News
Corporate
March 2014
26
In today’s competitive markets, being a
sole supplier to a global manufacturing
company is a well-earned accolade.
William Hughes has been supplying
springs to Eaton in Hampshire, UK,
for over ten years. This sole supplier
relationship
has
evolved
based
on a combination of competitive
costs, excellent product quality, and
outstanding
customer
service
and
support.
Eaton is a global power management
company
providing
energy-efficient
solutions. The springs supplied by
William Hughes are mainly compression
springs used in the production of
cartridge valves/integrated circuits
controlling motion and/or load. Areas
of application include automotive and
construction with companies such as
Volvo and JCB. The springs range in size
from 0.15mm to 8mm wire diameter
in cold drawn carbon springs steels, oil
tempered and stainless steel wire.
As well as being an established
supplier of springs, William Hughes
helps with the design and engineering
of springs for new applications.
For
example,
Eaton’s
engineers
will provide William Hughes with a
specification for a new spring. Using their
extensive knowledge and experience,
William Hughes’ engineers select the
best materials, tolerances and processes
to provide the most efficient and cost
effective solution.
In many instances, prototype samples
are manufactured for evaluation and
when the design is finalised samples
are submitted to Eaton’s pre-production
approval
process.
The
associated
documentation would verify the design
and demonstrate how product quality
would be maintained. When Eaton
has formally approved the product
and procedures, bulk supply can be
authorised.
William Hughes can also arrange
stocking based on DLF (Direct Line
Feed),
scheduled
call-off
or
spot
orders to precisely match Eaton’s
requirements. William Hughes employs
the latest optical and computer-based
measurement systems to ensure that
product specifications are being met,
and the company’s quality systems have
been accredited to ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS
16949:2002 and AS 9100 to ensure quality
and consistency.
The company specialises in solving
problems for its customers using the
extensive design and engineering
facilities available at its Stalbridge,
Dorset, UK factory. Techniques such
as simultaneous engineering are
regularly employed, and involving its
engineering team at an early stage
leads to economies in production,
as well as fast prototyping and early
functional testing.
William Hughes Ltd – UK
Website
:
Sole supplier service fromWilliam Hughes
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Just some of the bespoke compression springs supplied by
William Hughes to Eaton Fluid Power
