing production.

The firm is also considering occupying one of the adjoining units which is currently unused and converting it into a manufacturing cell for a family of products presently in development for a customer. These plans are being assisted by funding from the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

With this funding in place, a new manufacturing model, a lucrative new overseas contract and orders from existing customers on the rise again, the company is quietly confident about the future.

Barry Smith is a firm believer that it is Brigham’s proactive attitude to change which has been key to its survival during the recent trying times. ‘We have tried to recognise opportunities for growth and take the measures necessary to secure our future success. The new press will be instrumental in our ability to target further new markets and our approach to its incorporation into the factory will generate a new working ethos which can be rolled out throughout the whole company.’

HT Brigham provides a diverse range of industry sectors, worldwide with bespoke presswork solutions. Specialising in the manufacture of small to medium sized metal stampings in high volume, from materials including stainless steel, aluminium and brass, the focus is on using their knowledge, skill base and expertise to manufacture each component to the highest standards and for the lowest possible cost.

Despite current difficult times for UK manufacturing, H T Brigham and Co Ltd, a Birmingham based presswork manufacturing company, has made the bold decision to invest for the future.

As a result of the current climate, which has lead to the unfortunate demise of some their competitors, H T Brigham and Co Ltd has seen an increase in pressings enquiries for circa 300T progression work. As a result of this, Managing Director, Barry Smith, has made the decision to source a new progression press which will capitalise upon this developing opportunity.

The acquisition of a larger double crank H frame progression press will compliment the presswork company’s existing range of presses; increasing pressings capacity, manufacturing diversity and range.

H T Brigham will therefore be in a position to offer their customers a more comprehensive solution to their complete presswork requirements. From small, complex, high volume components to larger pressings produced from 3.5 x 300mm strip, H T Brigham plans to ultimately offer a ‘one stop shop’, reducing the need for customers to dual source.

Andrew Essom, Technical Sales Representative said, ‘We see this as a good opportunity for investment. There are enquiries and possible pressing orders for work for up to 300 tonne machines. Times may be hard, but we must be bold and seize this opportunity for expansion and growth. Similar companies may be falling by the wayside, but we plan to stand fast, because when the recession has eased, those who are left will be in a strong position to move forward.’

HT Brigham provides tailored metal presswork solutions to a diverse range of industry sectors worldwide. Specialising in the manufacture of small to medium sized metal pressings in high-volume, from materials including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium and brass, the focus is on using technical knowledge, skill base and expertise to manufacture bespoke pressed metal components to the highest standards and for the lowest possible cost.

H T Brigham, a presswork manufacturer based in Coleshill near Birmingham, had a new press delivered at the beginning of July; the roof of the factory literally had to be raised in order for the machine to be craned in.

The Fagor 250 tonne progression press comes equipped with a coil line allowing material feed up to 600mm wide and 4mm thick and a tool bed 1800mm x 1200mm. The new machine now gives HTB the capability to increase pressing and stamping manufacturing capacity for progression work from its previous 110t to 250t. This coupled with the company’s existing transfer capacity of up to 300t, will enable the manufacture of larger and heavier presswork, allowing diversification across all market sectors currently served, as well as the potential to enter new ones.

Barry Smith, Managing Director, said, ‘It was a bold decision to make a commitment to invest in this way at this time, but the new presswork orders and increased volume of enquiries which we have received of late, highlights that there is work to be won. With our newly increased capacity, we are now in a position to quote a broader selection of pressing, stamping and complex deep drawing work and offer the customer a more encompassing presswork solution’.

If you have any enquiries for components which you feel come within H T Brigham’s newly increased range, please don’t hesitate to contact Andrew Essom, Technical Sales Manager, to discuss your requirements further.

HT Brigham provides a diverse range of industry sectors, worldwide with bespoke presswork solutions. Specialising in the manufacture of small to medium sized metal stampings in high volume, from materials including stainless steel, aluminium and brass, the focus is on using their knowledge, skill base and expertise to produce stampings and pressings the highest standards and for the lowest possible cost.

HT Brigham, a presswork manufacturer based in Coleshill near Birmingham, is feeling positive at a time when there are industry wide concerns about the future of UK manufacturing.

In recent months H T Brigham & Company Limited, which supplies metal stamping based components primarily to the Automotive and Construction sectors, has seen a definite upturn on two fronts. Firstly, their existing overseas accounts, which make up around 45% of turnover, are increasing presswork orders due to a combination of competitive costing strategy, outstanding quality accreditations and the weakness of the pound.

Secondly, although the engineering company has been subjected to dramatic increases in the cost of raw stamping materials, fuel and associated costs, which has in turn forced them to reluctantly impose price increases of their own, this has also been suffered by their competitors both at home and abroad. Consequently, many UK manufacturers, including the current and potential presswork customers of the Birmingham firm, are no longer able to benefit from cost savings which sourcing from the Far East once offered. In a bid to cut logistic costs these companies are now seeking to bring presswork orders back to Great Britain.

This strategy is making component buyers sit up and request “benchmark” costings from UK based manufacturers, giving H T Brigham the opportunity to demonstrate their competitive edge. Indeed their stamping enquiry book has never looked so healthy and this puts them in a perfect position to capitalise on the business transfer from the Far East, securing future business thus increasing job security at a time when other industry sectors are floundering.

HT Brigham provides a diverse range of industry sectors, worldwide with bespoke presswork solutions. Specialising in the manufacture of small to medium sized metal stampings in high volume, from materials including stainless steel, aluminium and brass, the focus is on using their knowledge, skill base and expertise to manufacture each component to the highest standards and for the lowest possible cost.

It’s fair to say that the UK economy is going through a very troublesome period at present, which has had a massive impact on British manufacturing. Indeed H T Brigham, a Birmingham based metal pressing manufacturer, has seen numerous ‘competitors’ fall by the wayside, but the company is braving the storm and feels optimistic about brighter times ahead.

The impact of increases in the cost of raw presswork materials and other overheads across the globe has made sourcing from the East a less attractive option than it once was for many purchasers. Consequently, a shift of both manufacture and tool making supply now appears to be returning to the UK.

A flurry of benchmarking activity from British buyers, looking to assess whether sourcing presswork from the UK is now again a more viable option, has had a positive effect on the company’s sales enquiry book during what has been an extremely trying time for UK manufacturing.

The metal pressing company has been able to capitalise on these changing market forces by gearing its purchasing department towards proactively working to procure material at the most competitive prices possible.

In addition to this, nominated sub-contract toolmakers are now collaborating with the company more closely than ever, offering their innovative tool designs, which are enabling the presswork company to be increasingly competitive in its bids to secure new presswork business.

The cost of raw materials and transport are now slowly showing signs of reducing and H T Brigham is constantly striving to find better and more cost effective ways to lean manufacture.

Aided by the current exchange rate, H T Brigham is also seeing green shoots of opportunity within foreign markets and the company has just secured an order for 2 million automotive components from a brand new European customer, which is due to commence manufacture in the New Year.

The company’s sales forecast indicates that business will be picking up again by the end of the first quarter 2009, so currently it really does look like it’s a case of riding the storm. The firm optimistically looks forward to the New Year and with it, an upturn in existing schedules and the start of some lucrative new metal pressing contracts.

A West Midlands engineering company, that began life making car components in a garden shed in 1947 is forging ahead into new global presswork markets with Autozone’s assistance.

H T Brigham, which still trades under the name of its founder Hugh Terrance Brigham, has gained ten new metal stamping customers over the last 12 months and is looking forward to a boost in its annual turnover following re-branding. Commercial Sales Director Mike Pilkington is sure that the late Mr Brigham would be proud to see the business he began over 60 years ago now trading worldwide.

The presswork specialist has grown from a one-man band to a thriving business centrally situated in Coleshill, specialising in the manufacture of small to medium sized metal pressings in high volume from materials including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium and brass. They have diversified into producing stampings for the construction and gas appliance industries amongst others, and although business hasn’t always been easy to find, with the ongoing support from Accelerate, the business support agency for automotive component suppliers in the West Midlands, H T Brigham are successfully striving ahead in modern, demanding times.

Mr Pilkington said: “Accelerate introduced us to AutoZone – an initiative backed by funding from Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund which looks to match capacity in the region with opportunities across Europe – and, thanks to an £8,000 grant, we are able to promote our presswork expertise to a new global audience with better publicity, trade shows and trips overseas.”

HT Brigham provides a diverse range of industry sectors, worldwide with bespoke pressing, stamping and deep drawn solutions. Specialising in the manufacture of small to medium sized metal stampings in high volume, from materials including stainless steel, aluminium and brass, the focus is on using their knowledge, skill base and expertise to manufacture each pressing to the highest standards and for the lowest possible cost.