Doubling up on machinery, doubling down on continuity

In a home improvement market where schedules are often tight, the knock-on effect of supply delays spells bad news for installers, with reputation, cashflow and customer confidence all at stake.

With this in mind, investment decisions at composite door and PVC-U panel manufacturer, Hurst, are driven by the need to protect customers from such disruption. Prioritising operational excellence, manufacturing efficiency and continuity, Hurst’s aim is to shield its customers from unexpected downtime.

Rather than viewing additional machinery purely as a means to increase output, Hurst has factored the impact of breakdowns into its manufacturing strategy.

Operating from two dedicated factories – one producing composite doors and the other producing PVC-U panels – Hurst’s aim is to do what it does best, and do it well.

“The business is based around two focussed factories,. One for composites and one for panels, because the manufacturing process for each of those product categories is considerably different,” says Kevin Wheatman, Director & General Manager at Hurst.

Staying in familiar territory, Hurst has concentrated on enhancing its core offering as opposed to a ‘Jack of all trades’ approach, as Kevin explains: ‘We’ve been careful not to overcomplicate our offering or diversify too much,” he says. “Whether it’s a foam or a solid core, our composites doors are manufactured by the same processes. The same applies to panels – whether it’s our Securicore™ reinforcement or others, they’re produced using consistent construction methods.

“We’ve focused on doing what we do well, and that’s certainly played a significant role in our success.”

 

Investing in continuity

When it comes to key drivers of investment in the business, continuity is a significant consideration for Hurst.

“It’s really important, for our reputation’s sake, that we are able to supply our customers all the time and not be affected by machine breakdowns or maintenance and service,” explains Kevin.

To achieve this, the company has developed a support and continuity strategy for key equipment across both factories.

This includes the installation of four CNC machines on site, not only allowing Hurst to increase its capacity but also ensuring that production can continue in the event of any unforeseen issues or breakdowns.

This approach extends across Hurst’s entire operation, with the recent addition of a second sandblasting machine.

The same principle applies to glass washing, with two machines in operation to ensure that maintenance or servicing does not halt production.

“Alongside increased capacity, we’ve built in continuity, and that approach runs right the way through the business,” adds Kevin. “Every area of the factory is set up to deliver a consistent service to our customers.

 

A trusted supplier

For installers, this investment in additional key equipment provides reassurance. Orders can be placed with confidence, knowing production remains secure and not reliant on a single point of failure.

Known throughout the trade for its reliability, Hurst’s reputation is strengthened by this approach.

“We’re renowned for giving our customers what they expect, when they expect it,” says Kevin. “At Hurst, planned maintenance does not result in downtime, and breakdowns do not mean missed delivery dates.

“We know that disruption can be costly for installers, and reducing that risk is key to our continuity of supply.”