Electronics manufacturer PP Control & Automation (PP C&A) is celebrating the extension of a manufacturing outsourcing partnership.
Coating technology specialist P2i, which protects millions of electronic devices every year, is using Cheslyn Hay-based PP C&A to help it bring its new 18L machine to market, delivering a solution that applies the thinnest, most robust liquid protection possible to mobile phones, medical implants and automotive electronics.
The new system takes all the firm’s capabilities and condenses them into a smaller, standalone unit that is less than half the previous model’s footprint and can be used on any shopfloor in the world.
It took PP C&A just six months from the idea and machine design files being sent to producing the machine, which has already been sold to five customers across the world.
Phil Millard, Head of Engineering at Oxford-based P2i, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, said: “PP Control & Automation has been our manufacturing partner for more than half of our company life and its ‘DNA’ was embedded into our hugely successful existing machines. Getting them involved in our next generation 18L model at the earliest possible stage was the natural decision.
“It’s proven New Product Introduction (NPI) expertise was at the heart of the build, identifying a host of cost downs and build efficiencies and, importantly, assisting with the production engineering process.”
He continued: “Completing the first build in six months was some achievement. This incredibly quick turnaround was only made possible due to the entrenched relationship we share and the complete transparency we hold, where iterations are welcomed and acted upon to improve the process and the end-use application.”
Tony Hague, CEO at PP Control & Automation, added: “NPI is all about learning as you go and settling upon the best possible production method, driving out costs and identifying where we can speed up the build.
“Our partnership with P2i is a fantastic example of how strategic outsourcing should work. On the 18L, we have been able to eliminate 20 hours from the build process, whilst still delivering the performance and quality demanded by the client.
“To develop a high-tech machine in just six months is some achievement, but I believe we’ll be even quicker next time. We both view iterations as a great learning process and this approach has delivered some fantastic bottom-line benefits.”
P2i is expecting demand for these systems to outstrip earlier models and PP C&A has responded by building a dedicated cell capable of creating tens of units every week.
On this particular model, PP C&A has taken on more supply chain responsibility and is now offering ‘Factory Acceptance Tests’, meaning when machines head to Oxfordshire they have been tested and are working efficiently.
Martin Tolliday, Chief Operating Officer at P2i, said: “Our technology is our USP and, to get the most out of it, we leverage PP C&A’s 50 years+ of machine build expertise as our manufacturing partner. It is a vitally important relationship that is pivotal to us growing and taking advantage of new opportunities.
“The partnership is only going to get stronger. Whilst our 18L model is being rolled out, we are already working on the next generation of equipment that will provide the fastest and largest coating application capability we’ve ever produced.”
