CUSSONS COMPANY PROFILE

EVOLUTION

Cussons Technology was founded towards the end of the nineteenth century. An organisation which today has a proven history of successful operations as a manufacturer and supplier of equipment used for engineering teaching, research and product test applications. Product development, project business development and a major acquisition has produced substantial growth and growth potential in recent years. The latest major project to be completed is the design and equipping of an engine and emissions research facility at a cost of £15 Million for the Government of Indonesia. Other major clients include the U.K. Ministry of Defence for facilities related to engine and gearbox proving following repair, Petroleum Authority of Thailand for engine test beds related to oil product development and most of the high technology teaching and training establishment worldwide for a wide range of laboratory teaching equipment. The acquisition in 1997 by Cussons of the previously German based Kempf and Remmers Marine Hydrodynamic research business has opened up a new area of activity. Production of dynamometers and other equipment used in the field of hydrodynamic research and the design and installation of complete towing carriages and cavitation tunnels is now fully integrated into the business and growing rapidly. Instrumentation and modern control of existing facilities is becoming a major activity for Cussons.

With Cussons unique pedigree has evolved a commitment to the continuous development of products and services, customer and employee care, dedication to Total Quality Management and flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.

RESOURCES

Cussons operate from a modern purpose built factory constructed on the original Manchester site in 1980. The site is self-contained and located approximately 2 miles north of the city centre, in an area now designated for light industrial development. Manchester, as the primary commercial centre of the North West, has the benefit of exceptionally good road, rail and airport communications. Working facilities extend to approximately 5000 m2 and include the following major work centres:-

·        High bay final assembly area for large products/systems equipped with a 5 tonne gantry crane.

·        General purpose machine shop for light/medium duty components employing N.C. turning and machining centres in addition to conventional machine tools

·        Welding, fabrication and panel piercing facilities.

·        Bench fitting and sub-assembly area.

·        Electronics build area for assembly of panels, enclosures and p.c.b.'s etc.

·        Paint shop with large capacity high temperature stoving facilities.

·        Inspection and product test areas with high capacity services for functional verification trials.

Product design and project engineering services together with manufacturing and field technical support is provided by an Engineering Department of approximately 30 staff. Design engineering staff are professionally qualified, generally in mechanical or electrical/electronic specialisations. Micro-processors and computers are extensively used in our product/systems applications, development facilities are available on site for Motorola 68000 and Texas Instrument processors. A formalised high standard Drawing Office environment is employed in the detail definition of product designs to provide an effective basis for both initial manufacture and future product support. Sophisticated CAD systems are employed in system design work for both mechanical and electrical disciplines and high speed modem facilities are used for the transmission of drawings where appropriate to clients and project associates. FEA techniques are now being developed to support mechanical and dynamic modelling of critical design areas. The Company utilises a powerful in-house computer based stock and materials control system to ensure the economic and timely availability of manufacturing resources, approximately 9000 items are maintained in stores. Product design specialisation and experience is available in the following fields :

·        Engine and vehicle tests systems, including all aspects of their specialised services, controls, instrumentation and data management.

·        Specialised mechanical, thermal and fluid dynamics component/ assembly testing systems for wide range automotive, gas turbine engine and mechanical plant industry applications.

·        Exhaust gas sample handling, conditioning and analysis systems for gaseous and particulate pollutants.

·        Fluid flow, monitoring and control in general industrial situations and very specialised engine/vehicle related applications.

·        Environmental control systems, to facilitate test operations under either standardised or wide ranging simulated conditions.

·        Engineering process systems and experimental models for test work, research and demonstration of the engineering sciences.

·        Single cylinder research engine test facilities for advanced component and combustion investigation programmes.

·        Integration of plant engineering services required to support the operation of advanced test facilities.

·        Application of current state of the art electronics to the control and data management of specialised mechanical equipment systems, including "Autotest" Cussons' proprietary computer based test facility management system and the precision thyristor control of regenerative D.C. machines.

·        Application of current advanced design principles to machine vibration and noise control, use of high temperature materials, materials compatible with aggressive fluids, design and specification of special purpose pressure vessels, materials handling, drive line transmissions etc.

·        Engineering project management and liaison/supervision of design and implementation activities undertaken by civil and building services engineers.

In the development of this specialist engineering business the importance of product quality has been recognised and Cussons "Quality System" is designed to comply with the requirements of ISO 9001, resulting in the company achieving ISO 9001 accreditation. Product compliance with essential legislation is determined using extensive in house resources for radiated and conducted EMC requirements of immunity and emission.