Carrylift prides itself on developing the right solution for the right application. At the North Shields site of Formica Group, Carrylift’s ability to provide and maintain all manner of equipment has helped establish a strong and enviable working partnership.

Formica Group is a leading provider of branded, designed surfacing solutions for commercial and residential customers worldwide. As the world’s largest manufacturer of High Pressure Laminate (HPL), the company has a network of design, manufacturing, distribution and sales operations maintaining the recognition of Formica as a global brand.

At the heart of all Formica’s MHE activity is Senior European Category Manager, Steve Betts. Steve has been coordinating MHE as part of a project over three years, with £40m investment in staff and facilities in the UK plant and head office. The project has seen considerable investment in new MHE equipment, extensive new production machines and upgrades to the building fabric. Says Steve, “Processes have been streamlined and production is more efficient, and environmentally sensitive than it has ever been.” He goes onto say “Working closely with Tony Forrester at Carrylift to improve our material workflow has been an important part of that.”

Despite being the incumbent supplier for many years, Carrylift were also part of the new tender process, undertaken before the MHE upgrades got underway.

Three intense rounds of tendering, looking at service delivery, first time fix KPI’s and, of course commercial matter’s, meant a full audit and financial exercise was undertaken.

The cumulative effect, however, cannot be understated. “As a result of the work here,” says Steve, “we will be advising sites elsewhere in the world on how we are doing things faster, safer and, ultimately, cheaper.”