UK pressworker steps in as home supplier

Corus Europressings (Cardiff), Harlow Pressings (Cwmbran) and West Riding Pressings (Brighouse), major manufacturers of pressed metal parts for the home entertainments and white goods industries, have recently closed down, giving Clamason a golden opportunity to step in as the alternative UK supplier who can meet all the necessary quality requirements and standards. On top of that, because Sharp Precision Manufacturing (UK) do not run a press shop any more at Wrexham, Clamason is manufacturing the top and bottom RFI shielding cans for the integrated digital tuner in the latest 42in and 50in plasma TV sets produced by Pioneer GB at Castleford, West Yorkshire, for the UK and Europe. Accordingly business is booming for Clamason Industries to the extent that the company quoted for a record �20m worth of presswork, and enjoyed record sales, in the first quarter of 2006.

As its guiding principle for 60 years, Clamason has always been prepared to refocus and diversify towards new areas of technical innovation and market growth, correspondingly investing in its manufacturing facilities to fulfil those needs.

And so the acquisition of tooling from factory closures has added Thomson Broadcast UK, Panasonic and Pioneer to Clamason's customer portfolio.

Their requirements are very similar in that they all need the painted covers, bases and backplates for home entertainment systems (DVRs, Sky and Freeview boxes).

Thomson and Panasonic no longer assemble these products in South Wales but, such is demand for replacement parts (1000's per week), the contracts will add significantly to Clamason's turnover.

Clamason has been able to intervene and help these household names in part because of its successful track record of having made the original BSkyB decoder box back in the 1990's, for which major project it installed a six-station transfer press line.

Further, with its new plant now open for business at Nitra, Slovakia, Clamason is discussing original equipment manufacture with Panasonic in the adjacent Czech Republic also.