MiTek Maintenance Manager Simon Brazier shares how a successful working relationship with Presscare has transformed productivity at their site in Dudley. With the help of Presscare , MiTek has installed cutting-edge safety equipment, bringing a newfound sense of continuous improvement to the global company.
Simon recently sat down to discuss how this partnership has evolved and why it continues to deliver value for both organisations.
Finding a good partner is difficult. Having a working relationship between companies that is truly mutually beneficial is rare, but in Presscare, MiTek found a partner that understood their needs perfectly, and thanks to Simon, has had ample opportunity to improve processes and increased productivity.
‘Working with Presscare was a natural progression’, says Simon. ‘When I started at MiTek in 2020, Presscare were already working with the company but not at the scale we are now. I saw the potential in a more collaborative relationship right away and worked to include Presscare’s suggestions into our production cells.
MiTek predominantly create nail plates for the building trade, which are plates for roof trusses to hold the joists together. Posi-Joist combines the lightness of timber with the strength of the Posi-Strut steel web to produce a floor and roof system allowing you to span far greater distances than would be possible with alternative timber products.
This gives you unequalled design freedom across a wide range of applications for both floor and roof in domestic, industrial and commercial applications. The Posi-Joist allows a variety of internal room layouts within an external shell due to its clear spanning capabilities.
Easy access for the installation and maintenance of services in the floor zone is the clear advantage of the Posi-Joist system, and with the ever increasing need for MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) systems, Posi-Joist provides a perfect and simple solution that just isn’t possible with alternative solid timber products.
Efficiency and productivity are our lifeblood, so incorporating more robust safety protocols and the technology to back them up was vital.’
Investing in Safety
For MiTek, an American-owned company, health and safety standards are non-negotiable. Brazier explains that the company is led by rigorous safety standards from the United States, making safety equipment and upgrades a top priority.
‘Health and safety is a high priority for us.’ Brazier notes. ‘So, the more health and safety equipment installed, the better.’
The results speak for themselves. When insurance inspectors from Allianz conduct their regular press inspections, they consistently deliver glowing feedback. Simon explains, ‘Every time they come, they say that the safety cells and the safety guarding is the best they’ve seen for protection, which is pleasing to know.’
This recognition isn’t just a point of pride; it represents real protection for MiTek’s workforce and demonstrates the tangible value that Presscare’s safety solutions deliver.
Transforming Productivity
The partnership’s impact extends beyond compliance. Presscare’s safety upgrades have fundamentally transformed how MiTek operates, particularly in areas that were previously productivity bottlenecks.
Simon describes one particularly significant improvement: ‘Loading coils onto the back of our press lines used to be an issue. Before, you would get somebody walking past where they put the coils on the decoiler, and obviously you’ve got to stop them because somebody’s decided to walk past.
Now we have beacons, alarms, and floor scanners that monitor the working area around the decoilers constantly. So, if anybody does walk near the machines, it’s not going to cause a major accident. They also installed magnetic guard interlocks for access gates and interfaces between coil lines and presses, with the addition of photoelectric sensors for high loop detection.’
Presscare has worked to install real-time productivity monitoring for press lubrication systems, as well as programmable controls for cut-off shears, all designed and manufactured by them to improve safety standards for MiTek.
These implementations have created a safer work environment while simultaneously eliminating unnecessary production stoppages. Workers are more aware, equipment is more responsive, and operations flow more smoothly: a win-win scenario that exemplifies the best outcomes of thoughtful safety investment.
Prevention is Better than Cure
While Presscare provide the safety upgrades, MiTek’s internal team ensures everything remains in peak condition through a rigorous Total Planned Maintenance (TPM) program. The results have been dramatic.
‘When I started, the breakdown side of it saw probably 10 to 12 breakdowns a day, and they were quite serious,’ Simon recalls. ‘Now we’re probably having serious ones, touch wood, every three or four months, and probably only 5 to 10 small ones a week.’
This reduction in breakdowns has dramatically increased Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), demonstrating how safety improvements and maintenance excellence create a positive effect on operational performance.
A Partnership Built to Last
The MiTek-Presscare relationship demonstrates what modern industrial partnerships should aspire to: mutual respect, shared values, clear communication, and measurable results. It’s not just about selling safety equipment or installing upgrades it’s about two organisations working together to create a safer, more efficient, and more productive manufacturing environment.
For MiTek, the benefits are clear: best-in-class safety standards, improved operational efficiency, reduced downtime, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their workforce is protected by industry-leading safety systems.
For Presscare, the relationship provides validation of their solutions in a demanding industrial environment, ongoing opportunities to innovate and improve, and the satisfaction of seeing their safety systems make a real difference in worker’s lives.
As Simon makes clear, this is a partnership built on more than just business transactions. It’s built on trust, understanding, and a shared commitment to excellence; the kind of foundation that ensures long-term success for both parties.
“I saw the potential in a more collaborative relationship right away and worked to include Presscare’s suggestions into our production cells.”
This article is part of the SMI MACH Publication — the must-read print publication that puts the spotlight on the innovations, partnerships, and people shaping the future of UK manufacturing. Don’t miss the full issue, click here to read more.
