~ Managing director’s speech outlines vision for the future ~Agricultural, industrial gas and offshore handling expert RITCHIE officially opened its new plant extension in Suttieside on February 14. The event was marked with speeches from Tony Walker, the company’s managing director, Peter Hughes the chief executive of Scottish Engineering and Ruth Leslie Melville, MBE, the Provost of Angus.
The new plant extension provides greater manufacturing capacity, reduced operating costs and five new jobs for the company, which has been trading in Forfar for over 130 years.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Charlie Stewart, director of growing businesses for Scottish Engineering Tayside, Allan Mitchell of the newly reformed Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce and Bob Myles David Sawers, David Valentine, Eric Lowson and Neil Prentice from Angus District Council. A number of RITCHIE customers also visited the site, including Dominion Gas and Swire Oilfield Services.
An additional highlight was the burying of a time capsule, representing a snapshot of life at RITCHIE in 2008. Its contents included copies of the local press and video of the local news roundup as well as historical documents mapping the history of the company’s site in Forfar.
In his speech, Tony Walker stressed the emphasis that RITCHIE has placed on developing its manufacturing processes by incorporating new techniques and investing in production equipment such as robotics. He went on to preview plans that the company has to expand its product range by introducing a renewable energy offering. Following the speeches a number of RITCHIE customers accompanied the local dignitaries on a factory tour.
“On this site we employ almost 150 people including our joint venture galvanizing plant, which is the widest in Scotland, bringing in more than £12 million into Angus last year,” explained Tony Walker, in his speech. “But what have we been doing to prepare for the future? At the same time as moving our operation onto one site we have embraced lean production techniques showing how we can make ourselves more effective by improving our working environment and removing waste from our processes and plant layouts. We have also installed and exploited our new computer system giving us more current and detailed information with shop floor data collection and integrated time and attendance recording. Next come MRP (Manufacturing Resource Planning), forecasting and CRM (Customer Relationship Management).”
Peter Hughes, the chief executive of Scottish Engineering said, “RITCHIE has been around for 130 years and is now a significant employer in Angus and Tayside. The success of the company can be attributed to a hard working, skilled and enthusiastic workforce very well led by a forward thinking and inspired management team. This new extension is just another example of the company’s on going commitment to the area at a time when Scotland’s manufacturing operations are under severe pressure from overseas low-wage economies.”
Charlie Stewart, director of growing business at Scottish Enterprise in Tayside, said: "We've worked closely with RITCHIE to help them develop their business and supported the company with the extension. They really are one of the success stories in the manufacturing sector in our area and have worked to develop new products, innovative ways of working and break into new markets to consolidate a positive future.''
Copies of Tony Walker’s speech and Peter Hughes’ speech are available from Richard Stone at Stone Junction (contact details below). Additional photos of the event are also available.
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For further information contact: John MacAskill, David Ritchie Implements Limited, Carseview Road, Forfar, Scotland, DD8 3BT
Telephone: 01307 462271
Fax: 01307 464081
e-mail: jmacaskill@ritchie-uk.com www: http://www.ritchie-uk.com/
Press enquiries: Richard Stone Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/
About RITCHIE: RITCHIE provides innovative handling, storage and security solutions for the offshore, industrial gas & chemical, defence, glass, distribution, automotive, rail and utility sectors. The business was established over a century ago and today employs over 120 people in two sites, supplying businesses across the globe.
About Scottish Engineering: Scottish Engineering is the principal support and lobbying organisation for the manufacturing and engineering industries in Scotland. Founded in 1865, it is a non-profit making organisation, wholly owned by its member companies. A founder member of the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) the present membership of Scottish Engineering includes 400 companies from all sectors of the manufacturing industry.
Ref: RIT028/02/08
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