Linx Printing Technologies has completed the development and installation of a state-of-the-art, £1 million ink manufacturing plant at its St Ives headquarters, which provides Linx with integrated manufacture and despatch of its inks and solvents to customers worldwide.
The new facility will give Linx and its customers the following benefits: enhanced safety features to protect associates and the environment; the continuation of the high quality standards for which Linx's extensive range of inks and solvents are renowned; and an integrated fluid manufacturing and despatch operation which will yield significant improvements in delivery time to customers.
The development of the ink plant has been planned in line with Linx's commitment to Continuous Improvement, and encompasses the lean manufacturing philosophy of parent company Danaher. These advanced manufacturing techniques allow Linx to produce made-to-order inks, improving both quality and on-time delivery.
The redesign enables significant time savings on logistics of Linx's existing system with orders passing direct from the manufacturing cell 'through the wall' for placement onto the customer's pallet, reducing inventory and streamlining despatch processes.
Flexibility in manufacture is the key feature critical to achieving this highly efficient system. Linx has invested in a new volumetric filling machine, a modular system that allows operators to quickly perform changeovers between products and improved mixing technology. Fixed, interlocked pipes are used throughout the process from raw material containers, to mixing vessels, to the filler, which eliminates the possibility of leaks.
The rebuild follows the partial damage to the existing facility after a fire in June 2009, and incorporates advanced safety features to avoid future incidents. The cornerstone is the new sprinkler system, installed at a cost of £300,000, which provides a highly targeted fire suppression system. The facility is divided into sections, so that water is directed only where it is required to extinguish the fire. The sprinkler system draws water from a tank which holds 473,000 litres, and adds a fire suppressant foam before being pumped to the sprinkler heads.
Other innovations include the introduction of bund ramps at unit entrances, which contain spillages in the unlikely event of an accident, allowing safe disposal and protection of the local environment.
Splash-resistant mirror-finish tiles ensure that cleaning is a fast, fuss-free process, while the overall decoration has been modelled on an operating theatre. "The majority of inks are dark, so we've taken the view that we want any spillages to be highly visible so that they can be quickly resolved," explains Adrian Armiger, Ink Plant Manager. "Hence the light, airy feel of the ink plant, with walls and ceilings painted in white."
Where relevant, Linx has used existing know how and proven technology to ensure high quality, reliability and on-time delivery to customers. The investment in the St Ives facility also reflects Danaher's commitment to Linx's UK manufacturing base – as explained by Tony Stafford, CFO at Linx.
"At the height of the recession we were given the green light on a £1m investment that secures Linx's future as a market leader in providing quality, on time, made-to-order products to customers around the globe. The team has done an outstanding job in getting this plant up and running in the 5 months since cutting the first purchase order."
"Our new ink plant offers the best of both worlds – continuity with existing good practice, allied to investment in the best possible filling and protective technologies," concludes Adrian Armiger. "With mixing, filling and despatch all housed in one contiguous operation, we can deliver a safe, high-quality, on-time and efficient service to customers."
The plant was officially opened by the Rt Hon. Jonathan Djanogly, MP for Huntingdon, on Friday 25th June.
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