Koso Kent Introl, Opens Third Factory

Koso Kent Introl (KKI), is making a sevenfigure investment in its business that will increase manufacturing capacity, improve process efficiencies and maintain quality excellence, for the valve manufacturer.

The firm has opened a new 18,000 square foot factory in Brighouse, a few hundred yards from its original factory on Armytage Road; part of a significant investment programme within Yorkshire. The new factory is the company’s third facility in Brighouse, where it has been based for over forty years. The new site is housing the aftermarket team responsible for service and spares, and creating additional capacity for scheduled shut-down or maintenance programmes that demand high volume turnaround in short timescales.

Denis Westcott, KKI’s managing director said: “We are fully committed to providing world-class service engineering and manufacturing practices for our oil and gas customers around the world. We recognise that to remain competitive and maintain our position as a global player, we need to continue to invest in our Yorkshire roots; that’s in our people, processes, facilities and new machinery.”

Further works have already started at KKI’s machine shop that is being reconfigured to accommodate the arrival of several new pieces of hi-tech machinery over the coming months, allowing the company to produce higher volumes in shorter timescales, whilst reducing waste.

Lynn Mowbray, KKI’s operations director said: “As part of our Continuous Improvement Programme across the business, it’s essential that we have the ability to keep production in-house wherever possible to maintain a degree of flexibility and production scheduling. The new factory enables us to focus on the spares/service sector whilst the investment in the existing machine shop will increase our capacity.

“Our investment in the latest machining centre and Integrex machine is going to make a huge difference to our operational capabilities, particularly for some of the high volume projects that we have on our order books.”

KKI’s investment extends to its on-site testing capabilities. Construction of a state-of-the art gas test facility, one of only a handful in the UK, is underway and is expected to be fully operational this summer. Having this capability in-house will enable KKI to control cost, time and quality across the KKI product range. It will also enable the firm to supply testing services to other manufacturers, for the first time.

Koso Kent Introl
Tel: 01484 710311
Website: www.kentintrol.com

Published: 1st September 2011