Bob Bunting Visits Extended Redditch Plant
By Paul Fears | 14 March 2022
For the first time since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2020, Bunting’s President and CEO, Bob Bunting, travelled across to the United Kingdom for a tour of the European operations. This included a first visit to the recently extended manufacturing facility at Redditch.
Investment in Manufacturing
Since 2017, the Bunting Group’s European operation has expanded considerably with investment and expansion in manufacturing facilities as well as several company acquisitions.
Bob Bunting’s February and March 2022 UK tour included visits to all three European manufacturing sites. At Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, the very first Bunting operation in Europe, the focus is on the supply and design of magnets, magnet assemblies, and magnetising equipment.
Recent investments in the Berkhamsted operation include extending the magnet test and development centre and reorganising the manufacturing area in response to a record growth in orders for magnetic assemblies and industrial magnetisers.
The UK visit provided Bob Bunting with a first opportunity to see the recently expanded manufacturing operation in Redditch, just outside Birmingham. The Redditch plant, originally housing Master Magnets Ltd who Bunting acquired in 2017, has increased both manufacturing and office space by 50%. The investment has enabled Bunting-Redditch to meet the growing demand for magnetic separation equipment including Eddy Current Separators and Overband Magnets, for which orders grew substantially in 2021.
During a tour of the Redditch facility, Bob Bunting was shown the state-of-the-art Customer Experience Centre, which includes an extensive range of laboratory-scale and product-sized test equipment. During the expansion of the Redditch manufacturing plant, the testing facility was given a high priority and modernised, providing the ideal location for controlled and extensive material testing. The new laboratory provides the perfect platform for visits from company representatives to test samples and assess separation capabilities.
Recent Company Acquisitions
The Bunting Group continues to expand their European operation with the acquisition of MagDev and Pilamec. The addition of MagDev extends Bunting’s magnet portfolio to include specialist custom and industrial magnets, as well as soft magnetic solutions in various shapes, sizes, and grades. Under the Bunting-Berkhamsted umbrella, the group provides an extensive and unrivalled range of magnets and magnetic materials.
The acquisition of Pilamec adds new manufacturing capabilities to the Bunting Group and Rob Absalom, Pilamec’s Operations Manager, gave Bob Bunting a tour around the Lydney facility. Pilamec specialize in providing batch dry milling, screening, air classification, and blending of organic and inorganic minerals for companies in industries including mining, refractories, recycling, and ceramics. A diverse range of materials are handled, from metal powder to non-toxic chemical milling. Originally acquired by MagDev as a key raw material supplier for soft magnetics, Pilamec provides the group with an opportunity to diversify into new areas of manufacturing.
Success Fuels Success
Continued improvement, the development of new products, and manufacturing investment continue to fuel the Bunting Group’s growth in Europe.
“This is an exciting time for the Bunting Group,” explained Bob Bunting. “Our strategic acquisitions strengthen our position as a global leader in the supply of magnetic products and equipment.”
For further information on Magnetic Separators, Eddy Current Separators, and ElectroStatic Separators for metal recovery in recycling applications or to discuss a specific project including undertaking tests in our Customer Experience Centre, please contact our technical sales team on:
Email: Gordon Kerr at GKerr@buntingmagnetics.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 1527 65858
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