3D software keeps us lean, effective and fast-moving

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

We take hold of advanced engineering as it emerges – and our £20k investment in 3D CNC software earlier this year is proving a successful part of our strategy to remain lean, effective and fast-moving.

The CAD-CAM programmes enable us to work smarter while manufacturing increasingly complex components. And because our resulting programming contain less CNC machinery idle time, our efficiency, lead times and competitive edge are enhanced.

The process starts by accurately producing CAD direct from 3D scanning of a customer’s solid model, including even its positioning within a given CNC machine.

It directly creates coding for CNC machinery programmes, saving many hours of manual programming and engineering time. The programme utilises latest manufacturing strategies that are essential for manufacturing complex components which can be virtually impossible to programme longhand.

From start to finish, the whole process is faster – even quotations, because cost estimates can be calculated direct from the original 3D scan.

Life is a box of…

[Photography and online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Not only can we add more space in your life, we can also help you organise that space!

Great for decluttering, moving home, tidying the attic or garage, or when you hire a self-storage room, we sell boxes, covers for mattresses, arm chairs and sofas – plus all-important bubble-wrap, packing paper and packing tape. Click here to see our products.

They’re all at great prices and you can easily pop in and buy them seven days a week:

• Mon-Fri  8am to 6pm

• Sat  9am to 4pm

• Sun & Bank holidays  10am to 2pm

At-risk kids – a bit squashed, but happy

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Our at-risk pupils – 19 boys and 10 girls – live in two small adjacent properties that we rent to be their home. To be honest, with no windows, it’s not much better than a lock up garage. There is barely room to move around or store any of their things, which are minimal. One of our greatest needs is for a new home for all the children to be able to have more space and better living conditions… and we are exploring how we can build something suitable.

In spite of the overcrowding, the children are all delighted to be there! The boys are cared for by Pius, our welfare team manager, while welfare worker Rose looks after the girls.

The children are very involved in the running of the home, helping with cooking, washing clothes and keeping the home clean. They are encouraged to grow their own food, planting maize, beans and other vegetables. The holidays are used to teach the boys how to become fine adults and good fathers.

The girls are taught how to cook, clean floors, wash clothes, etc – all the domestic skills they will need when they are married.

According to custom they all go to bed about 10.30pm and rise at 5am. Every Saturday morning they all meet up for a Family Court where the children sort out any issues between them… with some help from the adults. They look forward to having meat and rice on Sundays because the rest of the week they have posho (maize flour porridge) and beans.

Read more about the children’s home here.

Reducing lead times

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

A new device could enable us to shorten delivery lead times by speeding up our CNC milling and turning speeds from 5,000 rpm to 36,000 rpm – all powered by the CNC machine’s own high-speed coolant.

The high-speed, high-precision jet spindle (called Typhoon) is currently being tested on one our existing CNC milling machines – and so far the results are impressive.

The shorter cycle times will reduce the lead time and help maintain our 100% on-time delivery to customers.

If the savings are consistent, we will shortly roll out the device to more milling machines.

Da storage sistas!

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Our great friends and graphic designers at LandingFortysix produced this cheeky cartoon of us… and we love it!

The guys handle all our design work (including this website) and have been instrumental in helping us create our strong Store & Secure self-storage branding. They also do amazing work for other local companies.

If you’d like to talk to them about design in your business or organisation, drop them an e-mail at hello@landingfortysix.com

The best hooker

[Online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

Groveley’s first annual fishing competition around Poole Bay and harbour – on board charter fishing boat Rocket – was won by CNC team leader Leigh van Eldik.

Leigh landed seven species; pouting, bass, pollock, bream, mackerel, dogfish and undulate ray.

The all-day, bait-supplied species competition was sponsored by Dorset-based engineering tooling company Trucut… who joined in the fun.

Fast impact from start-up business

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Since Rebecca set up a business with our help – selling soap, sugar, cooking oil and pancakes she makes herself – in less than a year she has been able to afford to send two of her other children to local schools and to move her family to a two-bedroom home instead of the previous one small room. That's her business stall in the background by the side of the road.

She has five children (one attends the CoH school) and she says she is so grateful to be able to support her husband and provide for the family.

We love this form of social impact and the speed in which it can take place. It's a terrific spin-off from our main work of educating slum children, one that benefits the whole family as they together rise from the worst effects of poverty.

Shortlisted for top award

[Online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

For the second year running, we have been shortlisted for the Facility of the Year (Independent Operator) category in the self-storage industry awards!

After winning both the UK and European awards last year, it’ll be fascinating to see how far we get this year. If anything, our professionalism and business systems are even better than in 2014, so we’ve got a great chance.

We are among four companies shortlisted from around the UK – and we’ll find out this evening if we will be taking home another trophy from the special awards ceremony in Birmingham hosted by the Self Storage Association UK.

Aiming for the top… again

[Photography, online PR and eNewsletter for Store & Secure self-storage]

We’ve entered the Facility of the Year category in the self-storage industry awards for the second time… remember last year we won both the UK and European awards!

So although in reality it’s unlikey we will win two years running, our standards certainly haven’t slipped over the last year… so our application has gone in and we’re aiming for the top again.

We included all the information about how professional we are (of course) - but what still sets us apart is our friendly customer relationships, hospitality, hot drinks and providing lots of free extra services. We hope the judges like it again, because our customers clearly do!

We also pride ourselves on a clean and tidy facility, and this is regularly mentioned by potential customers when checking us out and have viewed other companies’ facilities – and it often wins us the business!

Paws for thought

[Photography and online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

Here’s a sneak view of our new well-hard security guard dog, Teddy. Clearly the most ferocious member of our team, 12 week-old Teddy is a Maltese and belongs to facility manager Sophie.

Like poodles and the Bichon Frisé, they are considered to be largely hypoallergenic, so many people who are allergic to dogs may not be allergic to the Maltese.

When you visit us you’ll get a nice welcome… the Maltese is famous for greeting everyone as a friend – just as we do!

Looking good with its final paint job

[Online PR for slum charity Child of Hope]

Here’s the latest view of our school in Namatala slum – it’s had a final lick of paint and flooring to finish it in time for an official opening… hopefully any day soon!

The school really stands out in the slum and we’re over the moon that little kids so poor that they wouldn’t normally have received an education can get a quality place like this to learn!

No late deliveries – for three years

[Photography and online PR for Groveley Precision Engineering]

Our SC21 Silver accreditation ensures that when we make a claim like that, it’s backed up by customer ratification. And it’s true, in the last three years we haven’t been late on a single job.

How is it achieved? Yes, by thorough scheduling and controls… but for us the biggest way has been to always talk with customers right through the process so they – and we – don’t develop unrealistic expectations. Then we agree a scheduled delivery that can be assured.

And we continue to invest in machinery, software and the latest machining strategies that help us work increasingly faster and more efficiently. Our clients manufacture high-value products… we simply cannot hold up their schedules.

On target

[Photography and online PR for Store & Secure self-storage]

We’re still growing! 

With a big welcome to all our new wonderful customers who have hired rooms over the last few months, Store & Secure self-storage just keeps expanding. In fact, the company on target for a 30% increase in turnover this financial year (which ends in September).