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Components manufactured by PAG Sheetmetal turn up in all kinds of
places.
Tom Rowley reports for Builder &
Engineer magazine
Visitors to the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, even were they
not bowled over by the attractions or frustrated by queues, could
be forgiven for not noticing the handiwork of one west London engineering
company.
Like so much of its work it is not immediately visible. Yet without
its expertise, buildings and a variety of equipment simply could not
function.
Whatever the merits of the debate that raged about its design, its
ticketing organisation or even if it should have been built at all,
the Dome was completed on time for last New Year's Eve.
PAG Sheetmetal played its small part in the construction of the mammoth
structure by manufacturing the various copper, brass and steel components
which make up the floor patterns on the pathways in some areas of
the dome.
The Millennium Dome in Greenwich
The Greenwich marvel is only one of a number of remarkably diverse
areas where the company's manufactured components are utilised on
land, sea and air.
Company components have been used on exhibits at the Natural History
Museum. PAG Sheetmetal also manufactures the conduits - the fire rated
galvanised casings - for the cross-Channel Eurostar train, through
which run electricity cables.
The aviation industry is another source of business. Air Cargo, which
manufactures containers used in airliners to hold in flight meals,
is another customer. PAG Sheetmetal also makes the cappings used on
the doors and windows in aircraft interiors.
Cyberstar, which manufactures mountings satellite dishes is another
customer. Other clients include the Hogarth group and its chain of
leisure clubs. One of the company's contracts was Hogarth's' Park
Club' leisure centre in Acton.
PAG Sheetmetal has manufactured and supplied the main signage, bicycle
stands, handrails, fencing and the main gate for the club. It has
also been responsible for fabrication of the staircases.
The Receiption area at the Park Club
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The Chrome handrails at the Park Club
The company also has two tobacco industry customers. For the US tobacco
giant Philip Morris, the company manufactures the components for cigarette
making machines, which are capable of turning out 12,000 cigarettes
a minute. The company also manufactures components for machinery used
by tobacco company Molins.
SSS Gears, makers of heavy gearing machines, is another regular customer
and the company's products have also been used in fire rated ducting
manufactured by B&K Southern.
The 'fine limit' sheet metal working company, so-called because it has
to work to such precise measurements, is based in Hanwell. It is part
of the PAG group, headquartered in Raynes Park, south west London.
PAG manufactures equipment for the broadcast
and video industries, such as battery packs, chargers, camera lighting
and accessories, used by mobile TV and production crews.
PAG Sheetmetal employs 14 people at its premises in Hanwell. Its base
is made up of a fully computerised workshop and offices. Workshop equipment
comprises a state-of-the-art LVD Helius laser-cutting machine, two guillotines,
one fabrication centre for pounding the steel sheeting, two metal folding
machines, three welding plants and one manually operated metal punching
machine.
Total value of the machinery is more than £750,000. The firm makes
and supplies metal parts for the parent company and reports that business
is also brisk from its external customers.
The company has built-up a good reputation, which has been spread by word-of-mouth.
PAG Sheetmetal always attempts to keep to the agreed delivery times and regards the level of customer
service as one of its main strengths, along with the quality of the
products.
The company's main area of activity is in the south east but
it also makes deliveries as far north as Coventry and as far west as
Bath. Products are delivered ready made to the customer's specification.
As is clear from its varied customer base, there is no small amount
of design work involved before its bespoke components are fabricated.
As much as 70 per cent of out-work involves a customer coming
to PAG Sheetmetal with only a rough idea of what they realy require. The initial
concept is turned into reality. If changes are required,
these too can be accommodated .
PAG Sheetmetal's loyal workforce also helps explain the company's success to
date. The sheetmetal workers are time served tradesmen, which guarantees the quality of the products produced.
In an effort to further improve the services available to its customers,
the company has made significant capital investment to meet future challenges.
Around £500,000 has been invested in a LVD Helius laser cutter, which has
further improved product quality and brought even more work
through the door.
Anything that gives a company an extra edge in what is a highly competitive
market and provides added value has to be considered.
Tom Rowley: Builder & Engineer magazine
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