Preformed Windings celebrated their 50 year anniversary in 2018, having developed a reputation as a leading supplier of armature and high voltage coils to both OEM’s and repair companies globally. The organisation is a valued member of the AEMT and has seen significant growth and investment over the last five years, driven by their core value propositions Speed, Quality & Service as well as being the only major coil supplier not to carry out rewinds & repairs.
New Facility
Driven by global demand for Preformed Windings coils, the organisation has expanded to open a new manufacturing facility in Pell City, AL, USA. The 27,000sqft facility offers both VPI and Resin Rich coils manufactured in a climate controlled environment which has been specifically designed to incorporate the existing knowledge and experience gleaned from 50 years in the industry, as well as their trusted manufacturing processes.
Leading this new facility will be Dave Hardy, who has gained nearly 20 years of experience in the coil industry in the UK, before being tasked with setting up and opening the new US facility. Dave formerly looked after coil production in Preformed Windings UK facility and is therefore perfectly suited to drive the new facility forward in line with Preformed Windings core values, best manufacturing practices and the high quality expectations their customers have come to expect.
New Staff
The continued growth and development of the Preformed Windings business has led to the decision to appoint a new Operations Director responsible for all operations, as well as a new Production Manager in the UK to strengthen the technical capability of the business.
Danny Fox has been appointed Operations Director for Preformed Windings. Danny joined the team at the end of April and will be responsible for the continuous improvement within the product centres and maintaining high levels of quality throughout the entire coil manufacturing process. Danny has over 17 years of experience in the engineering industry and joins Preformed Windings from Sulzer Dowding and Mills where he more recently held the position of General Manager for the coil manufacturing division. Danny’s knowledge within the industry and his focus on maximising operational effectiveness within similar environments will undoubtedly be a positive step for the Preformed Windings business.
Les Guthrie has been appointed Production Manager for Preformed Windings. Les joined the team in October and is responsible for coil manufacture in the UK facility, further supporting the high levels of quality expected by the organisations global customer base. Les has over 30 years of experience in the coil industry and is another member of the team joining Preformed Windings from Sulzer Dowding and Mills where he held the position of Works Manager. Les’ knowledge within the industry and of coil manufacturing further strengthens the technical knowledge and capability within the organisation.
New Equipment and technical capability
In addition to strengthening the Preformed Windings team and opening a new manufacturing facility in the USA, significant investment has been made in industry leading equipment for the manufacture of quality high voltage coils in their UK facility. Preformed Windings have installed an additional looping line, as well as new taping equipment and significant investment in additional presses and testing equipment. This investment enables the organisation to continue offering their industry leading lead times whilst managing the increasing demand year on year for their high quality product.
This investment in equipment, as well as maintaining close proximity and involvement with technical seminars and industry bodies such as the AEMT enables Preformed Windings to stay at the forefront of coil technology and technical expertise.
James Stevens, Sales Director for Preformed Windings, concludes: “Preformed Windings go from strength to strength and it is my pleasure to be part of our 50 year anniversary. The organisation has seen significant growth year on year for the past 5 years, and this year is no different. It is a pleasure to be part of an organisation with such a strong reputation, and that is so forward thinking. We have strengthened the team significantly with the addition of Danny and Les who both bring years of experience, and along with the new manufacturing facility in the USA, and new manufacturing equipment in the UK, our capacity has significantly increased whilst maintaining our world leading quality and lead times. These developments represent a huge step forward in supporting our growth and service offering around the world.
At Preformed Windings we keep our value proposition very simple, we offer a quality product in a short lead time, with 24/7 service that goes the extra mile. Additionally we do not compete with our customers meaning we don’t offer rewinds and repairs to end users – we only make coils, further building trust between ourselves and our customers. We stay true to our value proposition and I have no doubt this will continue to drive growth moving forward”