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March Of The Machines
We’re seeing a remarkable level of interest in purchasing aluminium window and door manufacturing equipment, writes Ian Latimer, MD at Emmegi...
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Software Softens Demand Boom Punch
Halsall Glass saw such a boom in post-lockdown demand the firm might have wobbled. But a timely investment in software meant the company doubled in size no bother.
The glass processor operates within the construction, supply chain and also supplies other glass companies. Interior fit out, leisure and retail display are just some of the areas where the company has won a number of new contracts.
“We came back from lockdown early in comparison to our competitors because we could socially distance very easily and because the demand for glass was still there.”
– Rob Halsall
Managing Director, Halsall Glass
Winning customers
“That meant we picked up a number of new customers," continues Halsall Glass' Rob Halsall. "We’ve now retained that business and as more of the industry came back, we saw even greater demand. We’ve doubled in size on this time last year.”
Clear Thinking Software
Halsalls’ use of business management and optimisation software from Clear Thinking Software has been instrumental in supporting the company in managing demand and safeguarding profitability.
IGUs
The software includes Glass Office, Clear Thinking's operational management tool for the glass processing and IGU sectors.
It is designed to support management of the complete order process from quote through to scheduling, production, invoicing and warranty, using bar code and scanning technology to provide real-time visibility of exactly where a product is in the production cycle.
Its features include the ability to manage pricing, discounts and orders, track failed units to specific production cycles to understand the cause of those failures, print labels, delivery notes and schedule deliveries.
Maximising outputs
Halsall Glass also used Clear Thinking’s GlasSave glass optimiser – installed only weeks ahead of lockdown – to maximise outputs. Designed to work with a wide range of glass cutting tables, it helps to maximise outputs from 3210 x 2250/2550mm sheets as well as full jumbo 6000 x 3210mm sheets, creating clear cutting plans based on daily production requirements.
In addition to this, it also takes into consideration the available space for sorting and storing cut glass, nesting shapes, for example balustrades and also storing and re-using off-cuts.
Coping mechanism
Halsall says: “Given the volumes we’ve seen this year compared to last, we wouldn’t have coped without Clear Thinking Software. The volume of off-cuts alone would have been hugely wasteful. The optimisation software was what swung the decision to invest for me - and it has proven to have been a good choice given our sudden expansion.
“When you work out what it actually does and how much you save a month, it’s a no-brainer. It paid for itself in two-months. That’s how good it is.”
Picture: Rob Halsall.
www.clearthinkingsoftware.co.uk
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
21st December 2020