Brownhills based Lodent Precision Ltd is experiencing an upsurge in demand from areas of business which all mould tool makers thought had once been lost when customers turned to suppliers in the Far East in search of low cost tooling.
The second half of 2011 and 2012 has seen customers returning to British Mould tool makers realising that these ‘cheap’ tools were in fact either badly made or produced using inferior material. Director Jeff Bates explained: “In the long run it’s simply not economical to opt for the initial lower cost tool. The British made tools benefit from experience and knowledge and by using top quality materials and better design. This results in trouble free tooling, greater longevity and lower maintenance costs. Car manufacturers have also finally realised that rejection of products has usually been caused by sub-standard tools and consequently are turning to the British toolmakers to problem solve. Using off-shore suppliers has really been false economy.”
In order for Lodent to cope with the extra demand, they have employed an energetic, enthusiastic and experienced toolmaker in Stuart Godwin. Stuart has over 20 years of experience in the industry after completing his apprenticeship at Avon Die casting in Birmingham (Apprentice of the year 1987). Along with Jeff, the Director in charge of Mould tool making, they are hoping to capitalise on this upsurge in demand. They are also beginning to look for additional Toolmakers in this field.
British manufacturing in all sectors has for too long been preoccupied with price, experience has now hopefully taught them a valuable lesson. The tide seems to be turning and with a more symbiotic relationship between manufacturer and supplier, as adopted in Germany ,and more help from the Government, British tools like those produced by Lodent Precision, will continue to serve the global industry well.