Bott Ltd has invested 700k in a significant new plant to improve the efficiency and accuracy of its sheet metal processing and quality of its end products.

The new Salvagnini P4-2516 is a sophisticated machine tool which forms sheet metal used to process bott’s wide range of workshop and In-vehicle equipment.

Investment in the new plant has further enhanced the quality and durability of the bott product range.

An off-line terminal and universal tool set reduce setup times for individual programmes and this, combined with integration to bott’s CAD system, allows the company to minimise lead times for its bespoke products and prototypes.

The plant is part of bott’s lean manufacturing programme and the P4’s increased output will further improve bott’s current lean objective – to reduce downtime and improve delivery performance.   Other benefits include improved reaction time to customer demand, reduction in levels of ‘work in progress’, with more efficient working practices, therefore reducing non value adding activities that are part of the lean culture.

Andrew Poole, bott’s Engineering Manager, said: “This new plant represents a step-change in the early stages of the production process. That, in turn, improves the efficiency of our entire manufacturing process, enhancing the quality and service experienced by our customers. Approximately 60% of our products include sheet metal formed by this machine, so it is a fundamental part of our operations.”

With ISO9001 registered manufacturing facilities, dedicated logistics and a comprehensive network of regional dealers, bott’s new plant follows investment earlier this year in a more energy efficient paint line and is a reflection of their drive to combine quality and craftsmanship with modern technology.

The P4 is used to fabricate punched sheet metal into a range of high density drawer cabinets, versatile storage cupboards, workbenches, wall panel storage and tool display systems to aid efficiency in the working environment. While the P4’s machine’s core use is bending sheet steel, the  feeding system allows non-ferrous and highly perforated metals to be accurately and rapidly loaded and can accommodate punched sheet blanks up to 2500mm x 1500mm, allowing the production of bott’s largest 2000mm tall cupboard units. 

While bott’s standard product range is constructed of 1.5mm mild steel, the plant can bend mild steel up to 2.5mm thick for bespoke units and has been used for 1.2mm thick stainless steel for bespoke heat resistant worktops. Andrew continued: “We’ve been delighted to find a solution which provides benefits to bott and our customers in equal measure. We have long been renowned for tough, high quality durable workshop and storage solutions, and this investment is another step in our programme of continual improvement.” 

bott’s workplace and storage systems have been installed in a range of environments from the factory floor, to garages and workshops, museums, schools, archive storage and aerospace testing centres where they provide secure storage for expensive tools, a clean, tidy, professional appearance to the workplace environment with increased user  safety.