Capula modernises production facility to boost volume and benefit from digitalisation

• Industrial control and automation systems specialists Capula will invest in strengthening its manufacturing and production facility at its Head Office in Stone
• Part of strategic production plan to see an increase in production volume – both in terms of capacity and breadth of capability
• Introduction of digitalised production techniques – drawing on over 50 years of experience delivering operational technology projects to critical national infrastructure clients
• Capula continues to support many critical projects including its recent contract win at Hinkley Point C

Staffordshire based Capula is investing in its industrial design and manufacturing capability to boost volume and strengthen its production facilities at its Head Office in Stone.

Designed to deliver significant efficiencies and optimise both capacity and capability throughout the advanced manufacturing process this latest programme of investment is aimed at introducing batch production techniques, including the creation of production cells.

Capula will be investing even further with a full programme of digitalisation as part of this initiative.

This will include the adoption of new technologies and optimisation of production techniques, such as the introduction of a world-class Lean Lift, designed to optimise both space and process. The Lean Lift will allow the production team to more efficiently locate key production components and tooling, simplifying the assembling phase.

Further development will include the deployment of Capula’s very own digital technologies to provide enhanced visibility of the production process, in turn improving the management of the manufacturing process and optimising both efficiency and quality.

This will include a new digital communication capability and tools to support operational efficiency including traceability and expediting of materials, identification of build and test issues, and automated notifications to project teams to ensure on time delivery. These additional digital tools follow on from the increasing application of collaboration technologies such as the use of Microsoft Teams to improve communication with engineers during periods of remote working during the recent COVID pandemic.

Leading the project, Capula Head of Production and Business Improvement, Matt Haubus said: “Being recently appointed to this critical role, having worked at Capula for over 6 years as Engineering and Quality Manager, I’m really excited to help with our continued drive to optimise our design for manufacturing capability to deliver even greater value to our customers.”

“Key to this project is helping us to better design for manufacture, leveraging best practice and more importantly embracing the digital tools and technologies we deploy to our customers across a variety of industries.”

Further commenting on the project, Paul Bayliss, Capula Operations Director, said: “Our design and manufacturing capability has been placed in high regard by our customers, having supported many critical national infrastructure programmes, some for over five decades.”

“Investing in our facilities is part of our ongoing strategy to ensure we can continue to support major projects across the UK and beyond, with a focus on driving productivity, efficiency and value to our customers.”

This project has an accelerated timeline throughout Summer and into Autumn, with a prototype production facility to be tested in December.