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In 1985
Caparo Industries and Corus, which was then British Steel, embarked on an exciting
venture, to bring modern merchant bar production to Scunthorpe, utilising an existing
mill building, adding state of the art technology, a committed workforce, fed
with raw material from one of the most efficient steelmaking facilities in Europe.
A number of new investments in the years since have, in spite of fluctuating market conditions, enabled the workforce to improve volume every year, increasing capacity to nearly 400,000 tonnes per annum.
In 1995, we were proud to demonstrate our confidence in the business by investing in a second fully automated Rolling Mill, utilising the latest technology which has lifted volume by approximately 100,000 tonnes per annum.
We believe this new investment, together with constant improvements in the range of specifications available, will offer our customers the widest range of merchant bar products available from a single site in Europe.
Our commitment is to provide products and customer service to the highest possible standards to ensure continued growth in the 21st Century.
COMMITMENT THROUGH INVESTMENT
When the Company was formed in 1985, an initial investment of £10.0m was needed to transform and rebuild a redundant Rod Mill, transforming it into one of the most efficient merchant bar mills in Europe.
The investment represented only a first step however, as CMB has followed a policy of renewal and improvement to ensure the facilities retain their leading position.
In 1988, the warehouse was redesigned and new radio controlled semi-goliath cranes installed to improve throughput and efficiency. 1990 saw the installation of an Orbis Measuring Gauge for greater dimensional control, a first in merchant bar production. In 1992, the Queen's Award Ceremony coincided with the opening of a £5m scheme, to process and bundle sections in line, which together with billet/run out optimisation schemes, improved yields and outputs, and improved customer service.
In 1995 this policy resulted in the opening of a new re-rolling mill, which has lifted output to 400,000 tonnes, and added 50 new sizes to our range. Total investment in the Scunthorpe site now stands close to £40m.
COMMITMENT TO QUALITY
CMB has, from the beginning, been committed to a total quality approach. In 1993, the company achieved the Investor in People status, a significant step in that it demonstrates our commitment to ensure that the best technology available is matched by a highly motivated, well trained workforce. This approach ensures that product quality is monitored from the earliest stages, and non conformance is identified during process, rather than at the customer works. Our records show that complaints from customers have fallen both in number and cost terms year on year since we started deliveries in 1986, in spite of the growth in volumes delivered and qualities produced.
In 1996, complaints of all types totalled less than one for every 1,000 tonnes produced.
Product quality is backed up by an equally high standard of customer service. A high technology computerised monitoring system links our customer support services with the actual manufacturing process. We monitor and check the progress of each order against your specifications to achieve the ultimate aim - customer satisfaction.
COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMERS
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CMB has continued throughout the last decade to develop a strong customer base, all over the world. In order to provide these customers with the best standards of product and service, we have continually improved our range of sizes and qualities to meet demand. |  |
| In 1986, over 90% of the deliveries consisted of two basic structural quality steels, from which almost 100 sizes were sold. In 1997, the two mills offer over 300 sizes, excluding bars for special tolerance applications, which move the total to nearer 500 sizes. At the same time as improving our portfolio of sizes, CMB has introduced over 40 qualities of steel including Pressing Qualities, Medium and High Carbon grades, Boron Steels and other low alloy grades opening up new markets and new opportunities. |  |
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Currently CMB considers over 40% of its product range to be special, either by virtue of steel grade, size, finish or tolerance. These products are produced as a result of our customers' requests, and their growth is testimony of our commitment to meeting customers' requirements more closely. |  |