| Bold Strategy pays off at Chess
 Chess Plastics Limited was first established back in 1968, supplying plastic components to the cosmetic and automotive industries. Their very first machine was a second hand 100 tonne Battenfeld, and by the time they re-located to their current site in Droitwich Spa, their largest machine was a 400 tonne 5 series Sandretto.
The founder of the Company, Malcolm Olden, retired in 2007, by this time the firm having expanded significantly, with 27 machines of a variety of makes including a 720 NB series Negri Bossi model.
At this time, Glyn and Gareth Olden decided they needed to take the company in a different direction and felt by offering trade moulding capacity on 1000 tonne plus machines this would enable them to specialise in the production of large plastic components. The first 1000 tonne machine was bought without any work for it and was an initial gamble but they were finding a lot of customers were not prepared to move work from existing suppliers or commit to new projects to a company that did not actually have that size machine on site!
By mid 2010, this philosophy resulted in a significant change in the mould shop with a reduction to only 20 machines but nearly all now having a lock of between 400 tonnes and 1200 tonnes. In the last five years, their decision has been vindicated by an increase in annual turnover of around three million Pounds.
In late 2010, the decision was made to invest in the Company’s largest machine to date, this being a Negri Bossi VH1300 Bi-Power series model, with a shot weight in excess of eleven Kilograms in P.S.
Managing Director, Glyn Olden commented, “ We are now running on a 24 hour per day, seven days a week basis, and as such, we need to work in partnership with a Company producing reliable and productive equipment, as well as offering a prompt response should any issues arise. This is the first Negri Bossi machine we have bought for some time, but past and recent experience has shown that this is the best solution for Chess us. This is our first Bi-Power series machine, and we have been impressed with how accurate and efficient it is. Another major factor in our selecting this particular model, was its small foot-print and low level design, this enabling us to utilise an area of our factory previously thought to be impractical for the siting of such a high tonnage machine. The improved usage of floor space has been further enhanced through the use of a six-axis robot to de-mould product.”
www.chessplastics.co.uk |
