Yorkshire-based sub-contract electronics manufacturer Contract Production, have enjoyed a record-breaking month after fulfilling one of their biggest-ever orders in record time, securing their growth and development at a time of global uncertainty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The firm, whose base of operations is in Pickering, manufactured 247 noise measurement instrument kits, each made up of a scientific sound level meter alongside an acoustic calibrator, to fulfil a large order obtained by one of their key accounts, Cirrus Research plc. The fully-assembled acoustic measurement kits were delivered in-full and on-time to the police force in Delhi, India, to help officers enforce noise level regulations on the roads, and at public events and private gatherings such as parties and weddings.
The order, which was also a record-breaker for Cirrus Research, was turned around in just four weeks as opposed to the originally-anticipated timescale of eight to nine weeks.
Newly-appointed Operations Manager Andy Chiles said: "I'm incredibly proud of the whole team for their hard work in getting this order fulfilled on-time and in-full. This is one of our largest single orders, so it required some changes and adaptations to ensure we provided both Cirrus Research and the Delhi police force, with the instruments they needed".
He went on to say: "The order came through just as the COVID-19 crisis caused many of our suppliers in China to shut down. The fact that we were able to complete this order is testament to the flexibility and adaptability of Contract Production as a business, as well as our team."
Contract Production managed the whole manufacturing process of the order, from sourcing and assembly, right through to calibration, testing and packing. Many members of the Contract Production team were upskilled, and additional shifts were put on to ensure that the tight deadline was met.
This recent success follows a long and steady period of significant growth for the North Yorkshire manufacturer, with record levels of investment from its shareholders demonstrating the confidence they have in the firm moving forward.
Managing Director Simon Norris said: "This is yet another example of how British business, and more specifically Yorkshire business, are supporting the rest of the world with market-leading manufacturing services of the highest quality.
"In addition to this large order for India, we have seen an uplift in the amount of work we have taken on for overseas projects, as well as continuing to support British manufacturing and engineering projects. The confidence we inspire in our shareholders allows us to continue expanding our capacity to meet the needs of businesses in the UK and abroad.
"As a business, we have invested over £750,000 in our infrastructure and manufacturing capability over the last two years to ensure that we can continue to deliver for our varied and increasing customer base".
Contract Production manufactures a range of sub-contract electronic products and printed circuit board assemblies for a wide variety of industries. Last year saw the shareholders make a significant investment in new machinery, including an AM100 Panasonic, Pick and Place line and a brand new reflow oven, enabling the company to increase its output by up to 400%.
The whole production line populates printed circuit boards and can place up to 30,000 components per hour – another key advantage that has allowed the business to compete for the larger contracts.
As well as larger orders, Contract Production also produces one-off prototypes, or low-rate production runs for clients that are often made by hand, for new products that are yet to go to market. These can be anything that requires circuit boards, from GPS tracking devices and fire safety equipment to cameras and measurement instrumentation for the oil and gas industry.