Capital Equipment News September 2019

INTERVIEW

our throughput efficiency and reduce our manufacturing costs. The investments range from building improvements to tooling. From a facili- ty point of view, we have created new work area compartments across the factory, thus segregating fabrication and machining from assembly and paint. This improves air quality, reduces risk of contamination and instils a real sense of local ownership. We have also replaced all of the lighting in the factory with the latest LED technology, which reduces our energy consumption, is more environmentally friendly and improves light strength and quality in manufacturing, making it easier for our team members to see their work piece and guarantee quality output. We have also re-laid several of the floors in the manufacturing facility, making the production line and materi- al movement smoother, and with new, brighter coatings and materials, this also improves the light reflection and general 5S of the production areas. Apart from the factory workspace, we have also just completed a substantial of- fice refit where the team members working there now enjoy the benefits of new LED lighting and latest technology efficient heating and cooling systems. That, coupled with the neutral décor consistent with the Volvo global template, make this a very enjoyable workplace and environment. PD: Regarding actual manufacturing in- vestments, since Volvo ownership we have invested in new tooling (jigs and fixtures) in all areas, upgraded our assembly digital controlled tools (DC tooling), upgraded our digital/visual work standards system, invested in new CNC machining capability, invested in new heat treatment capability. All of these provide better quality, are more energy friendly, reduce team member fa- tigue and improve safety, and truly bring the 70-year old factory into the 21 st century. The investments are ongoing – we have just ordered another new CNC machining centre and two substantial new welding robots which will improve safety, quality and throughput from our fabrication fa- cility. We expect to commission the new CNC machining centre – which comes at investment of about £250 000 – during the fourth quarter of this year. This machine will be the fifth CNC machine we have bought in a space of three years. The massive robot welders – measuring 3 x 10 m – will be commissioned by February next year. MS: What about the actual manufacturing investments?

Paul Douglas, MD of Terex Trucks.

On a continuous journey of improvement

When Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) acquired Terex Trucks back in 2014, from the onset it reiterated its commitment to the brand, the product, dealers and customers. Five years on, there is a clear indication that the promise has been honoured, with a great deal of investment in people, processes and the product. In a one-on-one with Munesu Shoko – who recently visited Terex Trucks’ Motherwell facility – Paul Douglas, MD of Terex Trucks, unpacked some of the principal areas of focus thus far. Munesu Shoko [MS]: The influence of having a large parent isn’t always obvious from the outside, but there has been a great deal of investment from Volvo CE that has gone into the Terex Trucks brand. What have been some of the major areas of focus thus far? Paul Douglas [PD]: The focus has been widespread, with major investments in people, processes and ultimately the product. From a process point of view, since Volvo CE acquired the business, we have been on a continuous journey of investment in facilities, primarily to raise our level of safety, quality and environmental performance, and also to improve

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