Optimas Solutions UK manufacturing division, Barton Cold-Form, demonstrated the power of local, in-house manufacturing. The Droitwich-based plant prevented a major OEM production shutdown in under a week.
A technical IT error on the customer’s end resulted in the stock of externally threaded fasteners reaching a dangerously low level. Production was projected to stop within a week unless parts could arrive in time.
Within hours of receiving the call, late on a Wednesday evening, Barton Cold-Form had:
- Reorganised their tooling schedule and completed a tool change within four hours; the process normally takes eight hours
- Resumed manufacturing overnight
- Activated local subcontractors for plating and hardening
- Dispatched parts by 6am the following Monday
The entire response, from first alert to delivery, spanned less than six days, significantly faster than the standard six-week lead time for the same product.
As a result of Barton’s manufacturing agility, the customer experienced:
- Lead time reduced from six weeks to less than six days.
- No line stoppage.
- Full customer satisfaction and recognition of Barton’s agility.
Following the shipment of the parts, Mike Tuffy, CEO of Optimas International, said: “This is what UK manufacturing excellence looks like – fast, focused and deeply connected to our local supply chain.”
Frank Walsh, VP Manufacturing, added: “At Barton, we operate as one cohesive unit. When a challenge arises, everyone aligns with a shared purpose. That’s the strength of our team.”
Based in Droitwich, Barton Cold-Form specialises in the production of externally threaded fasteners for a wide range of industries. As Optimas’ UK manufacturing division, Barton delivers high-quality components with speed, consistency and technical precision.
Barton provides Optimas’ UK and European customers with in-house fastener design, engineering, and production capabilities. With over 90 years of experience meeting customers’ bespoke fastening requirements or providing standard fastener solutions, Barton can optimise your product’s performance.
