NORTHERN PRECISION SELF-CLINCH FASTENERS GET LABELLING SPECIALIST OUT OF A FIX

When Codeology was established as a new company and co-directors Jim Mason and Grant Auton set about the development, design and construction of a prototype bar code labelling and ink jet coder, they knew exactly what they wanted to create: a market-leading, out-of-the-box, reliable machine that would exceed current ITIF14 and EAN 128 standards, be of predominantly aluminium and stainless steel construction for ruggedness, and incorporate the latest technology software and Ethernet connectivity – all for an unprecedented starting price of £12,500.

Proof that they got it right is the fact that 14 of the P Series outer case bar code labellers were installed within ten months of launch, to UK companies predominantly in the food industry, plus distributorships in Spain and Ireland were agreed, and others are currently being discussed.
For Jim Mason, an experienced electrical engineer and the man responsible for the design specification, heavy reliance was put on bought-in components and sub-contracted machined parts, including sheet metal casings, to enable Codeology’s small workforce to manufacture the units.

“But right from the start, when developing the prototype, we identified a possible major problem area,” he reflects, “and that was determining the best way to actually fasten together the sheet metal housings.”

He continues: “I admit I needed help in deciding the easiest, best and most cost-effective way to build the product, so I spoke to our supplier of laser cut sheet metal parts and it was recommended we contact Northern Precision,” the independent market-leading single-source supplier of fastenings as well as special-purpose turned and cold-formed parts.

“That was one of the most fruitful ‘phone calls I’ve ever made; the Doncaster-based Northern Precision team immediately understood my dilemmas and explained how to satisfy them with their wide range of standard self-clinch fasteners “Processing sheet material of 1.2 mm to 3 mm thick, we’re using around a dozen different sizes of M3 and M4 stainless steel self-clinch products from Northern Precision, and we frequently use the company’s comprehensive website and ongoing technical support resource [in particular the company’s mobile technical sales representative] as part of our continual improvement programme.

“A good example of this is when we developed the I Series ink jet printer; we simply followed Northern Precision’s recommendations regarding the appropriate fastening points and correct choice of fasteners. And while it may seem small fish, I like it that Northern Precision does not have a minimum order charge, unlike other suppliers of fasteners. “Put all these factors together, and it is no wonder that we source all our fasteners from Northern Precision.”

Explaining that, following field trials, the prototype labeller was refined and continues to be subjected to a programme of continual improvement – hence more Northern Precision fastenings have replaced welding in certain applications - Grant Auton says: “With a lot of experience in this marketplace, both Jim and I knew from the outset that we wanted a product that was durable, easy to set up and simple to use - and we have achieved this, thanks to the help of suppliers like Northern Precision.

“We wanted to steer away from the traditional build principles of mild steel components and powder coating paint finish, and use materials and construction methods that would result in equipment that would withstand the demands of today’s 24/7 manufacturing ethos yet also be cost-effective for users.

“The success of the product has really provided Codeology with the springboard for establishing us in a short space of time as a major player with a number of associated products (print software, large character ink jet printer and industrial computer system) for a wide range of applications from ready-meal production, pharmaceuticals, timber and wallpaper production through to flat-pack furniture – in fact, any industry that needs to bar code and label products.”

No price list, no hard sell, just applications Excellence - a day in the life of a Fastener Salesman

A reliable car, a fully-charged mobile phone and an up-to-date call sheet are indispensable tools of the trade for on-the-road sales. But for Steve Murray (pictured right), a technical sales representative for fastener specialist Northern Precision, the real key to his success is using his considerable product applications engineering expertise to understand and meet customers’ needs, as FAST/ISMR discovered when it spent a day with him motoring around Kent.

The first port of call was Dartford-based Detail Sheet Metal, the manufacturing arm of Kentec, a leading manufacturer of fire alarms that are sold the world over. Kentec represents around 80 per cent of Detail’s production; the remainder is accounted for by mainly local companies and involves mostly enclosures and chassis in steel and aluminium of usually 16 and 18 gauge.

Utilising a recently-installed Amada punch press and a Safan bender, works manager Eric Ingham explains that the 14-employee company usually processes batches of 50- to 100-off and a wide variety of fasteners are widely used.

“We’ve been sourcing most of our sheet metal fasteners, generally standard items, from Northern Precision for at least the past eight years,” he says. “We know there are other companies that will supply cheaper products – and in the past we’ve dealt with them - but their history of late delivery and wrong items has put us off.

“In addition, Steve [Murray] clearly has a wealth of fastener experience, and we regularly discuss options to improve productivity while reducing costs. “Minimal stock levels are important to us – as they are to all other companies - and anything we can do to reduce cash-on-shelves is good. That’s why Northern Precision’s next-day delivery guarantee is so helpful; it allows us to minimise stock levels, and we call off the required quantities as needed from Northern Precision.”

It was back in the car to Maidstone next, to Audio Visual Sheet Metal, a precision sheet metal fabricator that produces a diverse range of fine limit sheet metal products in varied batch sizes on its LVD Strippit punch press. This is complemented by electro-mechanical work, assembly, flash testing, powder coating, stove enamelling, polishing, lacquering and screen printing, for a variety of electronic and audio visual industry customers in Dublin and Europe as well as throughout the UK.

Part of a recent MBO team, director Keith Bates says the nine-employee company has been using Northern Precision for five years or so, for special-purpose fasteners as well as a selection of items from Northern Precision’s 5,000 in-stock standard line items.“We do buy fasteners from other sources,” he says, “since it’s always been our policy not to have all our eggs in one basket. But we do find that Northern Precision offers the complete package of quality, price and service, and its next-day delivery service – after ordering the parts at 4.30pm the previous day - has helped us out on many occasions.

“Steve [Murray] is also very knowledgeable, and we have tapped into his resource on several occasions especially when we needed bespoke solutions.“For example, one special produced by Northern Precision was a cross-drilled blind stand-off, an earth pillar for a lighting control panel. We’re now on our third run of 5,000-off, and by working closely with Steve we’ve been able to project-engineer cost-down savings as the project has progressed.”

With many years’ experience in fastener sales and use, and over nine years on-the-road with Northern Precision (www.npfasteners.com), Steve Murray obviously has extensive product and applications engineering expertise that enables him to ‘speak the same language’ as his customers. In addition, he can also call on the high level of experience from the directors at Northern Precision’s head office.

Surprisingly, he does not carry a price list: his role is to liaise on a regular basis with his clients – he has more than 400 live customers throughout the South of England and he usually clocks up around 35,000 miles a year.

Back in the car, and down the road to Pegasus Precision, a company that has in the past used Northern Precision fasteners in the production of specialist components for the medical (diagnostics machinery and electron microscopes), bank security and aerospace sectors, for example, working in predominantly aluminium, stainless and mild steel up to 3 mm thick.

Owner Barry Rham assimilates fastener supply from Northern precision to his policy of product supply to his clients: “It’s all about customer service – not price. I would rather pay a bit more to get a good service,” he says.

Back into the car (again) and a short ride to Ashford-based Kent Metal Developments, a premier stillage manufacturer and sheet metal specialist. It has been using mainly standard rivet bushes to up 6 mm diameter from Northern Precision for the past five years or so.

Director Brian Ward explains that the sheet metal sub-contracting operation is customer-led, and produces a wide range of products from mild steel, aluminium and brass, and including machine covers, fabrications for the automotive industry (including fine limit products for Bentley), as well as mobile ‘phone mast section brackets (in kits of parts) in addition to a wide range of stillages.

Using an in-house portfolio of CNC laser cutting, punching and press brakes to work a range of metals up to 12 mm thick (larger work is sub-contracted), the company’s capabilities also include powder coating, wet spraying and vapour degreasing and phosphating. Brian Ward says he expects his suppliers to react in the same way he has to for his customers.

“The name of the game is quick response,” he says, “so we have to be confident that our fastener supplier is like-minded. Northern Precision has always supplied the right products at the right prices and right on time. I can’t say better than that.”

NORTHERN PRECISION INTRODUCES ‘E-QUOTE’ FOR QUICK RESPONSE OVER PRIMA INSERTER PRESS ENQUIRIES

Northern Precision (http://www.npfasteners.com/index.htm), the independent market-leading single-source supplier of fasteners as well as special-purpose turned and cold-formed parts, has added ‘e-quoting’ to its armoury of impressive sales tools.

The direct email-based response mechanism (email sales@npfasteners.com for your copy) has been designed initially as a response to enquiries about the new six-tonne Prima Inserter self-clinch sheet metal fastener installation press - the machine allows fasteners to be easily inserted into either box- or C-type workpieces and will accommodate materials of 3 mm thick.

Incorporating interactive links, a short video clip of the press in action and a PDF attachment that contains comprehensive details about the cost-competitive press, the e-quote also illustrates how a range of accessories can be used to make the machine into a flexible production aid to suit a wide range of applications.

“Our e-quote clearly illustrates how the LCM Prima inserter, a machine that is very popular worldwide, has been progressively enhanced with capabilities to meet a variety of user demands in a fast and reliable way,” says Sales Director Steve Smith.

“We have no doubt that this machine will prove equally as popular throughout Europe, particularly with fastener users in Eastern Europe,” he says.

“The creation of an e-quote that provides enquirers with full information about the machine – including its price - is just another example of the systems we have in place for high-level customer service.”

He adds that the e-quote methods could be extended as a quick-fire quotation method to embrace Northern Precision’s 5,000 in-stock standard fastener lines for most applications and materials.

Accredited to BS EN ISO 9001:2000, Northern Precision supplies self-clinching fasteners, rivet bushes, sheet nuts, high-strength and broaching fasteners, weld nuts and studs, cage nuts and blind rivets, as well as special turned and cold-formed components to customer requirements

For more information on the Prima Inserter click here.
To download our Prima Inserter 'E' Quote click here.

NORTHERN PRECISION’S FASTENER EXPORT SUCCESS – A NEVER-ENDING STORY

The export success story continues at Northern Precision (http://www.npfasteners.com/index.htm), the independent market-leading single-source supplier of fasteners as well as special-purpose turned and cold-formed parts, as Sales Director Steve Smith reports that the Doncaster-based company now has more than 50 overseas customers.

Northern Precision now exports products to customers in America, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Holland, Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Sweden, for example.

“Providing fasteners to a wide range of companies throughout the world at a time when we are also expanding our UK customer base is due to a combination of factors,” says Steve Smith.

“Of course, providing the right products at the right price underpins our whole operation, coupled with high-level customer service that is reflected by our ability to respond quickly to enquiries (same day) and orders (next-day delivery). In addition, we also offer extensive applications engineering expertise for end users as well as our extensive network of overseas distributors.”

“Importantly, we actively support our overseas distributors – this year, for example, we will have a presence at exhibitions in the Baltics, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Italy.

“While we continually expand our range of standard products, to offer customers the widest choice, our ability to offer single-source engineering solutions has now been extended with the LCM Prima self-clinch fastener inserter that is on permanent display and available for demonstration at our Doncaster site.

“For users, this all means we can provide the complete one-stop fastener service.”

Accredited to BS EN ISO 9001:2000, Northern Precision supplies self-clinching fasteners, rivet bushes, sheet nuts, high-strength and broaching fasteners, weld nuts and studs, cage nuts and blind rivets, as well as special turned and cold-formed components to customer requirements.

FASTENER PRESSES EXTEND NORTHERN PRECISION’S SINGLE-SOURCE EXPERTISE

Northern Precision (http://www.npfasteners.com/index.htm), the independent market-leading supplier of fasteners as well as special-purpose turned and cold formed parts, has reinforced its capabilities as a single-source fastening specialist by also offering advice to customers on self-clinching fastener presses.

By adding applications expertise concerning both the Haeger 618-Plus insertion machine and the LCM Prima inserter to its one-stop fastener supply repertoire, Northern Precision now offers users in companies of all sizes a complete ‘supply and fit’ solution based around the recommendation of these cost-effective machines as well as the supply of 5,000 in-stock standard line items, and special-purpose turned and cold formed parts.

Rated at up to eight tons, the Haeger 618-Plus has a 457 mm throat depth and an adjustable stroke length of 0 to 200 mm. The machine can insert at 1,200/hour (at 25 mm stroke) and has an adjustable 10 to 215 mm vertical upstroke and features a variable dwell timer for use with hard materials.

With a six ton rating, the complementary LCM Prima machine – which will be on permanent display and available for demonstration at Northern Precision’s Doncaster site - can be fitted with accessories that allow fasteners to be easily inserted into either box- or C-type workpieces, and will accommodate materials of 3 mm thick.

For pricing, contact our sales office on +44 (0)1302 836010. For more information on the Prima Inserter click here.


(LCM Prima Inserter pictured above left)

Accredited to BS EN ISO 9001:2000, Northern Precision’s market lead in fastener supply is based as much around its inherent applications engineering expertise as it is on the supply of self-clinching fasteners, rivet bushes, sheet nuts, high-strength and broaching fasteners, weld nuts and studs, cage nuts and blind rivets, as well as special turned and cold-formed components to customer requirements.

A Yorkshire Oak in the making Northern Precision Limited

Oak: a slow growing tree of impressive stature, maturing to produce a wood of such toughness and durability to make it practically indestructible.

There is a brightly polished brass plaque alongside the entrance to Northern Precision’s brand new building on the outskirts of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire. Its dedication to John and Ivy Mortlock concludes, ‘From little acorns…’

It’s easy to hurry straight past, particularly on a cold December day, and perhaps for some, easy to dismiss this as a curious piece of schmaltz for a business with a reputation for Yorkshire directness. Apart from the fact such a dismissal would risk offending a trio of directors who could probably do an able job as the front row for any rugby team, it would also be to miss a genuine insight into the heart of Northern Precision.

“We wanted it out there,” explains Managing Director Tony Mortlock, “so that we don’t ever forget were we have come from.” Quite literally, in 1996, that was the back bedroom of his grandmother’s house in the Hyde Park district of Doncaster, from which he and co-director Arthur Smith incorporated the business. “There were two desks squeezed in there and a combined phone/fax,” recalls Arthur. “We started trading in January 1997. The stock was in another room in the house, with no handling equipment. You would have to say we were enthusiastic, if pretty naïve, at that stage.”

Originally the pair set out to develop sales of the turned parts and specials, in which they had built a strong technical understanding. It proved an uncomfortable start. A visceral reaction from their previous employer culminated in a barrage of largely unsuccessful legal actions that did, however, result in an order constraining Northern Precision from approaching its customers. “It probably did us a big favour,” says Steve Smith, the third director who joined the business later in 1997. “If we had succeeded in winning that kind of volume of business, it would probably have sunk us. We just were not ready for it.”

By Easter 1997 they had found their first commercial premises. “A 977 square feet brick-built industrial unit in Kirk Sandall,” recalls Steve. “It was long and narrow, and we could just get four desks in there, though we had to take turns breathing.”

“When we started we were playing a game in business, I suppose,” reflects Steve Smith. “Every day we would say to ourselves, ‘Are we doing this right?’” It was a game, though, played with real commitment and if there was luck, as all three directors imply when they recall the early days, there is little doubt most of it was self-made. “We had a knack of knocking on the right door at the right time – contacting people just at the time they were getting disillusioned with their existing supplier,” says Steve. More importantly they had persistence – a characteristic all three directors continue to cite as crucial.

In 1999 Northern Precision gained ISO 9002 accreditation, easily remembered because it appears on the front cover of their fourth catalogue – a copy of each version is framed and hung on the meeting room wall. The 36-page 11th revision has just been launched, a far cry from the days when they photocopied 25 at a time before going out and finding customers to give them to. The latest version, nine months in the making, is full colour throughout and packed with technical diagrams and application guides. It clearly identifies Northern Precision’s expertise in “specialist fasteners for sheet metal.” Each page also has a link address to the appropriate page of http://www.npfasteners.com/index.htm providing even more comprehensive coverage of the range.

“We don’t take on product lines that we don’t know,” stresses Arthur Smith. “We don’t want to dilute what we are.” Steve builds on the theme, echoing the commitment made in the new catalogue, “Any company with enough money could replicate the kind of stock we have here. What they can’t buy is the attitude and knowledge of all our people.”

In the UK that has included developing a solid reputation for not ‘running with the hare and the hounds”. The company services both end user and distribution accounts. “We don’t have the capability to service a just-in-time account,” says Steve Smith who takes the lead responsibility for sales. “We would not bring anything to the market trying to supply products we don’t understand.” Instead Northern Precision reaches agreement with distributors that they will not intentionally approach their known customers. “We regularly, now, talk to the end customer to provide technical assistance, or even visit with the distributor, but will not talk price.”

On the export front virtually all sales are through distributors. Sales outside the UK started in 2000 through Northern Precision’s partnership with Italy’s MMA. “They wanted us to sell their rivet products and in return develop clinch sales in Italy,” explains Steve Smith. “We worked on their stand at Cologne and also started talking to non-Italian distributors about what we could offer.” That started a largely unexpected chain of events. “We needed to go and see these companies. In our naïve enthusiasm we thought we’d be able to do business the same way as in the UK. As it turned out we were more or less right!”

The point adds Arthur is that “people in business are basically the same world over. We came back and, with the potential we could now see, set about improving our supply base and our pricing.” From a standing start five years ago Northern Precision now has approaching fifty export customers contributing over a quarter of sales. “You just have to get out there, do the exhibitions, go see the people,” emphasises Steve Smith, “and establish the trust.”

It is another key value instilled in all of the fifteen strong Northern Precision team. “We’ve taken everyone working here out to customers,” says Tony Mortlock, “so they understand, first hand, why it matters for even just twenty or thirty pounds worth of fasteners to arrive on time and correct to order. We’ve steadily built our professionalism, with the catalogues and website, with our supplier relationships and quality control, and through being financially sensible. In the end it comes full circle to never forgetting where we came from – that direct contact and trust with the customer that is the one thing we never joke about.”

“This building,” he continues, “is like the last piece in the jigsaw. Now we have somewhere that, as well as taking our functionality leaps forward, gives us an image that really matches our capabilities.” Externally a standard business unit, the interior reflects both clear forward planning and an absolute commitment to banishing the memories of cramped worked conditions in a series of claustrophobic premises. Offices are light and airy, with most definite space to breathe, and there is a good relaxation and canteen area. The warehouse is well laid out, with pallet storage on two walls and excellent height to get packaging materials and other bulk stocks well out of the way. Day-to-day stocks are well located for picking, with a spacious packing and assembly area one side. An enclosed incoming goods area is in the process of being fully kitted to carry out inspections according to Northern Precision’s supplier categorisation.

So how has the acorn grown? No doubt the bark of this maturing tree bears a few scars. It’s tough-talking exterior, though, is often softened by self-deprecating humour - strip it away and a close-grained heartwood grows true, solid and strong. These are self-taught businessmen, undaunted by the inevitable mistakes of that hard school, who show all the signs of having carved out a very firm understanding of what it takes to continue making a success of their business.

Taken from an article printed in Fixing and Fastener Review Feb 2006.

NORTHERN PRECISION’S CUSTOMER CARE GENERATES FASTENER LOYALTY FROM GO-AHEAD FABRICATOR

When SP Fabrications urgently needed to produce a prototype assembly for a potential new customer, fastener supplier Northern Precision reacted immediately – with the result that SP Fabrications not only secured a valuable contract but also subsequently won additional work from the client.

Brian Norton, a director at the Blackburn-based precision sheet metalworking specialist, explains: “The casing, a new design to accommodate beer dispensing valve cylinders, was required within 48 hours, so we obviously had to act extremely fast if we were to produce the components and deliver the prototype on schedule.

“Working from supplied drawings, the set of pre-coated Plastisol 0.9 mm thick panels were soon produced via our CNC punching and bending machines, but we also needed a supply of M4, M5 and M6 thin sheet nuts – and we needed them quickly.

“After contacting Northern Precision, the panels were driven down to Northern Precision’s site in Doncaster where we obtained the sheet nuts and used the company’s tooling to assemble the unit. We then delivered the prototype to the customer in Sheffield, who immediately ordered a batch of production parts.”

The casings – and similar products from 1.2 mm stainless steel panels - are destined for installation in, for example, the new Wembley Stadium and at Arsenal Football Club’s new Emirates Stadium at Ashburton Grove.

“We were very grateful to Northern Precision – the service we received was first-class and it enabled us to win these prestigious contracts. As a result, we source all our fasteners from them.”

Northern Precision supplies a wide range of products to SP Fabrications, including clinch studs and bushes, blind sheet nuts and round rivet bushes, as well as tooling that eliminates time-consuming manual insertion methods.

In addition to the hydro-pneumatic KJ60 rivet nut installation tool, SP Fabrications also uses the recently-introduced Rivedrill attachment. This easily and quickly converts a cordless and electric drill into an automatic blind rivet and blind sheet nut placement tool. Suitable for 2.4 to 6 mm blind rivets, Rivedrill simply attaches to a drill and is a low-cost alternative to hand tools.

Among a wide range of components being produced by SP Fabrications for a varied customer base across many industry sectors, the casings are currently being produced in batches of 25-off, and each casing set comprises 16 separate components that are produced by newly-installed CNC punching and bending machines at the company’s extensive site.

This high-tech equipment, which complements a CAD facility, is the latest evidence of how the 12-employee firm is “investing in its future by providing customers with right-first-time, high quality cost-effective components”, says Brian Norton.

The company started life three years ago with secondhand sheet metalworking equipment, and the recent investment in CNC technology represents “a giant leap forward in our ability to cost-effectively process small batch work for a wide variety of clients”, he says.

SP Fabrications’ continued growth is mirrored by its unswerving loyalty to BS EN ISO 9001:2000-accredited Northern Precision, which Brian Norton describes as “our one-stop fastener specialist”. Northern Precision maintains a stock of 5,000 standard line items covering most applications and materials - for example, self-clinching fasteners, rivet bushes, sheet nuts, high-strength and broaching fasteners, weld nuts and studs, cage nuts and blind rivets, as well as special turned and cold-formed components to customer requirements.

It is this extensive product capability, coupled with keen prices and high-level customer service that Brian Norton says is unrivalled in the fastener supply industry “and it’s why we single-source from Northern Precision”.

He concludes: “We’re looking to double the workforce and our turnover and profit within the next 12 months. We have the expertise and the machines to do that, and with companies like Northern Precision working with us, we will not fail.”

GRAND OPENING OF NORTHERN PRECISION’S NEW £500,000 HEADQUARTERS

The Grand Opening of Northern Precision’s new £500,000 headquarters on the Durham Lane industrial zone, Doncaster is today being attended by a host of customers, business associates and friends, as well as Northern Precision’s directors and employees.

With purpose-designed and specially-constructed administration and sales offices complemented by ‘flowline’ product receipt/quarantine, storage and dispatch areas, as well as dedicated product inspection and test, as well as meeting/training facilities, the new building offers a total floor area of 8,000 ft 2 and is unrivalled in the fastener supply sector.
The new-look operation – which has been helped by a £100,000 loan from the South Yorkshire Investment Fund - reinforces the company’s position as the UK’s only truly independent fastener supply company and leading specialist single-source supplier of sheet metal fasteners as well as special-purpose turned and cold-formed parts.

Describing how sophisticated IT support systems and procedures, complemented by high-speed communications networks, enable Northern Precision (www.npfasteners.com) to offer unmatched levels of customer service and support, as well as responsive fastener supply and application engineering support - to generate cost-down benefits for users across all industry sectors - Sales Director Steve Smith also points out that the new headquarters enables the company to set in motion further progressive plans for its strategic development.

“Our new facility will be the springboard for yet more exciting news,” he says “and, as always, these developments will be driven by our ability to identify, then satisfy, the needs of our customers and our growing network of overseas distributors.”

The company has come a long way since it was established in 1996 by directors Tony Mortlock and Arthur Smith in a back bedroom. Trading started in 1997, using stock held in another room in the house – there simply wasn’t any space for stock in the bedroom after two desks had been squeezed in there!

The third director, Steve Smith, joined in 1997 and by the Easter of that year, Northern Precision had moved into its first commercial premises – a 977 square foot industrial unit.

Those days seem light years away from where the company is now – housed in an impressive and spacious facility with quality procedures accredited to BS EN ISO 9001 and 5,000 standard stock lines of fasteners covering most applications and materials.

The company supplies self-clinching fasteners, rivet bushes, sheet nuts, high-strength and broaching fasteners, weld nuts and studs, cage nuts and blind rivets, as well as special turned and cold-formed components to customer requirements.

Its end user and distributor customer base accounts for 44 million individual fasteners and an annual turnover of £1.75 million, 27 per cent of which is represented by overseas sales.

Northern Precision fasteners are exported to companies in the USA, Chile, Portugal and Russia, for example.

The success of the company has always been based around the premise of providing superlative customer service – underpinned by a high-class and dedicated workforce - and not only through the ability to promptly deliver a cost-effective product but, crucially, also by bringing an unmatched level of engineering expertise to every enquiry, if appropriate.

The fastener is very often the smallest component part in terms of both size and cost of any finished product. But it can often create the biggest headache if it is not accurately specified, manufactured or used correctly.

Northern Precision has built a highly successful business by basing its company mission around this philosophy, and the substantial investment in the new facility is the latest evidence of how the directors intend to not only continue this trend but also to expand on their current level of success at both home and abroad.

“We’ve always said that successful fastener supply is based on exceeding customer demands in terms of both piece part cost and application requirements,” comments Steve Smith.

“We now have the extra space and facilities to take that philosophy to the next, even higher level.”

NORTHERN PRECISION’S FIRST EVER CUSTOMER JOINS THE CELEBRATIONS

Northern Precision’s first ever customer has been joining the Grand Opening ceremony celebrations of the company’s new £500,000 facility on the Durham Lane industrial zone.

Alison Kendrick – who in 1997 was a buyer for Crompton Lighting – recalls placing the order nine years ago for a series of special chrome-plated quarter-turn fasteners.

“We were having great difficulty in sourcing exactly what we needed for our industrial light fittings, and started talking to Northern Precision which at that time focused on providing specialised solutions.

“The application was discussed and Northern Precision provided a cost-effective solution at short notice.”

As time went by, Alison sourced more Northern Precision ‘special’ fasteners for Crompton (which then became Cooper Lighting & Security Ltd), and then as part of her subsequent buying role at Schotts Fibre Optics.

“Since those early days, Northern Precision has expanded into becoming a leading supplier of standard sheet metal fastenings while also retaining its special-purpose expertise without jeopardising its policy of prompt and reliable customer service,” adds Alison, who is now buyer/materials controller at Omega plc, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of high-quality kitchen furniture and fitted kitchens.