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28th January 2021
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Rehau introduces new production line to UK plant
As Brexit draws ever closer there is more and more focus on the British manufacturing industry. At Rehau's plant in Amlwch they know how important the manufacturing trade is and the firm has recently introduced a new production line to the factory.
The move sees the production line for polypropylene edgeband material moved from a Rehau plant in Germany to the Welsh plant - something that was co-ordinated and carried out by the UK team itself.
The team was already producing PVC and ABS edgeband at Amlwch, but it was the first time it had manufactured the polypropylene edgebanding. And since the production line in Germany was providing to the UK market, Rehau felt it was a great time to upskill the team in Amlwch and move the production to the British plant. This has the additional benefit of reducing lead times for customers receiving the product.
Daniel Jones, plant manager in Amlwch, shares how it all came about.
"Since we already manufacture ABS and PVC edgeband at the factory here in Amlwch, adding PP to our area of expertise was a natural progression. It's always great to be able to offer our customers new products and services.
"The move started last year when members of the team spent some months in Germany learning how to manufacture the new product. It was great for them as they got to experience life in a new culture for a short time.
"Once the team was complete again, along with the support from some of our German colleagues, we worked together to transport the production line - all 60 meters of it - here to Wales.
"We then reconstructed the line and were able to start producing in February this year (2018). It's great to be able to supply direct to the UK and the team enjoyed learning a new skill."
And it all came at quite a busy time for the team.
Daniel adds: "The factory was going through some big changes at the time, we were getting a new roof, a new PVC silo delivered and installed all whilst the manager was placed on secondment to Thailand part way through the project.
"But we work very well together and the team have many years experience between us. Each person has an average of 15 years' experience - overall it totals to 1,548 years! It is something we're very proud of."
21st September 2018