Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Polypipe Building Services has enhanced manufacturing through a programme of automation investment at its Aylesford production facility.
Recent investment include £1.5 million in automation technology, alongside further investment of £3 million in moulding machinery and £2.5 million in extrusion technology.
The manufacturer has implemented automated systems using six-axis and Cartesian robots, running on a 24-hour, five-day production cycle, increasing output and improving responsiveness to fluctuating demand while maintaining existing workforce levels.
Tooling and automation manager at Polypipe Building Services, Ned Seale, said: “Automation is helping us respond to growing demand while maintaining quality and supporting our workforce. By integrating robotics and AI inspection technologies, we are improving production consistency, reducing waste and allowing teams to focus on more technical, value-adding activities.”
“While the initial investment can be significant, automated systems can deliver long-term operational benefits through improved efficiency, quality and resource optimisation.”
