theLinkThe newsletter from the UK’s leading supplier of MRO products and services Issue 2 / 2014

In this issue

Page 02Make-A-Wish® charity bike ride

Page 03Boosting efficiency at Baileys

Welcome to the second edition of The Link for 2014. This issue focuses on some of the innovative ways in which we are taking our specialist health & safety product offering direct to customers across the UK.

You can also read more about how Brammer is giving something back to the communities it works in, through the fundraising efforts of our team and our sponsorship of staff undertaking personal charity challenges.

Finally, we feature further examples of how Brammer’s work is adding value to customers – this time for drinks manufacturer Diageo and for leading packaging manufacturer Seda.

Foreword

Ian Ritchie, Managing Director, Brammer and Buck & Hickman

Wowing the crowds at Hillhead

Brammer is ‘One to Watch’Best Companies has marked Brammer as ‘One to Watch’ in a survey contributing directly to The Sunday Times’ ‘Best 100 Companies to Work For in 2014’ list.

The survey poses questions to employees, which are graded against seven key working factors: management, leadership, the company, personal growth, the team, wellbeing and community engagement.

Ian Ritchie, Managing Director of Brammer and Buck & Hickman said: “We aim to provide a rewarding place to work – it’s really gratifying that our workforce recognises that.”

In June, Brammer once again sponsored Hillhead, the world’s largest working quarry trade exhibition held at Lafarge Tarmac’s quarry near Buxton, Derbyshire. Brammer sponsored the onsite Hillhead café and car park, as well as the shuttle buses carrying visitors to and from the event.

Aggregate operators and other users of heavy plant equipment from all over the world were

welcomed to Hillhead to see the latest plant equipment and materials.

Brammer demonstrated its industry experience through the Mobile Centre of Excellence, featuring hands-on product displays and

demonstrations from Brammer’s world-class supplier partners, as well as interactive demonstration rigs, exhibiting technological innovation and Brammer’s specialist expertise within key product application areas. Also on display was the Invend™ demonstration vehicle, allowing visitors to see industrial vending ‘first hand’ and speak to Brammer specialists on the topic of inventory management.

02

Latest news

Convoy travels to NorthumberlandIn May, Brammer’s Mobile Centre of Excellence travelled in convoy with the Health & Safety Mobile Centre of Excellence and specialist tools demonstration vehicles to Morpeth in Northumberland. Visiting Piramal Pharmaceutical Solutions, this was the first time all the vehicles were in the same place together.

Piramal, specialists in healthcare, drug discovery and research, requested the visit to allow its on-site teams to discover for themselves what Brammer has to offer and to help its preventative maintenance planning and processes.

Brammer Regional Sales Manager Sally Cooper has completed the London to Paris Bike Ride to raise money for a variety of charities, including Cancer Research UK, Anna’s Hope and Make-A-Wish® Foundation UK, for which Brammer has raised more than £120,000 since 2007.

Sally said: “I really was overwhelmed by the support that I received for the cycling challenge as well as my charity cake sales. I’ve managed to raise more than £600 so far, which is fantastic.”

Meanwhile, European Invend™ Data Manager, Scott Dugdale, and the rest of the 15-man ‘Team Saddle Bags’, cycled from Manchester to Chester in aid of KidsCan.

Raising more than £2,000 for the children’s cancer research charity, Scott made the 53-mile journey in June and his training, which consisted of jogging and cycling in his free time, definitely paid off.

Brammer and Buck & Hickman provided sponsored t-shirts to Scott and would like to congratulate the team on their efforts.

WaterAid donationWorld Water Day is an international day of action to draw attention to the challenge of more than 750 million people around the world living without safe drinking water, and highlight the interdependence of water and energy.

A key Brammer customer, Scottish Water, has worked with charity WaterAid Scotland for more than 10 years and selected World Water Day as an ideal opportunity to raise funds for WaterAid Scotland, holding a series of fundraising activities including charity bake sales, competitions and a large raffle. Brammer offered Scottish Water its support and was pleased to contribute Love2Shop vouchers as a raffle prize for this extremely worthy cause.

Sally Cooper, Regional Sales Manager, Brammer

Charity ambassadors saddle up for Make-A-Wish®

Brammer and Buck & Hickman have shown their support to members of staff taking part in charity cycling challenges across the country, and further afield.

Appetising cakes at the charity bake sale

“Supporting both our staff, and also our partners, in raising funds for worthwhile causes is important to Brammer and Buck & Hickman. We are delighted that our contributions have helped.”Kevin Lacey, Marketing and Growth Director for Brammer and Buck & Hickman

Latest news03

Brammer’s Italian jobA key Brammer customer has praised the company after it scooped a major international trade award.

Italian-owned packaging company Seda International received the UK-Italy Award for Industrial Investment, part of a British Government scheme, at a ceremony in Milan. Seda also announced an £18m investment into the expansion of its UK facility at Blackwood in Gwent and the introduction of new machinery, and was quick to confirm Brammer’s role in helping to achieve the accolade.

Luigi D’Ambrosio, Seda UK Purchasing Manager, commented: “Brammer has contributed significantly to bringing us to where we are now. Brammer’s success has effectively influenced our success.”

Prior to Brammer being awarded the MRO contract, maintenance at the Dublin facility was on a purely reactive basis. In terms of spare parts, a member of staff would go to the stores and, if the part was not in stock, would leave site to collect it.

With a view to becoming a world-class manufacturing site, Baileys enlisted Brammer’s support. This meant moving away from multiple suppliers and in less than six months the benefits of working with Brammer were clear to everyone. In addition to providing parts to Baileys, Brammer offers value-added services including an industry expert visiting each month to talk staff through the latest innovations and discuss implementing more sustainable solutions to problems.

All production-critical parts are now held in stores, with an automatic re-order system in place. Through removing dead stock identified by Brammer, Baileys reduced cash tied up in product by 20 per cent. Brammer also introduced an OEM part substitution scheme, delivering cost savings by sourcing parts direct rather than via an OEM as had been the case previously.

The results impressed Chris Byrne, Engineering Maintenance Manager for Diageo Baileys, who commented: “After one year, cost savings were at 16 per cent, but the additional benefits of Brammer’s expertise have made the biggest impression.”

Delivering cost savings at Baileys

Brammer’s Tanya Bell with Luigi D’Ambrosio of Seda UK

Baileys, a key brand of Diageo serving more than 50 million customers, was using multiple MRO suppliers and struggling to control its maintenance costs. However, by working with Brammer, Baileys is now working more efficiently and is sourcing the most cost-effective products for its needs without compromising on quality or performance.

The big topic

Specialist team creates additional support for customersBrammer and Buck & Hickman have strengthened their health & safety offering with the creation of their new PPE & Safety Products Technical Specialists team.

Headed by Mark Howarth, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the field of safety products and industrial consumables, the team covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

It comprises more than a dozen members whose combined depth and breadth of experience and knowledge will differentiate Brammer and Buck & Hickman from its competitors. The aim is to bridge the gap between customers and suppliers, bringing them closer to the solutions and adding value to customer relationships.

Helping customers ensure the correct safety or PPE product is chosen for its purpose, the team includes members who have both safety and customer service experience, ideally positioning them to provide consultative advice.

Mark Howarth will be taking the role of Technical Team Leader: Health, Safety & Welfare, and is tasked with developing a

Mark Howarth, Technical Team Leader

strong and knowledgeable team that can act as an additional resource to customers.

Mark Howarth said: “Beginning my career in safety products as a management trainee, I have more than two decades of experience in both manufacturing and distribution working for both large global organisations and smaller regional independents, and most points in-between.

“My vision is to develop a team that, through its diverse knowledge and experience, can deliver real value to both internal and external customers.

“Our approach is as much about ensuring compliance through the correct selection of PPE, and the documentation of this process, as it is about ensuring the customer is kept fully aware of all the factors which may impact on the sustainability and suitability of their selections.

“We regularly work with product management, branches and the key

accounts team to identify, develop and transition business across from our competition as well as being instrumental in product rationalisation work.”

Ian Ritchie, Managing Director of Brammer and Buck & Hickman, commented: “Our new PPE & Safety Products Technical Specialists team is a further investment to add value to our customers, and we are very pleased to have them on board.”

Customers commend Brammer and Buck & Hickman

Brammer and Buck & Hickman were presented with a commendation at the BSIF Awards held in June, part of the Safety & Health Expo at Excel in London. The Service Award was open to companies in the safety field offering exceptional and innovative service solutions, and was voted for by Brammer and Buck & Hickman’s own customers to give a true reflection of their views on the service they receive from the two companies.

Nadine Sherwood, PPE Product Manager at Brammer and Buck & Hickman, said: “We were delighted to be given the ‘Commended’ award in the service category at the BSIF Awards. We are always pleased to be presented with an award, but when the feedback comes directly from our customers, and shows how positively they feel towards Brammer and Buck & Hickman, it shows that we are definitely doing the right things when it comes to our customer service.”

Nadine Sherwood at the BSIF Awards Ceremony

The big topic

Taking the safety message nationwideEnsuring the health & safety of workforces remains a key priority for customers of both Brammer and Buck & Hickman. In this issue we explore some of the innovative ways in which we are working more closely with customers to help them drive towards best practice in this area.

The Health & Safety Mobile Centre of Excellence is a custom-built education and awareness training vehicle containing interactive demonstration rigs for a range of personal protective equipment (PPE), site safety and janitorial products.

Housing displays from world-leading supply partners including Ansell, BM Polyco, Bolle, Deb, Honeywell, Kimberly Clark, V12, Brad and Globus, it opens out into a 20m² exhibition area capable of accommodating up to 20 visitors at a time.

The Health & Safety Mobile Centre of Excellence is touring customer facilities

and trade exhibitions nationwide, offering a vital resource and knowledge base for health & safety managers who may be unable to leave site. Independent advice on specification, usage and compliance with current and forthcoming legislation will be provided by the companies’ dedicated team of health & safety professionals to help visitors optimise their choices for the working environment and the wellbeing of staff.

The vehicle was recently taken to the annual Factory Health and Maintenance Conference, held at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon on 5th June – an event focusing on the role of effective maintenance in improving productivity, safety and quality.

Going mobileThe very latest innovations in industrial health & safety equipment are being taken direct to customers across the UK in Brammer and Buck & Hickman’s new Health & Safety Mobile Centre of Excellence.

Ian Ritchie, Managing Director of Brammer and Buck & Hickman, explained: “We believe the Health & Safety Mobile Centre of Excellence is the only mobile demonstration facility of its kind in the UK dedicated to health & safety equipment.

“With information and the latest advancements in PPE technology to see, handle and try out, visitors will be able to make more informed decisions in PPE selection, while gaining a far superior understanding of how Brammer and Buck & Hickman can help them reduce working capital and boost productivity, without compromising the health and safety of employees.”

Latest news03

Based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Voestalpine Rotec is a major manufacturer of suspension components, chassis parts, steering columns, instrument panel beams and body in white assemblies, which are supplied to major automotive manufacturers including BMW, Nissan, Renault, Honda and Jaguar Land Rover.

The company was using multiple suppliers for tools and safety products, with usage levels of certain lines very high. For example, up to 30,000 pairs of disposable, general purpose cotton chrome gloves were being used annually – 20 pairs a day in some sections – as a new pair was taken every time an operative started a new task, or left the production area.

Keen to minimise wasteful usage alongside a drive towards best practice in the use of the best possible glove solution for

each individual task, the company called in the local Buck & Hickman team to assess the situation. Buck & Hickman researched possible solutions from several glove suppliers, recommending Globus specialist heat-resistant, cut-resistant and oil-resistant products. Glove usage has now reduced drastically, with a projected 20 per cent annual cost saving.

A similar exercise has seen the choice of workboots reduced to a set range, all tried and tested by the team for comfort and suitability, reducing stockholding and working capital.

Voestalpine Rotec’s Tim Dawkins explained: “Buck & Hickman found an ideal solution whereby specialist gloves were adopted for certain tasks with disposable gloves retained for anything else. A single pair of the new specialist gloves can last two weeks before needing

Driving the cost down with Buck & HickmanLeading automotive component supplier Voestalpine Rotec is enjoying cost and operational benefits thanks to a tailored vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programme for a range of tools, workwear, safety products and other consumables from Buck & Hickman.

replacement, meaning we don’t need to hold so much stock.

“We actually looked at a number of solutions for management of this area of inventory. One supplier made suggestions that were overly complicated for what we needed. Buck & Hickman has delivered the ideal solution, providing ready access for those who need the products while cutting down on in-house ordering and invoice processing.”

Gloves are just one of several hundred stock lines managed through the VMI system. The factory houses six ‘cribs’ handling products from ear protection to hacksaw blades, with access restricted to minimise wasteful or ’rogue’ usage. The Buck & Hickman team visits twice weekly to assess stock levels, bringing replenishments on the next visit, saving ordering and management time.

02

Latest news

Supporting the customers of the futureBuck & Hickman’s Mobile Centre of Excellence, launched earlier this year, continues to travel the length and breadth of the country to showcase the company’s extensive expertise.

Many visits are to colleges, confirming Buck & Hickman’s support for the expert tradespeople of the future.

The vehicle visited TyneMet College’s new construction training facility at Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where the team demonstrated the latest tools and equipment to construction students, and provided tips and guidance on using personal protective equipment and key safety products.

Dave Melville, Area Sales Manager at Buck & Hickman, commented: “The students were really receptive to the technology demonstrations and safety guidance provided by the team. It is vital that tomorrow’s tradespeople have a real understanding of the importance of health & safety both now in their training, as well as in their future roles.”

Bucks United wins ‘World Cup’Bucks United has won the Brammer Group World Cup after playing its way through the UK Football Championships and then the European Championships in Germany in June.

Hailing from the North East of England and the Midlands, Bucks United were crowned victors at the UK Football Championships, held at the Goals Soccer Centre in Wolverhampton. A total of 110 players participated on the day, travelling from all over the UK. They defeated West 2 Energy 4-0, going on to the Brammer Group European Football Championships, held in Stuttgart.

Bucks United fought through to the final and once again met West 2 Energy in a game that saw Bucks United win 3-1 and be crowned overall champions. More than £200 was raised for chosen charity partner, Make-A-Wish® Foundation, which was doubled by Brammer Group.

Congratulations to Bucks United and everyone involved.

Stuck in the mudSix colleagues at Buck & Hickman participated in the Pretty Muddy® 2014 event for Cancer Research UK.

Raising a total of £345, the ladies battled through the mud at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, on Saturday 28th June facing obstacles including crawling through pipes and hurdling over hay.

Pretty Muddy is a 5km muddy obstacle course where women come together to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Among the participants was Lisa Kirby, Marketing Services Manager at Buck & Hickman, who said: “I’m delighted I could take part in the Pretty Muddy run.

“The course was quite daunting but we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Cancer affects so many people so we were pleased to be contributing to research that could help with the treatment of the disease. Our co-workers have been really supportive of us as we worked to raise as much money as possible.”

Students at TyneMet College visit the Mobile Centre of Excellence

Getting ‘stuck in’ – the Buck & Hickman team

The victorious Bucks United line-up

The Mobile Centre of Excellence also travelled to the capital, with partners Facom, Saint-Gobain and Honeywell, to visit the College of North West London.

Popular with the engineering students in particular, the vehicle welcomed more than 300 visitors over the two days.

theLinkThe newsletter from the tools, maintenance and health & safety specialists Issue 2 / 2014

Backing Britain’s best Buck & Hickman has joined forces with Brammer to support the prestigious 2014 Best Factory Awards, hosted by Works Management magazine.

Buck & Hickman will sponsor the Supply Chain Award and Brammer the Most Improved Plant Award.

Ian Ritchie, Managing Director of Brammer and Buck & Hickman, commented: “These awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in terms of operational excellence in manufacturing and we are proud and delighted to be associated with the scheme.”

Winners will be revealed at a gala lunch in London on September 26th.

Specialist tools demonstration vehicles go nationwideThe latest specialist tool innovations are being brought direct to users nationwide thanks to a major investment by Buck & Hickman and Brammer.

Welcome to the second edition of The Link for 2014. This issue focuses on some of the innovative ways in which we are taking our specialist health & safety product offering direct to customers across the UK.

Health & safety remains of vital importance and as well as featuring new ways in which customers can access our offering, we showcase a great example of how we are optimising safety and reducing costs for a major automotive component manufacturer.

We are always aiming to get closer to our customers and you can read about how we are doing that through the sponsorship of major awards and new demonstration vehicles.

Foreword

The fleet of specialist tools demonstration vehicles showcase an extensive range from leading manufacturers, as well as the exclusive Roebuck brand.

Featuring hand tools, power tools, air tools, precision and measuring equipment as well as torque and calibration

equipment, the rear of each vehicle opens out into a display area with trolleys containing products for customers to inspect, handle and experience.

Each vehicle is staffed by a tools expert delivering independent advice on product selection and optimisation.

Book a visit today on 08450 510 150.

In this issue

Page 02Supporting the customers of the future

Page 03Component supplier motoring ahead

Ian Ritchie, Managing Director, Brammer and Buck & Hickman