Stefan Fuchs Opens New UK Office - Building For The Future

FUCHS UK has invested in brand new contemporary 21st century offices at its headquarters in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, continuing the Group’s policy of investing in local facilities whilst growing its global presence.

Some key factors in the design of the offices were energy efficiency and the requirement to create an environment for employees that encourages team work and creativity.

The building utilises LED lighting, Climate Control systems and outstanding insulation properties.

In the open environment, even the CEO’s office doubles as an additional meeting space. Previous investment has seen solar panels installed within the manufacturing plant capable of 525kWp generating 14% of electricity demand, proving that sustainability for FUCHS means a real commitment, not just marketing speak.

FUCHS Chairman & CEO, Stefan Fuchs, cut the ribbon at todays official opening. Ralph Rheinboldt and Dagmar Steinert of the FUCHS Executive Board were also in attendance with UK Managing Director Richard Halhead, whilst UK staff from all departments gathered round to watch.

As well as being the UK manufacturing plant for the FUCHS Group, Hanley is also the FUCHS Global Centre of Excellence for the specialist sectors machining, mining, glass and Silkolene motorcycle oils.

In support of these specialist areas FUCHS has taken the opportunity to enhance the R&D Technical Centre which is attached to the new office block. This will create additional capacity for the ever increasing analytical work carried out in the Service and Quality laboratories. The new test centre will see additional machine tools being installed to enhance the CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) capabilities already in place.

This, taken together with new test field building in Mannheim, home of FUCHS Global, gives the UK company unparalleled test facilities in the industrial and automotive sectors.

Alongside the internal expertise, the UK manufacturing operation is supported by a total of 75 specialists in R&D, technical support and CPM (Chemical Process Management) that operates on FUCHS’ customers’ sites FUCHS’ CPM is a complete lubricant supply programme which is flexible and bespoke to meet the unique requirements of customers. FUCHS provides expert support in the areas of fluid supply, distribution, monitoring, maintenance, assessment and disposal, allowing the customer to concentrate on their core competency.

Full technical support is provided by the dedicated team of production fluid specialists and laboratory facilities, incorporated into regular site visits to ensure maximum efficiencies.

The CPM programmes are successfully operating in a wide spectrum of industries, including aerospace, foundries, press and body, automotive component manufacture, and food processing plants.

FUCHS continually strives to reduce environmental impact through innovative packaging solutions and sourcing the latest materials required for modern fluids in all sectors.

As an alternative to the regular 20L plastic containers, the launch of a 20 litre Lube Cube has been exceptionally positive and well received.

Following on from this success, FUCHS Silkolene have recently launched the 4L Lube Cube complete with all the existing benefits of the larger Lube Cube, including improved carbon footprint as the packaging boasts a 100% recyclable outer and a 98% recyclable inner. It is easy to store and limits waste and spills.

The 4L pack is printed in a four-colour process, fully branded with all the unique selling points FUCHS Silkolene offers, and will create a sense of theatre to the end user upon receipt.

This new package has been made possible by the installation of a specially designed Lube Cube filling/packing machine. It will ensure the Lube Cubes can be filled just as quickly as the plastic alternative.

Alongside new product development, FUCHS UK is constantly reviewing manufacturing capability and practices and continuously investing in new innovative manufacturing plant machinery.

Recently installed on the small pack filling lines is a robotic arm which will increase production capacity by over 75% whilst at the same time actively reducing operative manual handling so providing improved health and safety benefits.

Additional robotic arms will be commissioned for the barrel and IBC filling lines, as well as heated filling heads for the specialist wire rope products.

FUCHS - 21st century technology for a company designed to fulfill future lubricant production needs.