Philford Design

Source: Manufacturing Digital

Date :10/12/2007 10:28:24

Having worked for Philford Design Engineers for the last ten years, Stephen Hayes has watched the company develop. He explains its new focus to ExecUK

Written by Lucy Mowatt and produced by Ben Weaver

Established in 1979 in Rotherham, Philford Design Engineers Ltd is a family-owned business which carries out a diverse range of engineering projects, from the initial calculations and designs to the manufacture and installation of heavy mechanical equipment. This is all with the aid of its 40 highly qualified employees.

The company recently moved to two new factory units, as part of an ongoing program of investment. This began when Michael Phillips became Managing Director. Since then, the company has seen gradual, but significant, investments in equipment and technology which will “bring Philford forward,” in Stephen Hayes’ words. He goes on to explain the changes that have taken place. “Philford has installed purpose-built office units, we’ve bought new computer systems with the latest technology in design work, two new lathes, milling machines and we’ve also installed a new power supply.” The new factory has 36,000 sq ft of space, which will be able to cope with new contracts and increased capacity.

New blood

The engineering company is also taking on new employees, bringing fresh ideas to the business. Stephen Hayes elaborates that Philford has taken on new designers and also runs an apprenticeship programme. This scheme can be carried through to degree level and takes up to five years to complete. Further specialist training can be provided after this to ensure that employees achieve their goals. The company has also run a work experience scheme, which makes local young people aware of the career options available to them.

Philford’s focus on moving forward has also meant that the company has taken on a new sales engineer. Stephen Hayes explains what this role will involve. “His job is to look into new markets for us - or into ones that we can enhance. He’s not going into the mining industry; he will be targeting power stations, quarries and people that we’ve already done work for in areas like steel, glass, cement works and anywhere that uses conveyor systems.

Marketing developments

In order to support this new sales focus and pushing the business forward, Philford is also putting mechanisms in place to reinforce its market presence. By January 2008 the company will have a website online and brochures produced, which will act as marketing tools. This is very different to the way that it used to operate. Mr Hayes states: “We’ve never advertised, never had a brochure and never had a website. All of our work comes from word of mouth and our reputation.” Now things are, as Mr Hayes says, “moving into the 21st century”, which will open up new opportunities.

Owing to this focus, the company’s turnover is set to increase. For 2006 the figure was £3.2 million, which has risen to £4.5 million this year. And as Philford Design continues to move forwards, this figure will continue to grow.

In spite of this recent focus on modernisation, Philford Design has always concentrated on innovation and development. “We come up with our own designs for Philford equipment. Much of this is based around what we know and what’s already in the market because we can make it better thanks to our expertise.”

It mainly makes large conveyor drives that weigh up to 40 tons, many of which are used in underground situations. Stephen Hayes explains that often the ground moves in these conditions, which upsets the line of the belt. As such many people want this equipment fastened to the roof, which Philford has the expertise to organise. There is a constant focus on increasing the efficiency and capabilities of new equipment.

Philford has also worked for Drax Power Station on a number of occasions. “We were heavily involved with biomass feeders, which run on alternative fuels.” This relationship is also ongoing, as the power station requires more and newer equipment. Many power stations across Europe were constructed in the 1960s and still operate with equipment from this period. As power stations upgrade, there will be increasing calls for new engineering solutions.

One significant and ongoing contract is at Hatfield Colliery. This mine was reopened in 2006, following assessments and investment. “We were approached to supply most of the equipment that was required to reopen the mine,” Stephen Hayes explains. “We make conveyors and handling equipment, but we were approached to redesign and supply more than 60 percent of the equipment needed.”

Meeting standards

All of the products designed and manufactured by Philford are subject to high quality standards and audits. It holds the ISO 9000:2000 and NQA certificates and is registered with the BSI, while holding a number of other standards. “We’re audited every year,” Stephen Hayes says, “and I inspect the system all the time; we have never failed an audit.”

Philford also has a traceability program in place. Mr Hayes explains that as soon as the company gets an order it is given an individual job number: “From that I can tell you everything about the project; what materials were used, where they’re from, who worked on it, when it was delivered and who signed for it. And that’s for every product in the last ten years.”

90 percent of the company’s employees hold the CCNSG safety passport qualification, which involves thorough training, and the business is audited each year for that standard. This seems to be working: Mr Hayes stresses that Philford has “never had a reportable incident in the ten years that I’ve worked here.” Philford Design and Engineering takes health, safety and quality very seriously, resulting in satisfied customers and a safe place to work.