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[August 2006]
Sino-European Agreement Delivers Cost and Supply Improvements for Kiln Furniture Buyers
Dyson Thermal Technologies has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with China’s Beijing Trend Industrial Ceramics Co Ltd which the companies say is set to change the face of the highly competitive kiln furniture supply market.Dyson Thermal Technologies-Kiln Furniture is based in the heart of the traditional UK ceramic industry in Stoke-on-Trent and the company is now the sole distributor for Beijing Trend products in the whole of Europe, Africa (excluding RSA) and all countries in the Americas except Canada.
"Dyson’s global supply chain, combined with industry-leading delivery times and in partnership with Trend’s competitive cost base, will provide our customers with the highest levels of service and increased cost competitiveness," said Mark Stuckey, Dyson Thermal Technologies’ Executive Manager. "This agreement provides a perfect fit with the company’s overall goals, very much aimed at continuous innovation and product development at the same time as remaining a recognised one-stop shop for all kiln furniture requirements around the world."
Customers are already finding that the combination of cost options and supply flexibility is providing more choice and helping with production planning. The dual location manufacturing operation effectively means that Dyson TT customers have the opportunity to purchase Beijing Trend products at lower prices with a 12-14 week lead time. Mutual stocking agreements will facilitate the shortening of delivery periods over time.
Alternatively, for UK manufactured product with a delivery time of not more than six weeks, customers can order direct from the Dyson TT factory at European prices. Over the past two years, a system of Lean Process Management has been successfully introduced at the Hartshill site in Stoke-on-Trent and it is this more than anything that has enabled the company to maintain its international reputation for the breadth of supply and quality of product while offering, in general, unrivalled delivery times to match the best in the world, reports the company.
Beijing Trend Industrial Ceramics was established in 1998 and operates in the Tongzhou District of Beijing. Since the addition of an automatically fired tunnel kiln in 2003, annual production capacity has been boosted to 5,000 tonnes. The company began by specialising in mullite-cordierite kiln furniture and in only eight years has become the leading producer in Asia. It produces a complete range of kiln furniture and kiln structure refractories using pressing, de-airing extrusion and casting.
With a quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2000, Trend has continuously developed new products with advanced technologies as its expertise has grown. The company’s aim has been to remain at the forefront of the sector, in order to enhance kiln furniture technology in China, in conjunction with servicing world-wide needs.
A smooth transition to the newly announced supply lines has been greatly enhanced by the presence of a Dyson specialist at the Beijing Trend plant. A Chinese speaker, his technical assistance and advice will undoubtedly increase the quality of the Chinese product, providing yet another benefit to customers. He will have the support of Beijing Trend’s R&D department which is specialised in kiln furniture and fine refractory materials and which is fully equipped with laboratory instruments and permanently staffed by six senior technicians.
"By sharing techniques, joint development, transfer of manufacturing, integrated quality standards and an efficient servicing network, we offer quality products, top-level service, earliest possible delivery and most competitive pricing," commented Guo Haizhu, President of Beijing Trend Industrial Ceramics. "All of our customers will enjoy the benefits flowing from the partnership between Dyson and Trend. As a result of the collaboration, together we are capable of supplying kiln furniture and total solutions for kiln cars and structures to manufacturers of tableware, sanitaryware, heavy clay products, crystallised glass panels, powder metallurgy products and technical ceramics."
Dyson Thermal Technologies-Kiln Furniture, a recent amalgamation of Dyson Ceramic Systems and Dyson TPM, is an operating division of Dyson Group PLC. This Sheffield based group – which was established in the city in 1810 – supplies all significant industrial sectors and has 15 manufacturing facilities in various countries employing a total of around 850 people. It has an annual turnover of approximately £60 million.
The restructuring that led to the formation of Dyson Thermal Technologies was undertaken in order to meet all the future demands of the major thermal processing industries. This task entailed revising the product portfolio and bringing together the research capabilities of the constituent parts of the new division. Already one of the leading cordierite refractories manufacturers – known and respected all around the ceramic producing world – Dyson’s latest move should give it a big edge over the competition.
For all users of kiln furniture products, whether in the traditional or high-tech sectors, this latest example of Sino-European cooperation means nothing but good news for all types and sizes of ceramic manufacturers. Dyson’s global supply chain, with industry-leading delivery schedules, allied to Beijing Trend’s competitive cost base will provide both existing and new customers with the highest levels of service, flexibility and increased cost competitiveness. A Dyson supply manager, originally from the UK, is now permanently based at Trend’s factory to assure the quality of supply, adding an extra dimension of reassurance for the customer.
All aspects of the new commercial agreement can be discussed with the companies at the Tecnargilla exhibition, taking place in Rimini, Italy from 28 September to 2 October 2006. Technical and export sales executives will be on hand to meet both existing and potential customers and show them exactly how the new product, price and delivery menu operates and where their optimum choices lie.
For further information on this distribution agreement, full product details and also to arrange meetings during the Tecnargilla exhibition, please contact:
Phil Green – Technical Sales Manager, Dyson Thermal Technologies-Kiln Furniture kfenq@dysontt.com
www.dysontt.com
ENDS