Wiltshire-based manufacturer, Fascia Graphics, is launching a new export division with the support of Lloyds TSB Commercial following an increase in demand for its products from international customers.

A Wiltshire-based manufacturer has launched a new export division with the backing of Lloyds TSB Commercial, after seeing an increase in demand for its products from overseas customers.

Established in 1994 and based on the Bath Road Industrial Estate in Chippenham, Fascia Graphics specialises in the production of membrane keypads and graphic overlays.

The company has seen a 20 per cent increase in orders from customers in Europe, Asia and the US over the past year and is now on track to take turnover from £2.5 million in 2009 to £2.85 million in 2010.

To capitalise on growing demand, the company has established a dedicated export division using specialist guidance from Lloyds TSB Commercial’s international business team, which has also introduced the business to several international trade agencies across the globe.

The business is now aiming to increase its exports by 10 per cent over the next year.

The firm, which celebrated its 15th anniversary last year, also experienced a boost to its expansion plans in 2005 when Lloyds TSB Commercial supported it with a £130,000 loan to purchase its 15,000 sq ft offices. The company currently employs 60 staff and runs its own apprenticeship scheme.

Paul Bennett, managing director and founder of Fascia Graphics, said: “Exploring new opportunities abroad will enable further growth and strengthen our position as the UK’s market leader of membrane keypads in the printed graphics industry.

Lloyds TSB Commercial has provided us with specialist cash management guidance and trade services which are allowing us to operate with confidence when trading with new overseas customers and suppliers.”

Alistair Scott, relationship manager for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Bristol and Somerset, said: “Fascia Graphics is succeeding in a niche market and it has the drive, experience and expertise to meet the growing demands for its services across the world.

For most businesses, entering new territories can be a daunting process but specialist support and guidance is available.

By working closely with the management, we were able to provide the company with a tailored financial package and specialist guidance to help them navigate the international market and provide the security needed in completing transactions abroad.”

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Businesses work together on new product to reduce diesel consumption in remote mobile phone base stations across the world...

Chippenham based, Fascia Graphics is working closely with PowerOasis, a leader in the area of remote base station power. Fascia is supplying the company with membrane keypads for its PowerOasis Controller (D) - a new 19” rack mounted diesel generator management unit. When deployed, this new product will typically reduce diesel consumption by at least 50 per cent and generator maintenance costs by 70 per cent.

PowerOasis has identified the potential future growth for Green Telecoms. For instance, there are presently over 400,000 base stations globally powered by diesel generators, with this figure expected to increase by 50 per cent over the next four years. By 2013 Green Telecoms equipment will account for 46 per cent of the $277billion telecom infrastructure market.

Specifically, PowerOasis products and services reduce diesel consumption for remote mobile phone base stations by supplementing or replacing diesel generators with wind and/or solar renewable energy and by intelligently managing diesel generators when present.

Although the company only launched its first product in 2008, it has already deployed systems for Digicel Vanuatu, Dialog Sri Lanka, T-Mobile Montenegro, Vodafone Qatar, Samsung South Korea and it is also part of Alcatel-Lucent’s Alternative Energy Test Programme.

PowerOasis and Fascia Graphics

PowerOasis identified Fascia Graphics in May 2009 through an internet search for local manufacturers of graphic overlays and membrane keypads.

Ivan Harris, Chief Marketing Officer of PowerOasis commented:

“It was crucial that we also embodied our brand into the design; to stand out from the other 19” units on the market. The general design was undertaken by our graphic design company, and then converted into engineering drawings by Fascia Graphics.”

As Fascia Graphics has established relationships with the leading suppliers in the market, it was able to suggest Autotex Steel, a new product launched by MacDermid Autotype. This innovative hardcoated polyester film produces stainless steel effects for membrane keyboards, keypads and fascia panels. The benefits of Autotex Steel are not just cosmetic. It can easily be embossed, making it ideal for use with domed tactile membrane keypads or in applications where keys or panel areas need to have raised edges.

Paul Bennett, Managing Director of Fascia Graphics commented:

“We have found Autotex Steel easy to handle throughout the manufacturing process. Its tough outer surface also offers excellent resistance to abrasion and a wide range of chemicals and solvents. Therefore, ideal for the rigors of being mounted on a mobile phone base station.”

Ivan Harris of PowerOasis concluded:

“Fascia Graphics are highly responsive, collaborative and professional. They have helped us identify the most appropriate materials for our membranes and have accommodated an engaging approach to turning our requirements into a finished product. They have always been transparent on their costs and have helped us arrive at a lower cost solution in some cases by helping us trade off requirements. The quality of the items shipped to us have been exemplary.”

The PowerOasis Controller (D) will be launched in January 2010. The company has targeted sales for its first year at a modest 1000 units, but the potential market is huge.

Fascia Graphics wins 40 new customers in just two months – including a major blue chip client...

Chippenham based, Fascia Graphics, the UK’s market leader for the production of membrane keypads in the printed graphics industry has announced that it is starting a recruitment drive after winning 40 new customers in the last two months. As part of these new wins, the company has also won a major contract worth more than £250,000 over 18 months. This surge in new orders has led the company to recruit more Screen Printers, Production Engineers and a QA Manager.

The £250,000 contract is as a result of a blue chip client securing a manufacturing contract estimated to be worth in excess of £10million. 

Since its inception in 1994, Fascia Graphics has gone from 40 customers to well over 600 customers. The company has increased its turnover to in excess of £2.5million through building a strong reputation within market sectors; including security, fire, medical and electronics.

Paul Bennett, Managing Director, Fascia Graphics Limited, commented:
“In a highly competitive marketplace, we have performed extremely well to pick up 40 new accounts. We have seen a continued uplift in sales since the start of 2009, and these latest contract wins will ensure that we match our sales pipeline to our aggressive growth strategy.

Following the recent expansion of our factory on the Bath Road Industrial Estate, we are now embarking on a recruitment drive so that we can utilise the production capacity to serve our rapidly increasing customer base.”

Value engineering approach proves popular...

The company has also seen its customer base and orders increase because of its unique approach to value engineering products. Earlier this year, it launched a Fascia Value Engineered Review (FVER). This approach identifies cost savings to help customers remain competitive in the marketplace by avoiding margin erosion.

Fascia Graphics has found that on average, this approach can save its customers between 5-10 per cent of a single applications manufacturing cost. In some cases it has even saved as much as 25 per cent.

Paul Bennett concluded: “Our value engineering approach is proving very popular with customers. Through our technical experience, we often see that companies have been previously advised to use the wrong materials or adhesives, and we have identified products with cost built in due to previous lack of technical expertise. Our FVER also provides our customers with an opportunity to steal a march on their competition by providing the best in class at a highly competitive price.”

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From the 90’s recession to the UK’s market leader

Chippenham based, Fascia Graphics, which was launched at the end of the 90’s recession celebrates its 15th Anniversary this month as the UK’s market leader for the production of membrane keypads in the printed graphics industry. The company has gone from 40 customers in 1994, with a healthy first year turnover of £130,000 to today supplying well over 600 customers with now a turnover in excess of £2.5million.

Since its inception, the company has worked with many well-known Blue Chip businesses, but more recently, it has also experienced significant growth across Europe (incl. France, Belgium, Germany and Italy), the US and Asia.

The company has grown rapidly over its 15 years, but this was particularly evident in its early years, when turnover virtually doubled year on year for a period of five years. This continued growth is testament to the operation’s ability to satisfy its customers – and to do so in such markets as security, fire, medical and electronics, where there is no toleration for second-best.

After moving to its 12,000 square foot factory on the Bath Road Industrial Estate in 2005, the company expanded its office and production space to 15,000 square feet last year to cater for its rapidly increasing customer base.

Paul Bennett, Managing Director, Fascia Graphics Limited, commented:

“This is a hugely significant milestone for the company. From day one, Fascia Graphics’ company ethos has held true, with customers choosing our services because we are faster, more cost effective, and provide exceptional levels of product quality in comparison to our competition.”

Staff are pivotal to the company’s success...

Fascia Graphics has always taken staff development very seriously. For instance, over the past twelve months, capacity has increased by up to a quarter after training shop floor workers in lean manufacturing techniques through the Learning and Skills Council’s Train to Gain service. And, it’s not just about improving company performance, staff commitment remains very high, with on average each employee working for the company for over seven years.

Leading the way...

Fascia Graphics has always led the market with new product developments by utilising the latest technologies and techniques for the manufacture of membrane keypads, graphic overlays, labels and associated products. A recent step forward has been its rapid prototyping service. The company recognised that design houses and engineering businesses often need professionally manufactured digital overlays or membrane keypads at very short notice for trade show prototypes or new product developments. So a nationwide service was launched to meet the requirements of such customers in no more than five days. In practice, this timescale can often be shortened to just 24 hours.

Quality

Since 1996, the company has held ISO 9001 approval, and through its continuous improvement culture, it has achieved ISO 9001:2008. Fascia Graphics also has UL approval to PGAA and PGDQ2 standards. UL status is the most accepted safety certification mark in the US by consumers, regulatory authorities and the insurance industry. This has opened up a vast US market for the company’s UL approved graphic overlays and membrane keypads.

Paul Bennett concluded:

“We pride ourselves on working closely with our customers to develop unique product solutions at the right price. In these economically challenging times we are seeing this side of our business under increasing demand as customers want to tap into our company wide market knowledge.”

Fascia Graphics will be celebrating its 15th anniversary throughout March, by offering all of its customers 15% off set-up (Tooling & Artworks) for all new orders placed during the month.

This offer ends at the end of the working day (5pm) on 31st March 2009.

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For over a decade Fascia Graphics has been providing the highest quality products for a diverse range of equipment, across a wide range of industry sectors...

Fascia Graphics, the market leader for the production of membrane keypads in the printed graphics industry says that much of its success over the last decade has been as a result of its approach to sourcing the best materials and adhesives in the industry.

The Chippenham based company, offers graphic solutions for all types of applications including electronics, medical, security, vehicle, CCTV, nautical and white goods. By working closely with the leading suppliers in the industry it has developed and supplied solutions for individual customer requirements. For example, over the last few years, it has worked closely with MacDermid Autotype to supply graphic overlays with anti-microbial protection. These are now widely used by many of its medical industry customers.

More recently, Fascia has developed graphic overlays for a new range of medical gas area alarms. These alarms are used in hospitals to monitor the supply and condition of vital medical gasses, in operating theatres and intensive care units, where some of the most vulnerable imuno-suppressed patients are treated and cared for, and where the need to prevent infection is greatest.

Providing products for extreme conditions

Another good example of meeting customer challenges is through the company’s work with SKF Condition Monitoring. Fascia supply’s the company with rear plate graphic overlays for SKF’s Microlog Series Analyzers, which enables users to establish comprehensive periodic condition monitoring of moving mechanical parts such as bearings.

One of the particular challenges that SKF faced was the extreme conditions that its products are used in, so it was crucial that it provided a strong and hard wearing product that could withstand day to day wear and tear in an oily, greasy environment.

Trevor Medhurst, Production Co-ordinator, SKF Condition Monitoring Centre comments: “It is highly important that all the parts we source for our Microlog Series of Analyzers are competitively priced and highly durable so no colour fading or general erosion of any part takes place. Fascia Graphics have delivered on both of these factors and their approach to problem solving is first class.”

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