Airline seats get an environmental boost with IMM investment

Over the past eight months Northern Ireland-based injection moulder, Industrial Precision Components (IPC), has purchased two new Romi-Sandretto machines after securing financial assistance from both the Carbon Trust and Invest NI to facilitate expansion plans.

IPC purchased the Romi-Sandretto EN 100 and a larger EN 260 injection moulding machine primarily for the manufacture of plastic components used in airline seats. The company says it plans to purchase a further EN 100 within the next six months.

“We started our Mouldshop with a single second hand Sandretto mould machine and due to our continuous improvement planning  are in the position where we can confidently grow and buy new,” commented Joanne Liddle, Director at IPC.

“The replacement of older machines has reduced our carbon footprint and waste significantly with an annual combined saving of 114.05 TC02 as a result of introducing energy efficient machines EN 100 and EN 260. Our response times are better, typically five to 21 days from order to delivery depending on the part and quantity required.”

The Carrickfergus, County Antrim plant says it is continually growing with an expansion into new products and extended export opportunities.

“We had a recent quality audit by B/E Aerospace and they commented on the huge changes and improvements made. We have extended our premises to 14,000 sq ft and improved the physical layout of the factory to ensure optimum output.  In the first six months of this year we have far surpassed our sales and production targets,” continued Liddle.

Neil Bathard, National Sales Manager for Romi-Sandretto in the UK, said: “The Irish market is very important to us and we are very pleased to be able to help supply equipment to IPC that can foster their ambitious growth plans.”