Archive for the ‘Manufacturing in the UK’ Category

Expansion Continues for LCM Systems and Customers Benefit from Increased Product Ranges

A combination of customer demand for our ex-stock and customised load cell products and an increase in the number of the market areas served, has resulted in major investment here at our Isle of Wight HQ. Since the start of 2012, our manufacturing and storage facility has increased by 70%, providing an expansion of the testing facilities, as well as an increased area to hold next day delivery load cells and instrumentation. An increase in the workforce over coming months will further strengthen LCM Systems’ expansion plans.

We have seen a steady increase in demand for our customised load cells from a range of different market places, especially our heavy duty shackle load cells for the offshore oil and gas industry. The manufacture and testing of these large sensors require additional space and so we have expanded our facilities by purchasing the next door unit. Consequently, we are now able to handle an increase in orders and the extra space has also meant that we have substantially increased our storage facilities so customers can benefit from a larger range of products available to be dispatched ex-stock.

Do you Download 2D and 3D Drawings?

We are currently evaluating new software that will produce our engineering drawings in 3D. Would you find this useful if you could directly download 3D drawings of our load cells so they could be specified directly into your designs?

Is there More or Less Legislation?

It was way back in 2010 that I talked about the coalition’s plans to reduce red tape for small businesses, particularly in the manufacturing industry. Do any of you think that this has happened yet?

Once again, in the Queen’s Speech in May this year, the Coalition said that new legislation will “cut red tape”. There is a great summary at The Manufacturer journal about what this would mean for manufacturing. Can’t see anything in there about how the red tape will be cut – can you?

And, of course, there has been a lot in the news about the Beechcroft Report on no fault dismissals. Again, an informative piece from The Manufacturer, who spoke to people throughout the manufacturing industry about how they think this legislation would affect business.

I’d be really interested to know what legislation you would like to see relaxed as it really interferes with your day to day business.

Custom Designed Load Cell for Offshore Jacking System

The CPA Series of Compression load cells from LCM Systems are often the sensors of choice for companies constructing Centre of Gravity (CoG) systems. When a long standing customer approached the company for the standard load cells to be used as part of a large offshore jacking system, engineers at LCM suggested that a modified version would be more suitable as they were to be used with specified hydraulic cylinders. In fact, after further discussions the customer realised that LCM could supply a complete CoG system, together with customised PC software, saving them both time and money.

The engineers at LCM Systems were faced with another design challenge. Firstly, the load cells had to be compatible with a specific Enerpac cylinder and had to be easy to mount and dismount. Secondly, the load cap had to be versatile enough to self align a +/- 2 degree angular loading scenario, at the same time being restrained for safety. And last but not least, it was essential that the load cells were manufactured in stainless steel and environmentally protected to IP67 minimum while having an accuracy of less than +/- 0.25 per cent with full multi-point calibration and complete traceability.

Within only 6 weeks, the company took delivery of the complete system that comprised 30 load cells, completely constructed as specified and supplied calibrated, with a calibration certificate, traceable to UKAS. 17-4PH and 316 stainless steel were used to manufacture the fully welded load cells and the cover and mounting base respectively. For ease of mounting on the hydraulic cylinder, LCM Systems designed an integral connector for quick and easy commissioning and the load cap has a spring load retaining system for versatility and safety. Finally, with the installer in mind, carry handles were incorporated for safe and ergonomic transportation.

This special load cell design is a perfect example of how LCM Systems can adapt standard products to meet a customer’s exact requirements. Generally, this approach adds no extra cost or only a minimal extra cost to the standard load cell price, but quite often offers reductions in the client’s overall costs.

Full specifications and details are available on our website with an interactive 3D PDF model at http://tiny.cc/epwrbw

Smaller Isn’t Necessarily Cheaper ……

Is everything getting smaller, or is it just me?

At LCM Systems, we have seen an increase in the sales of our smaller and miniature products. Take a look at this example of one of our Custom Designs. Here, we were asked to design load cells that were required to be installed within a chain stopper on a oil service platform. These chain stopper load cells were to be designed as a retrofit solution, so we had a limited space available for the load cells. Our design engineers went to work on the project. Normally a compression load cell of this capacity would be at least 3-5 time higher to achieve what we would normally expect as a reasonable load cell accuracy. Fortunately, the accuracy requirements for this application were not quite as rigid as we would normally work to. Installed over 10 years ago, these small load cells are still working well.

We also have standard products such as our S-type load cells, that have been specifically designed to fit where space is at a premium. But it’s not always so easy to fit all the technology into such a small space. It requires meticulous attention to detail and first class engineering skills. It’s for this reason that we often have to charge a premium for many of our smaller products.

They may be small, they may be expensive but buy from LCM Systems and you can rest assured that they work!

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Want to pay by Credit Card, Should You Pay a Premium?

Well, it’s no problem when you order via the LCM Systems‘ website. Many companies now enable senior engineers and buyers to use credit cards to order products up to a certain limit. This works well for all parties involved. For our customers, it’s quick and convenient as there is no waiting around for Purchase Orders to be raised and the monthly statement provides details of the exact cost and confirms that the order has actually been placed and received. For us, it means that we have the money as a guarantee that the order will go ahead and, of course, it helps our cashflow, a real bonus when we have to invest in stock to manufacture our products.

But, should you pay a premium for using a credit card? At the end of June, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) here in the UK ordered travel companies to make all debit or credit card charges clear immediately. The story is on the BBC News website. It is argued that by adding these surcharges at the end of the buying process, makes it very difficult for customers to compare prices.

My thoughts are that ‘No’, our customers shouldn’t have to pay a premium for buying our products. Put like that, it sounds crazy, doesn’t it? So, it’s yet another reason to buy from us. If your company enables use of of credit cards for purchasing engineering supplies, then come over to LCM Systems and you won’t be paying any more.

Image: worradmu / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How Do You Decide Who To But Your Load Cells From?

I know this is a very difficult question to answer, but it is one I often find myself discussing both internally with people here at LCM Systems, my marketing people and friends down at the Golf Club. What makes people decide to buy? And in this case, I am talking about technical and engineering products.

Sometimes it’s obvious, the company you buy from is the only one that offers the exact product for your precise application. We often find this when engineers approach us for sophisticated and complex weighing systems, our design engineers are the only ones who truly understand what is required from the load cells and how they can seamlessly integrated to solve their application conundrums.

But what else drives people’s buying decisions? Of course, a product that is used in critical applications, particularly those with heath and safety implications need to be of the highest possible quality, otherwise lives could be at risk. I’ve written about this in a previous blog on LCM Systems’ Shackle load cells.

What about some of the intangibles? Is it important to you that our products are manufactured in the UK? Is delivery a key factor? What about price, is that the be all and end all of your search for load cells? With our internet sales growing year on year, I suppose it is also easy to forget that some people find that having a knowledgeable, helpful and friendly voice at the end of a phone to guide them through their buying decision is a major factor in deciding what company they buy from.

I’d love to hear from you. What is your Top 5 list of what influences your buying decision with respect to your engineering components? And most importantly, if you buy from LCM Systems, how do we rate?

Decisions, decisions

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So Where is Engineering’s Future

Following my last blog entry on women in engineering and listening to university after university announcing the maximum Â£9000 tuition fees, I wonder where the future of engineering lies.

The industry really needs to start encouraging more young people into this diverse and interesting profession. I was delighted to see that on the Isle of Wight GKN Aerospace has pledged that they would take on 11 new apprentices to add to the 27 already employed at its East Cowes site. i think that engineering really is a ‘hands-on’ profession and the idea that the young and talented will learn their skills in real-life situations contributing to the manufacturing output of the UK fills me with joy.

SO, do you think that the future of engineering is in more practical training rather than 3 years at University and massive debt?

Exciting Times as LCM Systems Expands

Well, we looked and looked for new premises here on the Isle of Wight but couldn’t find anything suitable for our exciting expansion plans. (I should have added this as one of the disadvantages to my last blog entry.)

However, we didn’t give up, looked at all the options and are now underway with extensive expansion plans to our existing factory so we can provide a comprehensive range of load cells ex-stock. This is a very exciting time for us as we know that many of our customers will benefit from faster, in many cases, next day delivery.

With clever project planning, we have also managed to minimize disruption to our manufacturing facilities. We aim to keep our production promises and most customers will not see any changes in their delivery schedules during the building work. Over here in the UK we are about to embark on our second 4-day weekend, thanks to the Royal wedding, so it will be a busy one for us as we move some our larger pieces of production equipment to their new homes.

Watch out for some photos – coming soon!

Working on the Wonderful Isle of Wight

I’ve spoken before about how great it is to work on the Isle of Wight. Some of the personal advantages include the short and picturesque commute to work, the golf courses (see my previous blog entry ) and exquisite restaurants. From a business point of view, the Isle of Wight is said to be the home of the foil strain gauge originating atÂ Saunders-Roe when the company’s Electronics Division was tasked with developing an alternative to the wire type strain gauge that was holding back development of new helicopter components and so with its history, there is a strong sense of pride and no shortage of skilled workers. We are also right on the doorstep of some of the most innovative and successful boat racing companies in the world and are lucky enough to be their suppliers.

Probably the major disdadvantage is that some courers see us as an offshore isalnd and we have to pay unacceptable surcharges. However, we try and source what we can from suppliers on the Island and we have built up an excellent network of suppliers and business contacts.

We are also members of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce and have just been featured in their monthly magazine Island Business. Unfortunately it’s not online at the moment, but here are some PDFs of our 3-page spectactacular

Archive for the ‘Manufacturing in the UK’ Category

Expansion Continues for LCM Systems and Customers Benefit from Increased Product Ranges

Do you Download 2D and 3D Drawings?

Is there More or Less Legislation?

Custom Designed Load Cell for Offshore Jacking System

Smaller Isn’t Necessarily Cheaper ……

Want to pay by Credit Card, Should You Pay a Premium?

How Do You Decide Who To But Your Load Cells From?

So Where is Engineering’s Future

Exciting Times as LCM Systems Expands

Working on the Wonderful Isle of Wight

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