Fletcher Moorland News

Fletcher MoorlandnewsK E E P I N G I N D U S T R Y R U N N I N G

www.fletchermoorland.co.uk

Night owls keeprepairs flying outaround the clock

PAGES 10&11

TRAINING ENGINEERSFOR THE FUTURE

PAGE 15

ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICSWITH PINPOINT ACCURACY

PAGE 7

Issue 1

An emergency serviceready to respond 24/7

AT Fletcher Moorland we think of ourselves as

an “accident and emergency” service for

industrial electric motors, pumps, gearboxes,

printed circuit boards, inverter drives and servo

motors. Just like a hospital casualty unit, we are ready

to respond 24 hours a day – 365 days a year.

Whatever the time – day or night – our customers

know they can turn to us to get their equipment

fixed as quickly as possible.

Our vast range of engineering skills and disciplines

gives us confidence that we can sort out almost any

machine breakdown – from the first control system

to the last mechanical movement. Our first task is to

find out what has gone wrong and then to tell the

customer how long it will take to repair so they can

plan around any downtime.

We put great store by keeping our customers

informed – it is an important part of our service

because it is vital to factory maintenance managers.

Sometimes a repair can be done in hours and more

extensive work can take days – but we always aim to

keep our turnaround time to a minimum.

However, speed is only part of the equation.

We make sure the repair is done to the highest

standards – so the equipment is as good, if not

better, than when it was new. This is achieved by a

mixture of engineering best practice, using top

quality parts and providing industry-leading

guarantees.

To continue the health analogy, we like to take an

holistic approach to factory equipment maintenance.

It is not just a case of responding to a breakdown –

we look at the bigger picture to make engineering

adjustments and take preventative measures which

will reduce the number of breakdowns. That cuts

downtime and saves our customers money.

We even have a fleet of vehicles ready to go out to

factories to collect and bring back the problem parts

to our workshops in the heart of the UK at

Stoke-on-Trent. This fleet is backed up by a network

of couriers throughout the country and Europe to

ensure that, when urgency is of the essence,

transporting the equipment is not an obstacle.

On a personal note, I am proud to say I have

worked at every level at Fletcher Moorland. (I started

at the aged of nine when my father gave me a

Saturday job sweeping the factory floor!) So I know

at first hand the professionalism and expertise we

have throughout the company. They are very healthy

attributes – and ones which enable us to take good

care of our customers.

Fletcher Moorland news2

By Matt FletcherMANAGING DIRECTOR

Fletcher Moorland 24 hours a day hotline – 01782 411021

Managing Director Matt Fletcher

Fletcher Moorland news 3www.fletchermoorland.co.uk

DIANE Mansell entered the male-dominated world of engineeringafter 17 years in the food manufacturing industry and soonfound that the change in career was to her taste.

The Operations Director is responsible for the day-to-day

running of just about every aspect of Fletcher Moorland’s

operation, making sure it runs smoothly, efficiently and meets

the needs of customers.

During the six years in her present role, Diane has seen

the specialist company expand dramatically, winning

new overseas business in Europe which now

accounts for 20 per cent of Fletcher Moorland’s

client base.

Diane was Production Manager for a reputable

ice cream company in Telford then HR Manager

for another food production firm in

Skelmersdale. Personal reasons brought her

back to her home city of Stoke-on-Trent 13

years ago.

She joined Fletcher Moorland as Logistics

Controller, then for a spell was PA to the then

Managing Director before becoming General

Manager. She was promoted to her present

senior management role six years ago.

Diane’s wide remit involves sales and sales

forecasting, customer account management,

production planning, human resources, logistics

and financial accounting. In fact on a day-to-day

basis she closely monitors each job, working with

the departmental managers from initial inquiry

to completion.

She also has ultimate responsibility for seeing that

Fletcher Moorland’s fleet of six vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes

and the company’s network of couriers throughout the UK

meet the aim of collecting faulty equipment from a customer

within 24 hours of their initial call.

It’s this attention to detail and

customer service, together with effective

networking and marketing that has

helped Fletcher Moorland develop its

business across the Channel in France,

Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and

Luxembourg.

Diane said:“I joined Fletcher Moorland

with a background in production and

human resource and I feel that I have

been given a great opportunity to

use my past experience to benefit

the company. I’m passionate about

all aspects of our operation but in

particular I get a huge sense of

personal achievement when

involved in sales and HR.”

Passionate about running anEFFICIENT OPERATION

I joined Fletcher Moorlandwith a background in productionand human resource and I feel that I have been given a greatopportunity to use my pastexperience to benefit the company.

“”

Operations DIrector Diane Mansell ather desk at Fletcher Moorland.

Fletcher Moorland news4Fletcher Moorland 24 hours a day hotline – 01782 411021

CUSTOMERS know they can

count on Dave Daly when it

comes to avoiding those

annoying and costly breakdowns –

for he is Fletcher Moorland’s very

own Mr Reliability.

With 40 years of experience in

the engineering industry, Dave has

the know-how to identify potential

problems as well as recurring faults

– and to come up with an effective

solution.

The Reliability Engineer drives

30,000 miles a year visiting almost

20 sites throughout the UK in a

trouble-shooting role that is

making life easier for a wide range

of customers including a major

food processing company, a

chemical plant and a cling film

manufacturer.

Even fun seekers at Britain’s

biggest seaside resort have Dave to

thank for the time he was called in

by Blackpool Pleasure Beach to look

at a troublesome piece of

equipment that kept bringing one

of the favourite rides to a halt.

He found that water was seeping

into an underwater gearbox unit of

the famous Valhalla water ride

causing it to fail, and recommended

the use of a silicon compound that

proved to be an effective

watertight seal.

Dave said of his role:“I have to

have a crystal ball and identify what

might go wrong for the customer.

“I look at areas such as motors,

gearboxes, fans, pumps and

electronics to help customers

avoid problems happening in the

first place.

“I also help customers

experiencing repeated problems

with equipment to pinpoint the

root cause and prevent it from

happening again. A lot of advice I

give is just commonsense – like

using the correct type of lubrication

or cleaning fan blades regularly so

they maintain a perfect balance.”

Dave added:“I see myself as an

ambassador for Fletcher Moorland

as I visit customers to work with

shop floor engineers and senior

management.”

CUSTOMERS CAN COUNT ON

MR RELIABILITY

I have to have acrystal ball andidentify what mightgo wrong for thecustomer. I look atareas such asmotors, gearboxes,fans, pumps andelectronics to helpcustomers avoidproblems happeningin the first place.

“”

Reliability EngineerDave Daly takes aclose look at amotor in for repair.


IN a specialist industry that seesmany companies come and go,Fletcher Moorland Limited has

stood the test of time. It is more than66 years since Sam Fletcher –grandfather of current ManagingDirector Matt Fletcher – formedElectrical Rewinds & Supplies to begina business that over the decades wasto develop into one of the UK’s leadingplayers in electro-mechanical andelectronics repair and maintenance.

Hard work and innovation helped toearn the company a national andinternational reputation for quality andreliability – attributes that today arestill very much part of the FletcherMoorland DNA.“We won our spurs thehard way,” said Malcolm Fletcher,former Chairman and ManagingDirector, who is still a working director.

“Having a ‘can do’ attitude is centralto our business philosophy. We lookafter our customers and make sure werespond when they need us. That iswhy we provide a round-the-clockservice 365 days a year which is a bigand expensive commitment ofresource – but one which we believe isworthwhile and is appreciated by ourcustomers.

“Always being available is only partof the story. We have also consistentlydelivered a top quality and reliableservice which has required

engineering innovation. This has givenus a competitive edge and providesour customers with the added valuethey are looking for.”

Malcolm points to the continualinvestment over the years in the latestequipment and technology and also, inwhat is perhaps the company’s mostvaluable asset – its highly skilledworkforce.

“Our specialist expertise in electro-mechanical and electronic engineeringhas been developed over decades butparticularly over the past five years,”he said.

“We have focused on repair andremanufacture and in this field wehave engineers who are among thebest in the world.”

As the company continues toexpand and develop new markets forits services, Malcolm looks to a brightfuture for Fletcher Moorland – basedon the same sound business culturethat has stood it in good stead for somany years.

He added:“We never rest on ourlaurels – we have to keep adapting,investing and improving to stay at theforefront of our industry. Thatinnovation is vital as we go forward.”

Hard work and innovationhas earned company aNATIONAL REPUTATION

We look after our customersand make sure we respondwhen they need us.

“”

DIrector and formerChairman Malcolm Fletcher.Inset left, the companyfounder Sam Fletcher.

IF you compare a standard electric motor to a

typical family saloon, then a servo motor has

to be on a par with a cutting edge Formula 1

racing car.

They are highly sophisticated pieces of

equipment that power complex machines – such

as automated robots or computer numerically

controlled (CNC) machines… and it’s in this area

of engineering where Fletcher Moorland’s

specialist expertise really excels.

For more than 20 years the company has run a

dedicated servo motor workshop and the

six-strong team now repairs more than 1,000

units a year from the UK, Europe and USA.

The burgeoning division works with high

calibre customers such as Toyota, Nissan and

Rolls Royce, and is recognised as confidential

repairer to a number of major original

equipment manufacturers.

Alan Palmer, who manages the workshop,

delivers specialist on-the-job training to his

team members who learn their skills as their

careers progress.

He said:“We repair and maintain the full range

of servo motors. The work can vary from simple

jobs such as changing the bearings to the

complex set up procedures of modern

programmable encoders.

“Training is on the job because it is so

specialised that college courses can’t teach it.

It means our team have a wealth of skills that

companies need to turn to and rely on.”

A huge factor in Fletcher Moorland’s success

has been continual investment in the servo

motor department.

In 2007, £250,000 was pumped into new

equipment, workshops and development at the

company, which included a complete

refurbishment of the servo motor workshop and

new servo test equipment development.

Alan added:“New servo motors are being

developed all the time and are getting more

sophisticated. This is why we have to keep up by

having the latest equipment and software to

repair them.

“For instance, we have invested

considerably in a new encoder

programming kit but we will

continually have to upgrade it so

we stay at the cutting edge of

the industry.”


The Formula1of electricmotors

Servo Motors Manager Alan Palmer,right, and Engineer Adrian Chuter

repairing a servo motor.

PINP INTPI

NP

INT


THE Drives and Controls department at

Fletcher Moorland works round the

clock to ensure that disruption is kept

to a minimum for customers when a vital

piece of equipment needs to be repaired.

A team of engineers operate three shifts

over 24 hours to work on printed circuit

boards (PCBs) and complete drive units to

locate faults and rectify them as part of a fast

and reliable service.

The last 12 months has seen a record

investment by the company in electronic

drives and controls equipment – including

the cutting edge Pinpoint technology, a

£50,000 electronics diagnostic machine that

brings together a number of testing

procedures in a single piece of equipment.

This gives the ability to diagnose faults on the

most complex, modern PCBs.

Along with 25 years of experience in the

repair and testing of PCBs, Fletcher Moorland

has established its own in-house Research

and Development centre that constantly

reviews testing methods and equipment.

Drives and controls engineers are trained

to the highest industry standard of IPC

7711/21 in the rework and repair of electronic

assemblies.

Technical Director Geoff Rigby, who has 20

years’ experience with Fletcher Moorland,

said: “Our drives and controls team closely

follow advances in the electronics industry in

order to ensure our service is second to none.

“This industry does not stand still and we

have to keep up with each new

development.”

Electronicstroubleshootingwith

ACCURACY

Our Drives andControls teamclosely followadvances in theelectronics industryin order to ensureour service issecond to none.

GEOFF RIGBYTECHNICAL DIRECTOR

“”

Technical DirectorGeoff Rigby, below,works on a circuitboard using thePinpoint IIRdiagnostic machine.


FLETCHER Moorland Ltd was able to deliver

some good news to the company that

prints North Staffordshire’s daily paper

The Sentinel.The two presses at the Etruria,

Stoke-on-Trent publishing centre will continue

to roll for many years to come, thanks to a

carefully planned programme of refurbishment

for the large specialist servo motors that are a

vital component of the printing process.

One of the presses is powered by 17

Indramat motors while 34 more are used on

the other press and until two years ago the

motors were serviced by the manufacturer.

However The Sentinel were told by the

manufacturer that the motors had exceeded

their normal operational life – substantially

increasing the cost of repairs and servicing.

That’s when Technical Manager Jeff Hilditch

contacted Fletcher Moorland’s Managing

Director Matt Fletcher and found a very local

solution to their problem.

Fletcher Moorland drew up a plan to

completely re-build all the motors at a fraction

of what it would have cost to purchase new

ones. The components are being refurbished

one at a time and it takes around two weeks to

restore each one to mint condition.

Meanwhile The Sentinel keep a number

of Indramat motors on stand-by in case of a

breakdown to ensure the presses – which

print up to 60,000 copies of The Sentinel a

day five days a week and 300,000 copies of

The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday seven

nights a week – are not interrupted by servo

motor failure.

Jeff said: “We have embarked on a long

term project of motor refurbishment which

will take about five years. Fletcher Moorland

came up with a rebuilding programme that

is extremely cost effective and meets our

needs perfectly.”

Fletcher Moorlandcame up with a rebuildingprogramme that isextremely costeffective and meetsour needs perfectly

JEFF HILDITCHTECHNICAL MANAGER

“”

Delivering

by helpingto keepPRESSESROLLING

GOODNEWS


FANUC Robotics is a world leader in

the production of industrial robots

and robotic automated systems –

and a number of their European

customers entrust Fletcher Moorland

with the repair and servicing of the servo

motors that drive their robotic assembly

and production lines.

With 240,000 of their robot systems

installed worldwide,

Japanese-owned FANUC

supplies tailor-designed

products for the aerospace,

consumer goods, metal

fabrication, medical,

pharmaceutical, solar panel

and many other industries.

Their robots have payload

capabilities ranging from

0.5kg to 1,350kg, and the

company also designs and

manufactures simulation

packages, application

software, force sensing and

iRVision. FANUC produce their

own servo motors at their

in-house factory in Japan.

Among the customers of

Luxembourg based FANUC

Robotics Europe, who

regularly send their servo

motors to Fletcher Moorland from plants

all over Europe, are blue chip names such

as Coca Cola, Hoover, Opel and Suzuki.

All of them are industries where

continued production is a priority and

who therefore require a highly

dependable repair and maintenance

service to prevent any disruption to the

flow of the assembly process.

Andy Smith, FANUC’s General Manager

for European Customer Services, said:

“Feedback we have received from some

of our major customers about the repairs

undertaken by Fletcher Moorland

confirm the work they carry out has

consistently been of a high standard and

very satisfactory for the customers

involved.”

Repairing robot motorsTHROUGHOUT EUROPE

SELF-CONFESSED night owl KenMcCleaft is happy with his twilight roleat Fletcher Moorland where he is Night

Shift Site Manager.The post has been specifically designed to

meet the growing demand from industrial

customers for an overnight repair service in

order to keep their production rolling.

As a keen stargazer US-born Ken is used to

being wide awake when most people are asleep

– and back home in the States he often worked

late as a back stage and front of house volunteer

for a community theatre.

Now Ken leads the seven-strong Fletcher

Moorland team that works through the night

and usually comprises four engineers dealing

with electric motors, two on drives and controls

and one on logistics.

Ken was born in Long Island, New York, but his

work as a computer engineer, some of it for the

US military, took him to Los Angeles,

Memphis, Minneapolis, Virginia and

Maryland. Again, it was a job that

often kept nocturnal Ken

working late into the night.

Through a mutual friend

Ken came into contact with

Fletcher Moorland’s

Technical Director Geoff

Rigby, who shares the

American’s passion for

astronomy and amateur

radio, and in 2003 Ken

“crossed the pond” to join the

company in the Research and

Development department.

He said: “A lot of the work

we do at night are

repairs that

customers

have tried


NIGHT OWL KEN ANDHIS TEAM ENSURE REPAIRS FLY OUT

AROUNDTHECLOCK

Night Shift SiteManager KenMcCleaft readyfor another busyevening.

unsuccessfully to carry out themselves that day.

“We have the repaired unit back to them the

following day so production is not affected.

“Also in this period of downturn, customers are

opting to repair faulty equipment rather than

replace it and this also keeps the night team busy.”

Ken added:“I love living and working in this

country and I haven’t been back to the US since

arriving here nearly 10 years ago.”


MATT Sparks has the perfect name for a career in electrical

engineering and his current role is Electro-Mechanical

Workshop Manager. The 38-year-old, pictured left, took

charge of the department in January this year after

joining the company 13 years ago. Promotion followed as

he vowed not to remain static.

He now manages around 20 fitters, machinists and

winders working three different shifts to keep the

workshop operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

His highly skilled and experienced team use state-of-

the-art equipment as continued investment gives them

the machinery and equipment to keep them at the

forefront of the repair industry.

He said:“I get a real buzz out of working in an ever

changing industry. You never know what’s going to come

in from one day to the next.

“It can be very stressful but it’s massively rewarding

when we hit targets. Our engineers are vastly experienced,

flexible, hard working and always deliver.

“After 10 years on the shop floor, I’ve built a close bond

with the guys. I think we’re second to none as we push the

boat out – a real close team.”

Away from work, Matt enjoys football and golf and

spending quality time with his sons aged 10 and 13.

Meet Matt Sparks... he’s areal livewire!

Kenwith part

of the nightshift team

Night Shift LogisticsCo-ordinator Phil Sutchmonitors the company’svehicle tracking systemin order to direct thenearest vehicle to acustomer call out.

Fletcher Moorland 24 hours a day hotline – 01782 411021

BROTHERS Steve and Phil

Robson have always played for

the same sports teams – and

are still on the same side as they

work together at Fletcher Moorland.

Now in their 50s, they often find

themselves on neighbouring

benches in the Electro-Mechanical

Workshop where they both fulfil the

roles of fitters and site engineers.

Steve, 50, first joined up from

school in 1978 while Phil, aged 54,

arrived in 2007 after a career

elsewhere as a maintenance

engineer. Engineering is in

their blood.

“We loved Meccano when we were

kids and making model aeroplanes.

We used to play for the same

football teams and we’ve played

badminton and golf together all our

lives,” said Steve, who is married

with two children.

“I can’t remember us ever falling

out. We’re both quiet and down to

earth so we get on really well at

work.”

Phil said: “I just wanted a change

of scene and Steve fixed me up here.

It’s a little different from what I was

doing before so I asked him a lot of

questions in the early days. He’s

always dead helpful.

“I soon picked things up as the

whole team helped so everything is

fine now. I’ve really settled in.”

Engineering is inBROTHERS’ BLOOD

Fletcher Moorland news12

Steve Robson, right,and his brother Phil inthe Electro-MechanicalWorkshop.

www.fletchermoorland.co.ukFletcher Moorland news 13

WHEN it comes to winning new contracts and

keeping existing customers happy, former

ice cream factory worker Andy Mansell has

got it licked.

Customer Service and Sales Manager Andy, picturedright, leads a five-strong team who have a track record for

identifying potential new business and going the “extra

mile” for current clients.

Andy said: “When it comes to selling the company,

Fletcher Moorland’s reputation speaks for itself. We have a

very good name with our customers for going the extra

mile and receive a lot of referrals for work as a result of this.

“The team has an extensive current and potential

customer database and uses this to generate new leads.

“We tend to target large companies in areas such as the

automotive industry or food and drink manufacturers and

then meet face to face.

“The best way to sell our services is in person – it gives

them a feel for who they are doing business with and they

can also gauge that you are trustworthy and credible.”

Fletcher Moorland’s customers can be found throughout

the UK and Europe – and even in the United States and

Japan. Their enviable reputation is based on a combination

of an honest approach and a reputation for quality.

Andy added:“We’re always direct and honest and lay our

cards on the table from the off – it’s an approach

companies appreciate.

“They also know they can rely on our repair skills and

the high quality workmanship and parts we use. We are

always proactive. So if we are on site at a company we are

constantly testing their motors to ensure they are running

correctly. It saves the company a large repair bill and

unneeded downtime later.”

On a personal note, Andy has to be on his mettle in the

workplace… because his wife Diane is also Fletcher

Moorland’s Operations Director.

The couple met 22 years ago when they were both

working at an ice cream factory in Telford – and it’s fair to

say their hearts melted.

“She was the production manager and I was a machine

operator and, well, we simply fell in love,” he recalled.

“Several years later Diane came back to her native

Stoke-on-Trent to be Fletcher Moorland’s Logistic

Controller and I came with her and joined as a general

duties operative.”

He added:“We have our moments like any couple – but

at work it is purely professional and we have a great

working relationship.”

The best way to sell ourservices is in person – itgives them a feel for whothey are doing businesswith and they can alsogauge that you aretrustworthy and credible.

“”

ANDY MANSELL CUSTOMER SERVICE & SALES MANAGER


WHEN Richard Urwin disembarked from hiscareer with the Royal Navy he sailed straightinto a new job with Fletcher Moorland.

The former weapons engineer who served on board

HMS Gloucester swapped tours of duty on the seven seas

for a new life with the Servo Motor Division.

He has signed up as a trainee engineer and is learning

to repair some of the most sophisticated servo motors

being used in a wide range of industries.

Richard, 22, spent three years with the Royal Navy.

However, after a seven-month tour on board the Type

42 Destroyer in the South Atlantic – including patrols

around the Falkland Islands – he decided to drop

anchor back in the UK.

He said: “My girlfriend was back at home in

Stoke-on-Trent, and the more time I spent away

the more I missed her.

“I was interested in an engineering career in

civilian life and my uncle, Dave Urwin, who

used to work here, was quick with a

recommendation.

“He said that if I was looking to learn

my trade thoroughly there was no better

place than Fletcher Moorland.

“Training is on the job under very

experienced supervision and it is a

steep learning curve. It is constantly

challenging me and I am able to work

with some of the most complicated

precision motors.”

He added: “Both my uncle and my

cousin worked here for many years and I

can definitely see me following suit. I am

really glad I made the change of career.”

Royal Navy man sails intoa new career

My uncle said that ifI was looking tolearn my tradethoroughly therewas no better placethan FletcherMoorland.

“”

Richard Urwin with a batch of

Fanuc servo motors.


W INDER Mike Dukes has

just completed his

apprenticeship as

Fletcher Moorland continues to

invest in upskilling its staff to

provide the engineers it needs

for the future.

The 24-year-old already had a

National Diploma in Electronic

Engineering from Newcastle

College in his back pocket when

he was taken on as a trainee

apprentice winder in 2008.

Block release courses at

Loughborough College filled

in the gaps in his knowledge

while college assessors

continually checked that his

practical workplace skills were

up to scratch.

Mike said:“It’s what I’ve always

wanted to do so I’m chuffed.

I get a lot of satisfaction from

my job and at some point

would like to move on to a

supervisor’s role.”

His mentor over the five-year

apprenticeship was Dave Elks, 62,

the former Electro-Mechanical

Workshop Manager who is now

Engineering Manager.

He said:“He’s come

through well. He’s passed his

exams when some on the

course dropped out or failed

so that’s pleasing for us.

“There is a lack of young

engineers at the moment so we

need to train people up. I’d

encourage young people to

come to us.

“We have a terrific amount of

experience and the work is

varied as we service a vast array

of companies. I’d say we’re

second to none.”

Operations Director Diane

Mansell said: “It can be a

struggle to get young people

interested in engineering so we

offer flexible and practical

training. We also provide a best

practice workshop service to our

customers who often send us

their apprentices to

experience our workshops.”

“”

Engineering Manager Dave Elkspassing on advice to Winder Mike

Dukes about a repair to a threephase motor.

Below, Mike brazes a connection.

TRAINING ENGINEERSFOR THE FUTURE

DAVE ELKSENGINEERING MANAGER

We have a terrificamount ofexperience andthe work is variedas we service avast array ofcompanies.

Fletcher Moorland Ltd, Elenora Street, Stoke on Trent, ST4 1QG, UK

� Phone: 01782 411021 � Fax: 01782 744470� Web: www.fletchermoorland.co.uk

Drives Engineer Julian Coupe testing a Siemens servo drive. Servo Engineer Steve Robinson testing a Fanuc servo motor.

Fitter Kevin Bradshaw measuring a bearing housing using theco-ordinate measuring machine.

Fitter and Site Engineer Phil Robson testing the statorwindings of an electric motor.

Machinist Craig Dudley balancing a rotor. Night Shift Site Manager Ken McCleaft repairing a faulty Fanuc servo drive.

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