A Year of Improvement and Growth for APT Leicester
Well, as predicted, it’s been a challenging year! As the world has gradually returned to the swing of normality, so too has manufacturing. Materials still top the most wanted list, with certain specifications/sizes being as rare as hens’ teeth. Still, we’ve continued the great relationships with our suppliers. And our careful planning has made for success on the whole.
Boosting energy efficiency
Moving into the new year we expect to see the focus switching increasingly to energy consumption, with the situation in the Ukraine unbalancing supply and driving up prices. We’re continuing to carefully monitor our usage, with a more energy efficient washing machine system set for delivery in the first quarter of 2023. This will enable us to offset at least some of our power usage.
Manufacturing investments
Our drive for continuous improvement has brought investment in the latest tools and methods, enabling the development and optimisation of jobs with a resulting improvement in efficiency. We have now completed the coolant system upgrade with the purchase of a dedicated Arno through coolant tooling system for all machines, extending tool life and increasing the efficiency of cutting material. This, combined with Star’s HFT (high frequency turning) software, gives us flexibility in the improvement of manufacturing processes.
Committing to the future
We’re continuing to grow the team with the recruitment of not one but two apprentices as part of our commitment to future-proofing the business. Having already completed their first year at Stephenson’s College the new recruits are now attending a block release program, giving them base knowledge to compliment the work that they are doing at APT.
Focusing on customer requirements
Our customer base remains busy, with a healthy stream of new and existing customers. Providing excellent customer service and world-class parts as standard, we continue to meet and exceed expectations.
I can say with complete confidence that we’re ready for 2023 and all that it may bring. For all of the new year updates, follow us on social media and visit our blog. Look out for our Engineering Reference Sheet in the January issue of Engineering Capacity magazine or drop me an email and we’ll get one out in the post.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Nick Baller
Managing Director