CRANE ADDS NEW MUSCLE TO WARHAMMER MILITARY MINIATURE MAKER 

Modern manufacturing demands military efficiency.  This is the philosophy of Games Workshop, the leaders in tabletop war gaming and the makers of Warhammer.  They have made a major investment in a new moulding workshop, including a crane from Street Crane Company for high-speed precision die transfer. 

Manufacture has recently transferred from Wisbech to Nottingham, where 13 modern high precision moulding machines, operating 24/7, have replaced 20 older machines.  Key objectives for the new workshop are to maintain product quality, maximise machine uptime, provide just-in-time flexibility and increase overall equipment effectiveness.  

In a typical week the crane from Street will handle over 120 die transfers.   With each die costing more than the crane itself and weighing around one tonne, the crane has been engineered to prevent damage by ensuring precise movement.  The two-tonne single-girder crane has dual speeds on all motions for accurate positioning.  All operations are controlled by pendant.  The available height envelope within the new building was restricted, but the crane uses a low headroom ZX wire rope hoist to work efficiently within the available space.

By adopting cellular manufacturing and employing the crane from Street to make high speed precision die changes, Games Workshop have met their objectives.  The company is able to respond quickly to orders for different products and minimise the need for stock and working capital to be tied-up in the supply chain.

Many manufacturers of small components are transferring production to lower cost countries.  As the Games Workshop experience shows, local manufacture has advantages in assuring quality, providing immediate flexibility to respond to demand and reducing supply chain delays and costs.  Street Crane works with all industries to provide process integrated handling to maximise quality and productivity.  


More information: Gus Zona, Street Crane Company, Tel. 00 44 1298 812456 Fax. 00 44 1298 814 945 E-Mail: admin@streetcrane.co.uk Web: www.streetcrane.co.uk

High/low resolution images are on the web at www.ainsmag.co.uk/st165/4128st1a.htm

March 29, 2006

Additional Note for Editors
Games Workshop is a vertically integrated company producing a premium product for which they take full responsibility for design, manufacture, quality, marketing and user support.  

War gaming enthusiasts are encouraged to develop their skill, creativity and imagination by building and painting the highly detailed models and regularly meeting fellow enthusiasts to hone strategy and gaming skills.

This added value approach has enabled the company to build a loyal following in the UK, Europe, USA, and Australasia and around the world.  Around 70 percent of turnover comes from outside the UK.  

There are literally millions of war gamers around the world, some in informal groups, some in officially recognised clubs and many using Gaming Workshop’s own Hobby Centres to meet others and practice their skills.