Engineering Design CIC

Firmac is a machine manufacturer's specialising in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industries. The company currently has 50% of the home market in automated duct forming machinery, with exports running at 8% of the market share.

They approached the Engineering Design CIC with a view to developing new, low-cost air duct producing machinery. This would allow them to target American and Eastern European manufacturers and also provide further sales opportunities back in the UK.

Using its specialised skills and knowledge of high technology applications for industrial product development, the CIC created a new flange forming machine, utilising a new flange section which uses far less material. With raw material prices having doubled in price recently, the cost-saving aspects of the new machine promised to find a ready market.

The process of collaboration had farreaching effects over and above the invention of the new equipment. Having seen the CIC's use of 3D modelling, Firmac have now made it integral to their own CAD strategy. Their exposure to design techniques and other software has also shown them a new way forward. The tendering process introduced the company to a whole new range of suppliers, making in-costs more competitive.

With the introduction of the new machine, Firmac expect a 25% increase on turnover in 2007. Further cost-savings are expected in the future as the company plans to build existing and new machines on a common chassis, creating machine standardisation and reducing build costs.

Going forward, they envisage a long-term relationship with the Engineering Design CIC.

For further information visit:
www.firmac.co.uk
www.engineeringdesigncentre.co.uk

Benefits of Firmac's collaboration with the Engineering Design CIC:

• Creation of new product with a ready market
• Company expansion with threenew jobs created
• Influence on company's future strategy
• Commercial effort directed into profit-generating activity