The future is a single source for all products

At the heart of manufacturing excellence at Future Products is technologically advanced machinery supplied by The Promac Group

At all levels of the window industry, from components to finished products, the way companies deal with the challenges that lie ahead will determine the future shape of the industry. Aligning yourself with like-minded suppliers is the cornerstone to business success. This is a valuable principle that trade fabricator Future Products has adopted throughout its existence. Under the guidance of Dennis Thorpe, the company has witnessed an evolution in its customer base. With new routes to market and ever-changing product demands, Future's customer base has been extremely reliant on its trade supplier. The implications for Dennis's business have been staggering, and ones which have brought about many different challenges. First and foremost is Future's ability to manufacture the right products at the right time, at the right quality and at the right price. This may sound like a straightforward task, but when you consider the complexity of the product range that needs to be manufactured, the task becomes an unenviable one.

Instrumental role
The role of industry machinery experts Promac Window Machinery has been instrumental in the creation of the high-tech manufacturing plant. Future has invested heavily in a fully automated transfer frame line which features an Urban AKS 6100 6 point welder and AKS 6100 4 point welder. This then feeds into an Urban 4-head CNC Corner Cleaner SV-800. The factory also features an Urban AKS 6610 8-point welder leading into into an Urban 2-head CNC Corner Cleaner (SV - 815). All the lines include full on-line bar coding with complete line transfer of all data and the ability to recogise all systems, profile shapes and foiled profiles.

A major issue that has focused the minds of the men at the helm of Future is the move towards a 'one-stop-shop' supply service for installers. Increasing numbers of customers have been reluctant to outsource products as Dennis points out: "Much has changed over the last few years, especially with regard to specialist products. Previously, a customer would pick up his frames in the morning, then drive 5 miles to collect products that they can now directly source form us, such as:
• toughened glass units,
• vertical sliders,
• arched frames,
• door panels,
• bi-folds doors,
• composite doors.
If these weren't ready, he couldn't complete the installation despite the fact he had already paid for the frames."
This situation was all too common, so Future took the decision to manufacture in-house a full range of standard and specialist products. This also solved another problem associated with buying from different suppliers - that of differing shades of white on PVC-U products: "An installer can be sure that if they buy either a bi-fold, a door with outer frame, or a vertical slider from us they will match the colour of the casements right down to the astragal bars. I always remind a customer that you wouldn't put a Ford bonnet on a Mercedes, so why would you do it with your fenestration products."

Manufacturing capacity is the other key area at Future that has evolved with time. As the company moves forward, extra pressures have been placed on the output of the factory. As customers look to single-source products from Future, the production line needs to deal with growing complexities of orders, while also needing to adapt to increased volume and total output. Dennis also points to the re-emergence of smaller fabricators ceasing fabrication: "We need to make sure that if we gain a new account that demands up to 200 items a week, our existing production flow can deliver the quality and service this type of customer demands."

This situation has become even more important as the company looks to expand with the development of regional depots. These depots, currently located in Hull, Middlesborough and Doncaster, have enabled Future to target local markets from dedicated satellite operations. Each has an experienced manager with local knowledge and receives daily deliveries from the company's main manufacturing plant in Mansfield.

Actions and support
Central to all Future's needs are the actions and support the company receives from its key machinery supplier Promac Window Machinery. The development of CNC window- producing machinery has been at the forefront of Promac's vision. Derek Bonnard, Managing Director of Promac, sees Future as a fine example of what can be achieved with the latest CNC machinery. He says: "In order to manufacture high quality products with complex features, CNC technology is the only way to go. The business model at Future is one we believe will see the company go from strength to strength as it adapts to the ever-changing demands of its customers."

Dennis couldn't have achieved much of what they have today without the full co-operation of Promac, as Dennis is happy to confirm: "Promac will go through hoops to help its customers. We rely heavily on Promac because we haven't got a spare production line so down-time isn't an option." The business environment is constantly changing for Future Products and it is clear that the company is exceptionally well placed to deliver on all fronts in terms of quality, service and the dynamic market requirements.

Tel: 01788 577 577
E: sales@promac.co.uk
E: info@futureproductsltd.com