For Kevin Wright, managing director of Leadermac UK, the launch of the company in this country was down to him being in the right place at the right time.
“I was working in Singapore in 1991 for a leading UK woodworking machinery company and it was boom time. I noticed a Taiwanese company selling machinery and while it was only a fleeting glance, it struck me that they were in the middle of a huge market and I saw what was possible. Local factories were producing mouldings and furniture to high standards at extremely low prices and this was fuelling the demand for strong, rugged moulders, made with cast sections and built to last under tough conditions.”
It took another 11 years for that fleeting glance to manifest itself as a business – selling Leadermac moulders throughout the British Isles. But five years after that, it has proved a success.
Kevin Wright is steeped in the machinery trade, having worked his way up through Wilkinson’s and Calders, prominent players in the second-hand and reconditioned market, for well over 25 years. “I know that customers are looking for a whole package, which can sometimes be an entire factory, shipping, installation teams and ongoing servicing,” he said, adding that Leadermac UK offers this level of service not just in this country but as far afield as Dubai, Zimbabwe and Iraq.
The business is just as active at the other end of the scale.
“We’ve built our reputation up and people know me,” he said. “When they need machinery, including taking back old equipment, supplying spares or just some advice, we’re often their first call.”
In the UK and Ireland, Leadermac UK has developed a strong focus on moulders from Leadermac Machinery Co’s new 25,000m2 factory in Taichung, Taiwan.
Four-sided moulders
Starting in 1972, Leadermac Machinery developed from three- to four-sided moulder manufacture and, by 1978, was exporting around the world. By 1989 demand led to a factory move and then again in 2005 to its current state-of-the-art site. Today it ranks as the world’s second largest moulder manufacturer, producing a range of seven models, plus template makers, profile grinders, tooling and auxiliary equipment.
“2005 saw Leadermac pass the 1,000 moulder mark and it’s now producing over 90 per month – that’s a staggering amount,” said Mr Wright.
Kevin Wright’s relationship with the company started in May 2002 when he decided to leave his job and risk it all on his ability to develop sales of Leadermac products. “It was nerve-racking at the time, but the co-operation, assistance and back-up from the company was fantastic,” he said. “Michael Chang, chief executive officer, works closely with his factory colleagues and they now have a worldwide network of agents, growing the business.
“Like so many other Far Eastern manufacturing companies, Leadermac has used its cost base, low shipping rates and strong local markets to great effect, developing and updating its products to keep ahead of the market,” he added. “I remember first visiting the factory and seeing castings arriving on a Monday, machines being built, packed and on their way to a customer on the Thursday. In previous jobs I’d been used to visiting a factory one month and seeing the same machine there two months later!”
Efficiencies
Leadermac achieves these efficiencies by out-sourcing most key components and assembling machines in its plant. “This means it can adapt and improve rapidly, because it’s not tied down to produce items itself,” Mr Wright explained. “What’s more, the parts it uses are from the same companies who supply other leading manufacturers, so we know that the machines contain top quality componentry and give excellent reliability.”
The Leadermac range is comprehensive, but in the early days it was a case of convincing customers about reliability and longevity.
Leadermac UK finally broke through by taking a customer to Bantry Bay in Ireland to view Leadermac machines, winning its first order for three moulders. “We were ecstatic – and so was the customer, who found the moulders ideal for the job,” said Mr Wright. “They had a fire at another site two weeks later and we got another order! They now have six Leadermacs and they are still working away.”
Five years on, Leadermac UK has sold more than 150 machines in the British Isles. But Mr Wright is not complacent and explained the scale of Leadermac’s ambitions. “When I was over in Taiwan in 2002, I was introduced to another agent. I felt he was highly thought of and it soon became clear why – his agency had sold over 2,100 moulders!”
All too often it’s the back-up for machinery that creates the problems or incurs unreasonable costs. Mr Wright said that Leadermac was always attuned to this and knew it would be a key part of its sales strategy. ‘We keep a stock of spares at head office near Bolton, but they can also be couriered from Taiwan in five days. The factory has a huge spares stock – you don’t become the second largest moulder manufac-turer without ensuring service and sensible pricing.”
Leadermac UK aims to carry moulders in stock for ultra rapid delivery but, according to Mr Wright, an order placed direct with the factory will also be with the customer quickly. Order times on smaller moulders are 40-50 days and four to five months on larger models, including 30 days’ shipping.
UK servicing and maintenance is carried out by Leadermac-trained freelance engineers, and operator training is arranged on delivery and at commissioning.
Technical development
Leadermac’s technical development continues, focused particularly on reducing downtime, improving accuracy and increasing feed speeds without compromising finish quality. Last year, to some acclaim, it launched a touch-screen version of its Hypermac range, incorporating wireless links from toolroom to machine. “Sales in the US were instant, literally,” said Mr Wright. “They sold the exhibition model within a few hours of opening.” This year, he added, HSK tooling will also be available, enabling the removal and replacement of the whole shaft, with set blocks fitted, in seconds.
